Open Carry Funny/Sad at work

[MedGrl]

I was at work the other day (I work for a major retail chain) and a man was walking around with a gun on his hip. He had a basket in one hand and had a few items in it, obviously shopping for things for home. One of the managers FREAKED OUT and called security to keep an eye on him and was going to call the police because "There is a man walking around with a gun!"

I heard this on the radio I was carrying and asked if he had done anything that we would normally call the police for, or if he was simply shopping with a gun on his belt. The manager said "No, but he's got a GUN!"

Open Carry is legal where I live, and our store is located in line of sight with the worlds largest Cabelas Outfitter. You would think that Open carry would be more accepted or at least expected. But I had to explain to the managers and security staff why there was no need to call the police unless he did something other than shop with a gun on his hip.

:banghead:

 

[gripper]

Don't feel bad....I work as an armed guard....I had to hit the Market Basket right before work,so I was.dressed and geared up.for work.I had some idiot start with the whole "gee,must be real dangerous to shop here" remark...so I answered by saying "not nearly as dangerous as messing with strangers".This was on the NH side of the line with Ma......I guess he was from "the Commonwealth".

 

[BK]

That would tick me off too.

 

[Patriotme]

That is sad.
I went into Gander Mtn. a few months ago to get some gun parts for a couple of rifles. I walked in carrying two rifles in assault rifle cases and got a nasty look from a woman that was leaving. After gettting my gun gear I walked out to the car to put the rifles away and noticed a police car in the lot facing the building. I put the rifles in my trunk and went back in and shopped a bit more. When I came out I noticed that the police car had moved closer to my car and had a clearer line of site. I left the lot and then had a police escort back to the highway.
I suspect that they got a call from this woman and the police were interested but largely unconcerned with a guy carrying cased firearms into Gander Mtn. Still weird though.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Don't feel bad....I work as an armed guard....I had to hit the Market Basket right before work,so I was.dressed and geared up.for work.I had some idiot start with the whole "gee,must be real dangerous to shop here" remark...so I answered by saying "not nearly as dangerous as messing with strangers".This was on the NH side of the line with Ma......I guess he was from "the Commonwealth".

I once saw someone open carry what looked like a brand new Kimber into the MB in Somersworth, no one cared except me when I started talking about his nice looking gun.

 

[hso]

Good for you!

 

[Danb1215]

That is sad.
I went into Gander Mtn. a few months ago to get some gun parts for a couple of rifles. I walked in carrying two rifles in assault rifle cases and got a nasty look from a woman that was leaving. After gettting my gun gear I walked out to the car to put the rifles away and noticed a police car in the lot facing the building. I put the rifles in my trunk and went back in and shopped a bit more. When I came out I noticed that the police car had moved closer to my car and had a clearer line of site. I left the lot and then had a police escort back to the highway.
I suspect that they got a call from this woman and the police were interested but largely unconcerned with a guy carrying cased firearms into Gander Mtn. Still weird though.

How does someone call the police on someone carrying cased guns into what is in part a gun store?

 

[pak29]

Folks who aren't part of the gun-community just aren't used to seeing people who aren't uniformed law enforcement or security personnel with guns. They are likewise much less likely to have any idea what the laws regarding carry are in their state.

Open carry and concealed carry, both without a permit, are legal here in VT, but I don't think I would ever open carry simply because of the reactions I'm sure it would engender here in Burlington.

 

[Patriotme]

How does someone call the police on someone carrying cased guns into what is in part a gun store?

The same way that you call the cops in any other circumstance. I know, I know....it doesn't make sense but the whole situation was very strange. You would have to see the look this woman gave me to get it. How many police escorts have you had when leaving gun stores?
You don't need to have a just reason to call the police for anything. All you need is a suspicion when dialing 911. Our government has even started a program about reporting suspicious behavior (what the caller believes is suspicious anyway).
I am a member of a gun rights group in my state and we get a weekly e-mail/newletter of what's happening. Every month there is an instance of someone open carrying and having someone in a panic call the police. I remember a quote in this newsletter from an anti gunner that basically said that no one should carry handguns and they should call the police whenever they saw anyone carrying. This anti gunner had no problem dialing 911 even if the gun owner was behaving normally and the risk of having the police over react could lead to a death or injury. The anti felt that his politics were all that mattered and if enough CCW/open carriers were hassled then they would stop carrying.
If I can find a link I'll post it. It's been a year or two though since I saw that story.

 

[Oxide]

If the cops had been watching me leaving a Gander Mountain I think I would have busted out the mambo and danced a couple laps around my car before leaving.

 

[Hanzo581]

Ignorance will never go away, if you open carry you will eventually get hassled.

 

[Drail]

Most of the sheep in this country have had the wool pulled so far down over their eyes that they can't remember that they used to be able to see the world around them. Now they just watch TV.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Considering the way most people I see are glued to their "smart" phones, I'm surprised anyone noticed the gun to begin with.

I've had some odd looks when I OC, but the only police interaction I had was at the gas station in town, State Trooper came in for some coffee. I had brought my wife (who no longer works there, thankfully) some lunch when he came in for his coffee. We sat and BS'd about guns while he had his coffee break, then left. I've had a few people joke with me about carrying, but no one has ever expressed serious concern.

 

[Skribs]

When I was still a teenager, and had little understanding of gun laws (the most important was "you must be 18 to buy one" so I stopped there), I worked at my local Albertson's store. My friend told me one day that someone had come in with a gun on his hip. He went to the manager and asked "should we do anything?" and the manager simply told him not to worry about it, that it was legal and if the guy isn't doing anything wrong then there's no point confronting him.

My friend's response I think was justified. He had no knowledge of the laws, but he discretely asked a manager for advice. On the other hand, a manager should know what is and isn't allowed in the store.

 

[RightCoastBiased]

I work armed security as well and regularly stop at places before work while carrying all of my duty gear. I've never had any issues, but our uniforms look very police like, so perhaps that's why.

To the topic at hand, as far as I understand, if the manager asked the man to leave for any reason, the man would be obligated to oblige.

And in CT, legal carry is not illegal. Though LE seems to frown upon it and I am sure if I walked around open carrying all the time I would spend most of my time talking to police.

 

[USAF_Vet]

The manager would probably be scared to death to approach a man with a gun and ask him to do ANYTHING for fear of being murdered in cold blood. 'Cuz, you know, that's what gun owners do. What other reason do they have for owning a gun?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Another one is, "What are you afraid of?"

And my answer is, "Only something that can swallow 25 230 grain hollowpoints and spit them back at me."

 

[hermannr]

There are places that OC will get a call to 911 and a response, and then there are places (like where I live) that the caller will be asked if the person with the gun is doing anything dangerous with it, if not, the caller will be informed that it is perfectly legal to OC in WA.

What we need is to have more people OC, so more people can be informed that it is perfectly legal to walk down the street and into/out of a store with a pistol, as long as the person is not waving it around in the air and acting crazy.

The one instance I talked to a Sheriff's deptuty (years ago) about my OC, he muttered more about having to talk to the caller, then he said to me. He only said one word to me "hunting?" I answerd "yes", and he was off trying to find the caller to tell her there was nothing wrong with OC in our state. I was coming out of a grocery store at the time.

Why did he not ask more? You can carry OC or CC without a license (I have one) if you are recreating (hunting, fishing, hiking etc)...no use asking for a permit that is not required....also, you can OC here any time without a permit.

 

[JohnM]

I'm from the state with what has I guess the 2nd highest number of firearms per populace in the nation.
But, if you walk around in one of the 2 biggest towns in the county with one on your hip, you'll get some looks.
We call them "townies", but I'm from way out there from anything.
I only know of one house in this part of the valley that doesn't have any guns around, but there could be a couple others.
It's just a fact that a lot of people want to piss their pants when they see "a gun".

 

[Vern Humphrey]

It's just a fact that a lot of people want to piss their pants when they see "a gun".

After they've rusted out their zippers and stained all their socks yellow, they'll be de-sensitized and realize, "Hey, it's only a gun."

 

[Sky]

With the campaign by Home Land Security of " see something say something" I would imagine there will be more and more of the sheep/pedestrian calling the authorities when it is perceived that someone does not fit in the person's mind of "normal". You could have taken your fully loaded gun case and hit someone in the head; the woman would then know it was her fault for not seeing and saying something. A heavy burden for her I am sure.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

If someone makes a smart comment about me being armed (open or concealed), I tend to tell them that they should feel very safe while they are around me. I tell them that I am a better shot than most of the police they'll ever meet, and I am there to protect them, no charge. And no need to thank me, I'm just a concerned citizen with a gun. That usually shuts them up. Sometimes it takes a smartass to get other smartasses to not do that anymore.

 

[orionengnr]

And in CT, legal carry is not illegal.

Um, pretty much the same here too...and everywhere else, if you think about it.

 

[orionengnr]

I heard this on the radio I was carrying and asked if he had done anything that we would normally call the police for, or if he was simply shopping with a gun on his belt. The manager said "No, but he's got a GUN!"

I would have been really tempted to respond over he radio, so everyone could hear, "Geee...it seems that you never heard of that document called the Constitution...or read the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights...You might want to start with the second one."

But then, it has often been said that I lack diplomacy, and I have seldom contested that point. It is advantageous (and more effective, from an argument/persuasion standpoint) to be tactful, artful and PC.

Failing that, another approach is to be right.

 

[Murphy4570]

Reading threads like these, I wish OC was legal in NJ.

My pistol doesn't see the light of day, and stays in the house, where it is nice and safe.