Open carriers show off two major things, and neither one of them are “tough guy”.
First is fragile masculinity, they are worried that they aren’t seen as “manly” enough, so they have to show off to everyone that they are totally manly. It’s like women wearing that new handbag out and about, they want others to notice it.
Second is pure fear, fear that at any time any moment something is going to happen, and the only way they feel safe is by carrying a lethal weapon with them at all times. You know, rather than dealing with what is causing the fear in the first place.
So, we have a terrified person carrying a lethal weapon who is worried about what everyone around them think. To me, that’s the more worrying person in a room.
Fear indeed. I went to college in a very… provincial small city. Riding my bicycle around, I was regularly harassed by insecure assholes in pickup trucks, and run off the road twice. The one time I managed to get a license plate, the police claimed that without witnesses, they couldn’t do anything. ACAB.
I added my 1911 to the strap of my messenger bag, at the top of my left shoulder, where the stainless frame would be plainly visible. I was suddenly given plenty of space on the road and even got occasional compliments when waiting at stoplights. It’s disgusting that I would be a target for bullying without my pistol, but suddenly I was an okay guy with my penis extension where douchebag drivers could see it.
So yeah, I’m living proof that non-military open carry is only for scaredy cats.
I wonder if 3d printing a fake handle to stick out is worth the trouble.
Being licensed anyway would be good if you were stopped, but it would weigh less and you wouldn’t risk losing it.
Presume there’s laws about leaving it unsupervised etc while out the house.
The one time I managed to get a license plate, the police claimed that without witnesses, they couldn’t do anything. ACAB.
It sucks but unless he hurt you, hit your bike, or you have any sort of footage what is the police suppose to do? Show up, he denies everything and that’s it.
If they could charge him on your claims alone, think about the scary consequences of such a “legal” system.
what is the police suppose to do?
Start a paper trail. If multiple unconnected bikers report them or they are involved in an accident later it is prior evidence of reckless driving.
Even if he denies it when police show up to ask questions it might scare him enough to stop doing it.
By this measure, justice was impossible to achieve before the invention of the cell phone video camera.
In most jurisdictions, a note could be put on the driving record. If a pattern on aggressive driving were to be established, a prosecutorial or civil suit effort would have an easier time of litigating against that driver.
In my case, yes, there was paint damage from my bike, which would be evidence.
Edit to add: this was a bit before camera phones.
It sucks but unless he hurt you, hit your bike, or you have any sort of footage what is the police suppose to do?
It’s worth noting that most American states have a “3 foot law” that requires vehicles to pass bikers with at least 3 feet of space. (Often, drivers are also required to completely change lanes when doing so, although that varies more by state and by the width of the lane on that particular road.) If a driver in one of the 39 states runs a biker off the road, even if they never physically contacted the person on the bike, they almost certainly violated the “3 foot law.”
Yes, police often won’t investigate or bring charges, and yes, it sucks, but most of those dangerous drivers are indeed breaking the law.
Loved the comparison to an expensive handbag. These people just want to look fierce and make other people feel in danger.
I have a friend who open carries everywhere as well. We do not live in a dangerous area at all and he carries this thing to the grocery store.
I call it his “big boy gun” because it makes him feel like he’s a big boy now, like a kid who wears his “big boy” pants with no diapers.
Fear? My impression is that they’re looking for trouble, not trying to avoid it.
Remember folks, if your firearm is worth more than you are; showing it is like flashing your wallet.
You’re walking in an alley and encounter a man. Would you rather bear arms or not bear arms?
Honestly? Nearly a decade of working contract security, including most of that time being level 3,
I can easily say that I’d rather not be armed.
First, carrying visible weapons makes people respond differently. They see you’re armed and everyone reacts to it. Its mere presence escalates situations.
Secondly, your very question implies the trap always being armed leads to- you assume this man is aggressive or hostile. And most often that assumption is flat wrong.
When all you have is a hammer every problem looks like a nail.
Finally, situation awareness is infinitely more valuable than any weapon. You lose every fight you get into. Even if the other guy doesn’t harm you, if you draw down and shoot, you’re going to jail. You’re going to be held until they know what happened, and you’re probably getting charged.
You lose on legal fees. You probably lose your job. And now you have to live with guilt- even if the subject had it coming.
Also just a side note I was discussing open carry. Concealed is a different matter; concealed properly, no one will know until you draw. (And then things escalate fucking fast.)
“Thank god you’re here, man openly carrying! I feel so much safer around you!”
“Heh. Yeah, I’m sure. People respect me when I’m carrying.”
“Oh, no, I don’t mean it like that. I mean that if an actual gunman starts shooting, you’re a much higher priority target, giving me enough time to run away. Thank you for painting a target on yourself for us!”
I really hope this was at a competition. If this guy dresses up like this just to go out, he’s got to have a horrible personality.
Yeah you definitely get a daily carry that’s under 600 bucks. Even that’s a lot. You get your nice gun in that evidence locker and you aren’t ever getting it back.