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A thank you to the longtime OCers in Maine!

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
I just wanted to thank all you guys for the work you've done to for the most part normalise open carry in Maine. I have been carrying for a few weeks now without any major issues. (there was the one manager at Hannaford in Saco that asked me to leave but he turned out to be in the wrong according to corporate). I walk up and down rt 1 almost daily stopping at bad dog deli, rite aid, 2 fish stores in scarborough, and the puffin stop gas station. I've been to walmart in Scarborough and Biddeford with no problems too. Today at Scarborough Lobster the guy said to me "What's the gun for?" I said "self defense". I think he was messing with me a bit because judging by the tone of his voice I was waiting for him to ask me to leave. To my surprise he said something along the lines of "Right on! This is America and it is your right so I don't got a problem with it". So that was a very positive experience.
 

Haoleb

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2012
Messages
30
Location
Maine
Good news, One side note however, You might not want to carry in the scarborough walmart... If you are anything like me after about 10 minutes in that place you'll want to turn it on yourself to end the misery!!
 

MainelyGlock

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
615
Location
Portland, ME
Glad to hear you've had a good experience so far. Be ready for a confrontation/B.S. illegal detainment if you wander down to Portland though. The PD, for the most part, does not seem to like to follow state laws.

That Wal-Mart is super depressing. Helpful hint though, if you go there in search of ammo, ask them to look behind the counter. All the good stuff (anything besides .300WSM and shotgun shells) is locked up there now.
 

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
I hear yah about the scarborough wal-mart I can't agree more. Thanks for the ammo tip I'll have to check that out soon.
 

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
I spoke too soon. I was under the impression that Wal-Mart was open carry friendly. I went to Biddeford walmart yesterday and a cart pusher of all people proceeded to detain me until management came since I refused to secure my firearm in my vehicle per his request. I told him that I was fairly sure he did not have authority to refuse me entry into the store but out of respect I cooperated. After going to my car and getting my camera there was still no manager so the cart pusher said whatever just go shop. I got my 4 items without issue and waited in line for nearly 10 mins. I was finally next in line and Assistant Manger Johnathan came to escort me out of the store. The jerk would not even let me take 2 minutes to pay for my childs medicine before I left. I made a short video unfortunately I did not get recording going in time to catch his ignorance such as him saying you can not open carry in any store in Maine. The funniest part was when he said "you can't even open carry in Cabela's" I told him he was correct and that is because it is a corporate policy of Cabela's. He said that it's also Wal-Mart corporate policy that you can not open carry (I think he was wrong there). Once I got the camera on he was reluctant to claim that Wal-Mart indeed has a corporate anti open carry policy. I will be phoning corporate later on this afternoon to get clarification on the official policy. Perhaps some of ya'll can call Johnathan over at Biddeford Wal-Mart and let him know what you think about kicking out a customer for doing nothing wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBqmt4is2ZM
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
Email/phone corporate.

Cabelas allows OC as well. The "check your firearm" rule is for nonholstered guns.

Eta: get a digital audio recorder and keep it running whenever you carry(OC or CC)


Sent from the back of a black van
 
Last edited:

MainelyGlock

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
615
Location
Portland, ME
Email/phone corporate.

Cabelas allows OC as well. The "check your firearm" rule is for nonholstered guns.

Sent from the back of a black van

You sure? I've tried to OC in there, but had the person at the front tell me that they needed to put one of those safety devices in my gun before I could walk around the store with it. Went out to my car, put a long shirt on over it, problem solved! But still obnoxious.
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
You sure? I've tried to OC in there, but had the person at the front tell me that they needed to put one of those safety devices in my gun before I could walk around the store with it. Went out to my car, put a long shirt on over it, problem solved! But still obnoxious.

Fairly certain. I had an email stating this about a year ago as i felt it was stupid to not allow carry in Cabelas. Could have changed. Sending an email now to find out.

Sent from the back of a black van
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
Response from Cabelas

Hello Sean,

Thank you for contacting Cabela's! Our retail stores follow any state laws that may be in place concerning concealed carry. Also some of our store has their own procedures on regulation of firearms in their stores. For any detailed information I may suggest contacting the retail store in question directly on whether they allow concealed carry weapons in the store. If we can be of further assistance please let us know!

Thank you for visiting cabelas.com and come back soon!

Sincerely, Skyler P. 1-800-237-4444 We are here for you 24/7! www.cabelas.com

Sent from the back of a black van
 

boyscout399

Regular Member
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
905
Location
Lyman, Maine
You sure? I've tried to OC in there, but had the person at the front tell me that they needed to put one of those safety devices in my gun before I could walk around the store with it. Went out to my car, put a long shirt on over it, problem solved! But still obnoxious.

Cabelas is open carry friendly and has been for many years. There was a bit of confusion about that issue a couple of years ago and they changed their signs to reflect that only guns coming in for service, repair, selling, returns needed to be checked at the door. As long as the firearm stays in the holster it does not need to be checked. I've open carried in Cabelas in Scarborough twice this week. The last time I went in the guy at the door asked if my gun was an M&P, I told him it was a Glock and showed him the beavertail backstrap on it. Then I went about my business.
 

boyscout399

Regular Member
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
905
Location
Lyman, Maine
I spoke too soon. I was under the impression that Wal-Mart was open carry friendly. I went to Biddeford walmart yesterday and a cart pusher of all people proceeded to detain me until management came since I refused to secure my firearm in my vehicle per his request. I told him that I was fairly sure he did not have authority to refuse me entry into the store but out of respect I cooperated. After going to my car and getting my camera there was still no manager so the cart pusher said whatever just go shop. I got my 4 items without issue and waited in line for nearly 10 mins. I was finally next in line and Assistant Manger Johnathan came to escort me out of the store. The jerk would not even let me take 2 minutes to pay for my childs medicine before I left. I made a short video unfortunately I did not get recording going in time to catch his ignorance such as him saying you can not open carry in any store in Maine. The funniest part was when he said "you can't even open carry in Cabela's" I told him he was correct and that is because it is a corporate policy of Cabela's. He said that it's also Wal-Mart corporate policy that you can not open carry (I think he was wrong there). Once I got the camera on he was reluctant to claim that Wal-Mart indeed has a corporate anti open carry policy. I will be phoning corporate later on this afternoon to get clarification on the official policy. Perhaps some of ya'll can call Johnathan over at Biddeford Wal-Mart and let him know what you think about kicking out a customer for doing nothing wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBqmt4is2ZM

Walmart allows each store manager to set their own policy regarding open carry. I have not bought anything from a Walmart in 4 years since the Biddeford manager last kicked me out. I switched to Cabelas for ammo, and Target for everything else. Target in Biddeford is very OC friendly. I go there often without issue and I even saw another open carrier there a few months ago.
 

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
Walmart allows each store manager to set their own policy regarding open carry. I have not bought anything from a Walmart in 4 years since the Biddeford manager last kicked me out. I switched to Cabelas for ammo, and Target for everything else. Target in Biddeford is very OC friendly. I go there often without issue and I even saw another open carrier there a few months ago.

I guess I will start going to Target. I think it is kind of silly for Wal-Mart corporate to allow managers to make decisions like that. Kind of ridiculous that I can go to Scarborough Wal-Mart but not Biddeford. Thanks for the info.
 

MainelyGlock

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
615
Location
Portland, ME
Cabelas is open carry friendly and has been for many years. There was a bit of confusion about that issue a couple of years ago and they changed their signs to reflect that only guns coming in for service, repair, selling, returns needed to be checked at the door. As long as the firearm stays in the holster it does not need to be checked. I've open carried in Cabelas in Scarborough twice this week. The last time I went in the guy at the door asked if my gun was an M&P, I told him it was a Glock and showed him the beavertail backstrap on it. Then I went about my business.

Good to know. Maybe mine was an isolated incident. I was there today, and asked two people at the gun counter what their policy on open carrying was, and both said I was free to carry in the store however I liked. Shortly after I had yet another [empty] gun pointed at me by some ignorant elderly man while he was checking it out. Twice that's happened now! I told him that he should NOT be pointing ANY firearm into the store, but behind the counter away from any of the employees. Moron :mad:
 

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
Very good to know about Cabela's. I mistakenly thought OC was against Cabela's policy. Wish I knew this the other day when Jonathan was kicking me out of Wal-Mart and saying Cabela's don't allow carry. I just got off the phone with Wal-Mart corporate office. The woman informed me that managers are free to make rules for their stores. I expressed my frustrations with her but it seems as if my complaint fell on deaf ears. The representative confirmed that a anti gun manager can ban guns from his walmart just because of his own personal views. I am going to call Biddeford Wal-Mart and try and speak with the store manager tomorrow.
 

boyscout399

Regular Member
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
905
Location
Lyman, Maine
Very good to know about Cabela's. I mistakenly thought OC was against Cabela's policy. Wish I knew this the other day when Jonathan was kicking me out of Wal-Mart and saying Cabela's don't allow carry. I just got off the phone with Wal-Mart corporate office. The woman informed me that managers are free to make rules for their stores. I expressed my frustrations with her but it seems as if my complaint fell on deaf ears. The representative confirmed that a anti gun manager can ban guns from his walmart just because of his own personal views. I am going to call Biddeford Wal-Mart and try and speak with the store manager tomorrow.

I've spoken with the Biddeford store manager. He's who asked me to leave and he's the reason I no longer shop at any walmart. Target is better.
 

Marcus92183

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
68
Location
saco, Maine, United States
Very good to know about Cabela's. I mistakenly thought OC was against Cabela's policy. Wish I knew this the other day when Jonathan was kicking me out of Wal-Mart and saying Cabela's don't allow carry. I just got off the phone with Wal-Mart corporate office. The woman informed me that managers are free to make rules for their stores. I expressed my frustrations with her but it seems as if my complaint fell on deaf ears. The representative confirmed that a anti gun manager can ban guns from his walmart just because of his own personal views. I am going to call Biddeford Wal-Mart and try and speak with the store manager tomorrow.

i know personally that the store manager is not anti gun he is a gun owner, he also has a store to run and i know it isn't right but we can all agree open carry turns alot of heads and makes alot of people uncomfortable. so he has made the decision to prohibit open carry because it disrupts some customers.

i carry my firearm almost everywhere i go you need to think about when it is a good idea to have it concealed or exposed.
 

MainelyGlock

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
615
Location
Portland, ME
i know personally that the store manager is not anti gun he is a gun owner, he also has a store to run and i know it isn't right but we can all agree open carry turns alot of heads and makes alot of people uncomfortable. so he has made the decision to prohibit open carry because it disrupts some customers.

i carry my firearm almost everywhere i go you need to think about when it is a good idea to have it concealed or exposed.

Someone who is "pro gun", but wants to restrict the rights of gun owners in any capacity is contradicting, and closer to being an anti than anything else.
 

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
i carry my firearm almost everywhere i go you need to think about when it is a good idea to have it concealed or exposed.
I carry everywhere I go as well.. Unfortunately I have yet to obtain my CCW so I can not conceal at any time. I been open carrying for several weeks now. It seems to me that 90% of people don't even realise I have the gun. I bet the Biddeford store is losing more customers than it is gaining by prohibiting open carry.

Someone who is "pro gun", but wants to restrict the rights of gun owners in any capacity is contradicting, and closer to being an anti than anything else.

I can't agree more!
 
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