[jpsimms]

So I went for a walk this morning, had to go down to the store to get a pack of smokes. I was openly carrying my revolver, as I always do, but I rarely walk. I had about a mile to go in each direction, and it is a nice day out.
I got to the store, and noticed that a few people were giving me the stink eye. No big deal, but a few more than normal. After leaving the store, around the corner I noticed 2 city police cars pulling up, and 2 more "just happened" to be in the area.
One officer gets out and says "Hey buddy!, come over here, and keep your hands away from that handgun". So I did, then they ask what's going on, and why i'm carrying a gun. I reply that it is my right as a free man in America. They asked what I was doing, I said I was getting a pack of smokes and enjoying the morning.
So they ran my ID, it turned out clean, and from that point on they were pretty cool.
As we were standing there talking I noticed a small pickup turn around and pull over at the end of the block. The officers said that they don't see open carry very often, and that I was the first person they saw that was "responsible and calm" about wearing a gun. I said thanks, then they asked about the reactions I get. I told them about trips to Wal-mart and Bi-mart, and people on the street. We talked briefly about shooting, then they were satisfied.

As I was walking away, I saw the guy in the small pickup looking at me, so i gave him the nod. He says "Hey man, want a ride?" I said sure, got in, and he mentioned that he is a gun owner, and was waiting to see what they were going to do with me, since OC is legal, but out of the ordinary. He led me to believe that he didn't really like the local cops: "keystone ****ers".

So he gave me a ride home, and I think the whole thing was so funny, the cops weren't sure what to do at first 'cause they had gotten some calls, then this guy was "lookin' out for" me.

So I had a somewhat eventful little walk

[TxState101]

Sounds like a good day in the neighborhood.

[JesseL]

Congratulations on a pleasant outcome.

I wonder how long your local police are going to keep responding to "man with a holstered gun" calls?

I stopped at my credit union yesterday to use the ATM. On my way from my car to the ATM I walked past the doors as a gentleman was coming out. He gave me a polite nod and 'howdy', then as we walked past each other he noticed my pistol and did a big double take :eek:. He watched me for a minute, making sure I wasn't there to rob the place. :rolleyes:

That was the biggest OC reaction I've seen in quite a while.

[jpsimms]

Yeah Jesse, I get that reaction fairly often at the bank or 711, but this is the first time LEOs got involved

[SeanMTX]

Did you really hitch a ride back to your house?

Wouldn't that put you in danger for the mile back to your place and then let a guy know where you live....and that you have weapons ready to be stolen?


Not to be a jerk or offensive, but that doesn't seem like the smartest idea.

[jpsimms]

yeah, I did hitch a ride, and I recognized the guy from a job I worked before, it's still a small town, and I'm a good judge of character.

Agreed in most cases it would not be too smart, but no alarms went off in my head, so I thought "sure, what the heck"

And I didn't take offense, it's a valid question

[Chipperman]

Maybe you found a new range buddy

[jpsimms]

hope so, next time I see him around I'll ask where he likes to shoot. He mentioned that he has "a bunch" of handguns

[SeanMTX]

yeah, I did hitch a ride, and I recognized the guy from a job I worked before, it's still a small town, and I'm a good judge of character.

Gotcha.

Didn't know you knew the guy.

[jpsimms]

don't really "know" him, but you know what I mean, it's a small town, and he always seemed pretty cool, didn't know he was a gun guy though.

[lazyeye]

@jpsimms:
What part of Orygun do you live in?

I've OCed a lot in Klamath Falls when I was at college, never had the cops say anything. A couple of Cali-retiree transplants gave me dirty looks and sometimes asked if I was a cop.

I've OCed a small amount here in S-Field, mostly while riding my bike around. Haven't gotten any comments yet.

[jpsimms]

central Orygun. It is common here to have guns for hunting, but few carry openly. And the californians have been invading us for a while, so I assume that someone who didn't know that OC is legal called the cops. They said they got a few calls

[RPCVYemen]

So I went for a walk this morning, had to go down to the store to get a pack of smokes.

The first sentence sort of threw me. What are the risks associated with smoking cigarettes versus the risk of being shot by a bad guy?

For most of us, the risk of being killed/maimed/harmed by a bad guy are much lower than risks induced by other behavior.

Just to show I am not judging/preaching - I carry extra weight. I suspect that any reasonable/rational risk reduction effort would say, "Screw the guns, lose 50 pounds!"

How rational is our fixation on those risks that can be ameliorated by carrying a handgun?

I wonder how many of us smoke, carry extra weight, don't exercise enough, drive aggressively, etc. - behaviors that probably carry a lot more risk than being shot by a bad guy.

Mike

[Big45]

How is it that the moonbats that migrate from California have not affected Oregon yet?

[scrat]

Wow this is so cool. Congrats on a nice morning walk. Sounds like you did very good with the police. nice job

[JesseL]

RCPVYemen,

I don't intend to live forever. Someday something is going to kill me, and it may be a result of an unhealthy choice that I make. That's the key. I want to make my own choices. I don't want the choice made for me by some thug.

Carrying a gun isn't about trying to live forever, it's about self-determination and liberty.

[kevindsingleton]

I wonder how many of us smoke, carry extra weight, don't exercise enough, drive aggressively, etc. - behaviors that probably carry a lot more risk than being shot by a bad guy.

I don't have any control over the bad guys, Mike. Besides the OP was walking! ;):D

[bnkrazy]

Besides the fact that you should be able to go about your business without having to identify yourself when no law is being broken, it seems like a nice walk.

It would have been better if the ones making the call had been informed that you were not breaking any laws and they (the cops) had no reason to stop you. At least the callers got to see that not everyone with a gun is a bad guy.

Glad everything worked out well for you.

[divemedic]

Besides, when you are health conscious, the years you add to your life are spent wearing a diaper in a nursing home while you babble pick up lines to the light fixtures.

[Walkalong]

That's all around good PR for us. :)

[XDKingslayer]

Besides, when you are health conscious, the years you add to your life are spent wearing a diaper in a nursing home while you babble pick up lines to the light fixtures.

HAHAHAHAHA!

[DoubleTapDrew]

How is it that the moonbats that migrate from California have not affected Oregon yet?
They have. OC in Portland and you'll probably get proned out at gunpoint. Even though the vast majority of the state is pretty conservative and pro-2a geography wise, the population clusters in the big cities that attracted so many out-of-staters tossed the state blue in votes. Now the logging and fishing industries are smoldering remains of what they once were.
Everyone I talk to in central/eastern/southern oregon aren't exactly pleased with portlanders voting on things that affect rural folks that the city folks don't have a :cuss: clue about. "Oh save those cute cuddly mountain lions and coyotes!"