Improper, or dangerous, or properly outlawed? Some overlap.
There are locations where presence of a gun presents a unique and legitimate danger. WW has mentioned rooms with MRI machines.
This article discusses what is probably a very rare case of a 1911 discharging after flying across the room toward the MRI. It was cocked and locked and the safety prevented the slide from cycling. Inertial discharge enabled by the magnetic field overcoming internal safeties.
Similarly, I'm told that aluminum processing plants have very strict rules about any metal at all inside the plant (to the point that when my wife was doing blood draws at one such plant, all snacks had to be in plastic; no metal cans or wrappers at all). If a wedding band, wrist watch or ear rings pose a legitimate risk due to the metal, perhaps guns do as well. Maybe an exception for Glocks.
Prisons, jails, and other locations where the risk of being over powered by overwhelming numbers and having the gun taken are high. Court rooms
might go on this list, or be included as an area where emotions run very high.
It is a really bad idea--and often illegal--to carry when one is going to intoxicated, or impaired. This includes partying to the point of intoxication, going under anesthesia, or being under the influence of prescription drugs that impair motor skills or judgment beyond some point.
It would be counter-productive to OC in situations where doing so will run counter to one's other goals. I carry to protect life and limb. Carrying is secondary to life and limb. For example, I will OC when visiting someone in the hospital, but will CC if I am at the hospital as a patient's advocate. In most cases, OCing to a job interview is still in the same category as wearing a T-shirt proclaiming your other political affiliations, your sexual orientation, religious affiliation, marital status, and listing all your disabilities. Generally, a prospective employer has no need to know about my views on firearms.
I think it is poor form to carry into a private home or a house of worship contrary to the wishes of the residents or church, respectively. Double poor form to OC rather than to be discrete in such situations if one is going to carry.
I think it is rude to OC as a guest at events where the known presence of a gun is going to be disruptive (in a bad way), unwanted, or is likely to cause the host or his other guests to be uncomfortable. There are a host of situations where we modify our usual or preferred attire to match the expectations of our hosts. Moving a gun out of sight seems to me to be no more offensive than wearing a tie, and less likely to strangle me. What is in my pocket or inside my waistband is generally nobody's business. Alternatively, a man can choose to avoid events where his chosen manner of dress (including OC) would be unwelcome.
Obviously it would be grossly inappropriate (and against forum rules) to carry (and advocate carrying) contrary to existing laws. By definition, LACs (and members of OCDO) obey the law while we work to change laws that we dislike.
I do
not think there is anything wrong with carrying into a business (place of public accommodation) in violation of their policies so long as it is legal to carry despite such policies. The larger and less personal the business, the less problem. I would give more deference to the policies of a mom & pop store than I would a corporate chain. There may practical benefits to CC rather than OC in such cases.
Places that should
NOT be off limits legally but often are:
- Schools, colleges, hospitals, libraries, wildlife refuges, sports stadiums, etc.
- College dorms
- Restaurants that serve alcohol & bars including if the carrier wants to have a drink (so long as he isn't intoxicated/impaired)
- Commercial airliners (it was perfectly legal up until the mid '70s I believe)
- Military bases
- Federal facilities like post offices, office buildings, National Park Visitor Centers
- Certainly some others I've forgotten
Charles