Open carried yesterday with observations

[Ogandydancer]

Most here have heard me say that I rarely if all open carry. However I did just that yesterday at a grocery store I frequent at least on a weekly basis.

This particular store has armed security and, when I walked in he was standing at the front at the register lanes and he never even noticed (he was busy tho texting on his cell phone). Not only did he not notice but I don't think anyone else did either. If they did there were no re-precussions from it.

Anyway I had been thinking of doing this in this particular store for a while since I had seen someone else open carrying in that same store several months ago.

Anyway I live in N.C. and as far as I know open carry has been legal for as long as I remember.

Just thought I would pass it on.

 

[canoeguy]

I had a part time job for a while here in Marion, Va. at a Food Lion. We had several customers who routinely open carried in the store, with no drama from the employees or customers.

The store had been robbed a few years previously, with the robber holding a pistol to the head of a woman clerk. He was in the store for several minutes while he forced the clerk and manager to open the safe and cart of the whole days proceeds, thousands and thousands of dollars. This left the woman clerk somewhat stressed, maybe a little PTSD. The regular customers who OC'ed stopped coming in to the store armed while she was working, until she had worked out the stress in her mind. She's OK with open carry now....

The only reaction I had as a concealed carry permit holder is "Why don't they get a permit and carry concealed?" Virginia is a "Must Issue" state, very easy to get a permit. Keeps people guessing if you are armed.

 

[Big Stick]

I have noticed that when I open carry, kids pick up on it quicker than most adults. The adults that do catch it usually carry themselves.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Open carry is legal here in Georgia. I do not do it in public, nor do I plan to, unless I lose my T-shirt/shirt/jacket. I will open carry here on our mountain property when I am clearing brush.

Here in north Georgia, I have seen grocery shoppers notice people OC'ing and grab their children and leave the store, and a cart load of groceries standing in the isle. Not only did the store lose a sale of a few hundred dollars, but they have to pay a clerk to restock those items. For some unknown reason, guns seem to offend and scare some folks. A grocery store, park, or public library are not, IMHO, proper places to try to alter the minds of non-gun owners.

 

[M29since14]

...A grocery store, park, or public library are not, IMHO, proper places to try to alter the minds of non-gun owners.

It won't be a matter of altering, more like "reinforcing."

I don't see much open carry where I live in Indiana but if it were to start showing up in places like grocery stores I think there would be similar reactions to what you see in N. Georgia.

 

[BearBio]

Open carry is legal here. On the east-side of the Cascades, it is no big deal. My concern is, although I detect many people conceal carrying, the ones I see open carrying are hardly good, upstanding examples. Most are dirty, fat, scraggly beards and resemble pot farmers or meth producers (we have more than a few in the area), wearing camo and combat boots. Even seen a couple of wanna-be gang bangers carrying.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw one in Sportsmen's Warehouse. Fat, long hair, tats, camo. Generally scruffy looking. Carrying some inexpensive, high capacity auto-shucker. First thing I noticed was that the magazine was missing. I figured he wanted to be the first one shot if the SHTF. (My wife had her Glock 26 and I had my 27).

Just saying, if you are going to open carry, think of the image you portray!

 

[shouldazagged]

^^

Well said.

 

[inspcalahan]

Open carry is legal here. On the east-side of the Cascades, it is no big deal. My concern is, although I detect many people conceal carrying, the ones I see open carrying are hardly good, upstanding examples. Most are dirty, fat, scraggly beards and resemble pot farmers or meth producers (we have more than a few in the area), wearing camo and combat boots. Even seen a couple of wanna-be gang bangers carrying.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw one in Sportsmen's Warehouse. Fat, long hair, tats, camo. Generally scruffy looking. Carrying some inexpensive, high capacity auto-shucker. First thing I noticed was that the magazine was missing. I figured he wanted to be the first one shot if the SHTF. (My wife had her Glock 26 and I had my 27).

Just saying, if you are going to open carry, think of the image you portray!

This is so the truth! Most that I've seen open carry are one extra piece of clothing away from the "people of walmart.com" website....and if for some reason they don't "qualify" to own a firearm, they usually have some $13 2 foot long shiny Bowie type knife hanging from their droopy drawers, likely with an edge you couldn't cut warm butter with. Just my observations...glad to see it's the same all over.

 

[4506517]

Lol.........speaking of Wal-Mart.........

At the one in Oxford, just about every ruddy looking red neck open carries in that store.

These are NOT the people we want advocating our cause. Their behavior inside the store borders on abhorrent.

 

[pharmer]

Why on earth would I want other people to know I'm carrying a "sporting" pistol? Joe

 

[427mach1]

Here in north Georgia, I have seen grocery shoppers notice people OC'ing and grab their children and leave the store, and a cart load of groceries standing in the isle. Not only did the store lose a sale of a few hundred dollars, but they have to pay a clerk to restock those items. For some unknown reason, guns seem to offend and scare some folks. A grocery store, park, or public library are not, IMHO, proper places to try to alter the minds of non-gun owners.

I've seen several people open carrying and didn't see that kind of reaction. Of course, I live in Kennesaw where homeowners are required to own and maintain a firearm! The further north of Atlanta, the more gun advocates you will see...

 

[the ringo kid]

Most here have heard me say that I rarely if all open carry. However I did just that yesterday at a grocery store I frequent at least on a weekly basis.

This particular store has armed security and, when I walked in he was standing at the front at the register lanes and he never even noticed (he was busy tho texting on his cell phone). Not only did he not notice but I don't think anyone else did either. If they did there were no re-precussions from it.

Anyway I had been thinking of doing this in this particular store for a while since I had seen someone else open carrying in that same store several months ago.

Anyway I live in N.C. and as far as I know open carry has been legal for as long as I remember.

Just thought I would pass it on.[/QUOTE

That's the way it used to be around my old hometown. It was so common that when one wasn't carrying--was what got the attention.

 

[M&P Freak]

I shop daily at the only grocery store in my area and will notice somebody open carrying often. When I do, I pay particular attention to the other customers as I am interested in their reaction. Imagine my disappointment when nobody cares. No rolled eyes or hysterical freak-outs, nothing.

 

[Laketime]

Open carry usually means, cant get a concealed permit.

 

[Watchdog]

Open carry usually means, cant get a concealed permit.

I didn't know that.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Open carry is legal here. On the east-side of the Cascades, it is no big deal. My concern is, although I detect many people conceal carrying, the ones I see open carrying are hardly good, upstanding examples. Most are dirty, fat, scraggly beards and resemble pot farmers or meth producers (we have more than a few in the area), wearing camo and combat boots. Even seen a couple of wanna-be gang bangers carrying.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw one in Sportsmen's Warehouse. Fat, long hair, tats, camo. Generally scruffy looking. Carrying some inexpensive, high capacity auto-shucker. First thing I noticed was that the magazine was missing. I figured he wanted to be the first one shot if the SHTF. (My wife had her Glock 26 and I had my 27).

Just saying, if you are going to open carry, think of the image you portray!

Notwithstanding the missing magazine, which is a separate issue, I have a few questions:

How recently should I have had my hair cut?
Visible tattoos banned, or all?
Is it a Body Mass Index issue, or a physique issue?
All camo banned, just military or just hunting style?
Just combat boots banned? Motorcycle boots okay?
At what price point should my openly carried firearm be?
Is there an independent panel somewhere that gives dispensation?

Thanks for your help here . . .

 

[Rustyt1953]

I don't open carry but being 40 lbs overweight I guess I shouldn't consider it.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Faulkner]

As a LEO, I find it humerous that a lot of open carry folks seem to really be disappointed when I don't confront them about it. It's like they expect me to come hassle them and it's a let down when I don't.

 

[ladder13]

I have a good friend who's NYPD. He's "large" , has a bunch of tats, stringy greasy hair, and somewhat unkempt in uniform. I need to ask him if he farms pot or cooks meth.

 

[ACP230]

The first time I saw someone open carry, other than a hunter, was a guy on a horse. He was dressed in camo including a camo cowboy hat and had a large S&W on his belt. He was stopped on the other side of the
highway I was driving down.

I got kind of a kick out of it but for me it's concealed carry, unless I'm on the range, or in the woods.