97Percent’s Chris Carita, a veteran law enforcement officer, explains some of the challenges for officers created by open carry, which was recently adopted by Florida following a court ruling. For more from Chris, please check out his recent op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel.
Here’s what some of our readers had to say about open carry:
It’s the firearms you can’t see because they are hidden which one should be asking about. —Jeff Frischkorn
I live in Michigan, an open carry state. We had a Democratic trifecta from 2023-2025. They didn’t repeal it or limit it at all. I have lived in Wisconsin, Virginia, and Georgia. All open carry states.
I prefer to conceal carry, however people should have the right to open carry. I know both Democrats and Republicans who open carry. I’ve never seen problems with it. We grew up with it, so it doesn’t shock anyone.
My sister lives in Pennsylvania. Another open carry state. Politically, all the swing states are open carry states. No issues.
When I lived in Georgia and Minnesota, we needed a concealed carry permit to open carry. Georgia doesn’t require the concealed carry permit anymore. A permit isn’t required to open carry here in Michigan nor in Wisconsin. I saw many people open carry in Alexandria, Virginia, when I lived there.
To be clear, I don’t think someone should need a concealed carry permit in order to open carry. In fact, I don’t think someone needs a concealed carry permit to conceal carry. —Timothy Stoner
