Portsmouth encounter. First startled person I have had the pleasure

[d-mac]

Portsmouth encounter. First satrtled person I have had the pleasure

and I didn't even have to overly explain my side. Funny that she knew of them, knew the type but still was startled. I was just filling up at the local Getty gas station. I went in side, walked up to the counter with my pop(soda)turnned to see some chips and I hear in a startled voice the attendant "Oh....You have a gun in your pocket". I had an IWB with my Glock 23.
ME: "Yes I do".
Attendant: "Is it real?"
ME: "yes".
Attendant: "I thought you couldn't have it in the open"
ME: Actually, it is required to carry like this if you don't have a license. It would also be illegal to conceal it if you didn't have a license. I have a license but carrying like this, I don't need it."
Attendant: "I'm from Maine and they don't allow that."
ME: "Actually, they do. The laws of ME and NH differ only a little. Check them out."
Attendant: "Why do you carry it?"
ME: "Self protection."
Attendant: "oh"
Attendant: ?Is that a glock?"
ME: "Yes it is."
Attendant: "Have a good night"
ME: "Thank you and you too"

 

[gggman]

Why would you want to carry openly? If you have a CCP, why not carry concealed? Then you have no need to explain yourself to curious onlookers.

 

[d-mac]

well one reason is

That it is my right. Another is I took off my jacket as it was muggy.

Now i never said I hate educating I just mentioned that it was little effort needed.


Her actions are among others, People don't know the laws and this is why things like MVPEL faced.

I know she will have that story for others. I wonder how many people will learn from this one encounter from her mentioning it to others.


Sure I could have taken the gun off as well as the vest but It is my right not to and I was just as happy with it open as I was concealed.

First time I had the pleasure of having someone notice and become startled. Also I thought it was funny that she asked if it was real. Like who would hang out with a fake gun on their hip that is not under the age of 10

 

[jwmoore]

You did an outstanding job in educating the attendant, and showing her that not all people with guns are "bad guys".

~W

 

[BlkHawk73]

I admire the method in which you voiced yourself. While I'm not exactly big on open carry, primarily becasue it tnds to attract unwanted interest, to each his own.

 

[CrudeGT]

That's very cool that she was understanding, and talked with you, instead of assuming you were there to rob her, and throwing an alarm switch. Way to go.


Also, from reading your story, I noticed you did one thing wrong, you forgot to pay for you soda and chips...

 

[Drizzt]

"Oh....You have a gun in your pocket".

nope, just glad to see you.....



Oh come on.... you were thinking it.

 

[Chuck Dye]

Now THERE'S a thought...

Where I have looked at it, the laws have used such terms as "carried openly on a belt," and "carried openly in belt holsters." When I read the part about the holster being an inside-the-waistband design, a small alarm rang. I can just see some eager Assistant District Attorney arguing that not fully open is, in fact concealed. Has anyone any solid information on whether IWB has been challenged as concealed? I ask from the perspective of someone who recently sat on a jury which took less than a minute to acquit in a matter where the ADA never came within sight of meeting his burden of proof. None the less, the defendant probably spent $4k-$6k to "win."

(Yes, I realize d-mac, as a permit holder, could not have been so charged.)

 

[d-mac]

I am not 100% sure and

I think I have read that as long as the butt was showing. That's a great question. Now, I have not fully looked into it as I got the License as soon as I got the gun.

As my holster sits there is more than the butt, see here
http://www.threatsolutions.com/holsterindex.html

<a href="http://www.threatsolutions.com/holsterindex.html">My holster</a>

hehehe, "no, glad to see ya".

 

[Devonai]

The attendant had an open mind, which is a big step over that idjit who dropped the dime on mvpel up in Manchester. I've carried openly while hiking up north, but I'm still debating whether or not to try it in the Manchester area when the weather gets warmer. I've never seen anyone else doing it south of Plymouth and I sure don't want to end up another "test" case like mvpel.

 

[fjolnirsson]

all anyone has to say is that you are "disturbing their peace", and your "legal" open-carry is going to become quite the nightmare. avoid it, and you wont be sorry.

It is a sad commentary on the state of the country when a man is unable to exercise his rights( recognized by the state, mind you), merely because someone might be upset.

 

[k8ysv]

What I find to be amusing is the fear at the mere sight of a gun. If you were there to rob her, you'd have likely had the gun in your hand, not in a holster. Perhaps she realized this after her initial reaction and that's why she commented on it.

Personally, if I see someone walking around with a gun, I look at the person. If I see a normal, ordinary looking person, I think "cop" (until recently, in Ohio that is...). If I see Nappy 'fros and backwards ballcaps with baggy pants falling down around the arse with a Hi-Point stuck in the waistband "Mexican" style, I think: "trouble".

It's all in the perception.