FreeInAZ
Regular Member
I would have simply said ... how many do you carry? Then quickly said "never mind, what you do legally is none of my damn business...wink..smile.."Well, it's been a while since I've posted. Mainly because my "always open carry" policy has been pretty uneventful, until this past Saturday. I was at my local Ace hardware buying some ammo. As I'm talking with the Ace Hardware employee assisting me with my choices, from about 10 feet away I hear something...
Let me diverge for a moment and remind everyone that I normally carry a double gun shoulder rig consisting of two S&W M&P 9s with Trijicon RMR's mounted on top loaded with 23 round mags, with an additional 4 17 round magazines on board. Two under each gun. So my open carry is very much "in your face". Back to the story...
After realizing that a gentleman was talking to me, without every getting my attention,
I said "What?"
He said "Why so many?"
I said "Why so many what?"
He said "Why are you carrying two guns?"
Being caught off guard and not being very good at thinking fast...
I said "Two is one, one is none?"
He began to lecture me about if I were in a hand to hand combat situation I couldn't squeeze my arms together to keep someone from grabbing one or both. Then he said he has been a cop for 20 years and I'm the silliest thing he's every seen. We'll, as soon as he stated he's been a cop for 20 years I just checked out mentally. I've had other people make negative comments to me, which I just chock up to them being liberal cult members. However, the attitude in his voice was "I'm a cop and I know what is best for you." I was polite and just said sarcastically "Thank you for your opinion." I was with my family and didn't need to be a bad example for my young son. Of course after the fact I thought of all kinds of good come backs. I'll be ready for the next time anyone gives me grief:
"May I have your name and phone number? You are obviously an expert regarding firearms. I want to be able to call you anytime I need to make a decision regarding anything that I do with my firearms. No? I don't understand, you're so willing to give me your unsolicited opinion now, why not give me your solicited opinion in the future?"
Yes, so many other things I could say. But that will be my response for any future encounters.
The funny thing is that I've encountered on duty uniformed cops over the last 4 years that I've been carrying my double gun rig and have nothing but positive experiences.
I carry what I know works best for me, because being me, I'm the only one who can know that.
To think what I carry or don't is the "best way for others", is just foolish; but fools rarely understand this concept.
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