Open Carry vs Concealed-Better deterrent?

[Riposite]

Hey, just curious about everyone's opinion. Do you think open carry vs concealed carry is a better deterrent?
I've got a CHP but i find myself usually going open carry, and living in Loudoun I don't seem to get a lot of looks.
I personally feel with it openly carried, people of unpleasant nature are less likely to give me grief, but that is a feeling , not sure if any data backs it up. If it was concealed, I just think i lose that initial deterrence factor. I'd rather not be hassled attacked mugged etc
then ever have to draw it.
I am curious what the prevailing opinion on the forums are though, and what your experience leads you to believe?

[SHMIV]

I had a group of thugs think about jumping me, once. If you've ever been jumped by a group, you'll recognize the " fan out" approach that they like to use. The idea is to fan out, the middle one distracts you with a question or other form of conversation, while the others surround you, then they hit you or stab you, or whatever.

At any rate, these cats were approaching me, and fanning out... then they all noticed the gun on my belt, and turned on their heals simultaneously, and vanished.

So, in that case, it was clearly a deterrent.

Can't speak to any data on the subject, though. Never researched it.

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[Swampman]

Open carry, IMO, is a deterrent to most. Others see it as an advertisement to "take me out first or you're a dead man." Concealed can give you the element of surprise depending on the situation. Guess it depends on where you are going and who might be there.

Not a lot of trouble here in Warren County. Most of the azzhats 'round these parts are into drugs and non-violent petty crimes. Closer to DC, the worse it gets. Situational awareness.

[MarcSpaz]

I'm up in the air. Kinda like Jim mentioned, it depends on the situation.

I was sitting outside a Checkers eating a burger one day and these 3 young thugs were a few tables away tossing insults my way... mostly about my weight. I was right-hand OC'ing and they were on my left. One kid says "I'll bet you 10 you wont go take that burger." One of the other kids stood up and started walking toward me.

I put my burger down, stood up and faced the kid with my hand on my weapon. The kid stopped dead and his tracks ans said "You ain't no cop. What chu got a gun fo?" I said "Do you think that makes me less dangerous or more dangerous?" The kid turned around, called me a crazy kracka and him and his buddies left.

If I was CC'ing, I could have presented my weapon and accomplished the same result, but then it's criminal brandishing. Convincing a judge or jury it was fearing for my life will be somewhat difficult.

Now, those were bored teens or early 20's that would have beat my butt if I was unarmed, but lets throw a hypothetical out there...

You're in a bank and some dude comes in. The guy is upset because the bank took his house, his wife left him, no job and he is intent on dying after he makes the bank "pay for what they did". I have a hard time thinking as an OC, I won't get popped before anyone knows what's going on. Same thing if an organized robbery takes place. If I am CC, I'm just some overweight old guy who just happens to be at the bank. I lose a tactical advantage and stand a high degree of either being killed first or disarmed... either case giving the bad guy another gun.

Now, normally I don't give a rat's behind about other people's opinions of me, but I noticed that many people are much more comfortable being blissfully ignorant. Not knowing I have a gun keeps the NOVA libs comfortable in make believe land. Unfortunately, my wife falls into that category.

[Riposite]

@Marc Spaz I get your point about being in a situation such as perhaps a planned armed robbery of a bank -but I think the situation you first described in the restaurant is way more likely to be what any of us experience which is why I lean to open carry.

[Viper21]

I prefer CC. Although, in the rural area I live, I see plenty of people who oc. It's not as common as one would think but, I usually see one a month or so. I believe more people CC than OC. Several people I know don't go anywhere unarmed. I believe the tactical advantage of CC better suits my needs. Granted, I don't live in a high crime area. Im much more likely to draw down on a bear or coyote, than I am a thug. I do have some family in NOVA. I've also lived in some urban areas before (never again). Being in multiple "situations" in my life..... I believe one of the biggest keys is, like Swampman said..... Situational Awareness.

Maybe it's a man thing. Maybe it's a preservation thing, maybe it's a Dad thing, maybe it's just common sense but, I'm the guy who always scans public places covertly. Im always looking for, & assessing the "threats". Real or implied. I usually choose my seat in an establishment to give me the best view of exits, & where I can see the most. lol. I know, sounds like paranoia. However, it's not something I even think about. Been this way for many years. My wife & kids have/had no idea that I put that effort/thought into a simple visit to a restaraunt. Like I said, it's very covert, & unnoticable. I explained it to my boys one day, they were shocked, & thought it was good thinking. Again, not over the top.....change seats or anything, I just take charge when in public, & position myself to protect my family if the one in a million unthinkable should ever happen.

Im amazed at how many people are unaware of thier surroundings, & ablevious to what's going on around them in public settings at times. Granted, I might sound paranoid, I like to think of myself as prepared. Because of my situational awareness at most times, CC makes more sense for me, & is preferred. Usually IWB. However, in the winter months with more clothing, I will go semi-CC & be holstered with a jacket, or heavy flannel covering my weapon.

[mamabearCali]

Could go either way. I usually CC because soccer moms get freaked out when they see a gun. However I can certainly understand the tactical advantages of OC.

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[ProShooter]

..............One kid says "I'll bet you 10 you wont go take that burger." One of the other kids stood up and started walking toward me. I put my burger down, stood up and faced the kid with my hand on my weapon.


..............
If I was CC'ing, I could have presented my weapon and accomplished the same result, but then it's criminal brandishing.

What you described in the first scenario could be construed as brandishing as well. Either would be bad, if you cannot articulate that you were engaged in justifiable self-defense due to what you perceived as an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury.

[MarcSpaz]

Good point.

[Mindflayer]

Might have been better to have the fool approach you, "felt fear of serious bodily harm", given up my sandwich, called the police, have the idiot arrested on strong arm robbery. See how much he's laughing when he's in jail and some 300# muscled up thug is asking for his sandwich.

I prefer concealed. I only open carry when I have been hiking or hunting, or when the temperature in the fall goes from 20ºF in the morning to 85º in the afternoon, and I have to take off my cover shirt.

[vaeevictiss]

Almost makes you wish you'd have justification to shoot them. I know I know that's messed up but that behavior too quickly gets pawned of as "boys being boys" and is not. Now he could get the idea that he needs a gun too. Now he gets bold and shoots someone over another stupid altercation.

I think about that sometimes, it's like spiderman. He let the guy go and then the guy ended up killing his grandfather.

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[MarcSpaz]

I really just prefer to eat my burger in peace. I don't want to hurt someone or look for excuses too, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let them hurt me over $10 and a burger.

Truth is, in most cases I have experienced like this... if you give the bully the burger, he immediately finds something else to bully you over. The only thing you can do is not be afraid and do what you can to standup for yourself.

[tinner666]

CC mostly, but things are heating up again in Blackwell so I 'either/or' depending on what i'm facing.
I went OC just before I started snapping pix of a burglar. He saw me I said I'd already called PD. He started towards me, so i slightly turned and he could see I was armed. He tossed the wrench/club, or whatever into his van and took off.

[SHMIV]

Truth is, most thugs are cowards. That boy likely wouldn't have considered stealing a burger so blatantly, without having his buddiesthere to back him up.

In my case, that group of thugs had to have known that they could overcome me and disarm me. I only stand about 5 ft 6, and weigh about 120. But, they also knew at least one of them would get shot in the process, and none of them wanted to be that one.

Another thing that I dislike about CC... having to reach through the concealment in order to draw. Seems like it would be easy to get snagged at the worst possible moment.

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[MarcSpaz]

I think you were in a way worse situation than I was. That could have gone very badly even while armed. I've seen situations like that happen when there are people swarming you that you don't even know are part of their group. Plus, no one can see 360 degrees. Who do you watch?

I'm glad you are right about most of them being cowards. I think that is why so many self defense situations involving firearms usually ends with a shot even being fired.