There is a lot of debate about whether concealed or open carry is better. I’ll talk about some of the pros and cons of each but first let me state my opinion on the subject. There is no way to know what type of situation you will be in when you will need your firearm–so there is no way to know which type of carrying would be better suited to the situation you are going to be in.  You should either be proficient at wearing and drawing from both, or choose the one that fits your situation better–and be trained to draw your firearm from that position.

Concealed Carry: This is usually the preferred method mainly becuase people don’t like other people to know that they have a firearm on their person. It draws a lot of attention (both good and bad). A lot of people don’t want to deal with that kind of attention as it may lead you to getting banned from stores, homes, or shunned by people. I personally have a family member that doesn’t like to be in the same house as me when I have a firearm. And since I always have my firearm that makes for some awkward situations.

Open Carry: The open carry person enjoys the attention. They like to use it for educating the public and helping them better understand the laws. This type of person knows the law very well and is usually prepared to discuss the laws with police officers or citizens who may not be as familiar with the applicable law.

Concealed Carry: From a tactical standpoint concealed carry has the benefit of surprise. A criminal that is not aware of your firearm will not pay any special attention to you. That may give you an opportunity to get into a good position to use your firearm to stop a crime.

Open Carry: Open carry has a couple advantages–first is that your firearm may be a deterrent. A criminal that sees your firearm may not be prepared to fight you–and may choose another location that isn’t so difficult. But the opposite may also be true–they may see your firearm and attack you first with the intention of eliminating the biggest threats. Another advantage of open carry is that you can draw your weapon much quicker (that time gap obviously decreases as you train). With your weapon not being covered with clothes you can access it more quickly.

The choice is up to you and the laws of the state that you live in. There are benefits with either, but you have to be able to deal with both sides. You never know what type of situation you will be in when you need your firearm, so make sure that you can draw and use your weapon quickly and accurately from whatever you choose.