Would you have said something?

[chud333]

You did what you thought was best Feral and should be commended for keeping an eye on the "idiots" weapon for him. I believe a follow-up conversation to the owner of the car wash or the local authorities was
however warranted. I might have gotten into trouble but i believe i
would have taken the weapon into my possesion until he realized it was missing or until he came back for it at which time i would have given him a lecture on gun ownership. So be it. Stupid people need to be called out when their actions could adversely affect the lives of others.

Chuck

 

[feralmerril]

Forgot to say no, it wasnt to impress me as I walked in, paid the girl sat down across from him and it already was sitting along side him on his bench.

 

[pineappleshooter]

pick up gun....in loud voice....excuse me sir, you seem to have dropped this!!!!

 

[DeathGrip]

Forgot to say no, it wasnt to impress me as I walked in, paid the girl sat down across from him and it already was sitting along side him on his bench.

No mater what, That guy's a jerk and should be avoided.

 

[Dmaxboy08]

I would have called the police and said there was a weapon laying on the bench and nobody seemed to be the owner. There would have been alot of questions being asked and i would BET that the owner of the carwash wouldnt be acting friendly with the guy anymore

 

[G.T. Smith]

Maybe he has a mental problem and can't remember things like where he is or what he did with his gun. Maybe on some kind of prescription drug that has that type of side effect. In my humble opinion Feral, you did the right thing by keeping an eye on the weapon for him and being ready to stop an accident before it happened. I'm very careful about how I react to things while I'm carrying, which is all the time where it's legal. If he is just stupid, any action on your part could have brought about a crazy reaction from him. I think you did good Sir.
Peace,
Gordon

 

[feralmerril]

Thanks. This guy isnt stupid, he`s a big sharp looking dude. I really think it was a case of trying to accidently on purpose, getting the public to "marval" at him and wonder if he is a real live undercover cop or spook. I worked with some of the type years ago.
At being 300 lbs and extra ugly I suppose there is a good chance he reconised me better than I did him. That part I dont think was a factor though as I am pretty sure it was on the bench before he seen me. The thing is it was in a holster and he could easily have put it on his belt and OC`ed it here legaly, or just wear it under his shirt. I often carry the same gun just in my pants pocket. Everyone else acted like they didnt see it either but they about had to. End of story. It`s just that advertiseing that way is bad for the privledge besides being potentaly dangerous and I am quite sure it all was to play cowboy and impress the citizens. Maybe I also in a backhanded way am /was trying t make it a sunday school lesson for any like minded on this site to learn from if there is such a one amoung us.

 

[jlrhiner]

I'd have said "Hey buddy! You want to sell that thing". And then we all would have got to talk about it.

 

[M29since14]

I'm with McBear. You handled it right. I would not get involved in a deal like that (lecturing the "idiot"). That sort of thing is a job for the local cavalry. Too easy for something like that to escalate into a disaster.

 

[NE450No2]

If I was still working I would have picked up his gun, Badged him, and said "We need to Talk"...

If I was Retired, or non Leo, I would have walked outside and dialed 911.

Only an Idiot, sets a gun down, where someone else can pick it up.

And let the record reflect I am 1001% in favor of Civilian Concealed Carry.

 

[quneur]

I would have called 911 and told them someone has a gun at the carwash and potentially could rob the place. Police would come and arrest both of you. While at the station, you could have a discussion with him using bare fists.

 

[O2Guy]

I thought 911 was for emergencies.

 

[handejector]

I MIGHT have said in a loud voice-
"Sir, you forgot your gun laying there." as I pointed to it.
Then, everyone is aware of the situation. Everyone is looking at him or the gun, or both.
Now, you have five allies that at least silently agree he's an idiot.
Now, the manager can't ignore the situation.
If he had a lick of sense, he'd maintain control after that. If he did not, he's very stupid, and ya just can't fix stupid.

Then, you'd continue like this-

I bit my tounge and kind of watched the gun ready to pouce on someone if they dove for it.

 

[Packard]

As long as there were no children near the gun, I'd keep quiet. If there were, I'd say, "Kids nearby. Maybe you want to put that thing somewhere out of their reach."

 

[joeintexas]

Is that your gun or are you just happy to see me!
You did the right thing by not causing a confrontation, with both of you armed and having a previous situation it could have gotten ugly in a hurry. Sometimes cooler heads need to prevail.

 

[feralmerril]

Actualy I wasnt armed, although when I do pack I carry the same gun as his. Another thing here, I always just carry my model 40 loose in my front pocket where his 640 was in a belt holster. I suspect he didnt want to leave it in the counsel in his truck going through the wash. I have carried either a snub hammer model 60 or the 40 for 40 years that way for this very reason. I never could see the need for a holster for a snub designed for the pocket. (conversly) I could never see why the companys put a hammer spur on them either. I only use the pocket holster to protect the gun if I leave it ratteling around in the truck counsel when I dont have it in my pocket. Why he didnt just take the gun out of the holster and put it in his pocket, leave the holster in the truck is beyond me. I have done that forever with no issues. Thats why I feel he wants to "advertise".

 

[longranger]

The sheep are eating the wolves !

 

[sipowicz]

Gun owners need to keep other gun owners on their toes...it benefits all of us. I'm sure a simple, "hey, I carry too but you really should safeguard that thing" would not be out of line...

 

[pharmer]

In Florida that would qualify for "improper exhibition of a firearm (a misdemeanor in the 1st degree)." Out of concern for him I would have informed him of that. It's probably pretty similar in Utah. Joe

 

[jag312]

I guess I have to go into a little detail. I may not agree with all the laws pertaining to firearms in California, but it is not my job to debate the merits of the laws. I let the lawyers do that in a court of law in front of a judge.

If this incident occurred in California, there are four options in this case:

1. The subject has a concealed weapons permit but is displaying a loaded firearm in a public place. The key word is "concealed". Obviously the firearm wasn't concealed. This is a violation of the conditions of the issuance of the permit. The firearm and the permit would be returned to the issuing agency. The subject would then have to go to the issuing agency to discuss this incident, and a determination would be made for the return of the firearm and/or the permit.

2. The subject has a concealed weapons permit, but the loaded firearm is not a listed firearm on Section B of the permit. In California you can only carry the firearms specifically listed in Section B of the permit. If the loaded firearm is not listed, then he is in violation of the California Penal Code. The next time he sees the gun will be in court, and he will be known as the defendant.

3. The subject does not have a concealed weapons permit, is carrying a loaded firearm, and displaying the firearm in public. He is in violation of the California Penal Code, and he will be a defendant.

4. The subject does not have a concealed weapons permit, but is displaying an unloaded firearm in public. There is no longer open carry of an unloaded firearm permitted in California. He is in violation of the California Penal Code, and he will be a defendant.

Again, I don't agree with all the firearms laws in California. Some of them are just plain silly, but I am not paid to determine the merits of the laws. It is not my job to determine if anyone in violation will be prosecuted. That's the job of the District Attorney's Office. I would not be justifying my pay check if I chose to ignore the laws that I disagree with, and I sure don't want to ever be in front of a review board explaining why I chose to ignore an incident like this.

I was told many years go that we have the freedom to do whatever we want, but there are consequences for the choices we make. If this incident had occurred in California, there would have been consequences for the choices that this subject had made.