At the store this morning.

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"I carry a gun because it is legal and my right to do so. It is none of your business if I do or don't."
It was especially telling when the biddies tried to get the clerk to gang up on you. People just can't take being wrong or being called on their rudeness.
 
feralmerril said:
I am not going to be the hit of the day with this, but a lot of this is starting to get immature, juvenile and rediculous to me. Why not also get a bullet proof vest, wear handcuffs and pepper spray? This still isnt downtown bagdad. When it starts to get like the mideast or old tombstone maybe I will start packing while mowing my lawn, and keeping my gun in arms reach while I shower. Grow up!
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The first half of your first sentence was spot on. However, I would not think poorly of you if you choose not to carry a gun. I certainly would not tell you to "grow up" or call you "immature" or "juvenile". Were I to call you "ridiculous", I would at least spell it correctly.
 
I havent lived in booneyville all my life, just the last 7 years. Before that it was in southern california for 40 years. Like you I escaped wisconsin around 1960 at about 19 years old, in and out after that for a few years and worked in about 9 states. My tame security job had me OC in uniform for over 35 years, besides a few more years in the NPS and wisconsin conservation dept and a studio guard in hollywood so I am well aquanted with packing. I must say I have had more incidents off the jobs than on I think, so I will give up a couple points there.
What I am trying to say here is I just havent seen non leo citizens HARDLY EVER OC in all my travels and I have been around in my 71 years. Reading what you guys say here it seems I should be seeing it several times a day here in my part of the west and I just dont! Now as said before, I am not talking the boonies but in town. You do see it here on the trails. The one incident I had, about a year ago, we had rode quads across the mountain range here over to panguitch, thats a popular tourist town near bryce canyon NP. Its about 30 miles one way of tough trails and discovered MJ farms that the mexican drug cartel is backing. I had theresa go in a resturant ahead of me to get permission to bring my rifle and revolver in that I was carrying. No way was I going to leave them on our atv outside in the crowded town of tourists. I got the permission. There was a crowd of about 8 young tourists in there that started to give me the same ration as the OP, asked me if I was hunting. No, I dont think so as this was last july or august.
I just laid it on them about the many pot farms discovered in the area and that there had been two dozzen arrests so far and every one of them were illegals. Every word I said was the gospel truth. They shut up.
Outside of seeing rifles in pickup`s and people rideing atvs wearing guns, here in the heart of the west were I to strap one on in plain sight and go downtown, I would just as soon wear a turqoise cowboy hat, pink shorts and gator boots. I dont like or need that kind of attendtion when I can as easly carry concealed legaly. Whats the point?
 
feralmerril said:
I havent lived in booneyville all my life, just the last 7 years. Before that it was in southern california for 40 years. Like you I escaped wisconsin around 1960 at about 19 years old, in and out after that for a few years and worked in about 9 states. My tame security job had me OC in uniform for over 35 years, besides a few more years in the NPS and wisconsin conservation dept and a studio guard in hollywood so I am well aquanted with packing. I must say I have had more incidents off the jobs than on I think, so I will give up a couple points there.
What I am trying to say here is I just havent seen non leo citizens HARDLY EVER OC in all my travels and I have been around in my 71 years. Reading what you guys say here it seems I should be seeing it several times a day here in my part of the west and I just dont! Now as said before, I am not talking the boonies but in town. You do see it here on the trails. The one incident I had, about a year ago, we had rode quads across the mountain range here over to panguitch, thats a popular tourist town near bryce canyon NP. Its about 30 miles one way of tough trails and discovered MJ farms that the mexican drug cartel is backing. I had theresa go in a resturant ahead of me to get permission to bring my rifle and revolver in that I was carrying. No way was I going to leave them on our atv outside in the crowded town of tourists. I got the permission. There was a crowd of about 8 young tourists in there that started to give me the same ration as the OP, asked me if I was hunting. No, I dont think so as this was last july or august.
I just laid it on them about the many pot farms discovered in the area and that there had been two dozzen arrests so far and every one of them were illegals. Every word I said was the gospel truth. They shut up.
Outside of seeing rifles in pickup`s and people rideing atvs wearing guns, here in the heart of the west were I to strap one on in plain sight and go downtown, I would just as soon wear a turqoise cowboy hat, pink shorts and gator boots. I dont like or need that kind of attendtion when I can as easly carry concealed legaly. Whats the point?
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Your post makes more sense to me now. I'm not an OC guy either, my thought process is closer to play your cards tight way of thinking as well. I also try not to make people uncomfortable. I think OC is a given right, but not necessarily always the best option. I took from your post thought carry period was overkill. I tend to go with the flow, I've seen a few OC BBQs and a few towns where it was the thing, other than the exception, it's pretty much CCW for me. Have a good one.
 
I consider my choice to own and carry a handgun as a personal matter and I prefer not to invite the the attention that open carry creates. I am aware that it may also attract the attention of LEO's. When I was in that profession, I supported the right of citizens to possess firearms but a person who carried openly and obviously wasn't a LEO did cause me to be focused on that person. As the reader can likely tell, I don't openly carry my defensive handgun. That is why I went to the trouble and expense to obtain the permit to legally carry concealed. This avoids the situation one may encounter with those who are ignorant and wish to demonstrate it loudly to all who will listen. I don't have the time to waste with such people and couldn't care less what they think about my choice to carry a firearm. I don't find that rational discussion is of any use in dealing with irrational people. In the thirty plus years that I have routinely carried at least one concealed handgun, I have never had anyone say anything about it. I dress and carry my firearm(s) in such a manner as to keep them well concealed.
 
Open carry is ok but CCW is better afterall they don't know were packin(bad guy). One CCW gun in any fast food shooting would of saced lives for sure.
 
A lot of good comments and thoughts in this thread.

While I don't think that I'd want to open carry in public for any number of reasons, those that do want to should be able to without harassment.

I think it's part of the public's general lack of familiarity with firearms and the Bill of Rights. I don't think that either is by chance, but is part of the liberal agenda to make the public more passive and accepting of control by "authority figures".

The TV generation also thinks that if you call 9-1-1 the police will arrive and protect you before the next commercial break.

Like Old Corp, I've been paid to interact with the public for a long time, so I know how dumb some people (not most) can be.
 
Consider it this way . . .

I like to observe that there are people who like to hunt (i.e., hunters), there are non-hunters, and there are anti-hunters. Anti-hunters are those mis-informed folks who think that no one should have the right to hunt and are usually pretty vocal about it.

I am a hunter. Even so, I just hate it when some hunters strap a gutted deer or coyote to the hood of their truck and drive around town, or pull into the local SONIC drive-in, just to show it off. Sure, it may be their right to do so, but what they do is turn non-hunters into anti-hunters. Maybe the same could be said for open carry.

Besides, I think open carry is bad idea tactically.
 
I think the OP uses the term "ladies" a little liberally. They were obviously hags, witches, busy bodies, Jezebels, Medusas, reprobates, scallywags and meddlesome snoop dogs. But "ladies"? No.
 
Well. Some differences of opinion here. I must say I was unprepared to be gottin into like I was riding a bike with no seat by 2 "hags" with nothing better to do. I know it's not their business why I'm carrying. I guess I was trying to be nice for the most part. Some folks still try to be friendly out here.


I do not live in a urban area. We have wild life such as hogs, bobcats, deer, and family owned large dogs, not so much wild dogs. Once again I wasn't trying to OC I just wasn't dressed to be totally CCW.

I do believe next time I will not try to rationalize with some who just doesn't get it.
 
At dinner this evening this thread came up. At the table were five folks, four of us shooters and one not. I brought up the thread on the Droid for reading while we talked and it was one of the shooters from Harlan who brought up a point from a previous conversation that the five of us had on another subject out in Arizona.

"Sounds like those favoring open carry don't like being profiled."

Perspective is always a learning tool.
 
McBear said:
At dinner this evening this thread came up. At the table were five folks, four of us shooters and one not. I brought up the thread on the Droid for reading while we talked and it was one of the shooters from Harlan who brought up a point from a previous conversation that the five of us had on another subject out in Arizona.

"Sounds like those favoring open carry don't like being profiled."

Perspective is always a learning tool.
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Now THAT'S rich.

BTW, you're right that for most of us, violence is abstract concept. I pray to God that it remains that way for me and my family, until we have moved to the place where violence can never touch us. For those who fail to grasp what you're saying -- and there seem to be a few here -- carrying a gun for your protection does not make violence any less abstract for the vast majority of us who have never been its victim. It just means that we harbor the hope (realistic or not) that if it visits, we may repel it with the weapon we are carrying. Personally, mine is concealed.
 
I open carry from time to time, right here in the middle of the DC to Richmond 95 corridor. The only thing I've ever been asked is "Can I do that too?" or something along those lines. And that's only been a time or two. If anyone objected, I couldn't tell it.

IF someone were to ever ask me something like the OP's experience, I'd simply say "Because I want to." End of discussion. I'd be THINKING..."For the same reason you wear ugly pants." But I wouldn't say it.
 
feralmerril said:
I am not going to be the hit of the day with this, but a lot of this is starting to get immature, juvenile and rediculous to me. Why not also get a bullet proof vest, wear handcuffs and pepper spray? This still isnt downtown bagdad. When it starts to get like the mideast or old tombstone maybe I will start packing while mowing my lawn, and keeping my gun in arms reach while I shower. Grow up!
Click to expand...
I carry concealed while mowing my lawn (with a weedwhacker) not so much for the coyotes that used to live there and still occasionally visit, but more for the fox that seemed not to be scared enough, and for the dog that worries my next-door neighbor (although recently the dog has appeared to me to be friendly). As far as the shower goes, in MA it's either that or put it in the safe when I shower, if I want to follow the law. I do.
 
I just read the OP's first comments..... my first thought would be that it was none of the ladies business.


I haven't read others responses to the OP, but my reply to the old busy-bodies would be:

"In this state and in this country it's my right to carry a firearm either concealed or openly....just as it's your right to be Rude, Obnoxious and Butt-Ugly in public". ;)



Don
 
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I'm looking for no argument here, just providing an opinion as others have done. Open carry is generally a poor idea for a number of reasons. The Second Amendment and one's "rights" are a great privilege we enjoy in this country. However, discretion (sound judgement?) should always be a foremost consideration. Some people, for a variety of reasons, are intimidated by firearms. While many of us may not understand such a fear, forced exposure to guns won't make these folks any more comfortable.

In many instances, open carriers are courting trouble. Unfortunately, some of them are aware of this, but their adversarial "rights at any cost" (or "ignorant and proud of it") attitude negates good judgement. Those unaware of potential problems with their open carry may be in for rude and deadly awakenings in the form of situations they are ill-equipped to handle. Also, some citizens, the good ones and the swine, may automatically mistake an armed person for a police officer.

Bona fide law enforcement personnel undergo extensive training and updates regarding the use of weapons and other serious matters like justifiable homicide, far more training than one receives in a concealed carry course. Nevertheless, concealed carry courses for civilians are fine for the intended purpose.

Concealed carry is a far better policy for all. Why beg for trouble? Ask competent law enforcement personnel (there are goobers in that group, too) if they prefer to carry handguns exposed or concealed when off duty or working plainclothes. Most will agree it's a poor idea to advertise the fact that one is armed.
 
" However, the kind of behavior he experienced indicates libtards at work and they are beyond remediation."

What he experienced is reflective of the fact that VERY FEW people who are not law enforcement run around in public openly carrying weapons. And even fewer have experienced those who do. For the vast majority of Americans, openly carried weapons are just out of place in a department store (or where ever). This calls attention to the wearer and raises natural questions. It's not a political battle, you are the one challenging social norms.

If I went shopping dressed as a centurian and carrying a sword, I would draw attention and questions as well, even though my actions would be well within my constitutional rights.
 
7Iron said:
" However, the kind of behavior he experienced indicates libtards at work and they are beyond remediation."

What he experienced is reflective of the fact that VERY FEW people who are not law enforcement run around in public openly carrying weapons. And even fewer have experienced those who do. For the vast majority of Americans, openly carried weapons are just out of place in a department store (or where ever). This calls attention to the wearer and raises natural questions. It's not a political battle, you are the one challenging social norms.

If I went shopping dressed as a centurian and carrying a sword, I would draw attention and questions as well, even though my actions would be well within my constitutional rights.
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Sorry, but that does not excuse people berating him and popping off at the mouth over it. Your theory covers them being uncomfortable and asking him if he's LEO, that I understand...after that it's clearly a case of liberal angst and aggression.
 
People carrying openly are the first to get shot? So if no one is doing so, who goes first? Big guys? Men in their 20's? What about women with big purses? I don't know, If I'm a thug I might just draw the conclusion that big purse has a firearm in it. I don't think people out to rob a covinient store are planning for days about strategies. It's more likely they're thinking about the wonderful drugs they can buy if they get away.
 
RightArm said:
People carrying openly are the first to get shot? So if no one is doing so, who goes first? Big guys? Men in their 20's? What about women with big purses? I don't know, If I'm a thug I might just draw the conclusion that big purse has a firearm in it. I don't think people out to rob a covinient store are planning for days about strategies. It's more likely they're thinking about the wonderful drugs they can buy if they get away.
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My only quibble with this statement is the "if they get away" part. The ALWAYS think they will get away and are mostly shocked when the police find them because they did something stupid like drop their probation papers at the scene or wrote a hold up note on the back of a cable bill.
 
I not a fan of the whole "open carry person get shot first" thing either. I feel most who carry are more aware of there surroundings than others maybe (especially one who has some training). I can see you being caught off guard or ambushed by an accomplice or decoy that's already in place before the robbery takes place.

For that matter some robbers didn't see the uniformed LEO standing behind them in line or the LEOs car sitting in the parking lot when they robbed a store.
 
pharmer said:
Open carry in a store, bank, McDonalds, etc= "shoot me first" to any miscreant who planned a quick score on the day you needed a happy meal. Joe
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Happens on TV a lot but not so much in real life. I support the right to OC but don't advocate OC in most urban areas either, and still think this is a poor example to make a case against open carry. Robbers are robbers because they want easy money, with little risk, and to my way of thinking, if I walked into a business with intent to rob, and saw people walking around with guns strapped on their hips, I would make a U turn and look for safer pickings.
 
Open carry is illegal in my state, however, I am seeing more and more MALL NINJAS who are dressed like tactical wannbees.

Frankly yesterday at a small amusement park area at the Game room and put-put golf I saw a late teen dressed in hunting boots, wearing tactical pants, a camoflag shirt with a black tactical vest. His vest was outfitted with various items a youth might carry including pens, phone, food, beverage, camera, Ipod, etc.

He wore large 1980's style glasses. The tactical vest was a low end sub $100 vest it might have had a plate in it.

He looked like columbine junior all over. I am not sure what his psychosis was, but friends and maybe mom and dad or a friends parents were driving in a large 12 person van.

I see more and more people who think the threat level of the gun forums justifies driving around with an M4 in the trunk and a 3 gun gear level bag in the car.

Some of these guys live in a fantasy land. That is why a lot of gun guys I know get divorced. They literrally are fantasizing way to much.... Women don't tolerate fantasy unless it results in a ton of cash, then they tolerate the guys oddness or they divorce him and take their half.
 
J Rich said:
I stopped in at my local gas station this morning. I was waiting my turn in line, and I had my gun on open carry as well. Two ladies were having a conversation behind me as I heard on say "I don't ever see Cops carrying shiny guns". I'm still minding my own business then one of them says "excuse me sir".

I turn around and said "yes". She then asked if I was a Cop, and I clearly said "no I am not" (just so there is no confusion or say I'm trying to impersonate a LEO). The two for them are now grilling me about why I need to carry a gun in public. I started off by informing them that i'm law abiding, and it is my constitutional right to carry a gun in public. Then one asked " just where does it say that?"...... Really? I then got a little chaffed and scoffed at her and replied "the second amendment".

Now I'm thinking it's over and done. I was wrong! I'm now paying for my items. Then the one lady (the loud and opinionated one) yells to the cashier over my shoulder. "Why do you let these people carry guns in your store"? Then the quiet one says "it's offensive to ALL your other customers". I told them once again it is my right to carry and protect myself and my family.

So I'm done and walking away then the cashier (which is a lady) says "hey Joe see you tomorrow"? (with a wink and a smile) I'm a regular at this store, and I know they have problem with people carrying open or concealed.

Are people this oblivious to our rights?

Did I handle this right?
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To answer their first question
"No ma'am I am not a police officer."
To answer their second question "Why do you need to carry a gun?"
" That's classified" or if you're really feeling a bit mischievous respond "I might see someone I want to kill."

After 56 years on this earth, I have come to accept my dad's admonition "Trying to teach a pig to sing just wastes your time and P***** off the pig."
 
how can we expect all the non gun population to understand our position when this entire forum of gun loving individuals cannot come to a consensus as to how to properly carry a gun, respond to questions from non gun persons, or just generally be supportive of each other. especially in this time that we find ourselves in. :rolleyes:
 
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