List Your Open Carry Experiences Here

[MikeTheGreek]

OC'd at work, and a few parts stores, no issues. Went to the US Army recruiting office in Livonia after work, almost forgot it was federal and I can't carry there. Oops, good thing I noticed and put my gun in my car.

On a side not, I've started my enlistment process and should be shipping out in August. Woohoo! :banana:

Also, while getting out of my car in front of the enlistment office a lady asked me "Are Canadians allowed to carry guns here?!?" and stared at me. Apparently she only saw the Canadian flag on my window, and not the Michigan plates on my car. Silly people. Canadians have rights too!

 

[griffin]

I heard her blurt out loudly “Who got guns!?”

Improper, non-standard English.

 

[Bronson]

OCed in the Shaver Rd. Walmart in Portage and the Westnedge Ave. Steak 'N' Shake in Kalamazoo. No issues, as usual.

Bronson

 

[Sterling]

Nope

Please understand that the Constitution and the all of the Amendments including the Bill of Rights is only binding on the government... NOT on individual citizens.

Thirteenth Amendment.

 

[Bikenut]

Originally Posted by Bikenut
Please understand that the Constitution and the all of the Amendments including the Bill of Rights is only binding on the government... NOT on individual citizens.

Thirteenth Amendment.

I stand corrected...and appreciate it.

OC'd today at

Independent Bank in Bridgeport where some patrons took a hard look at my sidearm... and that was that.

KFC in Clio where a woman and her son came in after Yooperlady and I did and they hung way back as we ordered. And then came the surprise when they came up to the counter and discovered that the man with a gun had prepaid for part of their order. The lady thanked us profusely... and we all proceeded to separate tables to eat our respective lunches. On their way out the lady sharply "suggested" to her son that he thank us.............. which he did.

Now .. a personal and totally subjective observation.

While the mother, an older person, seemed to be able to quickly overcome her concern from seeing a man with a gun and to process the concept that there was something different.. and contrary to her preconceptions happening... it was obvious her son was confused and completely at sea by being presented with a situation where what he had been taught a man with a gun who was not a cop was a terrible thing to be afraid of.... being contrasted by the reality proving what he had been taught was, at least in this situation, BS... I think the poor kid was having a moment of realization that what he had been taught just might be ... crap.

Or I am reading a whole bunch of stuff into the situation that just wasn't there. Be that as it may...

On we went to Wal Mart in Clio to do some shopping..

And for some reason Wal Mart was full of corporate type folks. You know... very dressy shirts and ties with name tags standing around in groups talking to the regular Wal Mart representatives... and it just happened (I didn't seek these folks out... just went about my shopping as directed by Yooperlady who had given me a list of things to get while she got other stuff.... sometimes I think she does that so I don't bother her while she shops......) that I passed these corporate types several times.

Yes they noticed my sidearm and, no, not one person cared in any way what so ever. The only thing that was ever said was to question whether I was finding the things I needed.

Ok... now... on to check out....

While waiting in line at one register a couple got in line at the next register. Well... I happened to notice (was looking past them at other stuff way down in the store) the guy lean over and urgently whisper something to his wife(?). She asked him "Who!!!????" and then she looked at me. And you know what? Other than that... neither said anything more... they didn't change registers... they didn't call security... they didn't call the police... they didn't run out of the store screaming in terror. Aside from expressing an initial surprise of seeing someone open carrying ... they didn't do a damn thing.

Warning!!! Political comment follows!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Obama... Holder... Bloomberg... Cuomo... and all the rest of you elitist anti gun people hoping to outlaw guns for the "little people" so you can keep guns for yourselves in order to use guns to become rulers of the world.... the average everyday person is NOT afraid of guns. So get over yourselves!!!

http://art-bin.com/art/omao5.html

Every Communist must grasp the truth, "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."

"Problems of War and Strategy" (November 6, 1938), Selected Works, Vol. II, p. 224.


​

The elitists who would rule over the commoners understand only too well.....

He who has the guns... has the power!!

 

[CaptBW]

OC'd around Interlochen and Lake Ann. No problem.

 

[kmfirestone]

New to this...

I am a "first timer" when it comes to a.) gun ownership - I started about 3 months ago with a Mossberg 500 20ga pump, and now a S&W SD9 and b.) OC'ing.

I came across this thread and it has been very helpful, as I have been questioning myself as far as where I can OC without an issue. There is so much great information shared in this thread!

I am picking up my 9mm tonight and I am anxious to own it. I am taking "her" to the range immediately and getting a good feel for "her". Does anyone have any OC info to share in the South Lyon, Howell area? I also spend a lot of time downtown Detroit. I do NOT have my CPL, that is my next step...

Well, I am off to Gander Mountain to pick "her" up...thanks for all the great info and wish me luck!

 

[Bikenut]

I am a "first timer" when it comes to a.) gun ownership - I started about 3 months ago with a Mossberg 500 20ga pump, and now a S&W SD9 and b.) OC'ing.

I came across this thread and it has been very helpful, as I have been questioning myself as far as where I can OC without an issue. There is so much great information shared in this thread!

I am picking up my 9mm tonight and I am anxious to own it. I am taking "her" to the range immediately and getting a good feel for "her". Does anyone have any OC info to share in the South Lyon, Howell area? I also spend a lot of time downtown Detroit. I do NOT have my CPL, that is my next step...

Well, I am off to Gander Mountain to pick "her" up...thanks for all the great info and wish me luck!

It is strongly suggested that you do NOT open carry until you have read the following several times and asked questions on the forum about anything you do not clearly understand!!!

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?113518-Open-Carry-without-a-CPL

 

[Bikenut]

OC'd today at Taco Bell in Clio where some young fellas, I'm guessing from 12 to 15, just couldn't process the sight of an ordinary guy wearing a gun. There weren't any problems they just kept staring.... a lot!

Then to Wal Mart's gas station where more folks had a good look at my sidearm... and nothing of note happened.

 

[Second Reality]

OC w/ CPL at the office where I work on Miller Rd in Flint (sometimes concealed depending, in recent days it can get rather warm in an office with lack of decent AC). Went down to the Pizza Hut on Miller road and ordered myself a pizza for lunch since they got that new 8$ for a large special going on. One of the employees there (new kid) asked me several times if he could see my ASP Baton that was on my left hip (gun on right), to which I politely refused. I don't carry a tactical belt around fully equipped because I like the 'toys' on them. Their weapons, lethal and non, and their not to be played with. Overall another good day!

Also to note, I've been browsing these forums for the past week and finally decided to make my account here and begin posting. Its really a breath of fresh air to see so many others who actively stand up for their rights in my local and extended community throughout the state. Honestly I've only ever seen one other person OCing and it was at a gas station (Bridge & Beacon on Vienna Rd); he was carrying a rather nice looking snub nose revolver. Im not sure about the everyday citizen but it sure makes me feel a lot safer carrying (legally) and to know others are as well. Thanks members of opencarry.org for making Michigan and the rest of the USA a safer place.

 

[ksanderson1981]

Open carried at Cabela's in Grandville for about an hour on Sat. with my wife. Just a couple looks from people.

Open carried at Family Dollar in Walker Sat. night to get some things. While being cashed out a guy from the back of the line says " Nice, you don't even have to conceal it?" I turned and told him no sir, it's my right and also yours to legally open carry a firearm in the state of Michigan. He was very interested in it so I gave him this to read and talked to him for a bit
Legal Update No. 86 - October 26, 2010 - State of Michigan . As I gave it to him, the cashier asked if I had another one for him to read, he was also interested in it. I wrote down the name of the site here as well and told them to check it out.

Its nice to see some people actually OC'ing by me. I live in Wyoming and am considering starting to OC. I have had my CPL for four years now. I have been checking on the open carry laws for about six months now. I was wondering if there is a way you can contact me as I am new on here and am not fully sure of how it all works for contact. I would actually like to possibly discuss a meeting somewhere that I can go to so I can ask some of my questions about OC'ing so I dont make a wrong move while doing it.

 

[ksanderson1981]

I've been sick (pneumonia) for the last little while but Yooperlady and I finally got out and about today and I OC'd in Bridgeport at:

Big Boy for lunch where nothing happened at all... except we ate lunch..

Lamplighter flowers where the only thing that happened was good conversation with good people...

But ....

We started out the day at the Bridgeport Independent Bank turning in over $100 worth of coins and when I was waiting in line to cash in the little ticket thingy a fellow came in and stood behind me... nothing unusual about that...

Then I was called up to the counter to be waited on ... and the guy also was called up to another window and he said that he was all right... he came in to get warm.

Ummmm.... my situational awareness suddenly got focused in his direction... and Yooperlady was watching him too.

The clerk called him up to the window again and he didn't move but said he wasn't in any hurry..... and then he said something to the teller about the Camaro outside... and that is when Yooperlady began to talk to him about our Camaro....

But the guy STILL wouldn't go up to the teller's window.

I finished cashing in my coin slip and said a few nice words to the fellow about the Camaro (making damn sure I got his full face on my video recorder) and then Yooperlady and I left.

The guy waited until we were out of the building before going to the teller window...

Yooperlady and I didn't stick around to find out WFT that was all about.... but it was a bit on the weird side for sure.

So I assume you are from Bridgeport? Were you born there? I live in Grand Rapids now but my father is from there and my grandmother still lives there as do many of my relatives. That is great that you can OC in all those places there, I have never once seen anyone doing it in Bridgeport.

 

[xmanhockey7]

OC w/ CPL at the office where I work on Miller Rd in Flint (sometimes concealed depending, in recent days it can get rather warm in an office with lack of decent AC). Went down to the Pizza Hut on Miller road and ordered myself a pizza for lunch since they got that new 8$ for a large special going on. One of the employees there (new kid) asked me several times if he could see my ASP Baton that was on my left hip (gun on right), to which I politely refused. I don't carry a tactical belt around fully equipped because I like the 'toys' on them. Their weapons, lethal and non, and their not to be played with. Overall another good day!

Also to note, I've been browsing these forums for the past week and finally decided to make my account here and begin posting. Its really a breath of fresh air to see so many others who actively stand up for their rights in my local and extended community throughout the state. Honestly I've only ever seen one other person OCing and it was at a gas station (Bridge & Beacon on Vienna Rd); he was carrying a rather nice looking snub nose revolver. Im not sure about the everyday citizen but it sure makes me feel a lot safer carrying (legally) and to know others are as well. Thanks members of opencarry.org for making Michigan and the rest of the USA a safer place.

Be careful about the legalities of carrying the ASP Baton.

 

[Bikenut]

So I assume you are from Bridgeport? Were you born there? I live in Grand Rapids now but my father is from there and my grandmother still lives there as do many of my relatives. That is great that you can OC in all those places there, I have never once seen anyone doing it in Bridgeport.

Actually I'm originally from the U.P. and Bridgeport just happens to be the closest town that isn't actually Saginaw... I try to avoid Saginaw.

But the only time there was an issue with OC in Bridgeport was at the Taco Bell a few years ago... the manager said that since I wasn't LE he didn't want my sidearm in his restaurant... so I told him to give me my money back and I immediately left and followed up with phone calls to corporate that had an unsatisfactory to me resolution since when the representative said I could go back to that Taco Bell but said the manager wouldn't provide a written statement to that effect I was not going to take a chance of being trespassed by the manager.

 

[Second Reality]

Be careful about the legalities of carrying the ASP Baton.

I've already informed local and state police departments in my area that I carry one, as well as checking ahead of time before I started that it was legal. According to Davison PD, Flint PD, Burton PD, and Michigan State Police its legal as long as im not doing anything questionable with it (as far as brandishing goes or threatening random people with it for no reason). I'd only ever use it as a non lethal alternative to say someone pulling a knife on me or others. It's always good to rely on a firearm, but it's still (at least for me) a little more reassuring to have other non-lethal options as well; such as a ASP baton and a tazer. Personally I'd carry mace if I felt it was useful at all. Been maced by civilian grade and police grade for training and it doesn't phase me much minus the burning; def. wouldn't stop me from defending or attacking someone.

On a side note, thank-you for the heads up, your concern is greatly appreciated Xmanhockey7!

 

[kmfirestone]

It is strongly suggested that you do NOT open carry until you have read the following several times and asked questions on the forum about anything you do not clearly understand!!!

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?113518-Open-Carry-without-a-CPL

Thank you very much for that link, it is helpful. I did a large amount of research and studying before I made the decision to purchase a hand gun. Especially knowing I wasn't going to have my CPL right away. I have read the statute many times, have a laminated little card that shows on one side where you cannot OC withOUT a CPL and where you cannot OC WITH a CPL. I made sure to purchase a holster that was appropriate for not "accidentally" being concealed and have consulted a local instructor regarding my rights and do's/don't's.

I will be taking my CPL course this month and applying for it with the County, but I am told that right now that there is an approximate 6-8 week lead time on getting your license back.

Safety is my first and very foremost concern. Not only safety for those around me but for myself (physically and legally).

I look forward to sharing my first OC experience on this forum and finally being able to experience my right to carry.

-Keri

 

[Bikenut]

Originally Posted by Bikenut
It is strongly suggested that you do NOT open carry until you have read the following several times and asked questions on the forum about anything you do not clearly understand!!!

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/sh...-without-a-CPL

Thank you very much for that link, it is helpful. I did a large amount of research and studying before I made the decision to purchase a hand gun. Especially knowing I wasn't going to have my CPL right away. I have read the statute many times, have a laminated little card that shows on one side where you cannot OC withOUT a CPL and where you cannot OC WITH a CPL. I made sure to purchase a holster that was appropriate for not "accidentally" being concealed and have consulted a local instructor regarding my rights and do's/don't's.

I will be taking my CPL course this month and applying for it with the County, but I am told that right now that there is an approximate 6-8 week lead time on getting your license back.

Safety is my first and very foremost concern. Not only safety for those around me but for myself (physically and legally).

I look forward to sharing my first OC experience on this forum and finally being able to experience my right to carry.

-Keri

Thank you for taking the time to research. Believe it or not... some folks don't do a lick of research and just take off doing what they think is legal open carry.... and leave themselves wide open to prison time just because they don't know the law(s).

One thing I do want to emphasize... beware the liquor law because without a CPL it is illegal to even "possess" a gun on the "premises" of any establishment (that doesn't mean just bars but also includes stores, any stores!!, even Wal Mart) that has a liquor license. They don't even have to have any booze for sale.... just have to have the license!

If you already know these things please understand my purpose is just to help you along... and that there may be another person just starting out that reads these things and is helped too.

Carry On!!!

 

[Second Reality]

Figured I'd post another update as it seems life is full of encounters around my area. Called my local Chase Branch (where i normally carry Concealed and have had an account for over a year) at 3301 W Corunna Rd , Flint Township, MI. Wanted to see if they allowed open carry in their location to which I spoke with a manager who wanted to call me back. After about a half hour I got the call back and she informed me that they ALLOW concealed carry but not OPEN CARRY. Informed me that if I was to open carry into the branch that I would be asked to leave. Well.. kinda disappointed myself to hear this as I've gone to this bank every week for over a year and know everyone (other than the manager? I spoke with (claimed she was) ) by name, including the armed security guards.

One would think the experiences for the day were over, but no. After I finished my business at the bank (I ended up carrying concealed) I needed to pay off some debts over at Advanced America G3312 Miller Rd , Flint Township. The guy behind the counter recognized me and buzzed me in past the security door; at this time I was OC as I left my leather jacket in the car. He didnt say anything until after we finished our transaction. He let me know that they DO NOT allow OC or CC in the store. ??? There are no signs on the door, outside the business or inside the business. I even looked up policy for the store on their corporate website and found nothing. Went ahead and popped an email over to corporate in regards to this matter and hopefully they will get it sorted it.

Days not over yet but I felt I would let someone know about these places.

 

[kmfirestone]

Thank you for taking the time to research. Believe it or not... some folks don't do a lick of research and just take off doing what they think is legal open carry.... and leave themselves wide open to prison time just because they don't know the law(s).

One thing I do want to emphasize... beware the liquor law because without a CPL it is illegal to even "possess" a gun on the "premises" of any establishment (that doesn't mean just bars but also includes stores, any stores!!, even Wal Mart) that has a liquor license. They don't even have to have any booze for sale.... just have to have the license!

If you already know these things please understand my purpose is just to help you along... and that there may be another person just starting out that reads these things and is helped too.

Carry On!!!

I most certainly appreciate the advice! There are always going to be things I can (and want to) learn.

I am a little fuzzy on the liquor license aspect tho. Would having it in my vehicle, properly stored be considered "possessing"? Also, I hadn't seen that statute anywhere or read it on any of the threads or blogs I have looked at. Obviously I know about not having it at a bar or a business whose main income is the sale of alcohol. It is disappointing to hear that 85% of the places I will shop at (Meijer, WalMart, Grocery stores etc.) would be off limits without a CPL. Would this include a hotel? I frequently travel for business and am in and out of hotels in the Detroit area...

I am certainly getting my CPL however, I am moving to Detroit and need to be able to OC in my vehicle and to be able to walk to and from my truck/residence without having to go to the back, open the case, load...etc. Thank you for the information, it was very helpful.

Side note; I did pick "her" up last night from Gander Mountain and they were wonderful! Very helpful, answered every question I had, encouraged OC and cleaned her for me (free of charge!).

 

[Second Reality]

Figured I'd post another update as it seems life is full of encounters around my area. Called my local Chase Branch (where i normally carry Concealed and have had an account for over a year) at 3301 W Corunna Rd , Flint Township, MI. Wanted to see if they allowed open carry in their location to which I spoke with a manager who wanted to call me back. After about a half hour I got the call back and she informed me that they ALLOW concealed carry but not OPEN CARRY. Informed me that if I was to open carry into the branch that I would be asked to leave. Well.. kinda disappointed myself to hear this as I've gone to this bank every week for over a year and know everyone (other than the manager? I spoke with (claimed she was) ) by name, including the armed security guards.

One would think the experiences for the day were over, but no. After I finished my business at the bank (I ended up carrying concealed) I needed to pay off some debts over at Advanced America G3312 Miller Rd , Flint Township. The guy behind the counter recognized me and buzzed me in past the security door; at this time I was OC as I left my leather jacket in the car. He didnt say anything until after we finished our transaction. He let me know that they DO NOT allow OC or CC in the store. ??? There are no signs on the door, outside the business or inside the business. I even looked up policy for the store on their corporate website and found nothing. Went ahead and popped an email over to corporate in regards to this matter and hopefully they will get it sorted it.

Days not over yet but I felt I would let someone know about these places.

Quick Update on Advanced America. Had Corporate call me back from my email I had sent them and he apologized for the inconviences at that location and the lack of signage however he did inform me that they do not allow open or concealed carry on their property and that he (was the district manager) would make sure to have that store along with all the other local Advanced Americas put up signage to that effect.

I suppose that leads me to the question of is it legal for them to BAR CONCEALED carry on their private business grounds? (Aside from them asking you to leave) If I was to ever return would I be able to legally carry concealed (pending what they dont know wont hurt them)? Would that even be legal? I assume it would be legal, please correct me if im wrong.