Open Carry Experiment..

[jcabin]

Originally Posted by jtkratzer

I highly recommend you spend some time on PA's section of OpenCarry.org to familiarize yourself with some information to respond to questions, how to deal with LEO should you be questioned, etc. Know your rights. Just because you know them, doesn't mean all LEOs do. Just because it is your right, it doesn't mean some meathead LEO won't attempt to trample your rights. It's happened before and it will happen again. Prepare yourself mentally with the knowledge you need to protect your rights.

I'd recommend calling the local police departments where you intend to open carry ahead of time and talk to the person who is highest in charge and inquire about how they enforce it. Get his/her name. If they say they don't allow it, you know you might have trouble and may need to fight with the law on your side. If they say they have no issues with it, great, make sure you have that person's name and phone number to use in case one of his/her officers questions you and tries to hassle you.

Being proactive with protecting your rights is always easier than trying to get them back after they've been wrongfully stripped from you.

You might also want to check out Pa Firearms Owners Association...the link is in my sig line.

all good points.. i actually signed up at PAFOA a week or two ago and have made a few posts there. ive checked out the paopencarry website as well. the best thing as you've stated would be to contact someone at the sheriffs office and see how they handle OC around here. I get mixed results when i ask other gun owners/LTCF'ers about the reactions theyve got from the sheriffs office here in monroe county.. apparently they tell you out right its illegal. im not sure, ill have to look into it myself, where i'm at we only have state troopers to deal with, and they seem to be more educated and professional, and less hot headed and hasty to make rash decisions then the deputy sheriffs are..

[jtkratzer]

Originally Posted by jcabin

all good points.. i actually signed up at PAFOA a week or two ago and have made a few posts there. ive checked out the paopencarry website as well. the best thing as you've stated would be to contact someone at the sheriffs office and see how they handle OC around here. I get mixed results when i ask other gun owners/LTCF'ers about the reactions theyve got from the sheriffs office here in monroe county.. apparently they tell you out right its illegal. im not sure, ill have to look into it myself, where i'm at we only have state troopers to deal with, and they seem to be more educated and professional, and less hot headed and hasty to make rash decisions then the deputy sheriffs are..

That's the key right there...you need to have printed information with you showing the law and statutes that show open carry is legal. You need something better than your word and that you read online about it. Also, since you know the attitude of the local office, I'd recommend having an attorney on speed dial or at least in your phone or on a piece of paper in the wallet just in case.

I've read some horror stories about the police taking liberties and abusing their power and our rights when it comes to open carry. They might put up a fight, but when push comes to shove, they'll fold when the actual law comes out into the open.

[Brush-Wolf-Lady]

I don't feel like reading all 7 pages, just read the first 2. Open carry is legal in PA, my understanding is it's like VA where there is nothing stating it is unlawful to do, so therefore it is lawful to do it. Nobody seems to have the nerve to do it on any regular basis in York county where I frequent, though I saw 1 man 1 day who may have just been an average joe and not a plainclothes LEO, he was open carrying in Shrewsbury.

As to open carry in general, go over to opencarry.org and visit the forum. Not 1 of the people there who activly OC's has been robbed or jumped by a criminal. However many have been hassled by cops and store managers and there is actually feedback on where its gun friendly and where it isn't, esp in the VA section. Those VA OCers are an active bunch too and by numbers have educated many police depts and store/resturant managers, and now have far less hassles than ever before. The more the general public is exposed to it and educated about it, the more used to it they become. There are even a few guys who have OC'd in Blacksburg without being hassled. I have also seen posted about some guy in a slightly rougher area of N VA who has some MS13 gang members in the neighborhood, and they actually step out of his way to let him pass. Now that there is commanding respect!

I would sure love to see PA become what VA has with OC. BTW there are a couple guys who OC now and then in and around Philly ( suburbs) and haven't had any problems.