People own firearms for a multitude of reasons varying from recreation to hunting to defense. If you consider yourself a part of the latter category, you likely have heard an age-old debate about whether to conceal your carry firearm or carry it openly. Sometimes you do not get a choice based on your state, municipality, or local city regulations. For example, in the state of Florida, they actually prescribe everyone to carry their firearms concealed (if they choose to carry a firearm for protection at all; open carry is not allowed). Other states like Texas have “open carry” laws which mean you have your own discretion or choice as to whether you want to conceal or not. So, if you have the liberty to choose, why should you conceal carry?... Let’s dive into that rabbit hole with a little more detail.
One of the biggest reasons why you should not open carry is because it invites conflict. Whether it is someone who is anti-firearm calling the police on you for “brandishing a firearm in public”… being heckled by someone stating “So you think you’re tough because you carry a gun”… and/or opening the door for your firearm – your tool for defense – to be stolen. You are giving bad guys an opportunity to observe your weapon in public (maybe a gas station), devise a plan silently in front of you (unbeknownst to you), and then execute their hastily formulated plan to steal your weapon. There are innumerable videos on YouTube showing that exact scenario plays out. Open carry advocates often get harassed, or their firearms stolen more than they gain precious milliseconds of speed in deploying their firearms for defense. When you weigh the pros and cons, there are significantly more negatives than positives.
Now, let’s look at concealed carry. When you make the calculated choice to conceal your defensive firearm, you have options. You can elect to not present your firearm during a conflict (sometimes not engaging in a conflict – avoidance – is the best option). You can decide when to display your firearm (this is the coveted “element of surprise” so many people talk about). Plus, you will not be called in by a Karen… you will not be heckled by the “village tough guy” calling out your manhood… and no one can prepare plans to steal your sidearm if they cannot see it. Concealing your everyday carry (EDC) pistol gives you significant advantages over open carrying it. Especially when the bad guys of the world get to decide the time, place, and manner in which they might try to hurt us and our loved ones. We have no heads-up about potential self-defense situations.
In the end, make sure to get out there training, honing your craft, and selecting proper holsters for concealed carry, and likely Tyrant can help you along the way with some rad accessories. Until next time, continually check out our blog, join our newsletter, and watch the website for new and exciting updates! As always, let us know all your thoughts in the comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!
