Que wrote:I'm new to Virginia and I"m not sure if you guys have the old OC vs CC debates, but they are very much alive in Indiana.
Welcome to the neighborhood.
The law in Indiana is silent concerning how the firearm must be carried. One who possesses a License to Carry (LTC) can carry any way they choose. However, there are those who believe OC provides the opportunity to educate the masses and also adds a tactical advantage if needed. Those who CC believe it's the better carry position and allows an even better tactical advantage if needed.
I am up in the air on this. A weapon that is open is often a visual deterrent and can more easily be drawn if needed compared to a concealed weapon.
On the flip side. if someone is not deterred by open carry, likely you are now at a huge disadvantage. You will likely be the first target of ambush/surprise attack once the criminal begins whatever adversity they intend.
If you have a concealed weapon and the situation has escalated to the event horizon, you are now at a huge tactical advantage, as the criminal has no idea you are in play.
I've searched the forum, but haven't seen this kind of debate.
Trust me... we've had a few, even in the short time I have been a member. LOL
I understand Virginia is an OC state and a license/permission must be obtained in order to CC. Overall, how do Virginia gun owners feel about OC vs CC?
I would hesitate to speak for all my fellow Virginians, but I will say I prefer to CC most of the time. My family has told me that they are glad I carry everywhere because my chances of protecting them in a targeted act of violence while with them is much better. But CC helps my wife and kids feel more comfortable while we are out and about. They are not bothered by the gun, but they don't like to see it because it is a constant visual reminder of just how crappy the world really is.
Also, I CC most of the time because I know it troubles a lot of people. The uneducated anti-2a person (regularly referred to by me as a low information voter) is not capable of rational thought. They don't understand that honest law abiding citizens will openly carry weapons because they have nothing to hide compared to a criminal who doesn't walk around advertising that he/she illegally has a gun by carrying it out in the open. So, I don't want to deal with the BS.
BUT... sometimes I feel like mixing the pot a little, so I will OC. LOL
Do a great deal of people pay the money necessary to obtain the ability to CC or do most choose to OC?
According to the GOA about 279,000 people have a VA CHP. I have not found any facts to reflect actual firearm owners in VA.
Also, Indiana is a pretty freedom-minded state, but I've witnessed even the most conservative minded person who believe "guns are dangerous." Do Virginia residents possess more common sense than this? What is the general perception when a OCer is seen in the local coffee shop or gas station?
The definition of dangerous is "able or likely to cause harm or injury." A gun's sole purpose is to be used as a tool to end life... quickly. Therefore, yes guns are dangerous.
However, I am a firm believer that my gun is a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.
Keep in mind, a dangerous object is a completely separate concept from dangerous behavior. By definition, though not based on the designers intent, a car, a knife, a screwdriver, even a light bulb are all dangerous objects. What makes them a weapon is when they are used to hurt someone.
Everywhere you go, you will find instances of two people who see the same man standing beside a house with a screw driver; one person will think the man is the home owner about to tighten his shutter while the other thinks a stranger is getting ready to pry open a window to burglarize a home. What people see or believe is a crap-shoot based on the individual's experiences in life or lack thereof.
