Why is it that I get dirty looks when I open carry my glock?

Question

I am 19 and I own a Glock 19 9mm. How come I get dirty looks from people when they see my gun like they are all scared or something. If I wanted to do something I wouldn't open carry it. I do that to let people know not to rob me or not to commit acts of violence in my presence. If I saw someone else with a gun in their holster I would feel safer not scared... I live in Virginia btw its completely legal for people 18+ to open carry a firearm without a permit.

To those who dont know the law and decide to give their own 2 cents on my question completely unrelated to my question, learn the law please? Also I cant shoot myself in my foot if the entire trigger guard is covered by my holstier. 30 years gun dealer, LEO detective are you lying? I have asked cops what they would do and their reply is "you can either tell me to 'F off' or sit there and enertain my questions" , "but since you wernt breaking the law there is nothing I can do". 30 year gun dealer and a cop doesn't even know the laws of his own state, thats sad.

Answer 1

Sigmund Freud gives the answer to why you get dirty looks: "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." -- Sigmund Freud

Alot of you have no clue about open carry laws. VA allows open carry by anyone 18 yrs old or older without a felony record, restraining order or mental illness. No permits required. The law is the same statewide.

Also OPEN CARRY IS LEGAL (at least PARTLY legal) IN 44 STATES! Some states require permits, others only allow it in rural areas, but only six states disallow it completely

Open Carry is a great way to remind sheeple that good people are armed and they need to get over their childish fears.

Answer 2

This whole thing doesn't sound rite I do know that gun laws differ from state to state but I allways thought that 21 was the federal age to buy/own a handgun maybe I missed somthing but I do know that Virginia has stiffer gun laws than most.I know for a fact that if you have a Pa concealed weapons permit you are not allowed to carry in Virginia but I can carry in most of the other bordering states.Just to be safe I think you should have a second look at Virginas laws before you carry your Glock again.

Answer 3

I stay in virginia, I actually have a ccw and that i carry open simply by fact the regulations replaced and allowed usto gain this, yet using ability of examining your question, the way you worded it, i will permit you recognize've the form of mindset that attracts adverse interest to your self. donning a firearm is a extensive duty, and taking it gently, and showing the form of mindset you're showing here is the form of interest the completed firearms community does not want. additionally you should recognize the regulation, you're under the age of 21, you are able to no longer carry a pistol, hid or otherwise till you're 21 in virginia. call your interior reach state police barracks and ask the table sgt. he assist you recognize an identical ingredient I in basic terms informed you, I in basic terms talked approximately as my interior reach barracks, the only on protection stress highway in chesapeake to confirm it.each public selection interior the tidewater section won't enable any civilian under the age of 21 to even cope with a pistol on selection till their parent or parent is present. You donning the pistol, tho that's criminal to open carry in virginia, is prohibited simply by fact of your age.

Answer 4

Look, man. Get yourself a nice, professional-looking gold badge that says "CCW lisense holder" or "Legal Armed Citizen", or something along those lines. Wear it in a nice, professional-looking badge belt-holder whenever you're carrying. Make certain if confronted by any police officers that the badge is a "posted indicator of legal-carry status", and is not an attempt to impersonate an officer of the law.
Ordinary citizens don't pay any attention to what a badge SAYS on it... And they're USED to seeing these in conjunction with a holstered gun, so they will feel comfortable with a gun if it's accompanied by a badge. What they don't know, won't hurt them. The same goes true for the criminals you wish to protect yourself from. They see a badge and a gun ...and they want to avoid getting close enought to read it, which is even better! If a person happens to ASK if you are a policeman, be honest and tell them to read the badge.
The only problem with carrying a badge is the possibility of being accused of impersonating an officer, so be honest and clear up any public confusion it might cause promptly.

Answer 5

I wouldn't look at you dirty. I think it is because politicians, the media and the overall liberal portion of society have a phobia about guns. Ignorance, I guess.
They are scared of you because you have a gun and they can see it. They should really be scared of those who carry guns and hide them (for the wrong reasons).

I think open carry should be allowed everywhere. If a potential victim is seen wearing a gun, chances are they won't be a victim, let alone a target, very much longer.

It's time to level the playing field between the criminals who are armed and the citizens who aren't due to:
A) Legislation B.S.
B) The biased media and the negative phobia which they create about weapons in general (everything else for that matter)
C) Ignorance (this can be cured, I am not sure about the other two!)

Carry you Glock with pride, it's your right and your freedom to exercise that right to own and carry it.

Answer 6

See the link...the focus of the article is to show how laws differ depending on where you are.
In VA it IS LEGAL from what I read to carry openly if you are 18 or older. I understand that some folks just don't feel comfortable in that circumstance.
Personally, I would [ and do ] prefer to carry concealed...
fewer know that you are armed. In your case, you aren't old enough to carry concealed.

Answer 7

OK, first to address your question: People give you dirty looks because open carry is only allowed in a handful of states anymore and usually occurs in rural areas. You didn't say where you lived in VA, but if it's a urban area, suburb, etc. most people would find a handgun in full view uncomfortable (if not scared). Don't worry about it...worse they can do is call the cops, who will then explain to them what the law states.

Now onto the law...VA DOES allow open carry for anyone 18 and over w/out a permit. BUT you NEED a permit to carry concealed. See article (it's 2 pages):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50416-2004Jul14.html

Also, relevant links to VA law:

http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc1802000/18.2-287.4.html

and

http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc1502000/15.2-915.html

Other states that allow open carry w/out a permit: WV, AK, KY, NM, AZ, VT, SD, WY, MT, and ID.

Now you must be 21 yrs of age to buy a handgun from a licensed dealer anywhere in the US, but some states only require you to be 18 when purchasing a handgun through a private party...like VA.

Answer 8

ur right people are just scared and dont trust ya cuz you look young

Answer 9

Don't be confrontational. Smile and tip your hat. Remember, an armed society is a polite society.

Answer 10

yes , most people are scared to see a gun out in the open. that is because thy are not educated on personnel defense.