I'm sure you guys are right, females probably are hassled less when open carrying...and no one wants to be hassled while out and about. I guess as of now I'd rather open carry for several reasons. First, because I don't really want the element of surprise after a crime has already started happening. I'd rather deter a crime before it happens. I prefer not having to use my weapon against another human being, and if I concealed it I feel like it would be more likely I'd have to because the criminal wouldn't know I had that sort of ability to defend myself. If something happened someday where I would need to draw my firearm, then I would want the quickest possible access to my gun. For me personally, to conceal my gun would be kind of difficult, and prevent easy access. Lastly, each time I've had interactions with people while OC, I'm able to show them that I'm a good responsible person who happens to legally carry a weapon. I think it makes most people more comfortable since so many negative connotations are associated with firearms.
Just a couple of things to think about, since you asked for opinions...
1) I have yet to see any reliable research data showing that criminals are deterred by open carry. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but
unlike the fact that there is research showing that criminals are deterred by areas with potentially large number of concealed carry folks, I haven't seen
any showing that criminals (upon seeing open carry) are deterred. I have, however, read a number of specific cases (note: those count as anecdotes, not evidence) in which open carry folks were specifically targeted for their guns.
So: I personally have ever seen any research on any particular deterrence effect of open carry. Do you know of some?
2) If someone decides to indeed commit a crime and they see you open-carrying, you are now a priority target for serious attack, as they have to make certain that you are unable to respond. This can be done in several ways: A) make you unable to do anything through direct attack, or B) take your weapon.
Which brings up the question: As someone open-carrying, are you using a retention holster that will actually keep the gun under a determined grab attempt? Preferably one in which the retention release cannot be easily activated by the attacker? (In my opinion, anyone who is open carrying should be using a holster with active retention, and also in my personal opinion, it should be similar in type to the Safariland ALS system, and NOT a SERPA holster.)
If you are open-carrying, you have to have a heightened awareness of people around you and their relative distances---because if you ARE going to be attacked, it will be at a significantly higher level than if you weren't open carrying. (And you also have practiced empty-hand defensive techniques, to stop people at close-range long enough to access your handgun, yes? While keeping them from obtaining your handgun?)
3) Concealment and access----it is certainly true that open carry is faster than concealed carry. HOWEVER, that being said, the difference really should be quite small. It possibly be even equivalent, if the person doesn't practice much with their retention holster. Active retention is slightly slower than passive retention, and an open-but active holster just isn't going to be that much different in speed than a concealed-but-passive holster. Again, that's just my opinion, but my speed from an open competition holster averages at 1.0 second to an A hit at 7 yards, and my speed from an Archangel AIWB concealed holster averages about 1.4. Half a second can be a long time, true---but I know that my speed from a standard belt holster with ALS (suitable for open carry) is NOT 1.0 seconds.
Also with regard to concealment---I think you might be surprised at what you can conceal comfortably. A young lady of my acquaintance conceals a G19 for most of the year (and no, she isn't large) without resorting to tent clothing, and when it is extremely hot, she moves to a Kahr K-9. Another female friend of mine carries a G26 all year with no issues. In neither case do they have to go with baggy clothing to hide their firearms, and in both cases they comfortably carry all the time.
For most people, CCW is a function of finding the right holster/carry method combination. I know a LOT of people who conceal a tiny, tiny handgun because they say anything larger just won't conceal---and yet after trying a couple of different methods, have changed their mind.
I and my wife even offer a class in CCW where we pour out a bucket of different holster types so that people can try different methods.
Anyway---I think you'd be surprised what you can conceal.
4) I'm glad that OC has worked well for you in terms of positive interactions with people. As others have said, I'm sure that being female has actually made a difference in that, and if you have been able to shed a positive light on firearms and carry, that's excellent!
As many people have said here---most people do
not find that to be the normal reaction, particularly in cities. (In rural areas, tends to be different.) If OC-ing in Omaha, most people would end up having time-consuming discussions with local police officers, including potentially be proned out and handcuffed during said discussions. (I wish I was exaggerating, but that comes directly from the OPD facebook page awhile ago, in which they admitted that given a call that someone was walking done the street with a holstered firearm, they would respond and potentially prone out, disarm, and cuff the person until they could establish that said person was legal. Which is interesting, because walking down the street with a firearm openly carried is completely legal, and when that was pointed out to them, they said "for the officer's safety, this may potentially occur.")
It would indeed be nice if people understood that OC is legal, and nothing to be particularly worried about, and indeed, the more it occurs, the more people might eventually come to relax about it. That being said, as people have pointed out, a number of people OC to make a scene and "make a point" which rather hurts the cause instead.
I personally have nothing against OC-ing. That being said, I'd never by choice OC in a place in which people not my close friends would see, or which was not on land owned by myself. In my opinion, I don't want criminals to know I'm carrying (both for the element of surprise, and also because I don't wish to be a priority target), and I simply don't have time for the hassle if some idiot calls the cops who respond to a "man with a gun!" call without further explanation.
If it is working for you---then go with it! However, from a self-defense perspective, be careful that you don't mistake "it hasn't happened to me" with "it won't happen to me because I have a gun."
YMMV, of course.
