Terry E. was a father of three who had a prior criminal history and suffered from mental illness.
One day, Terry walked into a Houston area store called Suit Mart and tried to steal some items.
According to one witness, “The guy looked like he was a homeless person. They told him to just let go of the jeans or we’ll call the police.”
After being kicked out of the Suit Mart, Terry went to another store called Carter’s Country, which happened to be a gun shop.
As Terry walked into the gun shop, he was holding a sharp object and immediately went for the cash register. He opened the register, took the money, and headed for the exit.
That’s when an employee fired two shots at Terry. The employee told police he shot the suspect in self-defense.
According to police, “Once he went there (the gun shop), he went behind the counter (and) started ruffling through the cash register. He was confronted by one of the employees, at that point, one of the employees felt in fear of their safety and fired two shots, at least one struck.”
After being shot, Terry stumbled into the parking lot where he collapsed. He was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said the case would be presented to a grand jury. In addition, Terry’s family said they would be filing a civil lawsuit.
Seems like common sense, but trying to rob a gun shop is not a good idea.
In fact, there were four employees in the gun shop Terry tried to rob, and all four of them were armed.
When you walk into almost any gun shop these days, you’ll likely see every employee is armed – and most open carry, so it’s clear they are prepared.
More states are making it easier for people who want to openly carry firearms.
So, here are some pros and cons of open carry…
Benefits of open carry:
The biggest advantage to open carry is that you can access the gun quickly. There is no time wasted moving clothing or digging in your pocket to retrieve a firearm.
Another benefit is that open carry can act as a deterrent. (But as you will see in a minute, this can also be a bad thing.)
As I mentioned, most gun shop employees open carry. This sends a message to criminals that if they try to commit a crime it will likely be met with deadly force.
Remember, most criminals are looking for easy targets who won’t put up a fight. They won’t usually target someone who they know is going to fight back with a gun.
Also, some states have laws that make it easier to open carry compared to concealed carry.
The laws differ from state to state but if you can’t conceal a firearm, you might be able to open carry it.
Drawbacks to open carry:
One reason a lot of folks don’t open carry is that it can draw unwanted attention.
Even though open carry might be completely legal, we all know that there are going to be liberals who think the sight of a gun is terrifying.
Open carry eliminates the element of surprise that comes with concealed carry. During a self-defense situation, it can be a tactical advantage to surprise the criminal.
If they don’t know you have a gun, the situation might not escalate in violence, but if they go into an altercation knowing you have a gun, it may be deadly from the start.
Now, there are times when open carry might be the best option.
For example, when hiking, camping, or when it’s the best way to legally carry a firearm.
So, here are a few holsters to consider for open carry:
Safariland 7378:
The Safariland 7378 is durable, modular, and well-made. It’s an outside-the-waistband holster that can be used for concealed or open carry.
It also has a well-designed locking system for weapon retention.
Safariland is known for making good products and you can’t go wrong with this classic style holster.
PHLster Floodlight:
The Floodlight is a modular holster that will work with different accessories. Also, you can adjust the height, retention, and cant to whatever feels best for you.
Now, the Floodlight is specifically designed to work with guns that have a light attached. This wouldn’t be a bad thing for open carry.
This holster wouldn’t work well for concealing.
Blackhawk Serpa:
The Blackhawk Serpa is versatile and ambidextrous. It has an Auto Locking retention system with an index finger release.
The Serpa is a popular holster among law enforcement. It’s comfortable for all-day use and is secure thanks to its belt loop and paddle system.
Open carrying a firearm can be a controversial topic. Some people are completely against it and for some, it’s the only way they carry a pistol.
For me, there are times I like to open carry, such as hiking, since it can be easier to draw the firearm… but most of the time I am carrying concealed.
If you don’t have a quality holster for when you decide to open carry, you should consider investing in one.
Whether you open carry or carry concealed, there could be times when you’ll have to defend yourself without a firearm.
You may be scrunched in somewhere without room to safely draw your gun, or maybe you’ve been ambushed and don’t have time to get to your gun right away.
In those instances, you must be able to defend yourself, and even end a violent encounter with your bare hands.
