More info and maps available from: www.opencarry.org
"Open Carry in Oklahoma"
Some Background
For the past two years "open carry" legislation was introduced and voted upon in the Oklahoma Legislature.
The first time, the bill, which allowed concealed carry licensees to carry "open" was passed in both houses, only to be vetoed by then governor, Brad Henry.
Then last year, the bill, submitted by Sen. Steve Russell, was widely written to include 18+ years citizens to carry open any pistol, rifle, or shotgun. It was defeated in the House led by Rep. Sue Tibbs.
There is a good chance that there will be another "go" at introducing some form of "open carry" legislation. What form that takes remains to be seen.
What does that mean to us?
If another attempt to pass a bill allowing unlicensed folks to carry makes it all the way through, the general populace will be able to carry without a license. If submitted, passed, and signed into law, it will, like several other states, provide an avenue for non-felon citizens to carry open, in plain view.
If legislators fall back to allowing "open carry" for concealed carry licensees only, then folks must still take the required training and apply via their local sheriff's office to the OSBI. In this case, the "Concealed Weapon License" will probably be renamed to, something along the lines of, a "Weapon License" or "Handgun License".
Who Wants Open Carry?
Among concealed carry licensees, most who want the ability to legally carry, are driven by the desire to be within the legal guidelines if they accidently or inadvertently "flash" their gun while carrying concealed. There may be a few other instances in which some will want to carry open while "out and about", but they are likely few in actual number. Most concealed carry licensees will probably still want to carry concealed most of the time.
For others who favored the 18+ years old, unlicensed carry, which included rifles and shotguns, many viewed it as being very close to "constitutional carry", more along the lines of what was intended by those who penned the 2nd amendment. Within that group are folks who don't want their name in a computer or on a list exposing them to future "gun grabbers". In addition to those folks, as mentioned before, are those non-felons, who previously could not qualify to carry concealed because of other background issues.
Hmmm...
An interesting point: If the 18+ years old version of the law passes, 18 year olds could carry open, but not purchase, handguns. They would have to depend on acquiring handguns by some other means.
Another interesting point: If you can carry open, but are not licensed to carry concealed, we will likely see holsters appear that tend to "conceal" handguns, but are still legally considered "open holsters".
Why not carry "open"?
One thing that Law Enforcement is painfully aware of, is that it is not uncommon for bad guys to go for an officer's gun. So if it happens to cops, it'll sure be happening to citizens carrying "open".
This may be an issue, but there are some factors that, I feel, mitigate that risk. One biggie is that officers are often placed in environments and situations which put them at risk for gun losses. Most regular folk will not likely be putting themselves in such an environment.
Carrying open will draw a lot of attention to the carrier, whether that attention is wanted or not. "Blending" in will be difficult.
That being said, carrying open is going to be a greater risk to the carrier, compared to concealed carry. One who carries open should be concerned and train for eyes being on them as a potential target. That gun, hanging in the side-mount holster, is going to attract attention; some of that attention may be unwanted. Training in gun retention techniques is a "must" for those who desire to carry open.
Possible Advantages of Concealed Carry
With your gun concealed, you look like most of the other people walking around. There is a "tactical advantage" that you possess by not "telegraphing" to bad guys that you are armed.
If carrying open, and a bad guy notices you, he may see you as the first obstacle to be dealt with. And you know, bad guys don't like fair fights. They'll probably strike without warning, from a position of advantage, attempting to take the "open carry threat" out early. (Like a bank robber would likely attempt to take out a bank security guard.)
This is one of the reasons concealed carry works so well. The bad guys don't usually know who is and who is not carrying concealed.
Not having that target on your back, is different from knowing you are being looked at. There is a huge comfort level in knowing you aren't having to deal with an attention getting device. You are going incognito.
Concealed carry is much less worrisome for the carrier than open carry.
Other considerations
In certain instances, open carry may discourage an attack. If a bad guy feels that there is too much risk, he may seek out other targets. If he notices that three folks are walking into a store with guns on their hips, he may pick another store.
So open carry, in certain instances, may be a preventative influence on the commission of crime.
When It Comes Down To It
It could be that the best scenario involves some who are carrying openly and some who are carrying concealed. Once we get used to it, both open and concealed carriers may blend right together into an effective crime prevention deterrent.
My Opinion
I prefer "Constitutional Carry". I think any U.S. citizen, not previously convicted of a felony, should be able to carry open or concealed, without a license. Vermont has had that for decades. Arizona, Alaska, and Wyoming have it now. So far, no blood-baths in the streets.
If I were a bad guy, I would feel a bit more timid about victimizing folks in those states.
- Don
