First day carrying open and...

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OC vs CC

I would have had to answer the clerk by saying:
"No sir, I'm not a cop. but I am a proponent of our second amendment rights.

Here in Vermont, I have the right to carry openly or concealed without a permit for either. I prefer to carry concealed because of the type of unwelcome attention/response you got.
What they don't know won't hurt them...:evil:

My first ever post here on THR dealt with a funny situation like this...
Woman saw the gun tucked in my pants, told the clerk, he was packing too.
So was the cop that walked in and he told her we weren't breaking the law...
She freaked out!
It was classic.
 
Welcome Big R,

you need no advice from us..........you handled the situation just perfectly.:)
 
I usually carry a copy of the laws regarding OC in my wallet. That way should I run into any issues about it I have the proof with me. (I have won bets with my buddies just by having a copy of the law with me.) Be prepared to explain (rationally) why you choose to OC most of the time people are just curious about it. Like already said before manners are very important (in my opinion) I make a point to be polite, because that will be a lasting impression and who knows you may change a person’s view on OC or carrying in general.
Also when I’m OC I like to keep a clean-cut look to myself. Professional dress has gotten me the law enforcement discount at the local coffee shop on a few occasions. Just like on the VA gun info website!!
Best wishes-L
 
I agree that Big R handled the situation with tact.

Since several have appropriately suggested paragraphs structure, but not offered more specific recommendation, I'll offer an example using the OP's otherwise fine post: good sentence structure, punctuation, word use ... (Hey, I'm a professional writer; what can I say?)

Paragraphs just break up the word mass, making it easier for our eyes to follow the word trail. Each paragraph deals with one point. Exactly where paragraphs break is an art rather than a science.

Hi everybody. I'm new here and this is my first post, so have some mercy on me if I break a rule.

I'm also fairly new to firearms in general. Didn't shoot one until about 2 1/2 years ago after I started working at Big 5 Sporting Goods. My fascination has gotten the better of me and 5 guns later I feel pretty good.

I have a 357 Snub Nose Taurus revolver that I got to use as a concealed weapon. I got my CCW and have carried it (concealed) just every now and again. I decided that I wanted to start carrying it on a regular basis and to get an open carry holster.

After spending a few days around the house breaking in my Fobus paddle holster I finally felt comfortable carrying it out in public.

First stop: gas station down the street. I go into the store and there are a few customers in line and one guy behind the counter. The cashier keeps looking over at me and I start to get the feeling that he noticed my pistol. While continuing helping others he asks me, "Hey, are you some kind of police officer or something?"

I'm 23, look pretty young for my age, and have never been asked that before. I politely respond that I am not an officer.

He starts telling me that he doesn't like seeing people with pistols on them and he would be more comfortable if I left it outside. I tell him I understand and continue to wait in line. He then goes on to tell me that growing up in South Central LA ("the bad part") guns meant bad news and that people didn't carry them unless they were looking for trouble.

I'm mostly quiet about it and shortly one of the other customers tells him that he was born and raised here and that he isn't bothered by my gun whatsoever. And that he appreciated being able to see it in the open. He told the cashier that with all of the gang activity going on he doesn't blame me for carrying, and that the ones you have to be worried about are the gangbangers.

The cashier peered over the counter and said he could tell it was a .38 Snub. (Close enough) He rang me up and I left with nothing further being said about the matter. I'm not the kind of person who like to stir things up or get people uncomfortable, but I know that I have every right to carry openly. I can see where he could get uncomfortable working in a rough neighborhood (were there was a gang shooting at that very location a month ago) and seeing someone come in with a gun, especially working at a convenience store.

I am wondering if there are certain places that it is just best to leave it in the car. Just looking for advise from others who have carried for years on how to deal with unwelcome attention. It's a lot more comfortable and convenient to carry open but I don't know if I want to deal with getting hassled everyday.

Thanks for reading.

Ryan
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Bonza: I live in the Tri-Cities.

Now see, I would think that people would much rather see that you have a gun, can see where it is at all times, and know that you aren't trying to hide it than to have somebody notice that your concealed carry isn't as concealed as you thought it was, While I am carrying concealed I walk around always afraid that I'm printing or that my shirt is going to come up just enough to frighten some. But, who knows.

I absolutely would have had no problem leaving had he told me, "I need you to leave". I'm not going to ever stand there and cause a scene and tell him I'm an American, and here's my rights...

Thanks everyone for your support.

R
 
People will react to how you act. If you are confident, polite, and act like you OC is no big deal / isn't there, they are likely to do the same. They're also going to react to how you dress, your body language, and the words you use. We all do.

Have you ever seen a detective or a plain-clothes officer OC? They kind of have a standard setup: gun on strong side, reloads on the other, badge visible.

They're confident because, amongst other things, they have the law on their side. So do you - don't forget that.

Have fun!
DFW1911
 
"They're confident because, amongst other things, they have the law on their side. So do you - don't forget that."

Very good point DFW. I've never thought of it in that aspect
 
It's easy to forget because we get strongly influenced by our nerves and lose sight of the overriding principle.

In other words, we get nervous and forget that we are doing something that is legal and in no way are we breaking the law.

Be the person who people look at and see a confident young man (I'm old :) ). Don't be nervous, intimidating, or threatening.

As I stated earlier, people will react to how you act. Your body language alone is enough to tell them you're on their side. However, if you appear nervous they too will become nervous. Stress spreads quickly and it's the last thing you want or need.

So go forth confidently with your handgun on your side!
 
Not to highjack the thread, but when YOU see some one open carrying, whats your mental reaction? We talk a lot about situational awareness and the like, and we all seem to agree, at the very least that even if open carry isn't your bag, its fine for others to do it. In all honestly, when you see someone open carrying, do you go from yellow to orange (I know that I go to sort of a tangerine color halfway in between the two when I recognize someone with a tactical folder.)

Oh, and one more thing: WELCOME TO THE HIGHROAD!!!
 
I can agree the this but then i remind myself that there's guns being carried concealed around me all the time and this next guy is probly a big "2nd A" guy like me.
At that point i feel safer.
 
kayak-man said:
Not to highjack the thread, but when YOU see some one open carrying, whats your mental reaction? We talk a lot about situational awareness and the like, and we all seem to agree, at the very least that even if open carry isn't your bag, its fine for others to do it. In all honestly, when you see someone open carrying, do you go from yellow to orange (I know that I go to sort of a tangerine color halfway in between the two when I recognize someone with a tactical folder.)
Click to expand...

If I see someone open carrying, I go from yellow to green because I know there is someone else who I'd be willing to bet would have my back if the SHTF!
 
Welcome. It would depend on the tone of voice used, but I might have said: Okay, I'll take my gun AND business elsewhere. I've been OCing for 25 Years and no one has ever said that to me. When I was in my 20's, I was constantly being accused of being a 'narc.'. I wasn't carrying then, but I must look like LE to the public.
 
Not to highjack the thread, but when YOU see some one open carrying, whats your mental reaction?[/QUOTE

I think to myself, "I hope he's a good guy and not a bad guy trying to blend in". I witnessed it years ago when I was traveling cross country by car. A released mental patient was OCing a .45.
He was known in the community and taken into custody without incident. Crazy as it may sound!..........:what:
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