Open carry--Walmart

[Old Dog]

On the West side of Puget Sound, open carry seems so commonplace these days as to be unremarkable. I see at least one or two (usually males, but occasionally a female) OCers stopping for gas or picking up something at the local Fred Myer store ... and what is it about Wal-Mart, anyway? I see OCers at my local Wallyworld every time I stop in to pick up some ammo.

In this state, no one notices really ... Now carrying around a shotgun or playing with one at the gun counter while OCing a handgun seems a little ill-advised.

 

[X-Rap]

I think Walmart is the OC training ground. be interesting to see what happens at the WM stores in TX after 01/01/16

 

[gamestalker]

On any given day in our Walmart you'll see at least 3 or 4 OC-er's during a 30 minute shopping spree. Ain't nothin unusual around these parts. But then again, we've been an OC state for decades, 5 decades that I know of.

GS

 

[X-Rap]

And AZ would be an interesting state to study the gun grab theory. I have seen OCer's there since the early 80's, more so than other states even today. If there was a great danger in OC gun grabs and assaults there should be ample evidence on file somewhere in AZ.

 

[BK]

There was an incident a while back about some turd attacking someone who was carrying. Got his gun off him too. Entrance to Walmart.

I don't watch the news either so I'm sure there are plenty of other incidents.

Your example meets none of the criteria that the man alleged would occur. The video of Mr. Daniels being assaulted by Mr. Foster is a lesson in, "mind your own business". The carrier in that situation was the better man. The upside is that, Foster will do his time for that bad decision.

While a very different case, not similar at all really. This is the best I can do.

Agreed, your post here is as out of place as a YouTube link to a Loony-Tunes episode. I share in your frustration, but I have high hopes for your future because you contribute greatly to this forum.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Your example meets none of the criteria that the man alleged would occur. The video of Mr. Daniels being assaulted by Mr. Foster is a lesson in, "mind your own business". The carrier in that situation was the better man. The upside is that, Foster will do his time for that bad decision.

Agreed, your post here is as out of place as a YouTube link to a Loony-Tunes episode. I share in your frustration, but I have high hopes for your future.

Have a drink and relax. The crowd went after a man with a gun, cops were called.
Why are you so angry about this?

 

[BK]

Angry? Why would I be angry?

Read my post again. I'm politely trying to help people here.

I meekly attempt to educated, instruct, and aid in the life experience of learning.

 

[Valkman]

People open carry in our WM all the time, and no one notices much. Employees at Front Sight come in all the time too, OCing. No biggie here, wouldn't think it would fly down the road in Vegas.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Have a drink and relax. The crowd went after a man with a gun, cops were called.
Why are you so angry about this?

The thread is about Open Carry. The Florida incident, where OC is illegal, is completely different. One man, who should be minding his own business, assaulted another man who he witnessed arm himself and conceal his weapon while at his car in the parking lot. Whether or not the brief glimpse of his pistol as he holstered his gun is actually legal in Florida or not, the assault upon him as he entered the store was certainly illegal.

This story, while interesting, has got nothing to do with lawful Open Carry.


I live in a state where open carry is legal, despite what certain cities think about it. While it's not common, I've seen it, and done it myself. In some cases, open carry is the only option one has if they wish to carry a firearm for defense.
I for one am sick of the notion that the only reason to open carry is to deliberately scare people, draw attention to yourself, or metaphorically wiggle your genitalia.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Angry? Why would I be angry?

Read my post again. I'm politely trying to help people here.

I meekly attempt to educated, instruct, and aid in the life experience of learning.

I dunno, you seem angry about it?

Concealed carry was legal in that case.

I'd love to believe we live in a world where yuppies don't call the cops on people carrying legally, but that's just not the world we live in.

I'd be more willing to bet the ones who noticed don't care, and the sheeple didn't even notice.

Angry? Why would I be angry?

Read my post again. I'm politely trying to help people here.

I meekly attempt to educated, instruct, and aid in the life experience of learning.

 

[12Pump]

You'll never see me open-carry anything. Sure, sometimes we hear from people who OC at a Walmart and nobody says a word or seems to notice. Then we hear of SWAT teams being called in when someone else does it.

A more recent case happened about a week ago: http://www.wral.com/gunman-reported-at-fayetteville-s-cross-creek-mall/14751863/

 

[RustyShackelford]

post #36, muddy water ....

Once again, members do not reveal all the details or they distort the information, .
The soldier in the media article was not "open carrying" a sidearm or handgun.
He was in uniform, with a 5.56mm rifle & full tactical gear to use in a photo shoot.
Shoppers and mall employees were scared by that not a regular citizen in plain clothes carrying a holstered handgun, .

Members shouldn't distort open carry of rifles-shotguns with holstered guns.

If you elect to open carry a rifle or shotgun in a public place that will definitely get more notice than a Ruger LC9 or M&P Shield in a holster.

RS

 

[22-rimfire]

People in general are not very observant. But make that a AR and it would have gotten attention. The Bragg example above is an example of that. The soldier should have had the AR inside a case and obviously no ammo on his person.

My take in general is that I would like to see more open carry of handguns as long as it is generally accepted versus not being illegal. This is a good non-grand standing demonstration of the legal right with a HCP in TN. I still prefer concealed or mostly concealed carry personally. But open carry is a lot more comfortable.

 

[sequins]

Well if I saw a guy at the mall with 10 mags in a carrier, bdus, and an AR15 I'd be watching him closely... That sort of thing is something I train for potentially.

 

[Snyper]

The soldier in the media article was not "open carrying" a sidearm or handgun.
He was in uniform, with a 5.56mm rifle & full tactical gear to use in a photo shoot.

Once again, members do not reveal all the details or they distort the information

In the picture I saw of him sitting handcuffed on a sidewalk, he was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...ccd6b36647fe87dbcb89c2d903cad2ca9&FORM=IDBBMS

 

[alexander45]

I've found that people don't notice much of anything when they're shopping.

People don't realize much of any thing ever you could walk into a walmart with your head stuffed in the back side of a turkey and very few would notice

 

[kitsapshooter]

dude....

 

[HexHead]

Gun owners who express disdain over open carry are the fifth column against it. We can't get our rights back as long as they stand in the way.

To each his own - others may but I cannot - but as long as we engage in class warfare and continue to denigrate those who peacefully carry in the open, legally, we are only supporting the disarmament agenda.

I'd like to see us stop treating OC as if every participant is loutish white trash with no common sense. They are people just like us exercising their Constitutional civil, legal, and natural rights.

I will say that it already appears some OC to show off their more prized guns - precisely the same as attending a Texas barbecue. Let's be careful setting ourselves up for that, we already have the Rolex rollers who imagine only they wear the superlative watch. Another social tick mark stratifying society into layers of gun owners isn't going to really help.

I see the same kind of nonsensical arguments made here whenever OC is discussed as you see from the antis anytime gun laws are loosened. "People will grab your gun" or "You'll be the first to get shot" are no more legitimate than predicting our towns will become the Wild West and the streets will be running with blood.

 

[TimSr]

Most people don't notice things that look ordinary. Carrying a gun is viewed in its entire context. If you are openly carrying a pistol in a made for it holster, it looks like you know what you are doing, and people assume that you must have the proper credentials to do so. If you carry it in your hand, everyone will notice, and be alarmed. If it is stuck in your waistband, it might raise more suspicion, and if stuck in your waistband and concealed, it will raise suspicion. You can add in the age and gender of the person carrying, and the method of carry, and you will form impressions. Also the type of weapon comes into your judgement as well. They may be wrong or they may be right, but we all form quick judgements of an armed person based on the way they present themselves, because we all have opinions as to what is trained, profesional, and prudent behavior for a person carrying a weapon in public.

 

[usfan]

On any given day in our Walmart you'll see at least 3 or 4 OC-er's during a 30 minute shopping spree. Ain't nothin unusual around these parts. But then again, we've been an OC state for decades, 5 decades that I know of.

GS

I used to see OC more, here in central Az. I'm in sedona, a pretty liberal part of the state. But i often see OC when i go to cottonwood, & i've even seen bikers carrying down in phx. Seems like most of those who carry are older.. not a lot of young-uns pack openly. IMO, it should be socially acceptable, & not have any stigma attached to it. It is a basic right, guaranteed by the constitution.

I often joke when i go into my FFL to pick up a firearm, when they ask me if i have a CC permit:
'Just the constitution.. its worked so far'.
If firearms are viewed through the progressive liberal narrative, then those who own them should slink around, embarrassed to be carrying an 'evil' gun. Anyone who carries is an aberration in society, & should be shamed, or better yet, banned. THAT is the direction that this society is going. It will take an assertive citizenry to hang on to our rights, & not let them be diluted by those who want control.

 

[Straight Shooters]

I am constantly amazed at how oblivious people are to even the most shocking things anymore.

Get this.... True story.

I live in SE Florida and a couple of years ago I went into a Lowes and got in line at the checkout counter and noticed the guy right in front of me has a huge Boa Constrictor snake rapped around his waist with the head coming up his chest and drapped over his left shoulder. Yes I kid you not !!!

It's head was at eye level looking right at me, I absolutely could not believe my eyes ! Boas have hooked teeth and a bite from them can be very nasty. I thought, there is no freaking way I am going to tolerate this so I yelled out, "this is ******* crazy" and got out of line.

There were several other customers standing around and nobody said a thing. The cashier didn't say a word to the guy and just checked him out like any other customer ( without a snake hanging on them of course ).

I called 911 and the cops said they'd come right over. They did but the guy left before they got there and I saw him put the snake in the trunk of his car and leave.

What kind of sick, inconsiderate, idiot would bring his pet snake into a dept store wrapped around him ? But even more so, nobody seemed bothered in the least and wouldn't say a thing to him.

Gotta tell you, only in Florida. The people down here must be aliens or something.

 

[Garrobo]

I suspect that no one

would bother or confront the guy except for some mis-guided LEO.

 

[Ankeny]

I live in the most ultra-conservative part of Wyoming. A state where open carry has been legal since statehood. Heck, Wyoming doesn't even require a CCL (for residents) and we were shall issue before that. The vast majority of the population is gunned up to the hilt. Still, it is extremely rare to see people open carry.

 

[buck460XVR]

I OC regularly here in rural Wisconsin. I see others OCing regularly also. I don't see the local folks, storekeepers and clerks getting upset and calling the cops. I don't see them talking trash about it, only fellow gun owners on internet forums from all over the country that think they know what's proper in my area more than I do. What's up with that?

 

[Armybrat]

think Walmart is the OC training ground. be interesting to see what happens at the WM stores in TX after 01/01/16

After Governor Abbott signed Texas' OC bill last month, an indignant reactionary woman wrote a letter to the editor in the Austin paper proclaiming that she was going to call 911 every time she saw someone open carrying. She didn't care if it's going to be legal for CHL holders after Jan. 1st, she just wants the police to harass the carrier because she is abhorred at the sight of guns.

Unfortunately, our chicken chit legislature gave LEOs the authority to stop any OC'er and "ask for papers". And they can also disarm the CHL holder being detained if they "feel it's necessary for their own safety."

In a liberal city like Austin with a political chief of police from the left coast, it won't be surprising if the street cops are ordered to harass gun owners for doing nothing illegal.

I do not plan to OC myself, but support your right to do so in a legal manner.