Open carry vs Concealed carry

clement47

Florida allows open or concealed? 

GunNut

Welcome.  Florida only allows open carry while hunting and fishing or while traveling to and from those activities.

Gene L

I assume you have to get a permit for concealed carry in Florida.  Many if not most people in the gun carrying community don't like open carry.  See my signature.

zorba

Gene's sig says it all, to my mind open carry means you're going to be the first target of a BG.

JasonMPD

Some places O/C is culturally normal.  Other places not. Generally I prefer C/C.

And FL is a concealed carry only, unless hunting or fishing and traveling to or from said activities. 

GunNut

knitepoet said:

Both are legal in my state, Alabama, and I am NOT a fan of open carry.

Probably 99.9% of the time I'm carrying, it's concealed. Going hunting, or working in the fields where I hunt are the only times I open carry.

Edited to add: Considering GunNut lived in Florida for a while, I'd trust him

Thanks!  I did spend a fair amount of time in that fine state.

My current state allows open carry, but it used to be a somewhat regular non-event for me to see someone doing it it.  FWIW, I spoke to the guy that runs the CCW program for the state and he said there is NO record of anyone getting harassed by LE or arrested for open carrying.  When folks call 911 they are told this is legally allowed in NC so unless the person is committing a crime please stay clear of the 911 lines.

Nowadays because of the loooooong timeframes needed to process CC Licenses in most counties I see a LOT of folks open carrying so I’ve had to address this in class directly and while I state clearly the disadvantages of OC to them but I will not dissuade anyone from doing so.  

I do ask them to please buy holsters with decent retention, carry forward of the 3:00 line on their waist and be extra aware of their surroundings and not allow ANYONE they do not know to approach them any closer than about 20 feet without them verbally questioning their intentions specially in places like gas stations, parking lots etc.

Jayhawker

Just to carry this conversation forward a bit.

Michigan allows both concealed and open carry...but there are some significant differences...With a Concealed Pistols Permit (CPL)  we may carry any time, any place, with a few exceptions....If you are open carrying you CANNOT open carry in a vehicle...therefore, you get to where you're going...retrieve your firearm from its case, load it with ammo/magazine located separately from the firearm, then strap up and go about your business..
When you're done, you must reverse the process BEFORE you get back into your vehicle...Which can get awkward in the Costco parking lot...

Open carry in MI is often seen as a vehicle to allow people who, for some reason, don't want or can't get a CPL...

Justsomedude

Odd, I saw a video of a guy that was basically testing the waters, carrying a fishing pole back from a fishing spot and open carrying in Florida. They harassed the hell out of that guy and didn't even know the law themselves (the responding LEOs) I dont remember the outcome.

Diver43

In Florida, even though allowed in a few instances, I would not open carry in Florida.  In an area where you can actually hunt, it may be OK, But I would strongly advise against it anywhere south of Palm Beach County.

10canyon53

I live in Florida, have a Florida Concealed Weapons License and concur with what has been said here.  Concealed carry only with the CWL, open carry only when hunting or fishing.  However, there are are some exceptions, some relating to private property.  It is very common for gun store employees to open carry, at least while inside the business.  Also, I am a Range Safety Officer at the private range where I am a member and the RSO's open carry while on duty.  We are actually on county property that we lease from the county.

JasonMPD

Open carry for the mere sake of it just garners unwanted attention.  We get calls for service frequently for a group that slings AR15s across their backs and go fishing in the city ponds.  Florida's preemption laws supercede municipality ordinances (rightfully so!) so the the armed fishing is lawful.  They do it to start arguments with responding cops.  They've told us as much.

I responded one time and was met with, "don't even come over here you can't approach me unless you suspect a crime and per statute 790 I can yada yada yada."  My response, "Well, per statute 379 and FAC 63, I need you to produce a fishing license."  They had none.  Nose in spite of the face situation. 

We had a chat about the efficacy of creating tension and adversarial argument with police because they merely enjoy the attention.

It would be nice if there was a vocal OC group that were good advocates for OC like there is in the CCW crowd (USCCA, etc.) instead of mostly arrogant folk.

GunNut

JasonMPD said:

Open carry for the mere sake of it just garners unwanted attention.  We get calls for service frequently for a group that slings AR15s across their backs and go fishing in the city ponds.  Florida's preemption laws supercede municipality ordinances (rightfully so!) so the the armed fishing is lawful.  They do it to start arguments with responding cops.  They've told us as much.

I responded one time and was met with, "don't even come over here you can't approach me unless you suspect a crime and per statute 790 I can yada yada yada."  My response, "Well, per statute 379 and FAC 63, I need you to produce a fishing license."  They had none.  Nose in spite of the face situation. 

We had a chat about the efficacy of creating tension and adversarial argument with police because they merely enjoy the attention.

It would be nice if there was a vocal OC group that were good advocates for OC like there is in the CCW crowd (USCCA, etc.) instead of mostly arrogant folk.

Actually the USCCA protects members that open carry too.  All legal acts of SD with ANY lawful weapon of opportunity including open or concealed firearms, long guns, hammers, baseball bats or your car are protected legally.  

JasonMPD

GunNut said:

JasonMPD said:

Open carry for the mere sake of it just garners unwanted attention.  We get calls for service frequently for a group that slings AR15s across their backs and go fishing in the city ponds.  Florida's preemption laws supercede municipality ordinances (rightfully so!) so the the armed fishing is lawful.  They do it to start arguments with responding cops.  They've told us as much.

I responded one time and was met with, "don't even come over here you can't approach me unless you suspect a crime and per statute 790 I can yada yada yada."  My response, "Well, per statute 379 and FAC 63, I need you to produce a fishing license."  They had none.  Nose in spite of the face situation. 

We had a chat about the efficacy of creating tension and adversarial argument with police because they merely enjoy the attention.

It would be nice if there was a vocal OC group that were good advocates for OC like there is in the CCW crowd (USCCA, etc.) instead of mostly arrogant folk.

Actually the USCCA protects members that open carry too.  All legal acts of SD with ANY lawful weapon of opportunity including open or concealed firearms, long guns, hammers, baseball bats or your car are protected legally.  

I meant the act of carrying and the culture that surrounds it.  OC people aren't as graciously representative as CCW people are.  Some exceptions include the recent rallies.

NN

I very seldom see someone open carrying  here in NC even though it is legal and when I do see someone open carrying it is at the Walmart here in town. It seems from watching these people, that they are wanting someone to get in an argument with them over the guns.