The “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of Open Carry Part I

By Roger Phillips, Suarez International Specialist and Tier One Instructor

A serious look at making the open carry operator as squared away as they can possible be.

I know there are people out there that believe that I am “anti-open carry.” This is not really the truth of the matter. What I am is “anti-ignorance” and I admit that I am very hard core in this belief. For those that know and train with me, they know why I am like that. They know that I really care about their ability to be the very best they can be when it comes down to the ability to defend their lives and the lives of their loved ones. To me, this is the paramount reason that we carry and any other reason pales in comparison.

I do not carry for a political agenda, or because it is my right, or because I want to be a hero, or because I want the mere presence of the gun to stop a crime, or because of the coolness factor, or to educate people, or the stir up awareness. I carry for one reason and one reason only.

I carry to be the very best that I can be inside of a life threatening encounter involving myself or my loved ones!

Everyone can feel free to call that “one way” or “self centered” but the reality of the matter is that “me and mine” are more important than everyone else. That does not mean that I will not risk my life help innocent people, heck I’ve done it before on a few occasions. What it does mean is that I want to have the choice whether I get involved or not. Open carry cuts down on my options.

Any attack on me is an attack on my loved ones. I am the one that keeps them in good neighborhoods. I am the one that keeps them in good schools, I am the one that keeps them from hanging out with the wrong people, I am the one that keeps them away from drugs, alcohol, crime, teenage pregnancies, and especially the violence that comes out of those issues. I am the one that instills “the three stupid rule” into them. You will be amazed how living with “the three stupid rule” as a guide will cut down on your violent encounters.

Do not go stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things.

The importance of a solid parental figure inside of the home can be the difference between life and death for the children inside of that home. That has been my reality! I lost my older sister at 28 years old due to the life style that we had led as children and young adults. Living outside of “the three stupid rule” as we did, for over thirteen years, cost her her life. She made decisions at thirteen years old that were not survivable. I spent thirteen years of my life protecting her and my family from the extremely violent world that she brought into our lives. Never underestimate the value of a strong parental figure inside of the home. As the parent, no matter how important that you think that you are, you are much more important than that. You can be the difference between your children living or dying…….and that is a fact!

IMHO, as a parent or future parent, you should have one mission that overrides all other missions. That mission is to go home and take care of your family. I do not need to be a hero, I do not need to push a political agenda, I do not need to educate anyone about their rights. All I need to do is go home and make sure that my family has everything that I can give them, to give them the ability to acquire the very best life that they can have. I did not fight my way out of the gutter to have my children need to do the very same thing.

This is why I am so vocal on the issue of being the very best that you can be inside of a life threatening encounter. This is why I risk being seen as an “anti-open carry” guy, even though I am not. All I want is for people to get the best information so that they can make the best choices for themselves and their love ones. All I care about is you fulfilling your paramount mission.

Now that people have some insight on “why I do what I do” how about we look at the things that will allow you to be the very best that you can be while open carrying.

The Gun is not a Talisman that wards off Evil

I think it is time for us all to agree, without having to call for links to prove it, the mere presence of a gun may stop a crime from ever being committed. On the flip side we need to agree that the presence of the gun may also be the catalyst of the crime that is committed. Yes, there are plenty of cases that show that people were targeted for their guns……..in their homes and on their person. This is all well documented and backed by common sense. Once we understand this, it becomes very clear that carrying a gun (open or concealed) comes with certain responsibilities. If the gun is a deterrent, not having the teeth to use it efficiently and effectively is like bluffing while playing poker. If you carry (open or concealed) you need to know how to use it efficiently and effectively. You do not want to bluff while holding one ace! If I am concealed, I never have anyone “call” my bluff because I am not bluffing. But if I am open carrying I am always in the position to be “called.” This means that if you decide to open carry you may need a higher skill level than those that carry concealed. Since the gun is visible, you may be in the position where you are more likely forced to use it.

With concealed carry I have more of an option to get involved or to not get involved. Since no one knows that I am carrying, I will be less likely to have my hand forced. I can make the rational decisions, on what to do based on “my mission.” I can watch the confrontation unfold and make the decision “when” or even “if” I go on the offensive. This is what people are talking about when they talk about “the tactical advantage.” This is all about the manipulation of the OODA loop, understanding “initiative” and the huge problems inside of “initiative deficit.” Once again this leads us to the point that open carry individuals may need a higher skill level and tactical understanding than those that carry concealed.

Simply put, action beats reaction! So many gun people do not understand this fact. Until you experience this firsthand you will not understand just how far behind you are most likely going to be. Open carry requires that you have your situational awareness tuned to a higher level, your “line in the sand” drawn clearer, your ability to work through the OODA loop quicker, and that your skill sets inside of the reactive gunfight at a higher level. You may be quicker getting your gun into play (depending on your mode of carry) due to not having a concealment garment, but that may not be even close to being good enough.

If the open carry gun deters the crime from ever taking place……great! But this is something that you cannot rely on. Crimes can also be deterred just by the way you carry yourself and how you handle yourself. There is one stat that will never be sure of, how many times is a crime deterred because of an open carry gun, compared to how many crimes are deterred due to being deselected due to the way you handle yourself and how you carry yourself.

You may want to consider getting some information about the streets. There are certain neighborhoods in Las Vegas where open carry may be seen as a sign of disrespect to the criminal organization that controls those neighborhoods. I know we all want to “go where ever I want to go.” But, is it really smart to fly the one finger salute in the most dangerous neighborhoods in Vegas, to the most dangerous people in Vegas. Going to those areas cover the “going stupid places” which makes you “the stupid person, doing the stupid thing.” Open carry requires a little more discretion than concealed carry. Information about the streets can be had if you know where to look.

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Comments

[Dan Hammond]

I concur.

I'm not anti-open carry. Roger makes some good points as to the whys and wherefores of open carry as contrasted to concealed carry.

[LarryA]

To me depending on open carry to deter a criminal attack is a lot like depending on a restraining order to deter family violence.

When a RO works it’s because the actor wasn’t really that determined. When a RO fails it usually causes the actor to act suddenly and more violently.

Open carry means volunteering to be First Target.

[Bruce]

You have eloquently put into words the reason I rarely open carry. The only time I open carry is when I wear a 1911 as my "BBQ Gun". Quite frankly at those events everyone else is too.

[fsilber]

"There are certain neighborhoods in Las Vegas where open carry may be seen as a sign of disrespect to the criminal organization that controls those neighborhoods."

More than any illusion that they're pursuing safety, I suspect this is also the real motivation of the many governments which prohibit the general public from going about armed.

[uncle Dave]

How true... I find so many people wanting to make a poltical statement that are from "safe" areas. Many from place with population that would take half there state to equal my town. They carry to make a statement... I carry to protect myself, there is a differance.

[JERRY SCOTTON]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I HAVE CARRIED (CONCEALED) FOR ABOUT 43 YEARS. I HAVE LIVED IN GEORGIA, TEXAS, ALABAMA AND I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY TIME THAT IT HAS BEEN NOTED. I DO NOT WANT TO BE KNOWN AS A GUN NUT OR WHAT EVER. JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. I AM 78 YEARS OLD AND I FEEL SAFE WITH THE WAY I CARRY CONCEALED. THANK YOU,

[donald horton]

I agree. Most people consider themselves adequately trained when they get their CCW license; obviously not enough to offset making themselves the first target in any encounter. Surprise always is an advantage in any sort of encounter.

[George Munford]

Thank you for this article.

George

[mindy costa]

I think it is a good article, more or less tells it how it is. Not criticisms, just my thoughts on the matter: unfortunately in CA (and some other states) 1) most cant carry concealed, 2) carry concealed requires permits, which I for one am against.. even though I'm already on that list in other states. 3) the reason CA is allowed to keep hitting us with these atrocious gun laws is because too many people think guns are bad, and part of OC is to help dis-spell that myth. 4) I accept responsibility for being that stupid person that will go into an area that it will be considered "the middle finger", not because I think it is the safest thing to do... but because it is about 6% of people that commit about 80% of crime. I believe that if that 94% stood up for itself.. that 6% would be the ones that had to stay inside at night and lock their doors! I will go into that bad neighborhood and OC before I allow myself to go un-armed.5) If I didn't OC, I could not educate people every day on what their rights are and give them the choice on exercising them. 6)Something to think about- if you end up in court for a self defense shooting, you are highly liable whether you CC or OC.. but if you are attacked while you OC.. how can you reasonably be told that your life wasn't in danger? The bad guy ignored the big steel stop sign, kinda infers that he was trying to use deadly force.

[Tequila Jake]

The author's observations and philosophy make perfect sense to me. Although we are not (yet) allowed to carry openly in my state, I have already thought this through and decided not carry openly if and when that option is approved where I live. And I even more emphatically agree with the "Three Stupid" rule. I've had problems (not serious ones, thank God!) in the past for breaking one or more of these rules and it won't happen again. Even more importantly, I think I've had something to do with the fact that my son never breaks those rules.