My First run-in with an anti while open carrying

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Excellent. You did gun owners a great thing by not coming back with assinine comment. Thank you
 
There is no state law under which that ignorant cop could have charged you. A judge would certainly not uphold any related charge of illegally pointing it at someone since it was in a holster on your belt.

There isn't even any "gray area" to debate on this one. There is no way that the open carry by a licensed citizen could be construed as illegal.

I'm not disagreeing with what I am quoting here, but rather pointing something out. Even if open carry was legal in Texas I'd wait several years before trying it for the simple reason that even 10 years later, TX LEOs make up the gun laws as they go along. I can't imagine GA officers are any different.

In the past 8 months I've been pulled over three times (not ticketed just pulled over) and one officer told me that the firearm must be in plain view while transporting it in a vehicle and if he wasn't in such a good mood he would haul my ass to jail for concealing a firearm in a vehicle.

The next cop that pulled me over, I had the firearm laying out in plain view. And boy howdy if he wasn't in such a good moode he would have hauled my ass to jail for failure to conceal a firearm in a vehicle.

The third cop restored my faith in the system somewhat. I asked him what law applied as I had checked the Penal Code and was confused. He answered (correctly) he knew of no such law in Texas requiring either open or concealed carry in a vehicle.

The point is, when you live in a police state like the USA, a little discretion is going to win the day. Even if the first or second cop had hauled me off to jail and I'd been let go, I'd have still lost quite a bit of money and time sitting in jail for a day or four days who knows how long, not to mention I'd have had my gun confiscated (good luck getting it back, I know only one person who has recovered a gun taken by the police and that took 2 years) and other hassles.

It's a crap shoot, put the odds in your favor as much as possible. FWIW.
 
In the past 8 months I've been pulled over three times...

So Euclidean, is your problem the Texas police, or is it your lead foot?

:neener:



TX LEOs make up the gun laws as they go along.
When any LEO "makes up the law as they go along" they make themselves into felons.

source

TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PART I--CRIMES

CHAPTER 13--CIVIL RIGHTS

Sec. 242. Deprivation of rights under color of law

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or
custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory,
Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights,
privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or
laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or
penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his
color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or
both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation
of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or
threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both;
and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this
section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap,
aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual
abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or
imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be
sentenced to death.
 
Lady in the Store

"Who do you think you need protection from, people like me who are very unnerved by it?"

I finished up, chuckling, with, "I hope not."

I think you handled it well, overall. You might have added after your "hope not" statement. "Ma'am, I am not worried about people like you. I am worried about the gangbangers who might come running through that door any second now and start shooting up the place, or the crazy kid who comes in shooting a rifle to make the evening news, or the crazy, jealous ex-husband who comes hunting for his ex-wife. The odds are I will never have to touch this weapon in self-defense, but I also know if it does happen, I will not be a helpless victim. Thank you for your question."

BTW - all of the above described items have happened over the past few years.

Side-note to the MYOB crowd: Like it or not, you are all ambassadors for all gun advocates, and "mind your own business", "because I can" or "what part of the Second Amendment do you not respect" comments hurt the cause. This lady will probably never be a gun advocate, but polite responses will alleviate concern that you are some macho, gun-nut, spoiling for a shoot-out somewhere.

Based on the response she received in this case, she probably will not be quite so anxious the next time she sees him, and by the third or fourth time will not even notice.
 
I'm thinking the reason for the business card request had nothing to do with whether or not you were some gun-related professional. She probably wanted to call your boss and make trouble for you. If she had the gumption to come up and question you about something that supposedly "unnerved" her, there's no reason why she wouldn't take it an extra step.

You handled the situation better than I may have. I always start off nice, but when ignorant people give you an opening to take them down a rung, it's so hard to pass it up.
 
"... Rich chocolate chunks in swirled coffee and vanilla premium low fat ice cream."


Low fat ice cream ?????!!!!!

What REAL MAN eats low fat ice cream??! Hell's afire, if ice cream doesn't have at the very least, 29% pure butterfat, it's not even worth the time and trouble for a REAL MAN to set tooth and tongue to!

All REAL MEN eat outrageously high fat content ice cream!!

Guns don't make a REAL MAN: high fat ice cream does! ;)

L.W.
 
Granted it would probably look awkward walking into a store with a gun on your belt to most people though it was pretty rude for the lady to question you like that. I wouldn't be too happy with people questioning me, they can think what they want so long as they don't bring it up. It's your gun, your legally abiding by the law so they can morally hate it all they want and can't do a damn thing :)
 
You handled it better than I would have.

I'd go into a thousand-yard stare and say, "This is my handgun. There are many like it but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. Without me, my handgun is useless. Without my handgun, I am useless..."

Apologies to all real Marines.
 
next time

Just say "They drew first blood, not me":neener:

I found out I had an anti in my Taxi a few weeks ago by telling her I would never go back home to NYC where she lives and I'm from.

She asked me "why do you need a gun" & I asked her if she had read a newspaper, when she said "yes" I asked her why she needs to do that.

I didn't get a good tip.:evil:
 
There are lots of stories on here about less than positive open carry experiences

And I've been carrying openly in Georgia for almost forty years with not one single negative comment or one single solitary confrontation with a police officer. Since the days before carry permits were available in Georgia. Haven't had one criminal try to shoot me first either.

Most people make up their minds about a subject such as open carry and then go looking for evidence supporting their decision while conveniently missing any data not supporting their position.

That's not to say I might not run into an officer who was sleeping in class when the instructor was covering Georgia firearms laws. I've run into officers ignorant of specific law before. They wound up with egg on their face in each event.

Darn, I think I'll get dressed and go shopping carrying openly.
 
No No Like this!!!

Some lady comes up to me next to the ice cream case and says, "Can I ask you a question?"

I kept looking for the ice cream I wanted, but I knew what was coming, "how can I be of assistance"

"Why are you carrying your weapon in here?" At least she had sense enough not to call it "that thing."

"this is a high crime district I carry it for protection."

"Do you have a business card or anything?"

***? "No are you looking for a protection service?"

"Are you in law enforcement or anything like that?"

"No not at present"

"Do you have a permit for it?"

"but of course I do how come no one asks the criminals that?"

"So why do you carry a gun?"

"Like I said, to protect myself and those who are unaware of the danger."

"Who do you think you need protection from, people like me who are very unnerved by it?"

I finished up, chuckling, with, "no not you Darlin just the would be armed rapist, murder, kidnapper, robber, you know the kind that love to prey on women in grocery store parking lots, just scream if you need my help."

With that, I just turned and went down the aisle, looking for the next item on my list.
 
She probably wanted to call your boss and make trouble for you.
Yep, I agree, that may well have been the motivation behind asking for the business card.

The funny thing is in my case I'd hand her my card, and if she called looking for the owner, the cell-phone on my belt would start ringing... :)
 
Thanks for the link Zundfolge. I did have a ticket in that period of time but I didn't count that. The other three incidents were all distinctly odd, including one where I sat on the side of the road for 20ish minutes and then they let me go without explanation.

Considering that before then, I hadn't been pulled over by the police in over 7 years, I guess it all averages out.

And thanks for the information, but honestly all the officer would have to do in court is say "I never said that." I can't prove anyone said anything either as I have no recording or witnesses.
 
I couldn't resist the temptation. Took a shower and got dressed. Put my 1911 in a Galco OWB holster so it would be hard to miss. Cocked and locked. Two magazines on the weak side. No cover garment. Stopped by the convenience store and got a soft drink. Made sure that the cashiers had a clear view of every angle.

Darn, no reaction. So I headed to WalMart. Waved to the cop sitting in the squad car. He waved back. Since he was to my right, he had a clear view of the pistol. Didn't get out to stop me.

Got a cart. Spent some time perusing DVD's. Got one. Checked out sporting goods. Then on to paints. Got a couple of cans of spray paint. Wandered through hardware and then on to houseware. Got some coffee filters. Wandered around back and forth. Went back across the store to get some laundry detergent. Strolled through the men's department looking for cover garments.

Spent about an hour and a half in the store. Talked with several employees. Noticed no stares. Heard no whispers. Mothers weren't herding their children away. Store security didn't confront me.

Some of you guys had me wondering if my state had changed while I wasn't paying attention. This part hasn't. Might have to take a road trip to Atlanta soon.

Something I've noticed about folks who move to Georgia from other states. They seem to assume that Georgia's laws are the same as where they're from. This is not so. Neither is the culture, friends.
 
Overall, pretty uneventful. Sure, there are TONS of smart azz comments I could have made at any point, but it wouldn't have done any good.
You are correct. She probably wouldnt have understood most of your logic, anyway. However, I doubt under the circumstances, that I could've resisted asking her what it is that bothers her about, So's I'd know how the straights are thinking. Some credit is due her, though, for the courage to ask and to be civil herself.
You done good, brother.
 
Like It or Not, We Are All Ambassadors

I think he handled it with humor and class. Didn't insult the little old lady who was making a polite inquiry.

Sometimes open carry can be an opportunity to educate without berating someone for their burden of ignorance. It may be an opportunity to de-sensetize someone who might be overly sensetive to being un-nerved by the sight of someone walking around with "that thing".

We should consider ourselves something of an informal Ambassador, that can help shift other people's minds about 2nd Amendment right without coming off as some kind of arrogant nut-case. It would be nice if she goes home to her husband and says " Oh today, I met this nice gentleman who....."
 
mzmtg, you did all of us gunowners good!
Byron Quick said:
Something I've noticed about folks who move to Georgia from other states. They seem to assume that Georgia's laws are the same as where they're from. This is not so. Neither is the culture, friends.
I've noticed much the same thing up here in Idaho. Some days, it's a wonder that we actually preserve our own culture...

By carrying openly, I can send the message that this is not California or Chicago or NYC, etc.

By carrying openly, I can help put to rest the myth that only crooks or cops carry arms.

By being polite while I carry openly, I help to break the stereotype.

By openly carrying, I can reacquaint people to our heritage here in Idaho.

By openly carrying, I make whatever place I'm in or at, a little more safe for those around me... Crooks are essentially cowards. If they see that you are armed, they will go somewhere else that's easier pickings.
 
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