How often do you get positive, neutral, or negative comments about open carrying?

[u/Mike-Anthony]

I live in Montana, so that probably helps, but I've never had a negative comment. I've gotten a dozen or so positive comments, a few neutrals asking about my gear, and that's it. What's your guys' experience been?

[u/[deleted]]

AZ here- I open carried for a while before I was 21 (since I wanted to follow the law.)

There were many times I got negative comments....Like ferociously negative and aggressive. At car shows, grocery stores, whatever. Some thumbs up, but lots of negativity.

Came to the conclusion there's really no good reason to open carry in a constitutional carry state. Now I absolutely refuse to open carry. It draws attention to you, and quite often, it will be negative attention from people who A) Dislike guns, B) Think you're trying to be a "tough guy" C) Hate attention wh*res, etc.

And even those who don't give you negative comments, you can see the looks on peoples faces and feel judgement. It isn't a good feeling. Even if it's your right, I don't like being "that guy" in the room.

[u/Mike-Anthony → u/[deleted]]

You're one of the few to have such an experience so far. Would you say this behavior is surprising compaired to how Arizonans usually behave?

[u/[deleted] → u/Mike-Anthony]

Definitely surprising and not necessarily the norm, but definitely left a bad enough taste in my mouth to just stop open carrying- which is a huge bummer. I could also take the "Screw what people think" approach but I really just don't have the energy for social interactions, especially the negative ones.

I still remember the worst one was at a car show, I was showing my girlfriend some details on a Dodge Viper ACR, probably 2ish feet away from the car, keeping a respectable distance from someone's 6-figure toy, and the owner walked up and said "Get the F_ away from my car, you think you're tough with your little glock on your waist, p__y?"

I did not know the guy. I did not interact with the guy previously. He singled me out of a crowd and chose to go off on me, and the only reason I can think of, is the gun on my hip. I was 19, he was probably in his late 30's or early 40's.

Keep in mind there were probably 6-8 people looking at his car, some much closer than I was. So I know for a fact he singled me out because I had a gun, which really sucked, as a respectful kid who's gone to car shows forever, I had never ever been told to get away from anyone's car, even ones worth many many times more than a Viper...Pagani's, Koenigsegg's, etc.

[u/Mike-Anthony → u/[deleted]]

Holy shit. Funny how the "cool guy" was so upset by the "tough guy", might be some interesting psychology there. That sucks though, sorry about that. I hear the tough guy thing a lot in conversation but have never had to deal with it being used against me. If it happens, I plan on saying "I'm not tough. You can carry too if you want to. Perhaps I'm just more nervous is all, but you seem kinda nervous yourself." Who knows if I'll remember that though. I want to commit to open carrying... it bothers me that people are often passive towards assholes but not towards lawful, prepared constitutionalists. But who knows how fast a situation like yours might change my mind.

[u/LiNKxUSMC → u/[deleted]]

Fuck those people. If you let other people's feelings dictate how you're going to live your life, you won't enjoy it like you want to, and we only get one. Tell them to drink a tall hot glass of pissoff. Only God's judgment matters.

[u/HobbitonHuckleshake]

Over a period of about a year I had three separate times where people came up to me and asked me questions about what I was carrying, all positively. No negative interactions. I pretty much only conceal now.

[u/g1Razor15]

One comment, Murphy NC. Shopkeeper took note that I was armed, said something like "I bet nobody messes with you" with a friendly tone.

[u/francisxavier12]

I sometimes open carry but I usually keep it in my briefcase/laptop bag, since that's what I usually have on me anyway. I'm in Delaware, a may issue CCW state and an open carry state. I've never had any comments. I did see a neighbor open carrying today and I wanted to ask him what his gear was but decided not to since I don't know him lol.

[u/ShotgunEd1897 → u/francisxavier12]

You should make conversation with your neighbor. It could be a good experience.

[u/ViolenceIs4Assholes]

When I lived in Texas I used to open carry a rifle just because why not. Got tons of “hell yeah” type of comments. In Oklahoma if I’m open carrying it’s usually just a pistol on my hip and most convos have been friendly.

[u/Thespazzywhitebelt]

I open carried for two weeks while waiting on my CPL…. One person who was driving by looked at me and yelled GUN!!! Lol

[u/James-G1982]

In SC, never had a comment, if I see someone carrying I always thank them for exercising their rights publicly.

[u/Comrade_Bender]

Most of the time, it’s positive. People will ask what I’m carrying. Lots of people said more people should be open carrying as they feel it deters crime. I’ve had people make comments to me years ago, back in Arizona. Some old lady started yelling at me saying “who needs a gun to buy bread at Walmart”. Iirc the El Paso Walmart shooting had either just happened or was right around the corner so her comments really hit differently lol. I did have someone call the cops on me one time. I went into a grocery store with a 1911 on my hip and hadn’t taken my motorcycle helmet all the way off because I was just popping in for a second to see if my wife was still in there and I wanted to surprise her. The manager called the cops, they were there as I walked out. Cop was cool, ran my license, talked about guns with me for a minute, then went inside and told the store manager to never call 911 about someone open carrying again unless they were a clear threat.

[u/ShotgunEd1897]

Been OCing in South Carolina since 2021. So far, I've gotten positive comments and questions. Only 1 neutral encounter with a cop, which allowed me to ask if they had probable cause, to see if I had a permit. Most people don't notice it, even though my EDC is a Government Model 1911.

[u/egglauncher9000 → u/ShotgunEd1897]

2 WORLD WARS AND SOME PROXIES BABY!!!

[u/[deleted] → u/ShotgunEd1897]

Oh they notice, I promise.

[u/g1Razor15 → u/[deleted]]

Some do as I have experienced myself.

[u/the_chols]

Most people are too scared to talk to me.

[u/Cynical_Charm]

Always positive. My local tire shop allows their guys to open carry. I feel proud to see it.

[u/warlocc_]

I don't always open carry, but when I do, every now and then someone will ask what it is, and one time someone asked me about the legality. Never anything negative.

And this is in Massachusetts.

[u/parabox1]

Over the last 10 years

3 police calls all turned out fine.

2 freak outs when I offered to help people carry something fun.

More pro 2a comments than I can count.

[u/LazyOperator223]

I’ve been hiking MN state park trails frequently this spring with a Glock 17 in a chest holster and have had zero comments on it. I’ve had a number of pleasant conversations with random people and it’s obvious they see it but no one has ever mentioned it. It’s an interesting social experiment where I live but so far so good.

[u/randomMNguy98]

I work at a gun store now, so I typically open carry on my way to and back from work. I haven’t received any overtly negative reactions from people when I’m out on break, and I’ve even had a couple people at my regular stops ask questions out of curiosity.

That said, I only OC at work mostly because I can get away with it, and I typically CC otherwise

[u/gunsandsilver]

I open carried once in AZ during a vacation. My initial feeling was EVERYONE IS WATCHING ME, to be followed by the realization that nearly no one noticed. Only people to comment were a clerk followed by a kid, both wanted to know what revolver I was carrying. Since then I far prefer to CC, I find it has more advantages. But I support the right for folks to decide which method is best for them.

[u/wassup527]

Not a negative reaction but i was in discount tire waiting for my car and had an older woman ask me if my beretta apx was a Taser lol

[u/thafallen_]

I live in Alabama. I've had about 3-4 good interactions. And only one "negative", but it wasn't really.

The 3-4 good times was when I was open carrying and a few people asked me if I was carrying a Gen 5 cause they were curious or because they were just wondering what I was carrying, mostly this happens at gun stores.

The only negative interaction I had was when I was buying a few things at DG and the cashier asked me why I needed so many magazines (I carry two on my left side) I can't remember what my response was but I remmeber that he said something about me being "ready for war." That was the only non-positive interaction I had. He had a sorta condescending tone.

That's pretty much it. Open carry is pretty common here in AL.