I originally posted this on opencarry.org, since it seemed the most appropriate place to share it, but being from NJ, I wanted to share it with my fellow subjects (not citizens, for we don't deserve the title given what we put up with). Anyway, here's what I posted regarding the first time I decided to open-carry, and the first time my girlfriend EVER carried. I hope you enjoy the story, and I encourage ALL of you to experience open-carrying ASAP. You don't have to go far...PA is close. Not expounded upon in what I'm pasting here, we plan on open-carrying at some point in the near future in PA, and I would love to encourage anyone here with the right attitude to join us. I'm planning on starting another thread in the "Events and Meetups" to discuss a "field trip" to PA. Expand your mind, expand our cause, go and experience open carry.

 

Original post from opencarry.....enjoy!:

 

Last week, my girlfriend and I visited Yellowstone National Park, and decided to open carry through most of the trip. We mostly did the touristy stuff, but went on a hike or two on some trails. Being from NJ, it was very liberating for us to be able to open-carry. I've had my concealed carry license from FL for about 7 years and have carried concealed many times in various places, but have never taken advantage of open-carrying. My girlfriend, a special ed teacher, and until recently an anti-gunner, is now FULL supporter of our right to keep and bear arms and just LOVED carrying a 6 inch stainless Ruger GP100 in public. She attracts enough attention on her own, but with a cowgirl hat and a 6-shooter on her side, you can bet EVERYONE was looking.

 

We did the research, and it's pretty obvious our lives weren't in any immediate danger from other park-goer's and we realize that the chances of being attacked by an animal are slim, and we realize that a pistol isn't the best defense against a grizzly, so did we REALLY need to carry firearms?? No, of course not. But boy did it feel liberating and patriotic.

 

So why did we do it? First of all, BECAUSE WE COULD. Considering we can't carry freely in NJ, it's nice to take advantage of it when we can. We also wanted to open people's minds to the fact that we mortals can do such things. Many folks were foreigners, and we have no idea what their thoughts were, but we're hoping that it makes them realize what we have that they don't. As far as Americans go, we're hoping that many went home and researched what their rights are. We were smiling, friendly, and said hello to everyone we saw. Not ONE negative thing was said to us. We got every sort of look imaginable, but it was so beautiful to see so many parents of young children see that we were armed and let their youngsters freely walk past us KNOWING that we weren't a threat.

 

Very few people said anything to us. One young couple saw our pistols and revealed that the man was carrying concealed. We suggested they carry openly also, simply for the educational value for others. Another man asked what was required to carry open there. We explained the laws and he told us he was going to be carrying ASAP!!

 

Would I want to carry open in East Orange, NJ? Probably not. But given the family atmosphere of the park, it was so nice to be treated so nicely, even by the park ranger inspecting our campsite at 11pm. I had a question for him, approached him in the dark, lit only by his flashlight, openly carrying, and we had a calm, wonderful discussion. Go figure that HE was originally from NJ too (Oakland). ALL police should be as respectful and non-intrusive as the park rangers at Yellowstone. Model law enforcement if you ask me.

 

I encourage everyone to carry as often as possible and openly if you are brave enough. My girlfriend and I plan on carrying openly as soon as possible again in order to educate Americans as to their rights. We're considering doing so in PA since it's the closest place we can do so legally. Maybe once she gets her license from FL, we'll even do it in Philly, right in front of such historic places as the house where the Declaration of Independence was penned by Jefferson, and by Franklins' grave!!

 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding our experience. You may reach me at [email protected]

Picture makes the story...

Yah,.... ugh.....More pictures?

I'd like a few more pics also, but is there a reason a righty holster is being worn by what appears to be a lefty??

I'd like a few more pics also, but is there a reason a righty holster is being worn by what appears to be a lefty??

 

Reach across with right hand ?

I've never seen a holster worn quite like that. How is attached to her body?

 

Glad you guys had a good time and found firearms possession freshing.

 

Ya'll come back now, Y'hear?

 

If I saw you I'd probably just assume you were a cop. I've seen open carry before in other states

prior to getting into guns and it never phased me cause I just assumed the were police in plain

clothes.

She was carrying a pistol?

 

Missed it.....

 

 

 

 

 

Can you transport your pistol to PA just to carry it? Or do you actually need a destination such as a range to be legal?

I think we are going to need more pictures to verify your story

 

But I agree it is an awesome experience, open carrying in America.

 

IDK, if it was just me but first time I OC'd in PA, I felt like a criminal no one stared at me or said anything, it just took awhile to get over that NJ mentality.

Can you transport your pistol to PA just to carry it? Or do you actually need a destination such as a range to be legal?

 

 

"Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console."

Here we go.

Here we go.

 

:popcorn:

 

 

There's already a thread on this debate, don't clutter up a good thread with debating a law that no one has a clear answer to.

They weren't being nice to you. They were only looking at you to avoid gazing at that hot woman with a gun strapped to her hip. LOL

Uncle Mikes' right hand holster worn as a cross-draw.

 

I open carried a .44 magnum in PA years ago, during bear season. Uncle Mikes' holster. They work well and have a thumb strap with a button, like the one in the image above.

This is a bulldog holster worn as a cross-draw. Just like a shoulder rig, it's a bit impractical to wear a 6" revolver on the strong-hand side and pull it out ergonomically without contortion unless it's slung low. She's a righty. Just do an google search (image or otherwise) for "crossdraw" and you'll see it's fairly common.

 

The holster has a belt clip, and in this case is just hanging from her daisy dukes. Nobody seemed to have a problem looking at her, so the looks were definitely based on the gun. BTW, when I was carrying my XD on the strong side, and she wasn't carrying anything, nobody gave a second glance and probably just assumed I was a cop. SHE obviously likes attention, and so SHE wanted to wear the pistol that would stand out the most and found it to be most comfortable worn in that configuration. Since there was nothing to conceal....why not go for obviousness AND comfort??

Maybe it's just me but I dont see the point and never will. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

:popcorn:

 

 

There's already a thread on this debate, don't clutter up a good thread with debating a law that no one has a clear answer to.

 

Sorry, I genuinely didn't know it was a "hot" topic or that there was a thread about it already. It's news to me there is contention on the issue as I've been stopped by troops outbound without issue. Disengaging.

Maybe it's just me but I dont see the point and never will. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

I must agree, I don't see the point other than for the obvious "Look at me" narcissists and attention seekers or the overzealous "Use it least we lose it" folks. I would prefer not to stand out until such time that I needed to STAND OUT...

I must agree, I don't see the point other than for the obvious "Look at me" narcissists and attention seekers or the overzealous "Use it least we loose it" folks. I would prefer not to stand out until such time that I needed to STAND OUT...

 

Way to sprinkle shit in someone's rice, guys.

 

They were at Yellowstone. I think they were hardly doing it as an urban deterrent. Judging from the smile, I'd say not worth taking issue with it.

Way to sprinkle shit in someone's rice, guys.

 

They were at Yellowstone. I think they were hardly doing it as an urban deterrent. Judging from the smile, I'd say not worth taking issue with it.

I voiced an opinion,you don't agree and I respect that but I didn't set out to "shit on someone's rice" as you so colourfully put it. I can see OC if in Yellowstone,on the trails in bear country as I would need ready access to my firearm to protect myself but in the parking lot opposite the souvenir stand? informing the gentleman CCW'ing about OC? Cross draw holsters on Daisy Dukes doesn't strike you as grandstanding?....... We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

I suppose you're right.

 

It was just like, 'Hey, hi! Welcome to the forum. You and your girlfriend are narcissists!"

 

*shrug*

This couple enjoyed exercising a right that none of us in this lousy state can experience, and we have people castigating them? Wow, that's quite a welcome for the new guy.

I suppose you're right.

 

It was just like, 'Hey, hi! Welcome to the forum. You and your girlfriend are narcissists!"

 

*shrug*

I hear you but I would refer them and yourself to the trailing quote under my posts. I find that while not embraced by some,still an apt description of my posts. Cheers.

I may be new relatively new to the forum, but I've been around this subject for quite a while now and I don't take offense to the comments here, though I appreciate the defense. I had my first concealed carry experience about 8 years ago in PA when I wore my gun into the Cabela's. I was so scared. I felt like everyone was watching me even though it was concealed. Since then, I've trained dozens of people, and helped many of them get their Florida CCW licenses. I look at these discussions as growing pains. Most people in NJ are fearful, and with good reason, but we need to help each other if we're ever going to get out of this mess. My girlfriend may be like most every other chick out there and want attention (and who doesn't love some attention?), but I don't think we did this to draw attention to us, per se.....we did this to educate Americans about the rights they have and don't use. We want attention for the average American who has NO clue what their rights are to say, "Wow!!! Can I do that??" I'd much rather you find this experience a source of inspiration so that all of us can help each other out of this mess (especially in NJ) than to get whatever little bit of attention we get for ourselves.

 

I'd like to relate a little story. I work in a building with about 2000 people. Many of them are NJ gun owners. Most of them had worked with each other for about 25 years when I got here. Most of them didn't know that their cubical mates of 25 years were also an NJ gun owners. Then came me. The guy that just loves to talk about guns and rights. Now most everybody in the building talks about guns. When I was told by my immediate supervisor to take down my NRA Gun Safety Rules (which I disagree with btw...) I just flat-out refused. Several years later, I still haven't lost my job, and now, most of the guys in my department are new gun owners. If I really want attention, why do I spend so much of my time giving to other people? In fact, just this moment I got back from the range, donating my time and my pistols to a workmate so that he can make a more informed choice when he and his wife go to buy his their first pistols ever. And he's a good deal older than me, and has been shooting since I was born.

 

So, I'll let everybody else spend their time on these forums, arguing until the end of time whether it's better to OC or CC or crossdraw or whatever. I'll continue to spend MY time helping others with their paperwork to get FIDs, CCWs, handle a firearm for the first time in a safe manner, shoot better, make wise purchases, and point them to fine organizations like NJ2AS and SAF (and help THOSE organizations with my time and money as I can).

 

Again, thank you for the defending statements, and no offense taken from the detractors. If anyone really feels the need to argue with me, my email is clearly posted. I hope we can stop arguing over the little stuff and spend time on the big stuff. Let's get Americans carrying guns!!

I have lived in both Wyoming and Northwestern Pennsylvania as well as spent time in Cottonwood, Arizona and the surrounding areas.

 

I know it is very difficult to understand why someone would OC vs CC. For the most part I tend to agree. However in areas where firearms are as common, or even more common then cars, OC was a more common sight then I would of thought.

 

Yellowstone Park is obviously a huge tourist attraction and brings people in from all over the world. My preference would be to CC in the more populated areas of the Park and OC when out on the trail/camping. I have absolutly no problem with someone who does otherwise.

 

During the mid-1990's in Wyoming it was legal to OC your beer and drink it while riding down the road so long as you were a passenger. I wonder if it is still that way today.

 

There is a great big wide world out there past the borders of NJ and you don't even have to leave this great nation to see a lot of it.

Maybe it's just me but I dont see the point and never will. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

 

Same.

 

OP, I hope you push for weapons retention and CQB education along with OC.

I must agree, I don't see the point other than for the obvious "Look at me" narcissists and attention seekers or the overzealous "Use it least we lose it" folks. I would prefer not to stand out until such time that I needed to STAND OUT...

 

While I may agree with you, far be it for me to even think about telling someone how they should carry their weapon. Because they can is good enough reason in my book.

 

Same.

 

OP, I hope you push for weapons retention and CQB education along with OC.

 

Strongly agree. If you want to flaunt what you have you sure as hell better be able to secure and retain it should somebody make a play for it.

OP: I feel you chose a good place and environment for OC. Makes sense in summer heat, wearing light clothing and wanting to carry a larger handgun. Even you admitted that OC isn't for everywhere, which I also agree with. In most cases I do feel discretion is a carrier's best friend.

 

I wouldn't listen to the haters. Flaunting and narcissistic BS, pretty much anyone with <insert something nice like jewelry, fancy cars, luxurious, etc> can be labeled as such. If you ran around approaching everyone, speaking about how awesome your gun is compared to everyone else's, or got up on a soap box proclaiming your rights and how you are free, OC to support Liberty, blah blah, or where OC'ing down some slummy Philly area just to attract police attention... then would say someone is flaunting.