Concealed Carry? Open Carry?

[Telcomfaust]

I have always thought that the only way to carry in Connecticut was Concealed.

Looked at different laws and could not find anything that stated that the Handgun must be concealed. Just that you needed a Permit to Carry a Handgun.

In my search I could this web site and a guide that had some explanations in it. Was just wondering if anyone else has done any research on this topic or has any 1st hand experience with Connecticut laws. And also on the topic the City of New Britain has a Town Ordinance that says you can not carry a gun with in city limits, permit or not.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Greg


http://www.ccdl.us/

http://www.ccdl.us/attachments/099_CCDL%20Carry%20Brochure.pdf

[220combat]

There is no law preventing you from carrying open, but the responsibility of your is not to instill fear in others, so if you carry open and someone sees it and get scarred, you can be arrested.

N.B. DOES have such a statute, but if you carry concealed who would know? I have carried through New Brit many times. I don't know whether or not the towns have the legal right to restrict what the state allows.

[Jimfire85]

Like 220 said, there is no law restricting open carry, but law is worded its in your best interest to not instill fear into the public. Open carry is great in a state where it is the norm, but in a sheeple state like ct , it probably won't fly too well. It can be accomplished but I'm not willing to risk my permit to the general public. As far as the arguement that it deters crime or not, I tend to lean more towards the element of surprise to a would be criminal than presenting myself as the first target. I applaud that group on their efforts to make open carry the norm ,but when I have something like my job dependent on my permit to carry, I'm not going to risk it.

[Cal45]

I heard of an incident some years back where a guy went into a Dunkin Donuts and sitting at the counter the tip of his gun was showing from under his coat. Some old hag called the cops and said there was a guy with a gun. Cops showed up and arrested the guy. He was told that he had to carry in a manner so as not to offend the general public. He got his gun back but lost his permit to carry.

[Harvester]

If a gun is seen, I believe it can be considered brandishing which is illegal.
Cal, I remember that story, last I heard he was still fighting to get his permit back. During my course, the instructor stressed if you are going to carry, make sure no one will ever know it. He recommended a small pistol if you wanted to carry or a very large jacket.

[Cal45]

I carry a small 9m/m in a "in the pant holster". I can carry it wearing light shorts and a tee shirt and you cannot tell I'm carrying.

[220combat]

Men only know 1 thing about accessorizing, choosing the right gun/holster so we don't show we are carrying.

I can carry my Sig 220 45 ACP without printing, even in shorts and t-shirts. But I wear shirts long and loose which helps.

[CTtrapper]

Open Handgun Carry appears to be an issue with some in CT. A dispute over gun rights occurred when James Goldberg, wearing camouflage clothing and a holstered — and licensed — pistol on his right hip, walked into a Chili's restaurant in upscale Glastonbury , where he intended to pay for a takeout order. We understand the handgun was located under his shirt and was seen when he bent over. According to Goldberg, a college-educated, occupational safety engineer, a restaurant employee, concerned by the sight of an armed customer, called the town police department. A goggle-eyed luncheon crowd watched three officers roll up, confront Goldberg and handcuff him. "What can we get him for?" Goldberg, 32, says one of the officers asked his colleagues. The answer, as it turned out, was nothing. A state Superior Court judge dismissed the breach of peace charge police ultimately filed against Goldberg, forcing law enforcement experts to concede that, absent extenuating circumstances, there is nothing in Connecticut law to prohibit licensed gun owners from conducting their lives visibly armed. Make sure you read the article in the Hartford Courant http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-open-carry-guns-0418.artapr18,0,2346909.story .

While legal according to some, common sense must dictate – obviously you wouldn’t carry a handgun or a long gun open in a bank, into a police station, funeral parlor, church, etc. Last year CCS defeated a poorly written State Police bill which would have restricted ANY open carry. In CT we currently have reasoned gun laws ( a sea of tranquility in an ocean of turmoil when you consider our surrounding states) although there are many technical changes that need changing (Bound Book, extension of dealers licenses to other locations (gun shows) without an additional fees, several others, and serious and plainly stupid laws (“Assault Weapons” which even the State police can’t understand, with few arrests due to it being a non-problem, while restricting firearms ownership) that need change or elimination. Open Carry could be corrected by just the wording “inadvertent exposure” as a non-chargeable law. That many changes are needed to better the laws, make them more easily understood, and enhance compliance, the question always is “do we want to open a “Pandora’s box” which could lead to further restrictions? CCS Position: Do NOT press for open carry with the exception of inclusion of “inadvertent exposure” – Common Sense on the part of Permit Holders is key.

From a member: I had a conversation about this with a friend of mine who is a policeman in one of our area towns. He (and I) recommends that this law NOT be tested. One little old lady (of either gender) starts screaming that she feels threatened and you will be arrested for disturbing the peace. You will beat the charge but it will cost you $$$, time and notoriety.

Many others have also communicated: pressing for western states type Open Carry will be a handgun owner credibility and legislative disaster, common sense is the answer, and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

47% Oppose Open-Carry Gun Laws, 41% Favor Rasmussen Reports Thursday, May 13, 2010



Most Americans are not concerned about their safety around those who have legal permits to carry concealed weapons but have mixed feelings about laws that would allow gun owners to wear their weapons openly in public.



A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Adults are at least somewhat concerned about their safety in the presence of those who have “concealed carry” gun permits. Fifty-eight percent (58%) don’t share that concern.



But 47% oppose so-called “open carry” laws that would allow citizens to openly wear their guns in public. Forty-one percent (41%) favor laws. Several states are currently wrestling with this issue.



In households with a gun owner, support for “open carry” laws rises to 57%. In households where no gun is present, 62% oppose them.

Similarly, 55% of those in non-gun-owning households are concerned about their safety around those who have legal permits to carry concealed weapons. Just 27% of those who have a gun owner in their household express similar concern.



This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 11-12, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.



Americans continue to overwhelmingly believe the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of the average citizen to own a gun. Seventy-eight percent (78%) hold that view. These findings have changed little through several surveys.



Men believe in the constitutional right to own a gun more strongly than women. Whites believe in it more strongly than African-Americans.

Sizable majorities of Republicans, Democrats and adults not affiliated with either major party also think the Constitution guarantees the right of gun ownership.



However, Democrats are far more likely to be concerned about their safety around those with “concealed carry” permits than Republicans and unaffiliateds are.


Fifty-five percent (55%) of Republicans and a plurality (48%) of unaffiliated adults favor “open carry” laws, but 65% of Democrats oppose them.


Americans consistently have supported gun ownership over gun control. Sixty-nine percent (69%), for example, said in March that city governments do not have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns. Forty-two percent (42%) said tougher anti-gun laws are needed, but 49% disagreed.


In recent years, support for stronger gun control has ranged narrowly from a low of 39% in October to a high of 45% in April 2007 following the killings at Virginia Tech.


Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Americans say gun sales are up in the United States because of a fear of increased government restriction on gun ownership. Early in his presidency, 71% believed it was at least somewhat likely that President Obama would seek tougher gun control laws.

[stonecrusher]

great post. I had not read this story.

BUT, why must they associate "camouflage outfit" with the story?
I bet a bunch of people would be offended if it instead said; "wearing dread locks".

"What about people who push this right and they go into a McDonald's wearing a camouflage outfit and a gun?" Lawlor said. "There are people who do this. The criminal law says it is a crime to either intentionally or recklessly create alarm in public. For the same reason it is against the law to stand up in a movie theater and cry 'Fire,' you should be arrested."

[Cal45]

great post. I had not read this story.

BUT, why must they associate "camouflage outfit" with the story?
I bet a bunch of people would be offended if it instead said; "wearing dread locks".

"What about people who push this right and they go into a McDonald's wearing a camouflage outfit and a gun?" Lawlor said. "There are people who do this. The criminal law says it is a crime to either intentionally or recklessly create alarm in public. For the same reason it is against the law to stand up in a movie theater and cry 'Fire,' you should be arrested."

Quite honestly people who wear baggy pants that come down to between their knees and ankles, all kinds of jewelery, sun glasses and baseball hats turned around backwards alarm me. To me these people are just weird. What laws are they breaking. That Lawlor is nothing but ..... I can't say it here. What he's saying is that in the upcoming season a person who goes deer hunting with a handgun cannot take off his orange and go into a Mickey D's and get something to eat because they look like someone from a militia and not a hunter. :icon_butt:to him!