Interesting open carry story.

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Maybe people saw it and they didn't care?

That certainly happens sometimes. I remember once seeing a decently dressed gent in upper New York State carrying a gun which showed (to me). It didn't bother me, and I wasn't taking a poll about other folks' reactions. He might have been a policeman or some such, but I didn't see a badge.

FWIW, I often wear a "shoot-me-first" vest, and don't get a reaction. I once saw front-worn fanny packs which I well knew carried guns, because they were worn by co-workers of my "corrections officer" son. I'm not sure that he had them figured as armed.

Nothing wrong with being careful, but we are far more concerned about tell-tale clothing than the general public, or even most cops.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

When I see open carry in our state, where it's fairly easy to get a CCW, I automatically suspect the person's motive. Hopefully, they're only making a political statement and not just looking for a confrontation. I generally like to keep an eye on them, however, although I don't automatically put them in the bad guy column.

I personally like the element of surprise and being able to choose if and when I'm going to interject myself in a deadly force situation. That's why I carry concealed and keep my eyes moving and assessing my surroundings. My wife understands my years on the job and always leaves the seat against the wall and facing the door for me. Old habits die hard.

 

[susieqz]

i open carry because it's comfy.
either people don't notice or feel it would be impolite to mention it.
i'm not a wanna be anything.
i'm just me.

 

[Skeet 028]

I think I have mentioned before that at local gun shows a fellow sells Body Armor. Someone told me it is illegal to own in some states. The people buying this stuff aren't cops or military people. It's darned expensive. Many who are buying are also the tactically dressed. I don't understand the reasons to buy the stuff. Maybe I don't really want to know. If I noticed someone carrying openly wearing body armor and no police uniform..I'd probably leave the area

 

[Boudiepitbull]

I never carry openly. I know it may seem I am knocking those who wear tactical clothes camo pants military style boots etc. but I am not. Couldn't care less..but a higher percentaage of them are looked at skeptically by many people. Doing gun shows selling reloading items and supplies lets me interact with all sorts of people. When I see people open carrying 9 out of 10 times it is the tacticoolly dressed. Saw 2 the other day in Mickey D's. Now this is locally mind you. People in Wy are a bit different. That's why I live here. Nobody including the police get upset seeing a gun. Sometimes a tourist may look a bit askance. Two ladies from Canada asked me one time in the checkout line in Wally World if I had seen the fellow in front of me had a gun on his belt. I said well...yeah. I then explained that it was legal and that probably 4 or 5 out of 10 also carried concealed. They were amazed that there were no shootouts on the streets of Cody every day. Then they asked if I carried a gun also. I told them sometimes but my wife always carries. Told 'em she was a better shot than me! As far as odd questions from tourists though...I had one foreign lady who asked what time they let the animals out in Yellowstone. She wanted to be there when they did so she could see a wolf...I was, to be very honest, blown away by the question. I tried to explain..but don't know if she actually believed me.

So...what time do they let the animals out?

 

[Skeet 028]

0730 every day. Rain or shine snow hot or on the really cold days they have to beat the animals to make 'em leave the heated pens they have. While it is not widely known the bears have classes on how to steal pic-a-nic baskets

 

[soFlaNative]

i open carry because it's comfy.

That right there is such a simple and obvious point I never considered.

 

[the ringo kid]

Maybe people saw it and they didn't care?

THAT'S starting to be the norm reaction around here. No lunatics freaking out at the sight of a non-live object. It was predicted many times by the idiots who are editors of the CC Caller Times-as well as VERY well uninformed-or intentionally stupid? that there would be; "Blood running red in the streets and Wild West-like gunfights" none of which has happened and open carry here has been in effect for 1 year and 2 weeks.

 

[the ringo kid]

i open carry because it's comfy.
either people don't notice or feel it would be impolite to mention it.
i'm not a wanna be anything.
i'm just me.

Ma'am, THAT'S the exact way I feel about open carry. Not anything connected with showing off. In my earlier days in my old hometown, it was extremely common to see folks with guns in cars--rifles and shotguns stacked near the checkout lanes in grocery stores and in restaurants. I want it back like I experienced it when growing up. I still remember taking a Lee Enfield to high school-just because that was a normal thing. Many others brought guns in as well--no probs ever-while I was in high school.

Now it's in the early stages of what it used to be.

 

[llowry61]

Ma'am, THAT'S the exact way I feel about open carry. Not anything connected with showing off. In my earlier days in my old hometown, it was extremely common to see folks with guns in cars--rifles and shotguns stacked near the checkout lanes in grocery stores and in restaurants. I want it back like I experienced it when growing up. I still remember taking a Lee Enfield to high school-just because that was a normal thing. Many others brought guns in as well--no probs ever-while I was in high school.

Now it's in the early stages of what it used to be.

It is interesting that you mention this. I was talking to a man that grew up in ND. His dad was a ranch hand at a dairy farm and they lived in a house that the rancher owned. Game hunted locally was used to get by. He told me he would hunt his way to school each morning with his brothers. They would hang any rabbits or pheasants etc up in the coat room of the school along with their guns. When school was out they would hunt their way home. It was just a way of life. When I was a kid in the late 60's, my dad got me out of school for opening day of small game season and deer season. The school was fine with it. Can't imagine what would happen today if you sent your son to school with a note stating he would not be at school because of the season opener ! Not trying to hijack the post just trying to highlight how urbanized and brain washed the public is. On another note, people's situational awareness increases when they realize that safety is a perception not always a reality.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Can't imagine what would happen today if you sent your son to school with a note stating he would not be at school because of the season opener !

More than one school district around here purposefully schedules a fall break around deer season opening week because of the attendance dropoff . . .

 

[Mistered]

I just don't get the "I can carry my AR15 strapped over my shoulder into Walmart because it's my by God given right" attitude.

I don't get the 'God given right' part - The right to self defense might be a 'God given right' - essentially the right to self defense is inalienable and I get this part but where is it written it is a God given right to carry a FIREARM? I read and hear this so much it's getting old.

 

[steelslaver]

Missing school to go hunting is very common around here and wouldn't even raise an eyebrow from any of the teachers or Principal.

Besides that don't think a gun in the school parking lot would be a problem around here.

Montana state law, which effectively nullifies the federal gun free zone around schools for Montana citizens:
45-8-360. Establishment of individual licensure. In consideration that the right to keep and bear arms is protected and reserved to the people in Article II, section 12, of the Montana constitution, a person who has not been convicted of a violent, felony crime and who is lawfully able to own or to possess a firearm under the Montana constitution is considered to be individually licensed and verified by the state of Montana within the meaning of the provisions regarding individual licensure and verification in the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act.

 

[keith44spl]

Ahh, plastic guns and plastic gear.....Jees, no respect at all.


That thar is something that should be kept hidden in public.


Steel & Leather are for open carry..........


Jest sayin'






.

 

[DumpStick]

.... Can't imagine what would happen today if you sent your son to school with a note stating he would not be at school because of the season opener !.

A parent can temporarily take their child out of school for any reason, or no reason. An explanation is not necessary. The school is not the legal representative of the child, the parent is.

The reason that schools require a parental note for a child's absence is to be certain the parent is aware of the absence.

I had a friend who would occasionally go get his boy out of school to go fishing. No explanation offered. The school would ask why, he would say "Because I'm his father."

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I don't get the 'God given right' part - The right to self defense might be a 'God given right' - essentially the right to self defense is inalienable and I get this part but where is it written it is a God given right to carry a FIREARM? I read and hear this so much it's getting old.

The 2A quite clearly reads to "BEAR" arms shall not be infringed. Bear = carry.

As far as God-given...

I really like the way AWR Hawkins explains it.

We don't have the right to keep and bear arms because the Bill of Rights says so; rather, the Bill of Rights says so because the right to keep and bear arms is intrinsic to our very being: it is a right with which we were endowed by our Creator.

How are gun rights God-given and inalienable? | The Daily Caller

 

[Skeet 028]

I occasionally got a day off from school to go hunt with a letter explaining I was getting a life lesson. One teacher asked what a life lesson was. I told her I was getting lessons in etiquette from adults. She kinda looked at me funny cause I was in the 6th grade. Mrs Baxter..hard as nails but she was of the older generation. Figured I had gotten a butt whupping I think. I did acquire one of them every now and again.

 

[Dvan34]

It's funny how some people react. I did a test at work one time, bought a water pistol (red)
painted it black and put it in a holster, strapped it to my belt on my work clothes.
Walked around among my coworkers with a "Crazy face" on.

Not one comment.

Sweden is a "no carry" country, as in "NO CARRY WHAT SO EVER"
but no one even asked about the "gun" on my belt.

I would hazard that doing something like that might be hazardous to your health?

 

[Muss Muggins]

A parent can temporarily take their child out of school for any reason, or no reason. An explanation is not necessary. The school is not the legal representative of the child, the parent is.

That's sort of correct, although the child will face an inability to make up the work if the absence does not meet the policy requirement for an excused absence. A family vacation does not meet that requirement. As far as the school not being the legal representative of the child, you might want to explore "in loco parentis . . . "

 

[rburg]

You know, I open carried for a long,long time. Every darn fall out I'd go with absolutely no covering on my shotgun or rifle. I'd hike all over creation, toting the long gun up and uncovered. It didn't attract a single bit of interest from anyone who saw me. It was called hunting. Its what we did. And I'm not so sure hunting is covered by the 2A. Its widely assumed to be, but who really cares. Now some worse information. I'm going to bet the hunters are a lot better shots than the folks lugging the plastic guns.

And then there was the time I went to a funeral with a gunbelt and a fancy engraved Colt. With me being widely known as a S&W gun nut. It was at a friends fathers funeral. The old guy had gone camping and shooting with us for a lot of years. I made friends with him early on. We had been dirt bike riding down in the National Forest. We'd gotten back and some of our yokels had taken up some beer. Others where horsing around. I was sitting in front of my tent smearing polish on my riding boots. Only took 15 minutes. That really impressed the old guy. And we'd become friends for other reasons, one being he was diabetic and at work we were going to stop carrying non-sugar candy. One of my managers had a couple of big boxes and before she tossed it, she asked me if I knew anyone. Yep, Pop Reynolds. He was the happiest man alive, thinking his warden like wife would prevent him from ever eating candy again. Now he probably had 20# of the stuff.

So when Pop passed away, I carried to his services. Some rude young girl asked "why do you need a gun at a funeral". To which Pops son answered "Because daddy would have liked it." He was a good old guy. I don't know if anyone will carry to my upcoming funeral. I don't even want a funeral.