JohnG@lt wrote:
]I think they look stupid walking around with a gun in plain view. The whole open carry thing is retarded. Concealed weapons would be more appropriate and are no more a danger.
How they look is very dependent on how they dress...at least in most people's eyes.
Concealed is good for a host of reasons (non-intrusive, no LE hassles, no freaked out soccer moms, and the element of surprise if ever confronted). It also takes a lot more effort to do legally in most places.
For example, in Colorado.
To open carry, I would need to have a holster, a gun, and a belt.
To carry concealed, I would need to fill out an application, make an appointment at the Sheriff's office, get two cashier's checks for $150, and wait until they mailed my license to me. After all that, I can wear a coat over my pistol, and not freak out people scared of guns. To me, it would generally be worth it, but that's still a few hours of work and $150 that I could spend elsewhere.
(I don't carry. I spend the majority of my time in a "no carry" zone and am going to move in 7 months, so it would be a waste of $150 to get a permit, IMO.)