Open carry in your home

[anygunanywhere]

I open carry around the house all the time. When I answered the door the other day to accept the UPS shipment of 2000 rounds of ammo, I opened the door and the first thing she said was "Ireally need a signature for this". As she handed me the signature thingy she noticed the Kimber. I thanked her and carried the bullets inside.

I seldom cover up when I am on my property and go out for the newspaper or whatever. Once two little old ladys were walking and I heard one of them say "He has a gun!" and I said "Where?!?" and grinned at them. Since then they do not even think about it. I have walked down the driveway as I put on a cover garment to be legal as I walked to the mailbox.

The couple across the street often see me in my garage cleaning firearms or loading up a rifle or a shotgun into my pickup or suburban prior to leaving.

I agree with a previous poster that the more people see firearms as a normal part of life the easier it is for us.

Anygun

[sparx]

I agree with a previous poster that the more people see firearms as a normal part of life the easier it is for us.

+1

I grew up in a rural area in the 60's/70's where guns were basically looked upon as a tool to be used with caution right along with chainsaws, mowers, etc., and open carry was common on ranches and in the woods while camping. Hunting season was eagerly awaited upon each year by the majority of the town and surrounding areas, and gun cabinets were probably the 2nd most popular woodshop project in highschool (right after bedside stereo cabinets). Handguns and rifles were never "out of place", and were commonly found in trucks and vehicles outside hunting season as well.

However, after having moved to several big cities and suburbs over the years, I have met people that were not comfortable around guns. I've never met a true "anti" though, as their discomfort was always due to fear of the unknown due to not having any experience. They didn't have or want any guns of their own as they had never really been exposed to them, and to them all guns were alike as they had no interest and felt there wasn't any need in knowing anything more.

I never really tried to change their feelings in a major way, but I didn't refrain from at least talking about them if guns were part of a conversation, either. Sometimes they would be interested enough to take a look at some of mine. After unloading them if necessary, and leaving the receiver or bolt open before handing it to them, some would gingerly take it and handle it like it was made of TNT. I would take it back and go over the basic parts and how the safety operated (a good segway into the 4 rules while the show and tell continues), cycling it and dry-firing, or showing them how to safely lower the hammer.

After handing it back to them they may not be fully comfortable with it, but they would usually always work it a bit, confident in knowing that while it's not loaded it's just steel and wood and they couldn't pull a "Barney". They may not have have any further interest in owning a gun, but at least they're not as uncomfortable around them as they were, so that's a plus. Get enough people used to them and at least those that don't want one won't care if I have one (or many) or not.

I feel that the more people see guns, use guns and have guns, there will be even fewer people that will fall into the group of people I've had experience with. Those that are of the "there will be no gun in my house, nor yours if I can help it" type I find I really don't have much in common with (which is fine by me actually). But that number, although louder, is no doubt fewer in number IMHO.

Personally I wouldn't mind open-carry at all. It didn't bother me when I lived in Arizona for a while. I didn't have any handguns at the time so open carry was not an option for me, although it did throw me the first time I found out it wasn't illegal there when I saw a guy in Phoenix climb off his Harley and walk into the 7-11 with a six on his thigh. I might not carry open everywhere, but at least it would be an option, er, right that I would like to have.

Either way, I'm afraid they'll always be idiots that become prime anti-food, as every village has them.

[Edit: Sorry it's so long... ]

[cloudcroft]

sparx,

Sounds like you are handling it well, introducing people to guns.

I think that ever since we stopped The Draft to go to an all-volunteer military, less young people are ever introduced to guns and consequently, being ignorant of them they are more likely to become antis.

One reason I'm for bringing it back.

[EDIT: Sorry it's so short. ]

-- John D.

[age_ranger]

Funny thing, but I know alot of military who are still strangers to firearms. Sure, they'll go through basic and shoot the M16, but most won't shoot it again except for their re-qual every so many years. Then, depending on your job, you might be deemed not mission-esential and not be required to requalify. Sad, but true. I know a few guys in my team who were not very familiar with firearms and we had to get them up to speed in a hurry. Sadly, the money wasn't that great in the military and most soldiers can't afford to buy weapons or afford to shoot them often. There's something wrong with THAT picture if my 11 yr old gets more range time than our GI's!!

And for the record, i'm happily carrying my PX4 openly in my home tonight with no worries and had a nice chat about firearm safety with my daughter this evening. Talk about quality time...........

[sparx]

sparx,

Sounds like you are handling it well, introducing people to guns.

Actually I didn't do that great, as I waited over 18 years to take my wife target shooting!

I had never gone to an indoor range myself, having at least a vacant West Texas caleche pit available to practice in if nothing else. After we got married we just never made time to go target shooting, so it was an adventure for us both when we finally went to one.

Now of course it's become a new-found hobby for her that we both enjoy on a regular basis (right along with gun shows), and she's having a blast trying out different guns and calibers (and I'm having a blast seeing her have one). We both have our CHLs and joined the NRA & TSRA, so at least we're trying to make up for lost time I guess!

[KBCraig]

General agreement with most of the posts above.

Inside the house, I shed my cover shirt. My family expect me to be carrying. My 4yo, who is inquisitive about every single thing in this world, has never mentioned my gun, except on the couple of occasions where he watched me dress, and said, "Oh, dat's your gum.(sic)" And then he continued prattling about Thomas, and Mater and Lighting McQueen, and whatever else was on his (very fleeting!) 4yo mind.

When company drops by, I slip on the cover shirt. Mostly because I don't care to explain if asked, and because guns in this house isn't the business of anyone who doesn't live in this house.

On that last point, our kids have always been taught to never talk about guns that may or may not be in this house. We always make it clear to them: we trust you, and we trust your friends, but friends of friends of friends are a different matter. They all understand how teenage rumor mills work, so it's not hard to get them to understand that a casual comment to a very close friend, could turn into a burglary attempt just two or three steps removed.

My 17yo daughter's very closest girlfriends (the two or three who seem to live in my house every weekend) have seen me open carrying inside on occasion. I waited some months before deciding to shed that outer shirt in front of them, and carefully --casually-- check for a reaction. I got none.

That reminds me... I need to take a vanload of teen girls shooting soon.

Kevin

[TX Rancher]

In my house, and on my ranch, I carry open all the time. Customers that come to the ranch don’t care, the folks that deliver to me haven’t shown any concern, my horse doesn’t care, and based on the last poll, the cows are not worried.

I do wish Texas would pass open carry. When I go to cross our little dirt road to get to the fields on the other side, I have to put a shirt or some other cover on since the roads not my property. It would just be simpler if I didn’t have to. Same for trips to the mailbox.

I lived in a city for a little while (not in Texas). To me it was a big city (pop ~100,000), and I did run into folks that were anti, but as others have posted, most folks were not anti, they were just not educated about firearms and calm discussions were usually all it took to keep them out of the anti camp.

I think more exposure to upstanding citizens carrying would be beneficial…I’m for open carry.

[Venus Pax]

I carry when I'm working in the yard. You never know when some freak might walk/drive up. Although I have the RIGHT to carry openly in my own yard, wisdom dictates that I keep it concealed. It gives me the element of surprise should someone try something. Also, I don't want them knowing that I have it and thinking they can disarm me.

Regarding taking the CHL with you in the complex: Just put it in your pocket. You're a man right? It would be nothing to grab your wallet along with your gun when heading out the door. This isn't one you want to risk.
Last night, dh & I met a group of people in the downtown Houston club district to tell club-goers about Christ. I brought my .45 with me. I don't bring my purse or backpack--just my tracts and a small case of snacks (incase a homeless person tells me he's hungry). Before exiting the truck, I took my DL & CHL out of my wallet and placed it in my pocket. I don't want to find myself in the lovely grey-bar motel making a call to Charles over something as simple as a few pieces of plastic that I failed to put in my pocket.

[cloudcroft]

sparx,

We have those "caliche-pits" here in El Paso, too...

http://www.caliches.com/

...but I don't think they'd go for me firing off a few rounds there! Don't know how you get away with it...

Think I'd wear our their "Welcome" after the first shot.



-- John D.