Why would you carry a gun? Are you expecting trouble? Are you out to kill someone?

Firstly, and perhaps more importantly, you will likely not agree with firearm carry if you believe that guns exist only as objects of evil and harm. We believe that guns are tools, and the only morality they have is that of the bearer. Many have a hard time accepting this.

We feel it is clearly evident that those who would do harm to others can and will do it with or without guns. If you have a strong stomach, Google "hammer murder" and you will see that the depravity of a murderer does not require anything as complicated as a gun. While we realize that most people are not out to do us harm, we have decided not to rely on the goodness of strangers for our protection.

The overwhelming majority of open and concealed carriers carry guns as the result of a lot of thought and consideration, and a desire to be prepared. We don't carry because we expect to get attacked, nor do we hope to use our guns, but we realize that the police are not always going to be close enough to help us.

But that's what the police are for!

Unfortunately, the police are not required to help or protect us in the United States, as decided in multiple court cases; such as Castle Rock v. Gonzales [link] and Warren v. D.C. [link]. These are the kind of stories that lead us to realize that we are our own first line of defense, and all too frequently that first line of defense is the only line of defense.

Most states allow law abiding citizens to get concealed carry permits that allow them to conceal a handgun. Isn't it a better idea to carry concealed?

We value concealed carry just as much as we value open carry. We do not agree with the idea that people should be forced to carry in one method or another.

1. Open carry advocates believe strongly that there should be choice. Many of us (especially in Ohio) are Concealed Handgun License holders, and many of us choose to conceal or carry openly depending on the activities we have planned for the day.
2. Many open carriers believe that openly carrying a firearm is a strong deterrent factor; that the average criminal is not going to attack someone who clearly has the means to protect themselves.
3. We have nothing to hide. This is not to impugn those who choose to conceal carry; it is simply that we don't care if the police or the people we are around know we are carrying.
4. For many, open carry allows for a faster and simpler draw. While it is a good idea to practice drawing and firing from concealment, not all have the time or a place to do so.
5. Open carry can be more comfortable and is possible regardless of gun size, body shape, height and weight.
6. Open carry in Ohio and many other states does not require a license, meaning that those who cannot afford a Concealed Handgun License can still carry openly (with a few caveats)
7. Open carry allows those around us to see that regular people with guns are not criminals and are not a threat.
8. Open carry causes people to consider the idea of firearms carry when they may not have otherwise.
9. In Ohio, open carry is a right; concealed carry is a privilege. While we may not like it, the law is clear: open carry is a right, but concealed carry is a privilege to be regulated by the state government. If we ever lose the right to openly carry, we will not be able to count on concealed carry.

But how can we know that somebody carrying a firearm openly is a law abiding person and not a criminal?

Studies show [link] that criminals simply do not use holsters for their weapons, and they prefer to conceal their weapons. If you think about it, this makes sense, as criminals generally will not want to draw attention in any way before or after they commit a crime.