Why OC when you can CC?

[headcase]

Originally Posted by Sig_Dude

The thing here is...in PA you've got two extremes. I gues other states have this too...you could be on the top of a mountain (actually more like a hill) with wall-to-wall trees and bears....then you could drive a couple house and be in center-city Pittsburgh or Philly. I am assuming that the people talking about OC'ing are NOT doing it while watching a Phillies game or at Pat's or Geno's.

Personally I don't see the point. You'll do nothing but upset the anti's and the middle-ground people, and to be honset you'll probably upset a good number of even Pro 2A guys and confuse others like myself.

If you really want to see the point, and I am not sure you do, I copied a response I wrote a while back:

Before I go off to bed, I felt the need to try to explain my position on OC'ing and a bit about why Thekatar's oc comments get on my nerves. When I first bought my pistol and received my LTCF, I was under the impression that a great deal of things that are not illegal in Pa. were in fact, illegal. When I found this forum, it really opened my eyes to some of the misconceptions that plague firearm owners. I came across a thread about someone OC'ing and was shocked that it is in fact legal. I thought about doing it and started to weigh the pros and cons as I saw them. I have read and understand the reasons stated by the anti OC members, for their view on the subject. I don't happen to agree with them. At all. I don't believe the argument that keeping your weapon concealed to maintain the element of surprise, outweighs either the deterrent factor, or the ease of weapon deployment that open carry brings with it. I do not agree that the open carry of your weapon makes you a more likely target for violence, and have found in my own personal experience that OC has, in fact, made me less of a target. I interact with a great cross section of people on a daily basis and have not had one single negative reaction to my weapon being in plain site in over four months. In fact, it has been quite the opposite. When something is said about it, it has been unanimously along the lines of, "are you a cop", or,"do you carry that for your job". When I answer these questions and explain myself, I am inexorably greeted with one of two responses. Either they say," oh, I didn't know that, good for you.",and continue on with what ever business they were engaged in or they are then so fascinated by the fact that it is legal, they want to engage in a protracted discussion of more myths associated with carrying a firearm in Pa.

I also don't agree with the argument that I should not OC because it may offend someone. At all. I have the right to enjoy and exercise my freedoms. Other peoples prejudices do not now, nor should they ever, control what I may or may not do. The thought that people have the right to not be offended, is a fallacy created by our litigious society. People simply do not have that right. If they are offended by something, they have the right to complain. They have the right to remove themselves and avoid the offensive item. They have the right to suck it up and drive on. But they do not get to force me to follow their way of life. My actions do not require them to follow mine.

Thekatar's and now synergy's opinions and hypothetical arguments do not hold water in my experience with the almost daily reality of OC. And their arguments are just that, hypothetical. But they do not present those opinions as hypothetical arguments, they present them as inevitabilities and facts. Nothing to back their statements up, just opinions. And when one negative experience occurs in a sea of hundreds of positives, they pounce on it and blow it out of proportion. Or they resort to telling people that are nervous about doing it, that they will surely be arrested or violently attacked for no other reason then that they OC'ed. Thekatar stated in this very thread that encouraging Michelle to OC almost got her killed. That statement not only has no basis in reality from the account I read, but it was accusatory and wrong. The fact of the matter is that a guy got spooked and assumed he was being robbed. He put up his hands and backed away. His unwarranted overreaction in turn scared Michelle. That is all that happened. I would be willing to bet, that if Michelle hadn't been road weary and had reacted more in the manner of," what are you so scared about? I'm not robbing you. Oh, my gun? I carry it for self defense. Dude, look at the money in my hand that I'm paying you with....", they probably would have laughed it off as a stupid misunderstanding. Not in anyway a knock on Michelle, at all. All I use that example for is to show that the situation did not deteriorate to anywhere near the depth that Thekatar made it out to be. She got scared, he got scared and that, in the end, was all that happened. As I have stated before, I think Thekatar has some very good thoughts on a variety of subjects, but when it comes to OC, he loses his objectivity and attacks instead of opining. No one attacks people for choosing to CC. Why the need is felt to attack people for OC'ing and to call them stupid and curse them, to interject extremely negative comments, and to pretend that no such thing is being done, is beyond me.

I CC and I OC. I began OC'ing because I was nervous to do it. I kept OC'ing to show anyone who was interested, that it could and should be as normal an activity as anything else one might choose to do. I continue to OC, because it is now the way I feel most comfortable carrying. I share some of my experiences on this forum, as a guide to what may be expected by someone who may want to OC, but maybe nervous about doing so. I don't ever tell someone to just do it, unless they seem like they are looking for someone to tell them just that. I counsel to carry how you feel comfortable carrying, and to know the law as it applies to whatever method you choose. When I do so, I expect anyone one who feels the need to comment, to do so constructively, whether they agree or disagree. Comments like,"well I hope you are prepared to get shot, or have a large bank account to pay your lawyer", are not constructive or helpful. They are meant to disturb and frighten and make the commenter look like a trouble maker.

Now, like I posted earlier, you can go read through some of the threads I posted, or you can page backward through the CC/OC forum and find the latest threads that deal with this question.

[headcase]

Originally Posted by TTR

Hola, I'm new to this site and hello there.

I think it's great one can OC in PA. I wouldn't do it though. I wouldn't want to draw attention to myself.

Do you guys carry OC while walking down a busy downtown street, in a store of some type, etc.? I have never seen a person do that. Really I haven't.

I prefer to CC myself. The Zombies can't see my pieces under my shirt and they come in real close before I draw and whack them at close range. If you OC the Zombies will know it. It's hard for me to hit a Zombie when he/she won't come in close. Thats why I cc.

This is a much better toned post then the one's posted by the OP. Welcome TTR.
I CC and OC, but I OC probably 98% of the time now. I have OC'ed to my son's school, to the school PTO fundraiser, to the mall, to walmart, at the bank, at the supermarket, downtown, uptown, everywhere I conduct my normal daily affairs. I have OC'ed while working in customers' houses. I have personally never once had a negative reaction. I have been asked about it on occasion, and have very politely explained myself, and the reaction is always positive. As for the zombies... Dude, zombies are stupid, that's why they eat brains. It is a futile attempt to get smarter. If a zombie smells your brain, he won't stop trying to eat it until you put one in his empty skull. Even if you are riddling him with automatic fire, he still keeps coming. Destroying his skull, leaves no place for the consumed brains to go, so he dies. Personally, I don't want to have to fumble past my shirt or jacket, when I need to draw on a zombie, but that's just me. If you have trouble hitting zombie skulls at a distance, set up cantaulopes at 45' and practice on those, it'll come dude...

[38SnubFan]

I guess I owe an apology to you TTR. I haven't been a member here long, but it seems I already forgot what it's like to be a noob.

Anyways, welcome to the forums. I never even thought about OCing outside of when I'm on duty until I came here and read all the threads about it.

For the most part with me, it's a personal decision. Sometimes I OC, and sometimes I CC. It's really a matter of comfort, both as far as what I'm wearing, and what the environment I'm going to be in dictates.

As far as how we carry, we carry and should be carrying for OUR REASONS...not what someone else dictates or thinks.

If you ever get the courage the OC, I say go for it. It can be a very uplifting and liberating experience.

However, if you feel you'll be more comfortable by always CCing, then that's cool too. As long as you're carrying, you're supporting the 2A and RKBA.

Best of luck to you, and welcome to the forums.

Regards,
38SnubFan

[Mrs. Pa Patriot]

Originally Posted by ShakeyDad

Oh Dear Lord.......here we go again !

LoL, I was thinking more along the lines of this:

[Sig_Dude]

People can post pictures of dead horses, talk about how many times this and that has been talked about and beaten to death already, tell anecdotes about how they carried onto public school property which by the way is (stupidly and unfortunatly) completely illegal, but it does not change the fact that there is no reason to carry openly. Sure, if you're in back country and want to strap on a .50 S&W for bear defense that's one thing. But to stroll into a PTA meeting or onto a soccer field openly strapped...why? What does that achomplish?

[Sig_Dude]

One more thing..this forum is a Pennsylvania forum...is it the Pennsylvania that's on Planet Earth, in the Milky Way? I ask because in the parts of PA I know the most, if I strapped a gun on and say went to the Wawa, I'd be almost certainly picked up by the police. I have never once seen anybody openly carry. I guess most of you guys are from the more rural parts of PA.

[markheck1]

Actually No...most of the time it's uneventful.....read the posts, man

And there are definitely a few that OC in Philly and Da 'Burgh

ETA start with this one http://www.pafoa.org/forum/concealed...a-suburbs.html

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by Sig_Dude

One more thing..this forum is a Pennsylvania forum...is it the Pennsylvania that's on Planet Earth, in the Milky Way? I ask because in the parts of PA I know the most, if I strapped a gun on and say went to the Wawa, I'd be almost certainly picked up by the police. I have never once seen anybody openly carry. I guess most of you guys are from the more rural parts of PA.

You've gotten good advice as to look at the existing threads if you are sincerely seeking answers to your question(s). I suggest you check out the links posted.

As for the Milky Way comment, how do you know how people react to OC where you live? Have you OC'd or are you just speculating? I think if you take a few minutes and read some of the OC journal threads posted here you'll see that many folks assumed that OC would be a problem where they lived. Upon doing it they find that people don't really care.
The police can't "pick you up" for legally carrying, in and of itself.

Many of us regular OC'ers are not from "rural" PA. And while I OC in WIlkes-Barre and Scranton, I have also OC'd in Harrisburg a few times, York, and even Philadelphia.

That out of the way... Welcome to the board. No one insists you need to OC or even think it a good idea. We all carry for our own reasons.

Keep an open mind and you might be surprised what this board has to offer.

[Sig_Dude]

Thanks for the welcome, seriously.

You have to understand that to me, the idea of OC'ing is similar to the idea of going out in public naked.

By the way what happens when a cop sees you?

Originally Posted by Pa. Patriot

You've gotten good advice as to look at the existing threads if you are sincerely seeking answers to your question(s). I suggest you check out the links posted.

As for the Milky Way comment, how do you know how people react to OC where you live? Have you OC'd or are you just speculating? I think if you take a few minutes and read some of the OC journal threads posted here you'll see that many folks assumed that OC would be a problem where they lived. Upon doing it they find that people don't really care.
The police can't "pick you up" for legally carrying, in and of itself.

Many of us regular OC'ers are not from "rural" PA. And while I OC in WIlkes-Barre and Scranton, I have also OC'd in Harrisburg a few times, York, and even Philadelphia.

That out of the way... Welcome to the board. No one insists you need to OC or even think it a good idea. We all carry for our own reasons.

Keep an open mind and you might be surprised what this board has to offer.

[lprgcFrank]

Originally Posted by Sig_Dude

One more thing..this forum is a Pennsylvania forum...is it the Pennsylvania that's on Planet Earth, in the Milky Way? I ask because in the parts of PA I know the most, if I strapped a gun on and say went to the Wawa, I'd be almost certainly picked up by the police. I have never once seen anybody openly carry. I guess most of you guys are from the more rural parts of PA.

Here's where I've OC'd my 1911 this weekend - all with no issues
Philly Airport terminal F baggage claim, E and D walking through all of these on my way to the train platform. Waiting on the terminal C/D platform for 15 minutes with about 20 folks. 20+ minutes on the 30th Street station platform with 40 people waiting for the R5. Radnor Cleaners, Wawa in Wayne, CVS in St. Davids, Starbucks in Wayne, Flavor restaurant in Strafford, King Street Grill in Frazer and Home Depot in Frazer.... real backwoods places.....

As to when a LEO sees me - Never had an issue at Philly airport - even had a Radnor PD guy hold the door for me in Wawa last year.....