Medic1210
Regular Member
So I stopped in at Ed's Gun Shop in Vass this afternoon to see if they had finally received the new Springfield XDs in yet. Surprisingly, they did. Not surprisingly, it was spoken for. Anyway, I wanted to actually see and hold it since it's extremely high on my list for my next gun, so Ed got it from the back and let me hold it. I had recently purchased an XDm 45 Compact 3.8 from him a couple weeks ago, and wanted to see how it compared. Anyway, as I've done during all my past visits, I was OC my G27 in a Blackhawk SERPA. So, after fondling the XDs a bit, and picking up a couple items, I proceeded to the front desk to check out. He rung up my items, and as an afterthought, I asked him where the XD holsters were. Wanted to see if they had a SERPA specifically for my new XDm. He walked me over to the rack to show me. Anyway, we were talking a bit, and after he showed me a non retention paddle for my XDm, I told him I preferred a locking one like my SERPA and motioned to the one on my hip. Now, mind you, every store employee, including this clerk, has an openly carried firearm on their side. Many even have at least one backup concealed elsewhere. Anyway, here's where it got interesting...
Clerk: Are you LEO?
Me: Nope, just a law abiding citizen.
Clerk: Do you have a Concealed Permit?
Me: Yep, just prefer open carry as opposed to concealed.
Clerk: Well, next time you come, you need to cover it up.
Me: Oh really?!? Why is that?
Clerk: It's store policy.
Me: Since when? I've open carried in here many times, and Ed has never said anything to me about it.
Clerk: Well, it's a new policy.
Me: So you mean to tell me, putting a t-shirt over my firearm somehow makes it safer?
Clerk: Well, no, but we've had some issues lately, so it needs to be covered up.
We walk back to the register to complete my sale, and I told the guy to hold on a bit. I walked back to the gun room to go find out directly from Ed himself, because I felt this guy was feeding me a line of crap. I walked up to Ed and said, "Hey, I was just told by the guy at the front counter that I was not allowed to open carry in the store (motioning to my hip)." He said, "Somebody has misinformed you. You are most certainly allowed to open or concealed carry in here. Sounds like I need to go correct someone..."
Well, I walked back to the counter, and was about to tell the guy he should check with Ed regarding this policy of his when Ed walked to the front counter himself, and told the guy that both open carry and concealed carry is allowed in the store. He said they just require all weapons to remain holstered. This is to prevent an individual from pulling out their pistol to check holster fit in the store, which has happened before.
Anyway, I could almost feel the heat coming from the clerk's face after Ed told him what was up. It was obvious he didn't appreciate me going to the man himself, and then getting told he was wrong in front of me. I paid for my things, and said, "Have a good one." and walked away. For some reason, the clerk didn't return the sentiment. Oh well. I almost can't help but wonder if the clerk was a retired LEO who still feels ordinary citizens shouldn't be allowed to open carry. The last place I ever expected to get confronted for open carry is at a gun shop.
Clerk: Are you LEO?
Me: Nope, just a law abiding citizen.
Clerk: Do you have a Concealed Permit?
Me: Yep, just prefer open carry as opposed to concealed.
Clerk: Well, next time you come, you need to cover it up.
Me: Oh really?!? Why is that?
Clerk: It's store policy.
Me: Since when? I've open carried in here many times, and Ed has never said anything to me about it.
Clerk: Well, it's a new policy.
Me: So you mean to tell me, putting a t-shirt over my firearm somehow makes it safer?
Clerk: Well, no, but we've had some issues lately, so it needs to be covered up.
We walk back to the register to complete my sale, and I told the guy to hold on a bit. I walked back to the gun room to go find out directly from Ed himself, because I felt this guy was feeding me a line of crap. I walked up to Ed and said, "Hey, I was just told by the guy at the front counter that I was not allowed to open carry in the store (motioning to my hip)." He said, "Somebody has misinformed you. You are most certainly allowed to open or concealed carry in here. Sounds like I need to go correct someone..."
Well, I walked back to the counter, and was about to tell the guy he should check with Ed regarding this policy of his when Ed walked to the front counter himself, and told the guy that both open carry and concealed carry is allowed in the store. He said they just require all weapons to remain holstered. This is to prevent an individual from pulling out their pistol to check holster fit in the store, which has happened before.
Anyway, I could almost feel the heat coming from the clerk's face after Ed told him what was up. It was obvious he didn't appreciate me going to the man himself, and then getting told he was wrong in front of me. I paid for my things, and said, "Have a good one." and walked away. For some reason, the clerk didn't return the sentiment. Oh well. I almost can't help but wonder if the clerk was a retired LEO who still feels ordinary citizens shouldn't be allowed to open carry. The last place I ever expected to get confronted for open carry is at a gun shop.
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