By Brandon via concealednation.org
A 37-year-old man was pushed to the ground last week and had his openly-carried firearm stolen right from it’s holster by two thugs. According to dailypress.com, the man was walking across the street after visiting with friends when the unfortunate incident occurred. “The man said he was approached from behind by two men, and one of them demanded his gun. The other then grabbed the gun from the holster and pushed him to the ground.” . . .
The man said the two suspects then took off on foot. Police still haven’t found them or the stolen firearm.
I often stay away from the topic of open carry, not because I hate it, but because I run a site called Concealed Nation. Anytime the topic of open carry comes up, however, a feud between open carriers and concealed carriers opens up and floods the comments section.
I get why some people open carry, and I also get why others decide to conceal.
My opinion: having an openly-carried firearm makes you more of a target to the bad guys. It’s a simple fact that rings true each day. I also have no doubt that crime has been deterred even before it started because a bad guy saw an armed citizen first, and decided to not go through with it. That’s impossible to track, but it does happen.
I always use this scenario: picture yourself in a grocery store at the check-out lane with your firearm displayed openly on your hip. Now picture the bad guy coming up to the register you’re at with his gun drawn, looking to take all the money the cashier can give him. If that bad guy happens to see your firearm, guess where his attention is going to be directed. That’s right, it’s you, because you’re the closest viable threat to his mission.
As Brandon the concealed carrier, there won’t ever be a day that I’ll open carry (if I’m in an area that allows it). The reason? Just start reading this article again, right from the top.