The Open Carry Report

[We-the-People]

Good point. I did mention that in the conversation on Monday, but not yesterday. I'll make sure I bring that up from now on.

Print out a couple of the Open Carry fliers from the stickied thread on them. Even if you fold it up and keep it in your pocket, you can still hand out some info to people when they inquire.

 

[DaveT319]

Yeah, I think I will.

 

[AZRobert]

Yesterday I went to downtown to have lunch with the girlfriend. Met the people in her law office. Went to the noodle company place(I wasn't that impressed) and then went over to Powells to browse. The kids were with us so we just browsed the kids section and then left. No incidents. Although apparently a bunch of people in her office asked her about my pistol once we dropped her back off at work. Apparently they weren't sure if it would have been rude to ask me.

 

[We-the-People]

Yesterday I went to downtown to have lunch with the girlfriend. Met the people in her law office. Went to the noodle company place(I wasn't that impressed) and then went over to Powells to browse. The kids were with us so we just browsed the kids section and then left. No incidents. Although apparently a bunch of people in her office asked her about my pistol once we dropped her back off at work. Apparently they weren't sure if it would have been rude to ask me.

Last time I was in Powell's the cops were called. I heard them get the call on my scanner APP and left the store before they arrived. Glad you had a better experience.

 

[AZRobert]

Last time I was in Powell's the cops were called. I heard them get the call on my scanner APP and left the store before they arrived. Glad you had a better experience.

Yeah I remember reading about that, which is why I took the care to ensure my lady knew how to operate the gopro camera I had with me. Just in case. I need to get a pair of headphones so I can covertly listen to the scanner phone app while in places like that.

 

[DaveT319]

I heard them get the call on my scanner APP and left the store before they arrived.

OT: what app do you use?

 

[Rusty Young Man]

Yeah I remember reading about that, which is why I took the care to ensure my lady knew how to operate the gopro camera I had with me. Just in case. I need to get a pair of headphones so I can covertly listen to the scanner phone app while in places like that.

Good call on bringing a buddy, even better on having it be the spousal unit.
At least the coworkers didn't want to be rude; it could have gone the other way and you would have faced a barrage of questions/insults.

 

[DaveT319]

Yet another "incident" for me this week. Nothing special, just an employee at Wal-Mart noticed my gun and commented on it. Had a brief conversation, and we went our separate ways.

Only thing that stood out was him asking if it was a Ruger when it's actually a Taurus. Second time this week someone thought that. I have decided that it's because mine has a stainless steel slide, and most striker-fire semi-autos these days are solid black, but Ruger seems to make a lot of theirs with SS slides. No biggie though, as I can't expect everyone to be able to tell what it is at a glance.

 

[mjcromp]

Was at the local Elk Lodge today and threw my shirt over my pistol and went about the event. While there I got talking to a new friend about I almost always OC while out. He asked how so I tucked in my shirt and showed him. He said he'll be joining my club soon after I told him how easy and legal it is.

 

[We-the-People]

Yeah I remember reading about that, which is why I took the care to ensure my lady knew how to operate the gopro camera I had with me. Just in case. I need to get a pair of headphones so I can covertly listen to the scanner phone app while in places like that.

I play the APP through the Bluetooth headset. I suppose headphones would reduce battery usage as you wouldn't have to power the Bluetooth, but it you already have a headset, put it to good use.

Depending on your phones options (I use an IPhone 4S), you may want to activate "do not disturb" or the equivalent function as an incoming call can dump the scanner....and of course that would be when you'd miss the radio call that you needed to hear.

Also understand that there is a delay due to the radio call being "captured", digitized, put on the net, and finally getting to your phone. Not sure how long that is but it can make a difference.

 

[We-the-People]

OT: what app do you use?

I use "911 Police Radio" and "5-0 Radio". They have different channels (locations) available. Here in Jackson County (Medford), I can get everything local on just the 911 Radio APP.

I'm considering getting a high end radio scanner however. They're a little spendy though.

 

[AZRobert]

Good call on bringing a buddy, even better on having it be the spousal unit.
At least the coworkers didn't want to be rude; it could have gone the other way and you would have faced a barrage of questions/insults.

I've noticed that when I'm out with parts of my family, be it the kids, the girlfriend or both I get much much fewer dirty looks than when I OC solo. Which I sorta understand but sorta don't. When I OC I take care to ensure I look presentable, jeans and a polo shirt at least. Just to give the impression of a respectable citizen, instead of some scruffy looking nerf herder.
Although I've had a lot of people come up and ask me if I'm a LEO too.

Speaking of which, H&R Block on Lombard today as well as Mini of Portland, no issues.

 

[Rusty Young Man]

I've noticed that when I'm out with parts of my family, be it the kids, the girlfriend or both I get much much fewer dirty looks than when I OC solo. Which I sorta understand but sorta don't. When I OC I take care to ensure I look presentable, jeans and a polo shirt at least. Just to give the impression of a respectable citizen, instead of some scruffy looking nerf herder.
Although I've had a lot of people come up and ask me if I'm a LEO too.

Speaking of which, H&R Block on Lombard today as well as Mini of Portland, no issues.

I think it's because people are more likely to understand that OC is to defend what is precious (and irreplaceable) if you have your most precious and irreplaceable people with you.

Good call on the way you dress, even if that alone should not be a big deal.
Unfortunately, people will judge based on how you're dressed, and I believe you dress the way you wish to be perceived (businessman, "tactical", etc.).

 

[We-the-People]

I used to dress "business casual", had short hair, etc. People were always asking "are you a cop". I then decided that I was going to purposefully dress down and see how things went. To date, I haven't noticed much difference other than the questions have changed. No longer is it "are you a cop" but "is that legal".

It shouldn't make a difference and in the big picture, my experience is that it doesn't make much difference.

 

[AZRobert]

Yeah but the other reason is I like looking purdy.

I like comics in Vancouver (awesome place)
Sunny's Cleaners on interstate
Safeway at Jantzen beach.

 

[We-the-People]

Earlier today, myself and another OCer walked the streets of Ashland for a couple of hours. All the way from the "Plaza" up to and past Southern Oregon University and then back. Mostly good response from other citizens but there were a couple of intolerants who's main form of speech appears to be insults and sexual slurs. Alas, you just disengage from those types.

Police came by and said hello, didn't even get out of the vehicle. Just asked what we were up to and when we told them that we were protesting the council's consideration of the loaded carry ban the reply was "GOOD" and then a handshake.

A bit later, while talking with a young couple that pulled over just to talk with us (positively), another officer pulled up and leaned across the seat to tell us they'd gotten a call that we were waving our weapons around and pointing them at people. She delivered the news with a bit of a laugh and our response was "you guys all know us better than that" to which she said yes. So be careful out there folks. The anti's will LIE and make **** up just to try to get the police to harass you. Imagine if we'd been in Portland and the PPD had gotten that call?

KUDOS to Ashland PD for going on record that OC is not a problem in Ashland!!!

After getting back to the home area, went to Muchas Gracias in Medford. As we were eating in walks a woman and two men. She's packing open with two spare mags on the left. GOTTA LOVE IT.

 

[DocWalker]

Earlier today, myself and another OCer walked the streets of Ashland for a couple of hours. All the way from the "Plaza" up to and past Southern Oregon University and then back. Mostly good response from other citizens but there were a couple of intolerants who's main form of speech appears to be insults and sexual slurs. Alas, you just disengage from those types.

Police came by and said hello, didn't even get out of the vehicle. Just asked what we were up to and when we told them that we were protesting the council's consideration of the loaded carry ban the reply was "GOOD" and then a handshake.

A bit later, while talking with a young couple that pulled over just to talk with us (positively), another officer pulled up and leaned across the seat to tell us they'd gotten a call that we were waving our weapons around and pointing them at people. She delivered the news with a bit of a laugh and our response was "you guys all know us better than that" to which she said yes. So be careful out there folks. The anti's will LIE and make **** up just to try to get the police to harass you. Imagine if we'd been in Portland and the PPD had gotten that call?

KUDOS to Ashland PD for going on record that OC is not a problem in Ashland!!!

After getting back to the home area, went to Muchas Gracias in Medford. As we were eating in walks a woman and two men. She's packing open with two spare mags on the left. GOTTA LOVE IT.

I really do wish people that make false 911 calls and or police reports would get prosecuted. If they did maybe they would stop.

 

[Dave H.]

I was in Molalla, Oregon,
Went to Ace hardware, Bi-mart and I even stopped by the Molalla police dept. to inquire about something and talked to a detective while OCing and nothing.
Stopped by verision to do a upgrade and a customer asked what kind of gun I was oc.

 

[mjcromp]

Went to Thriftway and had the deli guy ask about my pistol a bit (all good) and continued around town. Went to a picnic with an old friend at a park and put an empty mag in (Bend has a no loaded firearms in parks) and had lunch and played frisbee and ball for a while when my friend asked me if I was carrying an airsoft gun. Told him "nope. This is the real deal." He looked at me kinda funny and we continued to play around but not another word was spoken about it. All in all a good weekend. Even took out the dirt bike while OC and had a guy pull up beside me and thumbs upped me!

 

[We-the-People]

Saturday, myself and two others OC'd at the Medford Pear Blossom festival for several hours. During that time we ran into at least FOUR other OCers which was GREAT to see.

We also talked to several of the politicians running for office, including Dave Dotterer who is running against Alan Bates for state senator. Dotterer isn't a proponent of OC but does believe it is our RIGHT and gladly stood in a photo/video op with us.

We also talked with Cory Falls, local candidate for Sheriff and current #2 (I believe) in the Ashland PD. He has a difficult line to walk as he is currently employed by the city of Ashland which is considering a "loaded carry ban" ordinance. However, I feel confident, as do the others who were with me, that he would support OC rights.

There were a few people with negative comments, nothing as bad as the intolerants in Ashland earlier in the week though. One guy was one of those sneaky CC'ers who simply didn't believe OC was the way to go. While having a difference of opinion but respectful dialog with him, some ignorant walked by spouting about how we'd be the first to be shot.

NO POLICE were seen at the event, though I would guess they had plain clothes personnel somewhere. Event staff was unarmed. Had there been a nut case I wonder what their plans were to stop him?????