A young man's life was cut short.  He was getting coffee at Dunkin' Donuts.  He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, and that cost him his life. 

It was a normal morning for Brian.  He walked into his local DD to get coffee and a sandwich. He was carrying his pistol on his waist in the open. 

A man in his 40's snuck up on Brian, disarmed him, and ran out of the Dunkin' Donuts.  Brian gave chase and caught up with the thief in the parking lot.  The two men wrestled over the gun.  Shots were fired, the suspect took off, leaving Brian mortally wounded in the parking lot. 

It's a tragic story we can learn a lot from.

If your reason for carrying a firearm in public is self-defense, announcing yourself everywhere you go isn't smart or safe.  Like Brian, you become a target, invite trouble, pose a danger to everyone around you, and make most people uncomfortable.

Yes! Bearing arms is your constitutional right.  I am all for it.  However, most people, including me, don't care to know you're exercising it. And, I dare say, no one wants to be around a gun that was taken from someone and is now in the wrong hands.  Nothing good will come of it. 

If you think open carry will help you get to your gun faster in a self-defense situation, you're sorely mistaken.  A violent attack will not come announced.  More so, if the attacker knows you have a gun.  You'll have to react and will be a step behind anyway.  And under the extreme stress of a violent attack, you better be highly trained and dialed in to keep your composure, get to your gun, get effective shots on target, and make all the right decisions in seconds so you don't only survive, but stay out of jail. 

I didn't need to read or tell this story to know that Open Carry isn't for me.  I don't like it, agree with it, or find it smart or necessary in the context of carrying a firearm for self-defense as a civilian.  Brian's story is just one example of why. 

Now, open carry in Florida isn't outlawed altogether.  Florida Statute 790.25 (3g-3n) specifies where and when open carry is allowed.  Personally, it's fine the way it is.

Our focus as civilian gun owners is to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and other innocents from a violent attack; not invite one.  Staying under the radar and becoming well trained in the effective and lawful use of our firearm is far more productive.  Flaunting it, constitutional right or not, has no useful part in that IMO. 

So, if carrying a firearm for protection is your priority, carrying open or concealed shouldn't matter.  Learning the right skills and training regularly to safely, responsibly, and lawfully use your firearm is far more important so that you can protect yourself and those you love.  If you fail, it's not because you couldn't open carry.  It's because you weren't well trained. 

Train Hard, Often, and Safely, and I'll see you at the range.