Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Do you or have you open carried in the past? I live in Virginia and am waiting on my CCW to arrive in the mail any day now. Open carry is legal here however I have only seen it done rarely in the Norfolk area and typically only around gun shops.

I do it all the time. Made quite a stink @ UVA just last week if you care to read all about it:

http://vagunforum.net/general-discussio ... t9333.html

I have 96% non-issues when OC.

3% - learning opportunity for the sheeple

1% - learning opportunity for someone who should no better but doesn't (other gun owners who are ashamed of same)

It is amazing how rarely anyone notices at all!

You will be ostracized by many who CLAIM to support the right to keep and bear arms but in fact don't believe in the bear part beyond some intangible theoretical sense of it. F those people.

I do it all the time because:

I can't shoot my tiny guns worth a damn (I ain't much good with any handguns honestly)

I am from the north and I get too damned hot to wear concealment.

I like to OC, good enough for me.

It is easier to draw the weapon.

It makes others interact with someone who does not represent firearms owners in a bad light, dispelling their precious preconcieved notions.

It dissuades asinine behavior from most, while drawing out the real loudmouth idiots too, I will admit.

Great post +1

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I,m in VA Beach and I open carry every day... Never an issue anyplace I;ve been... In fact it's been very positive. Every time I have spoken to people that ask about OC...Many are not up to date on the laws and appreciate the information.

Open Carried many times. Only one incident with an arrogant State Trooper in the city. Didn't lead to anything.

But...

I like having it concealed, it's a preference, not a "fear". It's the same thing as being quick, and flexible as a "fat guy".You don't expect me to be able to move that quick, and into that position, buuuuuttt I caaaaannn!

You don't expect me to be armed, buuuutttt I aaaammm!

Good on ya, fat boy!

I will agree that it is a tactical disadvantage and I CCW when it is more advantageous to do so.

Tweaker wrote:Good on ya, fat boy!

I will agree that it is a tactical disadvantage and I CCW when it is more advantageous to do so.

But it's in some ways counterbalanced by the fact OC could deter a crime.

The only advantage to Open Carry is you can carry something BIGGER!

If you act like a victim, you become one... a deterent is being aware of your surroundings, and BEFORE a confrontation even happens? Put DOUBT in their mind...

I have not been, but I may have to consider it as I am getting rounder and rounder (pregnant) and I am having a terrible time finding a holster that works for me. I actually really like seeing open carriers around. You never have to worry about the gun you see on someone's hip.

I don't OC for a couple of reasons, listed in order of importance:

1) My Glock 26 would look absolutely ridiculous OC'd. The girls would point and laugh. "That guy only has a 3.5" barrell... and it's only 9mm!!!"

2) I live in NOVA and I'd rather not deal with the inconvenience. I prefer to keep it concealed to begin with, and while most people probably wouldn't even notice an OC'd pistol, some of those that do would probably want to give me a hard time about it. Given the people that I work with, live near, and associate with it's probably a better idea for all parties involved to keep it under wraps.

That said, I do have a few OWB holsters and might do some OC in the future. Right now it's not for me.

bensmiata wrote:Do you or have you open carried in the past? I live in Virginia and am waiting on my CCW to arrive in the mail any day now. Open carry is legal here however I have only seen it done rarely in the Norfolk area and typically only around gun shops.

I CC when I feel like it.

I OC when I feel like it.

As long as I am carrying I am content.

Question for those willing to answer: Why do I often see bad blood between OC and CC? I understand the arguments being made from both camps, but really, aren't we supposed to be on the same team here?

lagmonkey wrote: I CC when I feel like it.

I OC when I feel like it.

As long as I am carrying I am content.

This is perfect. For me, it may depend on what I feel like carrying, but I do find myself going the CC route just to avoid the attention. Most people in NOVA are too busy to notice anyway.

"Question for those willing to answer: Why do I often see bad blood between OC and CC? I understand the arguments being made from both camps, but really, aren't we supposed to be on the same team here?"

I would liken it to religious extremists who are so fervent in their beliefs that they cannot contain their contempt for someone who also believes in Jebus but in a slightly different way.

I cannot however justify or explain that it is a good idea, b/c I ain't one to tell people how to pursue happiness or protect themselves. I leave that to the statists.

Also, there are a great many people who have not fully thought out their beliefs. If they did they would find things at odds with ideas they state they believe.

There are many hypocrites in the world. Some own guns.

FUDDS are a great example of most of these types of gun owner -they hate the EBR Evil Black Rifle, standard capacity magazines, OC, class 3 and even self defense, as they grew up in a different world where things were settled with fists not knives or guns.

I CC in the tourist town of Willamsburg, because I don't want a NJ tourist calling 911 accusing me of 'brandishing' in any way, shape, or form. CCW gives me peace of mind, without the questions and possible hassle of OC. Am I happy about it? NO. But I don't have the $$$ to spend to defend false accusations.

Open carry in NOVA? Are you for real? Only if I want to get hassled by the cops or potentially shot because some liberal twit screams "HE'S GOT A GUN!!!!"

I would add that people who claim they are pro gun rights just so long as no one sees you exercising it have much in common with someone who claims to be "OK" with homoseckshuls but hates the ghey pride parade or similar overt exercises of their pursuit of happiness.

Tweaker wrote:I would add that people who claim they are pro gun rights just so long as no one sees you exercising it have much in common with someone who claims to be "OK" with homoseckshuls but hates the ghey pride parade or similar overt exercises of their pursuit of happiness.

Its not that simple up here in NOVA. Even in the "country" up here people look at you real weird. The biggest reason I dont OC up here is LEO. I do not like getting hassled and my time is too valuable to argue with someone who is supposed to enforce the law that is ignorant of said law. Its the same thing as closing the curtains if you keep an expensive notebook on the table. It removes an "attractive nuisance" from view and the consequences that can emerge...just because its illegal to break into my house doesnt do much after the fact. Same thing about OC...the fact that its legal doesnt help much when being abused by ignorant LE.

I can say that this has not happened to me, aside from UVA but I believe you.

This is why I will not live in places like you do. I refuse to alter my behavior when I can be more happy by choosing to live in a better more free place.

I pity you fools. lol

I must admit that I grow more impressed with this forum every day and I would like to thank those who took the time to provide their views on my “CC vs. OC” question. It’s not an original argument by any stretch of the imagination but I have never been satisfied with any of the past threads I have stumbled on and thought I would throw my hat into the ring in an effort to gain some insight on the subject.

Tweaker wrote:I would add that people who claim they are pro gun rights just so long as no one sees you exercising it have much in common with someone who claims to be "OK" with homoseckshuls but hates the ghey pride parade or similar overt exercises of their pursuit of happiness.

zephyp wrote:Its the same thing as closing the curtains if you keep an expensive notebook on the table. It removes an "attractive nuisance" from view and the consequences that can emerge...just because its illegal to break into my house doesnt do much after the fact. Same thing about OC...the fact that its legal doesnt help much when being abused by ignorant LE.

Both of these comments, regardless of whether or not you agree with the specific nature of their examples, are fair examples of the opposing views as they touch upon the core beliefs from each party.

On the one hand we have the pro OC stance that if you truly support the 2nd Amendment you should not only stand behind them but you should stand with them.

On the other hand we have the pro CC view that the realities of self-defense dictate that flying under the radar to avoid unwanted attention is the only practical approach.

What do you all think? Is that a fair summation?

I think the fairest of summarizations would just be to say it's purely a personal choice.