open carry

¹ American  

[oh-puhn kar-ee] / ˈoʊ pən ˈkær i /

noun

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

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open-carry ² American  

[oh-puhn-kar-ee] / ˈoʊ pənˈkær i /

verb (used with or without object)

open-carried, open-carrying

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

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

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Etymology

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