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Open Carry?

TroutBum

TroutBum

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I'm too lazy to really try and read about Utah's open carry laws. In a nutshell, I can legally carry a gun on my hip or in a shoulder holster without a concealed weapons permit, right? If that's the case, do I get in trouble if my shirt hangs out over my waist and all of a sudden the gun is concealed?

Any gun-nuts here?

I'd also like some suggestions for decent hand guns. I'm not going to break the bank, but I'd love to waste some tax return dollars on a gun and shoulder holster. Perhaps it's the teeny-peeny syndrome, but I really like the idea all of a sudden.
 
Open means open and concealed means concealed. If your firearm becomes concealed then you'd be breaking the law if you didn't have a concealed carry permit.

In Utah you can carry a firearm in your vehicle, concealed or not, loaded or not, without a permit.

You should go to a range that has rentals (Get Some, Dave's Shoot 'n Sport) and try several guns. There is no one-size-fits-all with a handgun. Some will feel awkward in your hand and some will fit like a glove and naturally point where you want them to.

If you haven't fired several hundred rounds through a hand-gun I highly recommend that once you pick a handgun you shoot the living **** out of it the first month or two. You really want to be able to operate it without thinking, as well as clear jams and such quickly and safely.

I question the value in open carry. It will draw attention to your piece and away from your package, so there will be some value in it for you, but it draws attention. If a crazy one-in-a-million situation takes place and you're in a bank that gets robbed or something you will probably be at greater risk with your exposed gun than you would be in with no gun. Unless, of course, you become Steven Seagal and take them all out with your mad gun skillz...

It's pretty easy to get a concealed carry permit in Utah, so why not go that route? You'll get some instruction, legal advice and possibly some range time. You can carry open or concealed if you have a concealed carry permit.

I've gotten rid of most of my handguns, but if you want to hit the range sometime let me know. We could go to Get Some (they have a nice range compared to Doug's) and look over their selection and rent a gun or two and get some practice in.
 
Gameface said:
In Utah you can carry a firearm in your vehicle, concealed or not, loaded or not, without a permit.
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By loaded you mean a loaded clip right? I've always heard you couldn't have a bullet in the chamber but maybe that has changed. Doesn't concealed carry allow you to carry with a live bullet as long as two actions are required first or something like that?
 
franklin said:
By loaded you mean a loaded clip right? I've always heard you couldn't have a bullet in the chamber but maybe that has changed. Doesn't concealed carry allow you to carry with a live bullet as long as two actions are required first or something like that?
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I'm not a concealed carry or open carry expert as I don't do either. I thought concealed carry could be loaded, only needing to pull the trigger to fire. With open carry, as I understand, there needs to be two actions to fire. With a semi-auto that means no round in the chamber so that you have to rack the slide and pull the trigger OR one in the chamber and the safety on (if that particular firearm has a manual safety). With a revolver it kind of sucks because you're already limited in ammo capacity and to open carry you have to have the hammer at rest on an empty cylinder and have the next cylinder empty as well so that you pull the trigger once and do not fire, then pull again to fire. I think with a single action only revolver (typically only the cowboy-style revolvers are SAO) you don't have to worry about leaving an extra cylinder open because you are required to manually pull the hammer back in order to fire, making the two actions.

As far as the condition your gun has to be in if you are driving around with it I really don't know.

All I can say is that no matter what you do or how you do it consider safety above all else. It doesn't help anyone if you end up having a negligent discharge, even if no one is hurt.
 
Here's what I found regarding carry in a vehicle:


Utah Code
Title 76 [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Utah Criminal Code [/FONT][/FONT]Chapter 10 [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, Welfare, and Morals [/FONT][/FONT]Section 505 [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Carrying loaded firearm in vehicle or on street.
[/FONT][/FONT]76-10-505. Carrying Loaded Firearm in Vehicle or on Street. (1) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Unless otherwise authorized by law, a person may not carry a loaded firearm:
[/FONT][/FONT](a) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]in or on a vehicle, unless:
[/FONT][/FONT](i) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]the vehicle is in the person's lawful possession; or
[/FONT][/FONT](ii) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]the person is carrying the loaded firearm in a vehicle with the consent of the person lawfully in possession of the vehicle;
[/FONT][/FONT](b) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]on a public street; or
[/FONT][/FONT](c) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]in a posted prohibited area.
[/FONT][/FONT](2) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a minor under 18 years of age, since a minor under 18 years of age may not carry a loaded firearm in or on a vehicle.
[/FONT][/FONT](3) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a)(i) and (ii), a person may not possess a loaded rifle, shotgun, or muzzle-loading rifle in a vehicle.
[/FONT][/FONT](4) [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]A violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
[/FONT][/FONT]
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Respectfully, I've never understood people's infatuation with guns and their desire to own one or even many. May I ask why those of you who carry want to or feel the need?
 
Wes Mantooth said:
Respectfully, I've never understood people's infatuation with guns and their desire to own one or even many. May I ask why those of you who carry want to or feel the need?
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Self protection. Some bat *** crazy people out there. I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
 
Gojazz79 said:
Self protection. Some bat *** crazy people out there. I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
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Yeah, I thought that would be the answer given as it seems like the only respectable, possible answer given. I guess I just wouldn't trust myself with a gun, perhaps because I didn't grow up with them.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
Yeah, I thought that would be the answer given as it seems like the only respectable, possible answer given. I guess I just wouldn't trust myself with a gun, perhaps because I didn't grow up with them.
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Same. I feel like most cases having a gun would only compound the problem, resulting in a higher % of death for myself.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
Yeah, I thought that would be the answer given as it seems like the only respectable, possible answer given. I guess I just wouldn't trust myself with a gun, perhaps because I didn't grow up with them.
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If it makes you feel better I think that a yearly shooting course and class shoud be mandatory to carry. People who carry should be required to show a proficiency with the weapon.
 
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