There is a lot of debate between concealed carry vs open carry of firearms. There are tens of thousands of concealed carry license holders across the country. Open carry is very common in parts of this country as well. There are advantages and disadvantages to consider for each method of carrying a gun.
Advantages of Open Carry
An advantage of open carry is your pistol will not get caught in clothing as easy as it can when drawing from concealment. Someone can win or lose a gunfight by the speed of their draw.
Large frame pistols are difficult to conceal and some shooters do not like small pistols. It is easier to carry large frame pistols openly than it is to conceal them. Carrying a pistol openly is more comfortable for a lot of people.
Most criminals seek easy opportunities and don’t want to face a lot of resistance. Someone who is open carrying a pistol may be a deterrent to them.
Disadvantages of Open Carry
Part of the debate between concealed carry vs open carry is the ability to draw your gun.
The first disadvantage of open carry depends on the location you live in. Some communities are more accepting of open carrying of pistols than others.
It is very common where I live to occasionally see someone open carrying a pistol in public. Open carrying a pistol in other areas of the country may be legal but will get you reported to the police.
A violent criminal who is determined to commit a crime will first eliminate anything or anyone he considers a threat. Someone who is open carrying a pistol could be his first target.
Advantages of Concealed Carry
People don’t notice concealed guns as easily as they do open carry guns. Some carriers are more comfortable with concealed carry vs open carry because they don’t want to draw attention to themselves.
A violent criminal will not target you for carrying a weapon and give you a tactical advantage to defend yourself.
Disadvantages of Concealed Carry
The first disadvantage of concealed carry vs open carry is larger guns are harder to conceal. Concealed carry pistols are usually smaller because of this. Smaller pistols have lower ammo capacity and may be harder to grip for some people. An individual’s body type and methods of dress will influence the size of the pistol they carry.
Your pistol may become tangled in your clothing if you don’t efficiently get it out of the way before you draw from a holster. Concealed carry can be uncomfortable if you don’t use a good holster that fits your gun and method of carry correctly.
Concealed Carry vs Open Carry is a personal decision
There are many other advantages and disadvantages to each of these methods of carrying a gun. It is up to you to decide the method of carrying a firearm that works best.
The Second Amendment gives us the ability to arm ourselves with the tools we need to stay safe and protect our families. Take the responsibility of carrying a gun for self defense very seriously.