Open Carry Poll
Open carry (OC) of firearms in public has become a hot topic with fervent opinions on both sides of the issue. In some locations, concealed carry is heavily regulated while open carry is largely unregulated. What do you think about the practice?
Is it good because it allows the OC-er faster access or acts as a criminal deterrent? Is it bad because it removes the element of surprise, makes the OC-er a target or scares the general population? Does it just depend on the situation?
Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments section.
[poll id=”8″]
2nd Amendment Media’s Carry Gun Companion
Whitman Publishing’s 2nd Amendment Media has added another title to their bookshelf of CCW resources. Their trio of Legally Armed, Armed & Smart, and Armed & Smarter provide concise state-by-state summaries of gun laws and discussion of basic and advanced CCW topics, respectively. Their Red Book of Carry Gun Values lets owners and prospective buyers find out what a carry gun is worth in various conditions. The latest edition that we had a chance to take a look at, the Carry Gun Companion, takes things in a little bit of a different direction.
The Carry Gun Companion is a deceptively-thin 190 page compilation of discussion of concealed carry topics followed by over a hundred pages of carry gun porn – something most firearms enthusiasts can appreciate. You won’t have to lie about “just reading the articles,” though; each photo of the almost five dozen popular carry guns (complete with stats including size, weight, capacity, MSRP and street price, trigger pull, and turn-ons. Ok, we made up that last one) is accompanied by a write-up detailing the firearm’s features and available options that make it a desirable carry piece. The publishers know what you’re after, though – what else would explain why the page number in the index points to the photo for each firearm rather than the write-up on the preceding page.
Although the Carry Gun Companion is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list of carry guns, it does contain all but one of the CCW pistols (or a comparable model) that I have carried and many that I have only drooled over. The accompanying article with each firearm is descriptive and gives the type of general information that “gun guys and gals” will like without geeking out so much that the casual firearm enthusiast’s eyes will gloss over.
The 60-odd pages that make up “The Archive” portion of the book include a history of US gun laws – including the origins of the Second Amendment and its current status – as well as devoting a few pages each to a number of topics of interest to gun owners, including politics, types of firearms and ammunition and basic firearm maintenance and safety.
In the introduction, the editors say that their mission was to “produce a collection of information related to all aspects of the concealed carry world, including close looks at specific popular handguns but also exploring the ideological terrain surrounding the guns themselves.” It seems like they met that goal with the Carry Gun Companion. Whether you are going to use it as a coffee table book to pick up and read when there is nothing on television, a bathroom reader, or a basic guide on what your next carry gun will be, this is a fun little book.
Is Pretending to Open Carry a Viable Self Defense Option?
Talking the Talk, Not Walking The Walk
An interesting new product idea was recently brought to our attention. The goal of Perceived Carry Decoys (PCD) is to give the perception that the person wearing it is openly carrying a firearm “without the stigma or concerns associated with owning a gun.”
The device itself is essentially a fake pistol molded into a paddle holster. Although the product photos appear to be stock photos of the SG21 and WP22 holsters directly from the Fobus website, it does sound like there are prototypes out there and the website claims that the product will be unveiled at the 2015 Miami Small Business Expo starting tomorrow and the idea taken before the Shark Tank folks.
But let’s back up a minute. Is this product even a good idea? First off, what kind of adult (and the website does say that you must be 18 to order) wants to pretend to open carry a gun? If you want to protect yourself or your family but a firearm isn’t for you, you are probably better off with a baton, a can of Fox Labs spray, or the more politically-correct cell phone and rape whistle.
I am not adverse to open carry and I have done so in several states both before and after getting a concealed carry license – although, for the most part, I find the benefits of carrying concealed to far outweigh those of open carry. OC serves a purpose, but that purpose isn’t to make a scene and draw attention to yourself. There are valid arguments for and against open carry which do not need to be hashed out again here. However, I think that there is a fundamental flaw in some of the reasoning presented on the PCD website:
The whole purpose of open carry is to give off the “don’t mess with me” persona. The whole purpose of Perceived Carry Decoys is to give off the appearance that you too are ready for anyone, anywhere.
No. That isn’t the whole purpose of open carry. Maybe that is a small side effect of open carry but the generally agreed upon benefits include faster access to the weapon, less likelihood of snagging on a garment, more comfortable carry, not having to buy bigger pants, ability to carry without the time and money investment of a getting a license (in some states), etc.
There are a number of downsides to open carry as well, as any OC opponent will be quick to point out. It has the potential to put a bullseye on you for the bad guys (like the so-called shoot me first vests) and, in many places, it will get you lots of unwanted attention from law enforcement, security guards, store clerks, zealous anti-gunners, and other busy bodies. How does it go when something goes south and the cops tell you to slowly put your gun on the ground?
And what about when Joe Street-Thug decides that you are next in line for his mischief making? News flash: bad guys, especially the particularly dangerous ones – are often not afraid of some schmo with a gun. If they don’t just shoot you immediately to remove you as a threat, how does it play out when they try to take the gun or force you to give it to them? How do you use a piece of gun-and-holster shaped rubber to protect your family from real world evil?
Maybe the PCD is something that you have to get your hands on to see how good it is. Maybe there is some big upside to it that I am just missing. Or maybe I just don’t understand the mindset of someone so worried about “the stigma or concerns associated with owning a gun.” It just seems like very little good but a lot of bad could come from pretending to have a gun when you don’t.
Although the site claims that they are only taking pre-orders at this time and no price is listed, perhaps a better make-believe “I have a gun” routine would be to flash a concealed carry badge on your belt or a chain around your neck. Imagine the epic crime-deterrent power of a CCW badge and a fake gun!
How Many People Really Carry Concealed?
Estimated numbers compiled by NSSF indicate that more people than ever are carrying a concealed weapon these days. Not surprisingly (and despite anti-gun rhetoric to the contrary), crime has not increased commensurately with with the greater number of “guns on the street.”
While nationwide CCW is estimated to be around 4%, some states are estimated to have 10% or more of the population packing (good job, Iowa and South Dakota), with several others following closely. See the chart below for a full state-by-state breakdown.
Reasons for the increased number of concealed carriers are many and varied. As depicted in the map above, many states have moved from having no concealed carry or restrictive “may issue” CCW regulations to being “shall issue” states. Even unlikely states like Illinois have joined the concealed carry crowd. This relaxation of carry restrictions allows more people to get carry permits, which may help to remove the perceived stigma of carrying a firearm, which snowballs into even greater numbers as citizens view a firearm as a viable way to protect themselves and their loved ones. Greater reciprocity and even the ability to take CCW training online make it even easier for law abiding individuals to get a permit.
Do you or someone you know carry a concealed firearm? Share your story and experiences below in the comments section.
Fact: Total concealed carry permits in the U.S. increased approximately 29 percent from an estimated 6.9 million in 2010 to an estimated 9.0 million in 2012.
Alien Gear Holsters Ramps Up Manufacturing Due To Increased Demand
Consumer demand continues to grow for Alien Gear Holsters’ newest IWB, the ‘Cloak Tuck 2.0’. Launched in Summer 2014, this lightweight, neoprene composite holster has taken the market by storm with what many in the concealed carry industry are calling the most comfortable, dependable and easy to conceal holster they’ve ever tried.
As a result, the ‘Cloak Tuck 2.0’ has shattered Alien Gear Holsters’ daily sales records, causing delayed shipping times while fueling product demand. Thomas Tedder, President of Tedder industries admits, “the demand for the ‘Cloak Tuck 2.0’ has been greater than expected and we’re doing our best to accommodate each and every customer.” As a response, Tedder Industries is doubling their manufacturing line and streamlining many key processes at their Hayden, Idaho manufacturing facility.
Alien Gear Holsters also plans to implement several tools to their website to help inform their customers, including an order status feature, improved email notifications and a chat function that allows customers to access a customer service representative instantly.
Every Alien Gear Holster is hand-made to order and goes through a rigorous, quality assurance test to ensure maximum quality and attention to detail. Tedder adds, “We take great pride in every holster we build, making the low priced ‘Cloak Tuck 2.0’ the best value on the market. We will continue to improve shipping times without compromising the quality you have come to expect.”
About Alien Gear Holsters
Founded in 2013, Alien Gear Holsters manufactures premium, incredibly comfortable holsters for concealed carry. Alien Gear Holsters are the most comfortable, concealable holsters on the planet. Any planet. For more information about Alien Gear Holsters, visit aliengearholsters.com.
New Trio of Concealed Carry Resource Books are on Shelves
A new trio of concealed carry resources are available from the recently launched 2nd Amendment Media imprint of Whitman publishing. The trio includes a summary of firearms laws around the United States and two guides to carrying a concealed firearm.
Legally Armed: A Concealed Carry Gun Law Guide includes a state-by-state guide to the “law of the land” concerning various aspects of CCW with photo illustrations by firearms photographer Oleg Volk. The book covers basics like who can get a carry permit, whether open carry is allowed, how firearms can (and can not) be carried in vehicles. The guide also covers essentials like where you can and can not carry (for instance, in restaurants that serve alcohol or state parks), whether or not you have the “duty to inform” a law enforcement officer if they make contact with you, and more – including relevant excerpts from the state laws. Legally Armed also touches on other aspects of firearms ownership, such as NFA status.
Each state is also graded on an A+ (like Kentucky) through F (like Illinois) scale based on how much gun control. Additionally, contact information is given for the entity that regulates concealed carry such as the state police or state’s attorney general’s office.
In addition to an overview of the 50 states’ laws, Legally Armed also covers Continue reading
