Open carry awareness

[brazildsm]

hello to all,
Hey I'm back for more info.so with some of the replies I received on my last post, I am now trying to get some info and ideas on how I can display open carry awareness in my area. Just want to make sure I know how to approach it,do it correctly without offending anybody. Yes ideas and opinion are all welcome. Thanx in advance, to all.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[HeHasAGun]

Just carrying an openly displayed firearm properly holstered as much as you can helps. Carry to the store or the movies or mall and be polite, pleasant, and helpful. Go out of your way to help people or be nice. And anybody asks about the gun tell them its your (and their) right to carry them and anyone without a felony can carry them openly(in Maine you can). If they seem interested educate them on the law about it and how easy it is to get a gun. I recommend checking opencarry.org in the state discussions to see if anyone has made a tri fold brochure or business card with gun and open carry laws and stats for your state and hand those out.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Badey]

You can get some good info on this from opencarry.org in the discussion forum for your state. Many states have fliers that you can hand out to educate folks on the legality of open carry, so you might want to check on that. Also many states have an open carry organization that you can get info and support from. Just some thoughts.

[ericb327]

Don't be this guy!

Ridiculous OCer Baiting Cops & Neighbors

[GeorgiaDawg]

When you make eye contact with people, smile and nod. Portray yourself as a calm and friendly individual to put others at ease. Walk and stand with confidence. If you carry yourself like that, others may take you for some sort of plain clothes LEO rather than a civilian who may be up to no good. Open doors for others and do the little things that would make you a good neighbor regardless of whether or not you are packing.

Also, I'd say try not to dress or act like a negative stereotype or give people any additional reasons to be afraid of you apart from the gun. Adding a gun to that picture sends some people overboard and may result in a MWAG call to the police. If you don't go out of your way to draw attention to yourself (which sounds like you are already doing, from your previous posts), then that's even better.

There are some people who will get freaked out by seeing a gun, regardless of what you do to quell any fears they may have, but that comes with the territory. Act like a nice guy and be respectful and you may cut down on the gruff you get from others.

Just my $0.02

[ericb327]

When you make eye contact with people, smile and nod. Portray yourself as a calm and friendly individual to put others at ease. Walk and stand with confidence. If you carry yourself like that, others may take you for some sort of plain clothes LEO rather than a civilian who may be up to no good. Open doors for others and do the little things that would make you a good neighbor regardless of whether or not you are packing.

Also, I'd say try not to dress or act like a negative stereotype or give people any additional reasons to be afraid of you apart from the gun. Adding a gun to that picture sends some people overboard and may result in a MWAG call to the police. If you don't go out of your way to draw attention to yourself (which sounds like you are already doing, from your previous posts), then that's even better.

There are some people who will get freaked out by seeing a gun, regardless of what you do to quell any fears they may have, but that comes with the territory. Act like a nice guy and be respectful and you may cut down on the gruff you get from others.

Just my $0.02

What he said!

[gasmitty]

Your outward appearance matters when you're trying to make a positive impression. Dressing casually is fine, but not "grunge" casual with worn-out, hole-filled jeans that are hanging halfway down your butt. You don't need to wear Dockers and a polo shirt if you're headed off to the woods with your sidearm exposed, but that is a good way to dress if you're headed out to the supermarket.

Granted I'm gray-bearded, but when I happen to be carrying openly I'm usually dressed neatly, shirt tucked in, and in general I make a point to have good posture - head up, no slouching, and I look like I know where I'm going (so I've been told). My sidearms and the holsters I carry them in look 'professional' - no Uncle Mike's nylon "universal fit" job. If I'm in the supermarket or at the gas station, if someone were to notice my sidearm, my dress and outward demeanor would suggest that there's likely a business reason for me to be armed. That's what works for me - YMMV.

Just remember - you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

[ccw9mm]

... info and ideas on how I can display open carry awareness in my area. Just want to make sure I know how to approach it,do it correctly without offending anybody.

No telling whom you'll offend by carrying. But the simple fact of the matter is, if you're engaged in a lawful activity and act in a respectful and non-threatening manner as you go through this life then there's no reason to fear response by other members of your community.

As some have suggested, OpenCarry.org is a great place to start. Lots of very active, knowledgeable folks over there, generally speaking. Posing your OC-specific questions there will typically generate a lot of replies. As well, there is a wealth of previous discussions in the archives, there. Lots to read.

Basically, though, I'd suggest first getting a sense of your community's willingness to accept "sightings" of firearms being worn by people. Might want to ask a couple of folks down at your sheriff's department for opinions about the local area's tolerance, if you're unsure. I've OC'd for some years now, as well as concealed. It can be a little different, given how some will interact and question the activity.

Generally, though, I've had fairly good experiences. Usually, when someone asks a simple question in a civil manner, it's a great opportunity to reply simply and meet it as a teaching moment. In the long run, that can be of huge benefit to the whole idea of openly carrying. Depends on the person, but the more that see that being able to react defensively and responsibly ain't a bad thing, the better the community will accept it. In my experience, it largely comes down to people skills, how I react to the reactions/questions of others. YMMV.

[P95]

When you make eye contact with people, smile and nod. Portray yourself as a calm and friendly individual to put others at ease. Walk and stand with confidence. If you carry yourself like that, others may take you for some sort of plain clothes LEO rather than a civilian who may be up to no good. Open doors for others and do the little things that would make you a good neighbor regardless of whether or not you are packing.

Also, I'd say try not to dress or act like a negative stereotype or give people any additional reasons to be afraid of you apart from the gun. Adding a gun to that picture sends some people overboard and may result in a MWAG call to the police. If you don't go out of your way to draw attention to yourself (which sounds like you are already doing, from your previous posts), then that's even better.

There are some people who will get freaked out by seeing a gun, regardless of what you do to quell any fears they may have, but that comes with the territory. Act like a nice guy and be respectful and you may cut down on the gruff you get from others.

Just my $0.02

+1...very well stated.

[brazildsm]

Awesome.thanx. I have that site saved on my phone. I will research it a little better.

You can get some good info on this from opencarry.org in the discussion forum for your state. Many states have fliers that you can hand out to educate folks on the legality of open carry, so you might want to check on that. Also many states have an open carry organization that you can get info and support from. Just some thoughts.

[TN_Mike]

Dress nice, not shabby. Clean cut and well groomed. Do not act tough. Just go about your normal business and if someone asks about the gun be polite and not confrontational. If you run across an anti gun type, just tell them that you respectfully disagree and point out that you are not breaking the law in any way. Wish them a good day and be on your way.

I try to be an ambassador of open carry to the non-carry world, or as my daughter calls them, the "muggles" (she is a big Harry Potter fan) when ever I can.

[brazildsm]

very good advice mike.i am working on that very hard incase i run into that situation again.thanx for the advice.

Dress nice, not shabby. Clean cut and well groomed. Do not act tough. Just go about your normal business and if someone asks about the gun be polite and not confrontational. If you run across an anti gun type, just tell them that you respectfully disagree and point out that you are not breaking the law in any way. Wish them a good day and be on your way.

I try to be an ambassador of open carry to the non-carry world, or as my daughter calls them, the "muggles" (she is a big Harry Potter fan) when ever I can.