best and worst states for open carry

[caleb4387]

I'm curious what the best open carry states are for protection of the right as well as social/law enforcement acceptability? Vice versa I'm curious which open carry states are the worst such as being legal but nit having protection against charges for say "disturbing the peace" or other loopholes to charge open carriers as well as being generally frowned on by law enforcement and society

 

[kinggabby]

I'm sure it does not matter what state you are from when it comes to being frowned upon by LEO. But In Oklahoma one downside is the permit. But other than that they can not charge you with disturbing the peace. Only time I got ID checked was the first several months when open carry was brand new. Yes I get the occasional look of disdain from some LEO but they know the law and leave me alone. But other than that no one running and screaming like conceal only crowd says.

 

[hafnhaf]

never have had any issues OC in VA. no dirty looks from either cops or regular folks.

 

[Grapeshot]

never have had any issues OC in VA. no dirty looks from either cops or regular folks.

No squinty eyes, deep sighs, or shaking of the head?

You really need to get out more often.

 

[Dario]

No squinty eyes, deep sighs, or shaking of the head?

You really need to get out more often.

Do double-takes count?

 

[mobiushky]

About the only people who give you funny looks up here are the tourists and the new arrivals. It's fun to walk around the open air markets in summer time and check out the faces of the foreign tourists as they pass by. I've seen more OC'ers up here than anywhere I've been (not that everyone does, but I haven't seen a lot in other places) and people have been less concerned about it here than I remember other places. I guarantee you if you go fishing on the Russian River, you're gonna have to look to find someone not open carrying. Although our office manager did have to remind us all we're not supposed to bring our guns to work even if it is hunting season... That said, it doesn't seem to be a whole lot different than any other relatively gun comfortable culture in the US.

 

[Wstar425]

I don't think Wisconsin gets much OC love from the sites that measure that stuff. It has been mucho better the last few years, since CC was legalized and our AG put out a clarification on that whole disturbing the peace thing. Northern WI is quite different than North Northern Illinois maybe, which is actually the bottom third of the state. I carry in my bank on a regular basis, a 6 inch 686 which should be hard to miss. I often take my dog and do a little loop down the main drag, around downtown and back. Visit the hardware store, a couple of bait shops, the realtor, walk thru the DQ drive up for lunch. (No dogs in food establishments, but firearms are ok) one credit union and one restaurant has a no gun sign, all I've seen. I conceal at church, go every Sunday. Also CC at the movie theater, but rarely go. I'm toying with the idea of OC at church, but probably won't. I know 6 guys that carry there, and would not be surprised if there where a dozen or more guns every Sunday. I do take my jacket of when seated, then put it back on before getting up and I noticed last week there was a big gap between the chairs right at my side, so someone behind me might have gotten an eye full? Never said anything, people see me out and about OC so don't think it is too much of a stretch for them to suspect I'm carrying under a sport coat.

I've gotten more attaboys in S. Wisconsin, up north it seems to not be noticed or no one cares. Tourist area with lots of Chicago people, but they are overwhelmingly good about it and usually they are the ones asking questions, in a positive way.

I consider a walkabout with no comments to be a success! Bumped into the police a few times, never said a word except "nice looking dog". You don't have to go back too many years here to find some awful disturbing the peace stories, but those are down by Milwaukee or Madison. I suspect quite a few states hve one or two big cities where firearms are not too popular, while the rest of the state is maybe ok with it.

I've had 4 negative encounters now in almost 5 years, and those were in the first two years.

 

[F350]

Well; if you don't count getting stopped by LEO and ordinary people and thanked for carrying, Colorado (outside the Kalifornia occupied zone of Denver-Boulder) is pretty hard to beat. Especially west of the continental divide. Real, written into the constitution, constitutional open carry.

I'm now in Wyoming and just completed a trip in the camper through Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons & Yellowstone with stops in Dubois, Jackson, Cody, Thermopolis & Casper, OCed a Glock 20 (10mm) the whole time and never got a second glance as far as the wife could tell. It is also legal to carry into most state and local offices, was in the DMV today OCing a 1911 and not a second look.