For any American who makes the decision to carry a firearm for self-defense, a critical question immediately follows: how should I carry it? The choice between concealed carry and open carry is one of the most debated topics in the firearms community, involving a complex mix of legal, tactical, social, and even philosophical considerations.
This isn’t a simple matter of preference. It’s a decision that impacts your safety, your comfort, and your ability to respond effectively in a crisis. This definitive guide is for the responsible gun owner, anywhere in the U.S., who wants to move beyond the surface-level arguments and make a truly informed choice.
The Case for Concealed Carry
Concealed carry involves carrying your firearm completely hidden from public view. For the vast majority of private citizens, this is the preferred method, and for several compelling reasons.
Advantages of Concealed Carry:
- The Element of Surprise: The single greatest advantage of concealed carry is the fact your weapon and therefore your capabilities are concealed. An attacker will not typically identify you as a threat at a glance, and is less likely to target you first in the event (God forbid) of a mass shooting. If you are targeted in a mugging or some other violent attack, you have the ability to surprise your attacker, potentially making him slower to respond as he processes this unexpected information.
- Social Discretion and the “Gray Man Theory”: By concealing your firearm, you blend in. This avoids causing unnecessary fear or anxiety in public, which prevents unwanted attention, awkward questions, and potential “man with a gun” calls to law enforcement when you were just trying to buy some eggs at the grocery store.
- A More Defensible Legal Position: Carrying concealed can provide a more defensible position after a self-defense incident. The fact that your firearm was hidden supports the legal argument that you were not looking to intimidate or provoke a confrontation. Or, at least, it doesn’t undermine that legal argument in the way open carry might.
- Reduced Risk of Gun Theft: Criminals are not likely to assume you have a weapon if they can’t see one, and are not going to try to grab a gun they can’t see or know it’s location on your person. A concealed weapon is therefore far more secure from a targeted gun grab than open carry.
Disadvantages of Concealed Carry:
- Slower Access: Drawing from concealment requires clearing a cover garment. While training can make this incredibly fast, it is a mechanical step that makes it inherently slower than drawing an unconcealed weapon, and likely requires two hands for maximum speed.
- Wardrobe and Comfort Limitations: You often have to dress around the gun, and carrying a firearm pressed against your body can be very uncomfortable, depending on your holster. Sticky Holsters are meant to alleviate the discomfort of every day carry, and thousands of satisfied users have testified to the comfort and convenience of our holsters. (Find the holster for your gun here.)
The Argument for Open Carry
Open carry means carrying your firearm in a visible holster. While less common for civilians, it has its own set of arguments in its favor.
Advantages of Open Carry:
- Potential for Deterrence: The primary argument for open carry is that a visibly armed individual may deter a criminal from choosing them as a target. While often debated how much of a benefit this is, it’s fair to say that most criminals are not looking to get into a fight, and predators such as themselves will usually choose easy prey over a clearly dangerous opponent.
- Faster Access: With no cover garment to act as a physical barrier to your gun, open carry offers the fastest draw speed.
- Greater Comfort: Open carry is often more comfortable, especially with larger firearms or in hot weather.
Disadvantages of Open Carry:
- Loss of Tactical Advantage: In the case of an attacker who will not be deterred by facing a hard target, open carry immediately identifies you as the person an attacker would want to take out first.
- Public Alarm and Negative Attention: A visible firearm doesn’t just make potential attackers nervous. Members of the public who have been subjected to decades of negative media about guns can become anxious and scared when seeing a gun, leading to 911 calls, and unwanted confrontations. Additionally, you can expect to get some requests to leave private businesses.
- Weapon Retention: This is the most critical and often overlooked con. An openly carried gun is a potential target to a determined attacker. If you have not trained in grappling and weapon retention and cannot commit to constant awareness of your surroundings, take some serious thought about whether you should open carry.
Navigating the Complex Legal Landscape
The legality of open and concealed carry varies dramatically across the country. It is your responsibility to know the laws of your state and any state you travel through.
A Patchwork of Laws
The legal landscape for open carry is a complex patchwork across the United States, and the rules can change dramatically just by crossing a state line. In fact, in some of the most restrictive states (e.g., Illinois, California), crossing into them while carrying can leave you facing criminal charges and jail time.
To simplify this complex picture, state laws generally fall into one of several broad categories:
- Permitless or Constitutional Carry: In many states, law-abiding citizens can carry openly or concealed without needing any special permit.
- Licensed: Other states take a more regulated approach, requiring a specific license or permit to carry a visible or concealed firearm.
- Mixed or Restricted: A number of states have complicated systems where open carry might be legal under state law, but major cities or counties have the authority to ban or restrict it locally.
- Prohibited: Finally, places such as the District of Columbia prohibit the practice of open carry altogether for regular citizens.
Permitless and Constitutional Carry
A growing number of states have adopted “Constitutional Carry” or “Permitless Carry,” which allows a law-abiding adult to carry a firearm openly or concealed without a permit. However, the rules for these states can still vary.
Prohibited Locations
Virtually every state has designated “gun-free zones” where firearms are prohibited, regardless of your permit status. These almost always include K-12 schools, airports (in TSA-controlled areas), courthouses, and federal buildings. Many states also restrict carry in bars, hospitals, and sports events.
Reciprocity and Travel
If you have a carry permit (which is a good idea if you plan to travel across state lines), it may be recognized by other states through reciprocity agreements. Before you travel through other states while carrying, you must verify which states honor your specific permit.
Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Always consult the official state police website of the state you plan to carry in, your state’s Attorney General’s office, or a qualified attorney for the most current and detailed legal information on carrying open or concealed in the location in question.
Representing Gun Owners
A final, philosophical point to consider is that when you carry openly, those who see you do so may generalize from your specific actions to the entire community of gun owners. In a sense, you have volunteered as an representative of gun owners across America. That means your conduct, courtesy, and professionalism (or lack thereof) can shape public perception for better or for worse. It’s a serious point to consider.
Making Your Informed Choice Through a Personal Assessment
Ultimately, the right choice is a personal one. To make it responsibly, ask yourself these questions to get an informed answer that is based on the complete picture:
- The Legal Question: Am I 100% clear on the laws in my state and any place I might travel, including prohibited locations?
- The Tactical Question: What does my daily life look like? Do I benefit more from the element of surprise and discretion, or is the immediate access of open carry a more critical need for my specific circumstances?
- The Physical Skills Question: Am I physically prepared to fight to keep my gun if someone tries to take it from me while carrying openly? Can I commit to staying alert to my surroundings essentially at all times in order to detect and deter such a threat before the attack occurs?
- The Social Responsibility Question: Am I prepared for the public attention, both positive and negative, that comes with open carry? Am I ready to be a calm, friendly, and professional representative of the gun-owning community?
By carefully considering these factors, you can make a choice that is not only legal but also tactically sound, responsible, and right for your circumstances.
The Solution for Everyday Carry: Sticky Holsters
Once you’ve made your informed choice, the final step is selecting the right gear, such as modular holster systems, makes your decision practical, everyday reality. For the millions of responsible citizens who choose the tactical and social advantages of concealed carry, the biggest hurdles are often comfort and clothing considerations.
This is where Sticky Holsters revolutionizes the way you carry.
We believe that your life-saving tool should be with you whenever you need it, and that means making concealed carry as simple, safe, and comfortable as possible. The easier and more pleasant it is to carry, the more often you are likely to do it.
- Comfort: Forget bulky clips and sharp, rigid edges that dig into your side. Our lightweight, non-slip design conforms to your body for an all-day carry experience so comfortable you can even forget that it’s there.
- Versatility: Stop dressing around your gun. A Sticky Holster frees you from the limitations of specific belts or pants. Our innovative material allows you to securely carry in gym shorts, slacks, skirts, or sweats with equal confidence.
- Safety: Sticky Holsters come in different sizes and configurations to ensure a secure fit that completely covers the trigger guard, giving you the essential safety and peace of mind you need to carry with a round in the chamber. Don’t worry, we will do the work of matching you with the right holster.
Don’t let the wrong gear compromise your preparedness. Explore comfortable, versatile, and safe concealed carry: Find the perfect Sticky Holster for your gun today!