"Carrying Concealed or Carrying Open. Prudence and Discretion Should Be Used"

     Now that the new Georgia Gun law will go into effect on July 1, one would be wise to consider the consequences of Carrying Concealed vs. Carrying Open. As a gun owner and shooter for 43 years, I will give my opinion. Personally, I carry Concealed 100% of the time in public. The only time I carry open is on my occupation as a Nuisance Wildlife Operator. I am actually REQUIRED by the State of Georgia to carry a weapon on my trapline to dispatch or euthanize the target animal. In public, I do not want anyone to know I am carrying. Doing so, draws all of the attention to yourself and you basically become a spectacle. You also lose Tactical Advantage. There is a time for all things. If I decided to join a Pro Gun protest at the state capital or local gathering for Pro Gun advocates, I would then Open Carry as a show of support for my 2nd Amendment rights and solidarity with the group. If some A Hole like Harry Reid pulled a stunt, here in Ga, like he did on the Bundy ranch, you can d--n well believe I would Open Carry in that situation if the landowner requested assistance. I want the Criminal element to wonder who is carrying and who isn't. There are, however, some people who want to prove a point and will open carry. This is not illegal, I just don't think it is a good idea to do so in Walmart. Suppose criminals decide to rob an establishment and they see that you have a weapon exposed to the public. Who do you think they are going to target first? In fact, if they get the drop on you there is a good chance you may be the first one shot. Check your Ego's at the door. Carrying open doesn't make you more of a Man. It just makes you a target. Deciding whether or not to engage a perp is another decision with legal and moral consequences. Here is a logical scenario. Suppose I am in Publix and 2-3 perps decide they are going to rob the store. I am in line checking out, my .45ACP is hidden under my shirt or jacket. Two of the perps have pistols and one has a shotgun. I hear them tell the manager, "Man, we ain't gonna hurt nobody as long as you give us the money". As long as they take the money and leave, I would not engage them in the store and take a chance on some innocent getting shot. Let them have the money. The cops can catch them down the road. If their intent is just to rob the store and not hurt anyone why get into a gun battle when unnecessary? However, if myself or my family was being robbed, that is another story. If a boyfriend starts beating up his ex girlfriend in the parking lot, do you draw on him and hold him for the cops? I would. If I saw a guy trying to get a woman or child into a car and they are screaming bloody murder, I know from statistics that if he leaves with her or the child, the chances of ever seeing them again are very slim. I would probably intervene if I could do so without injuring the child. You cannot be Dirty Harry or John Wayne. Any engagement will lead to legal proceedings, police interviews and a lot of inconvenience in your life. You will be front page news on every outlet in Atlanta. If we choose to carry, we must also accept the responsibilities and consequences that come with that decision. I do not take carrying my weapon lightly. Most people do not want to get involved in others situations. If someone on bath salts has a person down and is eating his face off would you intervene? I would. If it is a crime against a business, probably not. If a crime against a citizen, I would have to say it would depend on the situation since no two are alike. When given liberties like this we must be prudent how we use them. Obtain training and practice, practice, practice. There is no substitute.