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Open Carry Idaho Report

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
I thought the Idaho section should have a thread listing your open carry experiences during your daily doings, so here goes mine.

Since March when weather permitted I have been back to open carrying and nothing has happened, I mean zero comments, or any extreme reaction to my open carry. I am aware that lots of folks noticed the pistol on my right hip, but no real reactions one way or the other to them seeing the pistol (personal safety device, my new term for gun).

The list of places I have gone to once or more are; Fred Meyer, Winco foods, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Chase Bank, Arby's, Carls Jr., local haircut place, Papa Johns, VW Dealership, Boise Mall (anti-gun, but nothing was said to me), Zamzows, Indian Creek steak house, local gun shops, Red Robin, Sportsman warehouse, Cabela's, Ross dress for less, local plant nursery, local bike shop, JC Penney, and Macy's.

Just real boring, and not a cop in sight. I'm loving Idaho:cool:
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
Another week has gone by since my first posting on OCing in the Treasure Valley and thought I would list my experiences that happened this week. I have been to Carl's JR, Winco foods, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, and another local plant nursery. At Costco while getting gasoline, I was towing my 4x8 utility trailer behind my Saturn and the Costco Gas attendant started to make a beeline for me, so I'm thinking "here we go, he's going to say something about my open carried Glock". When he arrives the first thing out of his mouth was about my trailer, The guy wanted to know how much it cost, where to buy one, the weight of it, and so on. Nothing said about my pistol.

At that same Costco after I bought two trees and was loading them up, here comes another Costco employee making a beeline across the parking lot heading right for me. I am thinking he's going to say something about my Glock, nope, it's all about my utility trailer and the same type of questions, and not one word about my pistol. It appears open carry just isn't that exciting, but if you have a nice looking utility trailer, expect plenty of attention.:D

On a side note, I understand Costco is anti-gun, but my wife will not give up her membership and I figure might as well go along with it.
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
Must be some trailer! Can we see some pictures and specs?


Sorry, I couldn't locate any photo's of my trailer in my hard drive. I no longer have a working digital camera and I did away with having a cell phone so that's out too. I am moving back to the old ways, no cell (texting), no debiting, using cash for all my purchases at brick and mortar stores, cancelled satellite television (just over the air from now on). Its very liberating not to be chained down by technology. Need to talk to me, call me on my land line or come over to my house, yes it's like the choke chain has been removed. So much of my free time was wasted on these so called modern conveniences. I am keeping the computer and staying online for business reasons, other wise I think I would walk away from it too.

My trailer is the red fold up type that you can purchase at Harbor Freight. Now I have put a plywood deck on the trailer and made some nice looking side rails for it and stained it in a nice deep red to match. I upgraded it with L.E.D. lighting and have a spare tire mounted in the front of the trailer. Nice enough looking, but suprised by the attention I received that day and since that day my neighbor has made the same type of inquires on my trailer. He like's the look of my trailer and it's usefulness, that he has decided to buy one for himself too. Good thing since he's been borrowing mine.
 
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OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
My open carry report for this week is just as boring. Went to Winco, Costco gasoline, Lowe's, Home Depot, Papa Johns, and Hasting's books and video. The only interesting issue was the Gal at Home Depot that works in the home center dept. spent more time staring at my Glock then looking at me while discussing counter top options for my home bath cabinet. I never even asked her about it, I just didn't care. Well now thinking about it, maybe my Glock wasn't the problem, maybe my Glock makes my @ss look really fat. :D
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
I open carried this week at Winco, Home Depot, Lowes, Hastings books and video, Red robin, Harbor freight, and the Boise town square mall. When I arrived at Red Robin their was a state trooper parked in front by the entrance and I walked by the front of his car with my holstered pistol facing his direction, no reaction. When inside my wife and I were seated in the 21 only section of the bar and we had a nice lunch, no problems what so ever. As we left Red Robin the state trooper was still parked in the same spot sitting in his car, zero reaction from him and we left without incident. At the Boise Mall I spent 2 1/2 hours there and shopped with the wife in Sears, Penny's, Dillard's, and wandered around the mall on both levels with nothing said about my open carried pistol. I did not even see any security personnel what so ever during my time at the mall. I expected that being at the mall for 2 1/2 hours, I would have been asked to leave knowing the history of past encounters listed by other open carriers.

I also went to Idaho City on Memorial day (the old west mining town, now tourist trap) to just hang out, wander the shops and people watch. Nothing was said by anyone, but many did notice my pistol with a disbelief look on their face. I figured these folks were the Kalifornians or Canadians since I saw vehicles with these plates sprinkled about in the parking spots. All in all just another boring week of open carry in southern Idaho.:)
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
Since my last posting I went to the Boise mall and had no problems open carrying there. I went to the Village at Meridian to have lunch at Grimaldi's pizza and had no comments or problems while there. I was asked last year to leave by the village security for open carrying, but that does not discourage me, I will keep coming back every time with an open carried pistol. Grimaldi's pizza is good with my open carried pistol, It's the village at Meridian that prohibits it, and why should Grimaldi's be penalized for their phobia.

I drove to Spokane, Wash. to shop at White Elephant (both stores), then over to Black Sheep in Coeur D' Alene, Idaho. Had lunch at Olive Garden with family while in CDA, had no comments or issues anywhere which includes gas stations and rest stops on my trip there and back to Meridian. All in all just very routine with no problems what so ever.
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
Judging by all the participation in this thread, it's looking like I might be the only person in Idaho that open carries anywhere in the state.:rolleyes:
 

Jeff Hayes

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Mar 10, 2009
Messages
2,569
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Long gone
Judging by all the participation in this thread, it's looking like I might be the only person in Idaho that open carries anywhere in the state.:rolleyes:

I carry all over N Idaho all the time and have for the last 8 years or so without a single negative incident, nothing much to report other than where I have been. In the ;ast few months I have been to Cabelas, Wall Mart, several real estate offices, various gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores etc.
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
I have been busy over the last month, so I will report the out of norm open carry experiences.

I went to the Peoples Republic of Southern Kalifornia and drove by way of Highway 93. At the Junction of 93 and interstate 15 just north of Vegas, I stopped for gas at Love's pilot truck stop. While coming out of the store and heading back to my rig I could not help from noticing that the vehicle next to mine at the pumps was from Kalifornia and the kids/adults looked scared, pointed at me and were talking quietly. The wife got back into the passenger seat and got on her cell phone, I assumed she was calling 911. I proceeded to fill up my rig and clean the windshield, then went back in for my receipt and change. As I got back into my rig the family was back inside their minivan and the husband was nowhere to be seen. I left and never saw a LEO anywhere in the area, maybe one arrived after I left, who knows?, don't care.

When I got back to Boise, I did some grocery shopping at Winco and had a guy with his wife come up behind me and he say's " I just want to thank you" I turned around with what I'm sure was a puzzled look on my face and replied, " Thank me for what?". He pointed to my Glock on my right hip and he said "for that" he then reached out to shake my hand and so we shook hands. I don't even remember my reply to him and then he and his wife walk off pushing their shopping cart.

Nothing else to report except that when I was open carrying in Nevada I sure noticed being looked at much more than in Idaho, no real point, just my observation.
 

Jeff Hayes

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
2,569
Location
Long gone
I have been busy over the last month, so I will report the out of norm open carry experiences.

I went to the Peoples Republic of Southern Kalifornia and drove by way of Highway 93. At the Junction of 93 and interstate 15 just north of Vegas, I stopped for gas at Love's pilot truck stop. While coming out of the store and heading back to my rig I could not help from noticing that the vehicle next to mine at the pumps was from Kalifornia and the kids/adults looked scared, pointed at me and were talking quietly. The wife got back into the passenger seat and got on her cell phone, I assumed she was calling 911. I proceeded to fill up my rig and clean the windshield, then went back in for my receipt and change. As I got back into my rig the family was back inside their minivan and the husband was nowhere to be seen. I left and never saw a LEO anywhere in the area, maybe one arrived after I left, who knows?, don't care.

When I got back to Boise, I did some grocery shopping at Winco and had a guy with his wife come up behind me and he say's " I just want to thank you" I turned around with what I'm sure was a puzzled look on my face and replied, " Thank me for what?". He pointed to my Glock on my right hip and he said "for that" he then reached out to shake my hand and so we shook hands. I don't even remember my reply to him and then he and his wife walk off pushing their shopping cart.

Nothing else to report except that when I was open carrying in Nevada I sure noticed being looked at much more than in Idaho, no real point, just my observation.

Hopefully you only took 10 round magazines for your Glock to Kalifornia.
 

carracer

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
1,108
Location
Nampa, Idaho, USA
Independence Day Went to Placerville and then to Garden Valley/Crouch. Shopped in the stores and ate a great hamburger at Two Rivers Grille! Had a great conversation with a fellow interested in my Serpa Blackhawk CQC that retained my Colt Combat Commander. From there to Lowman and back to Idaho City. Went to the spectacular fireworks display at Idaho City. will get there earlier next year for better parking. All in all a great OC day!
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
LOL careful out there.

Actually, I carry a Glock 42 as my daily carry pistol and that's what I took with me. I acquired a Blackhawk serpa holster for it and find it very comfortable for open carry. The pistol loaded is just shy of 16oz and is compact enough to be comfortable for all day carry. I do carry extra loaded mags on my left side while my pistol is carried on my right at the 3 O'clock position.

I did take a Glock 17 as a car gun and as for magazines lets just say.........:D
 

mnrobitaille

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2015
Messages
374
Location
Kahlotus, WA
Trip to Cabela's & Walmart in Post Falls from Kahlotus, WA

Took a trip to Post Falls, from Kahlotus, to check out Cabela's & to get a new open carry holster for my Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9, as I added a Crimson Trace Laser Guard to it. I was initially concealed carrying & as was wanting to do a holster fitting, as per company policy, was safety checked & escorted back to the Hunting Department to get the holster. As I wanted to check out the rest of the store, I left my firearm with the new holster back in the hunting department, where it was secured in a backroom. After checking out the store, & having a delicious cheddar elk brat for lunch, I went back to the hunting department to check out. I was then escorted back to the front of the store.

Got in the car & decided to switch out from my concealed carry holster to the new open carry holster (Bulldog Extreme). Since there was a Walmart Supercenter nearby, decided to go check it out. As was getting out of the car, I put the new holster on & walked into Walmart with only a few odd/strange/quizzical looks from some older ladies. Spoke/interacted with about 20 Walmart Associates & not one of them said anything about me OCing.

On the way home, made a gas/food stop at the Circle K in Ritzville, WA & only got a few looks, but nothing else. Same can be said when stopped at the Harvest Foods in Ritzville to check on product availability.
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
Open Carried over the last month at Winco foods, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Petsmart, Arby's, Papa Johns, Harbor Frieght, Local plumbing store, Red Robin (bar area), Hastings books and video, Fred Meyer, Chase Bank, UPS store and the DMV. I have had zero comments and any extreme interactions indicating that I was carrying. It seems people just don't care and are not bothered by it, as it should be.
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
Whole Foods Market---no firearms sign

Today as I was out and about doing errands in Boise, I thought to myself about checking out Whole Foods Market since I never have been in one before and it was two blocks from one of my stops. As I pulled into the parking lot it had the look and feel of a leftist colony. Was I somehow transported to Seattle? Where did all these Toyota Prius cars come from? At this point I'm looking for Rod Serling for this has to be the Twilight zone, it sure isn't Idaho.

As I approached the entrance I see this sign saying "no firearms", well this is Idaho and gun buster signs have no force of law, so in I go. During the 15 minutes I spent browsing around the store, no one said anything about my Glock which was easy to see since I was wearing a blue shirt. Since this is the first store I have seen in Idaho with a no firearms sign I was expecting an employee to ask me to leave. The employees I did have contact with were friendly and either said hello and/or asked if I needed any help. It was all very uneventful, no one freaked out and no police showed up, as it should be.

Whole Foods doesn't have to worry about me coming back, its just not my kind of store.
 
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OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
I have been open carrying daily since my last posting and have had zero issues or comments of any kind.

Open carried at the Boise mall on 10-10-15 for about an hour with no contact with security or any request to leave. Starting to wonder if the mall administration isn't enforcing their "no guns" policy.
 
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