open carry

¹

[ oh-puhn kar-ee ]

noun

1. the practice of publicly carrying a gun or other weapon that is fully or partially visible.

open-carry

²

[ oh-puhn-kar-ee ]

verb (used with or without object)

, o·pen-car·ried, o·pen-car·ry·ing.

1. to openly carry a gun or other weapon in public:

   He open-carried a pistol to his daughter’s school.

Word History and Origins

Origin of open carry¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Origin of open carry²

First recorded in 1985–90; open ( def ) + carry ( def )

Example Sentences

Open carry is legal in Nevada but it is a shall-issue state — meaning that an applicant must pass basic requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit, which are issued at the county level, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

It has also banned high-capacity magazines and prohibited open carry of guns at public demonstrations.

From Seattle Times

Open carry of firearms is legal in the Tar Heel State without a permit, but a person must be 18 with no felony convictions to do so.

From Los Angeles Times

The law also places no limits on weapon caliber size or magazine capacity, but a person may not open carry on private property or businesses that post “no weapons” signs, the Raleigh-based Manning Law Firm said.

From Los Angeles Times

Under the bill, open carry of firearms would still have been prohibited in schools and government meetings, and K-12 students would not have been allowed to have guns at school.

From Seattle Times