CAn you open carry after being licensed to carry concealed?

[Bond815]

Hi,
I'm new here so please forgive me if this has been addressed before.
I recently attended a concealed carry class where a municipal police officer spoke to the group regarding the laws for carrying a firearm. He told us that if you have a concealed weapons permit then you can no longer carry open. I can't find any reference to this in the PA laws relating to firearms. I've read in some threads here that people carry both open and concealed. Can anybody refer me to a section in the law that addresses this? Thanks.

[jdlv4_0]

YES, you can still open carry. You can't find a law regarding that stipulation because.....there isn't one.

Edited to add:

Also, please note that it's a LICENSE TO CARRY A FIREARM, not a concealed weapons permit.

[MrUgly]

The instructor was in error. Your PA LtCF allows you to carry concealed, it doesn't not make it a requirement. You are free to open carry anywhere other than prohibited places, and in a car. You must have your LtCF to open carry in a vehicle.

Could you let us know which municipality made this statement? I think a flier would be in order.

[Bond815]

I'm not positive, but I think he was with the Lititz (Lancaster County) department.

[Emptymag]

That's like having the person who give your driver's exam telling you that now that you have a "driver's" license, you may not be a passenger in a vehicle.



Welcome to the forum Bond815!

[Bond815]

Good analogy! I'll have to remember that one.

Imagine a cop that doesn't know the law. I wonder what else he's wrong about?

[Pa. Patriot]

Indeed, Welcome!

Also check out the "sticky" at the top of the forum:

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/concealed...carry-you.html

[Bond815]

Yes, thanks I already have one printed!

[headcase]

Can you post the specific info from he class? Where you took it, when? LOL, you know it's bad enough when you get stopped and hassled by a LEO who has no idea about the law he is attempting to uphold, but now we have them teaching about things they know nothing about??!! You would think that anyone teaching a class, would...ummm, IDK research the actual law?! I may be overreacting, but I am really starting to put my bugout bag together, because this society really can't take much more without a major correction in the reality market....

[Bond815]

This happened in the very first NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home course offered in the area. It was held at the Manheim Sportsmans Club in November of last year.
One of the requirements (for the instructor) was to have an police officer or lawyer speak to the group about the law concerning carrying a firearm. The police officer was NOT the instructor but rather a guest speaker that lectured and then held a question and answer period.
The officer discouraged the class from open carry because in his jurisdiction at least the police get called every time someone sees a person carrying open and he has to go check them out. His area is a very liberal, artsy crowd and for all I know he may have been a liberal officer as well.
He also said that if you carry concealed then the firearm must be totally concealed at all times. Even if you're reaching for your wallet and part of your holster is exposed someone is likely to call the police and you may be reported to the sheriff. That didn't sound right to me either but then I thought OK, if you can't carry open after you have your LTCF then I guess it makes sense. But now that I know that was crap; what's the problem if your holster is exposed if you can carry open as well!!