I think you have the right take on that. The practice of open carry could very well provoke a backlash, and cause the legislators to over-react. Let sleeping dogs lie.

While I will agree with you guys that some people may open carry to feel like a cowboy, not EVERYONE are like that. I would even say MOST people are not like that, who open carry.

I do not open carry. I think its tactically unsound. I would rather a criminal not know for sure if I had a weapon. I don't want the weapon visible, and I don't want to give him any warning that I may have a lethal weapon. I don't want that criminal to try and take the weapon away from me, or target me first to take me out of the fight.

That being said, I do not bash anyone that open carries. A lot of people that do it, are people that are concerned with their Constitutional right to bear arms. If you watch enough Youtube videos, you will see that there are a lot of videos that show people just wanting to exercise their right to legally open carry a weapon.

Open carry invites misunderstanding. In some communities, if a nervous citizen calls the police because they saw someone carrying a firearm, requiring a response, you can be harmless and well-intended but you can be charged with disturbing the peace, because you've disturbed the peace of the citizen who placed the call!
Concealed carry is worth the effort and expense of obtaining the permit. It should be a well-kept secret that you have a firearm on you, because it gives you the advantage of surprise (if properly managed), and that can be a critical advantage - a good reason to select a holster that provides easy accessibility with a minimum of motion required to draw the piece. If you have to partially disrobe to reach your sidearm, you are overdressed for the occasion! Be subtle, be effective, but be prepared. Open carry tells everyone you've got a weapon, but it invites antagonism and prepares an evildoer to operate with a surprise of his own. I don't care how fast you are with a waistband holster, a pipe across the back of your head may well be faster when unexpected. No, I prefer concealed carry, thank you. I look like a harmless old fellow, and I prefer that. If I look armed, I surrender the advantage of preparedness and surprise.

+1 for whitetailfreak

But I will say that somtimes I have your take on it as well. There is no need for people to be open carrying with massive flasy revolvers and such, it just fuels the antis. They want the looks people give them.

On the other hand, this is the United States of America. And carrying a firearm is our constitutional right as US citizens. Different strokes for different folks!

NO open carry only in the Woods when Hunting,Concealed
Carry is the way to go, Cant see Cant tell!

open carry only causes issues where there usually weren't in the first place. i like to be the only one to know that i have the advantage!

Just because one can dosen't mean that you have to. Open carry can be a headache for law enforcement checking out the complaints from citizens that don't understand the second ammendment. You are much more effective with a concealed firearm. When the s### hits the fan it is best that the crud dosen't know that you have a firearm. With the firearm concealed you will have the advantage of surprise, a very huge advantage in a gunfight.

I personally think open carry, for the most part, draws the wrong kind of attention.

But, some think, and I can concede the point, that there are times that it can ward off trouble. The same maggot that may attack an unarmed person may think again.

Open carry is no longer allowed here in California. That "right" has been taken away without changing California's stance from "shall issue" to "will issue" CCW permits. The bad guys have less to fear because there are no armed citizens that can stand up to them and be legal while doing so. A lose / lose for gun owners who obey the law.