Well, I live in Oceanside. I have lived here for 27 yrs. I moved here from South Dakota and I have been around firearms my whole life. I am a huge supporter of 2A and CCW. However, it is my own opinion that in this particular town, in this particular time, it is probably not the best thing to do. I base this on the fact that I have been to every square inch of this town at one time or another (lived in a few of the gang infested neighborhoods) at all times of the day and night. I have NEVER personally seen any open carry. I doubt very seriously many people here have. That being said, I really think the vast majority of people that see you will FREAK out. The cops are going to show up in a hurry, and more than likely not going to be friendly about it. Realize that in the last several years they have lost a few of thier own to criminals with guns. One not very far from where I live. A lucky shot with a .22, but still gun crime directed directly at them, non the less. Believe me it is still in the back of thier minds. They are human, with families and children they love and want to go see at the end of the day. I, in all honesty, can't blame them for being a bit jumpy.
I have a few friends at OPD and a few casual aqaintences as well. Probably 2% of OPD know me or who I am. If they observed me in open carry, it would result in a friendly conversation about our choices on firearms, but contact for sure. The other 98% I am fairly sure would not be quite as enlightning or fun. Case in point. This really happened to me. I was outside of a bar downtown on a Sat. night, smoking a cigarette. On of my closer friends in OPD was walking a foot patrol with a partner, and we crossed paths. He was showing me his new Barretta service weapon. He let me hold it and look closely at it without removing the magazine or chambered round while standing on the sidewalk downtown
. Just as I was about to give it back an OPD cruiser drove by and the officer driving about broke his neck when he observed us
. He came back quick. It all worked out good, we even still laugh about it from time to time. But it gave me the willys later on when I thought back on what could have happened as a result of the other officers misunderstanding. My point with all this is they are human and the reaction you get might not be favorable. I understand why. I don't agree with it, but "it is what it is". And thats all it ever will be here.
Heck, even going to the range at Iron Sights. They have asked me to "please carry my firearms in a container, when coming in to shoot". I have known of the legality of carrying it in plain sight, unloaded, but thier surrounding neighbors get pretty freaked out about it. They have been in that same building for at least 10-15 yrs. You would figure the neighbors would be used to it. They are not. I can respect that, they are just trying to run a business. A business, I might add, that I frequent, and if not for them I would have to go a long way just to do some range time
.
I am far from a person that cowers from exercising ones rights. I am also a realist, and the quote 'leaving sleeping dogs lie" comes to mind. More education of the general public is needed before something like this won't get out of hand. I'm not sure how that will be accomplished in a positive way, but I do know that as firearms enthusiests and supporters of open and concealed carry, we are vastly outnumbered in SoCal. I mean outnumbered by a general populace that believes guns are scary, and anyone carrying one must be up to no good. Unless they are LE, or on duty military.
Good on you if you decide to exercise your rights. If I happen to see you, I'll be the first to buy you a cup of coffee, and shoot the breeze for a bit. I'm just saying, don't expect a happy encounter with OPD over this. I'm certainly not saying it is right, or should be tolerated. However, I do see where it comes from, and I understand it. just my $.02. Flame suit on.
