Thinking about open carry on the bike... comments?

[MarkT]

I've had quite a few cagers mess with me lately on the bikes.  Harassment, tailgating, I accelerate to get away from them and they decide to race - had two incidents where I throttled up and they were still on my ass at over a hundred.  Getting tired of these dangerous cagers. I never open carry, don't need the attention when in stores, etc.  But I'm thinking a visible full size Glock might be a good thing on the bike in traffic to discourage harassment.  Anybody with experience, had negative incidents with open carry on the bike?  I plan to cover it up before arriving at destinations, when practical, as I still do not want the attention / having liberals and others make it their focus.  (Probably use a light vest, while riding tuck it behind the piece - deniable, "the wind must have done that" - pull it over the carry before arrival.) Open carry is legal here as it is most everywhere except TX, some lefty states and cities.  No, I won't be "brandishing" which might be defined as showing the piece to scare another in a specific incident.

[Jess Tolbirt]

i carry a 38spl on my side..you will be amazed how much distance you will get when the a-holes see it...i tuck in my shirt on the bike and pull it out to cover upon arrival at my destination...

[Chillerman]

I've had quite a few cagers mess with me lately on the bikes.  Harassment, tailgating, I accelerate to get away from them and they decide to race - had two incidents where I throttled up and they were still on my ass at over a hundred.  Getting tired of these dangerous cagers. I never open carry, don't need the attention when in stores, etc.  But I'm thinking a visible full size Glock might be a good thing on the bike in traffic to discourage harassment.  Anybody with experience, had negative incidents with open carry on the bike?  I plan to cover it up before arriving at destinations, when practical, as I still do not want the attention / having liberals and others make it their focus.  (Probably use a light vest, while riding tuck it behind the piece - deniable, "the wind must have done that" - pull it over the carry before arrival.) Open carry is legal here as it is most everywhere except TX, some lefty states and cities.  No, I won't be "brandishing" which might be defined as showing the piece to scare another in a specific incident.

I believe it is still illegal to open carry in Denver. Also many cops don't know the laws on open and concealed carry so you may get hassled.

http://www.krdo.com/news/Man-sues-Colorado-Springs-after-wrongful-open-carry-arrest/-/417220/19703692/-/6hi5rfz/-/index.html

[RDAbull]

I have been open carrying a Beretta when I ride for several years.  It is not a statement or an invitation or anything else.  It is just where I can get to it if the need ever arises.  I have never been hassled by the police, or civilian in any manner for carrying.  The closest was once I was asked in a gas station if I was a retired cop. (salt & pepper with a gun, I guess)  I do avoid riding in IL.

[BF]

You can't open carry in Florida, but you can carry concealed.  

However, even in an open carry state, you'll probably have the uninformed snapping your picture on the highway and calling the cops on you anyway.  

May or may not be worth it to you to open carry on the highway.  

[PharmBoy]

I just find it easier to drop it in the inside pocket of my riding jacket.  Still easy to retrieve and never a hassle to date.  I just don't like answering questions, no matter how innocently asked.  And yes, I do have a CCL...Jim

[czuch]

Whats the advice from out elected tormentors,
"Just wet yourself or puke and you'll be less inviting".
I saw a fella open carrying on his bike and thought it would be a real drag if it fell off somewhere.
You dont want to pull it even for a moment. Some jaggoff might taunt you. You ARE in Colorado.

[MarkT]

I just find it easier to drop it in the inside pocket of my riding jacket.  Still easy to retrieve and never a hassle to date.  I just don't like answering questions, no matter how innocently asked.  And yes, I do have a CCL...Jim

Missed the point.

You dont want to pull it even for a moment. Some jaggoff might taunt you. You ARE in Colorado.

Thanks.  I forgot where I was.  And I was about to start waving it around but now I won't.

FYI - I just renewed my second 5-year CCW - making it over 10 years I've been carrying always, legally (nevermind before they enabled CCW) - and somehow managed to not brandish or draw on anybody.  But if you feel the need to advise on the obvious...

I was asking for any reports on incidents related to open carry, that perhaps I hadn't considered.  

One time I was riding in an area with derelicts / homeless, and carried openly.  Bad idea, some homeless drunk yelled at me and pointed to the gun, everybody gawked - while I was riding down the street.  Another time I was in a convenience / gas station, wasn't concealed well enough, my cover shirt opened some and a cursed teenager started yelling "HE'S GOT A GUN - HE'S GOT A GUN - HE'S GOT A GUN."  Dumass.  Like I'm about to start blasting, he's about to witness an armed attack.  Frankly I wanted to smack the punk for being stupid then considered he's just a teenage moron and chalked it up to why I conceal - and got a better cover setup.

[Mr Whiskey]

Instead of getting the paper permit, see if you can get a "shield". Met a guy here on one of Joe's rides who had the gold shield clip'd to his holster. I naturally assumed he was a cop of some kind, till he told me it was just his CCW permit. Thought that was pretty smart. You instantly go from armed biker, to LEO, in most peoples minds. Amazing what that little piece of tin can do!
Peace, Whiskey.

[MarkT]

Instead of getting the paper permit, see if you can get a "shield". Met a guy here on one of Joe's rides who had the gold shield clip'd to his holster. I naturally assumed he was a cop of some kind, till he told me it was just his CCW permit. Thought that was pretty smart. You instantly go from armed biker, to LEO, in most peoples minds. Amazing what that little piece of tin can do!
Peace, Whiskey.

Yeah I've seen those online.  You have to be careful - you can get charged with impersonating a LEO - some nasty penalties including losing your CCW.  And I don't look much like a cop.

I'm thinking open carry routinely while riding  is probably not a good idea.  At least around here.  There's too many Californicators and other liberals who will freak and be a pain, as weighed off against the benefit of stopping road rage and other stupid cage moves.  If it was more like it used to be, or Montana / Idaho / Wyoming it would likely be a better idea.

Maybe if I get hassled, let "the wind" uncover the carry to improve their attitude.  Not brandishing of course.

[Denny47]

I keep mine concealed, I'm right handed but carry on left, just in case, hard to use throttle and pull out right handed. If there happens to be a problem, the "wind" uncovers my Glock. Of course, open carry is legal with a CC here in Oklahoma but might cause some unnecessary attention.

[bassman]

As a CCW holder in CO do you have the "option" to open carry or do you always have to carry concealed? 

[john]

  what you describe happens to most all of us ...
  i slow  up instead of go'in faster ...
  bore'em to death , they will pass ..
   don't push it ...       
   keep your  *^#  in your pocket

[Chillerman]

As a CCW holder in CO do you have the "option" to open carry or do you always have to carry concealed? 

You can do either. If you conceal carry though it must be concealed, unless of course the wind blows your jacket up  . You can open carry without a permit.

[MarkT]

As a CCW holder in CO do you have the "option" to open carry or do you always have to carry concealed? 

The state law is open carry w/o a permit, or CCW with one.  But they have allowed some jurisdictions to specify if open carry is allowed, and that was held up by the state court for Denver.  So Denver county, no open carry - I don't think there are other open carry limits but in The People's Republic of Boulder, open carry will definitely get you attention you don't want from the fruits and nuts.

State law is everyone can carry open or concealed in any vehicle (if you're allowed to possess in the first place) - but Denver law pre-empts that.  Concealed, carry pretty much everywhere except where they are detecting weapons, and schools.  I'm not sure on the recent legal crap the dems put through, but I think they didn't get the university ban they wanted.  I could be wrong on that - memory is the first to go... Easy to look up though - rmgo.org has all the info on CO laws, in effect and pending.  I know as for me, I carry everywhere except where they are detecting.  I don't buy the "gun safe" zone concept.  But if I see a sign saying "no guns" I am likely to boycott the business, report them to rmgo, and leave a card for management advising them of the fact.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Go get some 3 oz. egg sinkers... Just a few handfuls over your head and they will back-off 

[flcjr]

Go get some 3 oz. egg sinkers... Just a few handfuls over your head and they will back-off 

My dad taught me that one when I was young but I just use a few rocks in my left jacket pocket instead.

[sandy]

When I open carry on my hip, I don't get tailgated. The day I brought home a riot gun over my shoulder, I REALLY didn't have any problems. It was on a commuter freeway during rush hour.

[Chiefy]

The "Road rage" mentality being what it is, I wouldn't carry open even if it were legal here.  You get into a situation, they see your gun, they call the cops and say you pointed it at them.  Now to have to hire a lawyer to keep you out of jail, and pray to God you tell the truth better then the other guy lies.  Even if his conscience tells him later it's wrong, he won't come clean because then HE goes to jail.

In Florida, gun imprinting in your pocket, through your shirt etc.... is no longer a problem.  But I take great care that it doesn't happen, for the reasons I said above.

YMMV

[Tailgate Tommy]

Go get some 3 oz. egg sinkers... Just a few handfuls over your head and they will back-off 

My dad taught me that one when I was young but I just use a few rocks in my left jacket pocket instead.

My dad carried marbles...

[fudgie]

I open carry daily. Def in the summer. You do not get noticed on the bike, at least I never had. I oc when I wear my leather coat cause I dont like cold wind blowing up in my coat. I have almost pulled it on a cager last yr. I'm left handed and I just clicked it up in to N so I can grab it but the dude stopped what he was doing. It was dark so he never noticed anyway.

I think your purpose of doing this way wont help. Also dont fall into the 'myths' about oc. Do you own research. All the myths are from cc who never have oc. 

www.opencarry.org

[fudgie]

I have been open carrying a Beretta when I ride for several years.  It is not a statement or an invitation or anything else.  It is just where I can get to it if the need ever arises.  I have never been hassled by the police, or civilian in any manner for carrying.  The closest was once I was asked in a gas station if I was a retired cop. (salt & pepper with a gun, I guess)  I do avoid riding in IL.

+1 

[Jess from VA]

Maybe a compromise.  I have old wood shotgun stocks, since replaced with synthetic.  Mount a cheapo gun scabbard  (maybe a cut down full size case) in a way that shows, but does not interfere with riding, and mount the buttstock only sticking out in plain view.  Maybe a nylon slip-on shot shell carrier on the buttstock with ammo inserted.  A scarecrow deal.  But no gun to steal.  Is parking secured at work?

[J.Mencalice]

The Po-Po will shoot you down like a dog if you pull on anyone along the Front Range. ???

[FLAVALK]

Sure wish we could open carry in Florida 

[Jess Tolbirt]

I carry peanut m and M's. And toss up only only brown ones that way they cantf see them when they hit the windshield they make one heck of a noise but won't break the windshield

[fudgie]

Sure wish we could open carry in Florida 

Its getting close. They (ocdo) has been working hard the last few yrs. FL will have oc before Texas will.

[Jack]

35 years ago, I was heading to Arlington, TX making a kilo pickup(I guess the limitations are up now) and I had a .357 single action on my side.  Got pulled over 90 miles out of Dallas by a plain police car officer.  He suggested I put it in my bag until I got where I was going since they had gotten a call from the last gas station I had stopped at.  I did what he said and had an uneventful trip the rest of the way.

[bassman]

35 years ago, I was heading to Arlington, TX making a kilo pickup(I guess the limitations are up now) and I had a .357 single action on my side.  Got pulled over 90 miles out of Dallas by a plain police car officer.  He suggested I put it in my bag until I got where I was going since they had gotten a call from the last gas station I had stopped at.  I did what he said and had an uneventful trip the rest of the way.

Is dat faster than a Chevy pickup???   

[Sorcerer]

Here in MN we can oc or conceal. That said a couple of years a go a guy riding 2 up with his daughter on his sport bike got mugged by Minneaplis's finnist. They got a MWAG call. As they boxed him in and stopped him an officer rushed up and pulled the riders revolver from the holster, his jackit had ridden up exposing the gun. MPLS cops wanted to arrest him. Thay acted like goons. His young daughter sat next to her dad and chuckled, she knew the laws better than MPLS cops. A little over a hour delay and stern words from the cops. They did give him back his gun EMPTY. I have a nother friend that while riding his motorcycle tangled with a left turning peddle bike last fall in MPLS. He went to the hospital for a week and MPLS kept his gun for 90 days to CHECK its history. Knowing MPLS history that gun now has a file with a spent bullet and a spent case at MPLS PD. Yes he had /has a mn P2C. It was an high buck 32 semi. Told him he my want to replace it. My winter carry is a KAHR K9. When the bike comes out for the summer I switch to my Kahr cw9.   If I were to go down I rather have my cw9 miss PLACED.

[musclehead]

Sure wish we could open carry in Florida 

Its getting close. They (ocdo) has been working hard the last few yrs. FL will have oc before Texas will.

didn't FLA have OC back in the 80's? I remember CBS and Dan Blather having a cow over it.

[Alien]

Wow.  Life must be rough where y'all live.  Good thing I'm safe here in East L.A. where I don't live in fear or feel the need to show off my gun to be a badass.  I leave my guns at home and ride defensively.  Been working pretty well for a long time.