Open carry in San Diego, interesting story...

[spin]

It’s a beautiful day in Pacific Beach as Nate approaches the bronze pelican statue on the boardwalk. He’s slight and blond, spectacled and clad in jeans and an army-green T-shirt. He squints. The sun’s so bright overhead that he is prompted to spray a fine mist of sunblock over his fair skin to stave off a burn.

I’ve never met Nate before, but I know it’s him (a) because I’ve seen his picture and (b) due to the handgun that sits on a holster against his hip.

*****snip*****

The term “open carrying” refers to one who is in possession of a holstered, unloaded firearm on his or her person, displayed in plain view. Nate begins to explain the legalities of this to the beachgoer when Sean approaches, video camera in tow. In shades, a green shirt with double-breast pockets, green cargo pants, and a Sig Sauer P229 holstered on his hip, Sean looks not unlike a police officer.

The beachgoer does a double take.

“Another one!” he exclaims, as Sean greets us warmly.

The beachgoer, incredulous, excuses himself — with one final stare — to go “get baked.”
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/jul/15/cover/

In my opinion, carrying an unloaded weapon in public makes little or no sense.

[sharesunited]

1. It is merely bling of the sickest kind. n/t

[SteveM]

2. An unloaded gun is just a poorly-designed club (nt)

[spin]

3. Exactly (n/t)

[Statistical]

5. Is that why Police Officers conceal their firearms? n/t

[frylock]

7. typically, peace officers carry a LOADED firearm

[Statistical]

8. Oops. When I saw open carry my brain must have rejected the word "unloaded".

I agree unloaded open carry is kinda stupid.

CA of course they don't allow the masses to carry loaded weapons!

[spin]

11. If I carry a handgun, it's loaded and ready to fire...

if I carry a pistol, there's a round in the chamber.

If I carry a revolver, all cylinders are loaded. (I carry modern revolvers.)

I carry concealed. I am licensed to do so.

I would never open carry in public. I feel it makes me a target and also unnecessarily causes fear among those unfamiliar with firearms.

I know a lot of police officers, none carry an unloaded firearm on duty.

[jody]

4. SD is slackmaster's city, I look forward to his comments. n/t

[spin]

6. I agree. One reason I started this thread (n/t)

edited to change threat to thread. Need new glasses. My retirement doesn't provide for dental or vision care.

[slackmaster]

10. I didn't take it as a threat really

More of a thread. ;-)

[jody]

12. ROFLMAO. n/t

[spin]

14. Oops, need to get new glasses....

which aren't covered under my retirement insurance.

Nor is dental coverage.

corrected, thanks.

[slackmaster]

9. I haven't participated in any of the OC events

I personally don't believe it's a good idea unless you are actually prepared physically and psychologically to load and fire your weapon. Most of the time, I am not. I can't speak for the individuals who do participate, but I have to take them at their word that they are doing so responsibly.

I do sometimes open carry, unloaded in the wilderness. You are a lot less likely to stir up trouble out there, and a lot more likely to need to defend yourself. When I'm out around town I like to have the option of stopping in somewhere and having a beer or glass of wine, which definitely rules out carrying a firearm.

At my age (51) I generally don't do things that are legal but provocative just to make a political point. I don't have a problem with the people who do. It's just not how I do things. I believe I've gotten a lot more coverage of my political views by the letters to the editor that I write frequently, and get published several times in a typical year.

[spin]

13. Good. I agree with your ideas. (n/t)

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. The gun is physically unloaded. However,

I believe in Cali you can have a loaded mag on your persona as well. Meaning you are only about 3 seconds from having a laoded firearm. In other states, the legal definition of unloaded may simply be "no round chambered".

Good for these poeple raising awareness in Kommiefornia.

[east texas lib]

16. Open carry merely negates any tactical advantage and makes one a prime target.

Very bad idea.

[Statistical]

17. There is no evidence of that.

Relying on feeling or atencdotes is what gun grabbers do.

Unless you can find a study that shows the those who open carry are more subject to attack then CCW or unarmed victims that is simply your opinion.

[AtheistCrusader]

23. I see no reason to think

Open carry civilians would suffer fewer 'grappling' issues than uniformed police officers, who are killed with their own weapons at much higher rates than plainclothes police officers.

[Taitertots]

18. That must be why people are always robbing the police N/t

[jeepnstein]

20. How many officers...

are shot with their own weapons? Open carry has it's drawbacks.

[Taitertots]

21. How many Non-LEOs try to arrest people?

I'm sure that has as much to do with the nature of their work, as with them carrying in the open. They obviously face dangers not encountered by average people.


My point is that people are not targeting them for robbery.

[jeepnstein]

25. Some times there's a fine line between...

arresting someone and getting mugged sometimes. Open carry plus close proximity to a criminal means having to worry more about weapon retention.

[Tim01]

19. It is kind of like a dog showing its teeth.

I understand the argument about tactical advantage.

It could also be argued that bad guys want easy targets. And will leave along a person who has made it clear they will defend themselves with lethal force.

[spin]

22. An unloaded gun is like a dog whose bark is worse than his bite, (n/t)

[virginia mountainman]

24. Open carry VS CCW....

I am a CCWer, but their is times when "uncovering" is a good idea. Because of my work, I find myself, on foot, in some "industrial" areas in big cities, in most cases, well past midnight, and in some other cases, I find myself standing around in these locations, for hours. I do carry a hidden gun. But sometimes, If their are "shady operators" around, in the shadows, who are paying a lot of attention to me, I will do the "Virginia Tuck" and fully exposing my pistol, or I will lift my pocket carried pistol enough to make the grip visible.

This is my way of warning the "shady operators" who are watching me, and sizing me up, that they best be leaving me alone.

The problem with a concealed weapon is that in the eyes of the law, you will need to use it, to prove you have it.

I only have "exposed my sidearm" like this a only a couple of times in many years. I also go into "Def-con 1", with much MUCH heightened awareness of all of my surroundings at this moment.

Universally, when the "operators" realized I was armed, they, by their actions,and body language became much less of a threat to me.

At 3AM, in a run down section of town, is not the time for Bullshit.......