Guy B. Meredith
July 27, 2003, 08:43 PM
Not sure where this thread belongs as it is one part personal observation and one part legal questions.
While my wife and I sipped our 'lahtays' at the Danville, CA Peets Coffee shop during a break in this morning's bicycle ride a gentleman in tactical style was talking to one of the regular customers. The gentleman was wearing black combat boots with bloused black tactical pants, a brown woven gun belt, black T-shirt and a holstered auto.
I give the full description so that if this gentleman is on this forum he can join in with an "inside viewpoint".
What was interesting to me is my reaction to the open carry--not the same as my reaction to several threads on THR and TFL where individuals have tried open carry where it is legal but not common and posted reactions.
In most cases I understand getting sheeple used to the idea that firearms can be around but not a threat. Of course threat is the first reaction the sheeple have, so I wonder what is accomplished. I tend to think that there is a greater chance of confrontation and negative publicity or in bad neighborhoods to be seen as a challenge. Again this is in areas where firearms are rarely seen in public. Not like the restaurants that Tamara frequents.
This morning I scanned the usual array of customers for reactions. I didn't see anyone obviously disturbed and no one was confrontational. I didn't see the logo on the gentleman's shirt and that may have provided an answer to the general reaction. I do believe he may have been on the way to a training session. However, unless the carrier was an LEO, I would find no more need for open carry than going to the range for target practice or competition. In terms of self defense, Danville is about as prissy and Yuppified place as you can find.
In this case my reaction was pretty much the same as when I see people who are obviously looking for attention (the cigarette gesture in the past, a flip of the blonde hair, bringing along Fido to get an intro, general overattention to trendiness, silicone boosoms): a degree of aversion to the attention seeking and contrariness driven lack of attentiveness.
Of course if open carry were more common, then the situation would turn to shop talk as it does with new mothers, dog walkers and bicyclists.
On the legal side, what is the law on open carry for non-LEO? For concealed carry without a permit (trunk of car on way to the range, shop or residence) it is illegal to tarry at the coffee shop on the way to the final destination.
While my wife and I sipped our 'lahtays' at the Danville, CA Peets Coffee shop during a break in this morning's bicycle ride a gentleman in tactical style was talking to one of the regular customers. The gentleman was wearing black combat boots with bloused black tactical pants, a brown woven gun belt, black T-shirt and a holstered auto.
I give the full description so that if this gentleman is on this forum he can join in with an "inside viewpoint".
What was interesting to me is my reaction to the open carry--not the same as my reaction to several threads on THR and TFL where individuals have tried open carry where it is legal but not common and posted reactions.
In most cases I understand getting sheeple used to the idea that firearms can be around but not a threat. Of course threat is the first reaction the sheeple have, so I wonder what is accomplished. I tend to think that there is a greater chance of confrontation and negative publicity or in bad neighborhoods to be seen as a challenge. Again this is in areas where firearms are rarely seen in public. Not like the restaurants that Tamara frequents.
This morning I scanned the usual array of customers for reactions. I didn't see anyone obviously disturbed and no one was confrontational. I didn't see the logo on the gentleman's shirt and that may have provided an answer to the general reaction. I do believe he may have been on the way to a training session. However, unless the carrier was an LEO, I would find no more need for open carry than going to the range for target practice or competition. In terms of self defense, Danville is about as prissy and Yuppified place as you can find.
In this case my reaction was pretty much the same as when I see people who are obviously looking for attention (the cigarette gesture in the past, a flip of the blonde hair, bringing along Fido to get an intro, general overattention to trendiness, silicone boosoms): a degree of aversion to the attention seeking and contrariness driven lack of attentiveness.
Of course if open carry were more common, then the situation would turn to shop talk as it does with new mothers, dog walkers and bicyclists.
On the legal side, what is the law on open carry for non-LEO? For concealed carry without a permit (trunk of car on way to the range, shop or residence) it is illegal to tarry at the coffee shop on the way to the final destination.