Which would you prefer: open carry or concealed?

Concealed, maintains the tactical advantage

Concealed, hands down!

LTC (Join to see) Sir, I prefer concealed carry.

What are the consequences if untrained persons are carrying openly and a criminal disarms them? As a law enforcement officer, I always accepted when I responded to a call there was one weapon, at least, involved in the call, the one I brought. If open carry is to be a reality, training, similar to that of concealed carry, should be mandated.

I recognize in most states concealed carry training is minimal at best, but a little is better than none.

It seems to me a simple question to answer. Open carry makes you a target, not only a target of criminals who might want to remove a threat to their criminal activity, but also a target of every hysterical anti-gun protester. Concealed carry means that just a few (hopefully the most responsible) will carry, just enough to make criminals wonder who they might be and who might ambush them if they attempt to commit a crime. Indeed, criminal statistics conclusively prove that crime drops in areas where concealed carry is legally practiced.

Concealed hands down. Why advertise to those that would do you harm what you're carrying and where you're carrying it?

Concealed, just so those who feel uncomfortable around firearms don't worry. Also to keep the bad guys guessing.

Philosophically, I believe Open Carry is superior. Despite canards to the contrary, the bumper sticker is right - an armed society IS a polite society. The actual knowledge of potential escalation along unpleasant lines leads to an overall (there will ALWAYS be a few jackass exceptions) tendency away from escalation.

Practically, I carry concealed when I carry. (Open IS legal here) Unfortunately, there are enough Hoplophobes to make open carry a PITA, in addition to the patchwork or business policies, what employees THINK business policies are, police who are either unclear on the law or prefer their own opinions to it, etc. And my aversion to being a test case.

Concealed, but I can understand people wanting the option. I can think of a few times I would rather open carry, but not very often at all.

Me - concealed.
Everyone else - open.

I know who has one and nobody knows I do. If only the criminals subscribed to this mindset.

No need to "flex your muscles"; Concealed carry! I think that show of force should be kept to a minimum. I think it also provides a tactical advantage in situtions where negotiating should be the first line of defense. When an aggressor knows that you are carrying, they may escalate too quickly to allow for diplomacy in order to hold the control.

I suppose that there is also the school of thought that takes the position that open carry may prefent the situation in the first place. However, if someone sets out to commit a crime, I don't believe that open carrying will prevent... only postpone what they already intend to do!


The only time I do open carry is when I am off on a hike in the wild. In that case, it is typically for protection [from animals] and not meant for show.

All that being said, I do openly support anyone's constitutional "right to bear arms"...