TechnoWeenie
Regular Member
So, I've had issues at Home Depot, but got that straightened out like 3 years ago...
Today, I walk in to get some pipe insulation for my AR pistol lower.... I brought my stripped lower with me, to make sure I got the right size....
So I pick it up, head to checkout, and hand over my cash... She's polite, if not cheery..... hands me my change and recpt..
Then she notices the lower I had set down (to grab my wallet).......
She asks 'oh, what's that?'..
I promptly reply... 'A lower'
She , inquisitively inquires, 'a lower what'?
So I respond, ' A lower receiver for an AR15'..
She gets this disapproving look on her face and says something along the lines of 'you'd be wise not to bring that in here again'
So I asked her why....
She says 'because'
I tell her 'It's not illegal, and it's corporate policy to follow state law'..
She says 'It doesn't matter, do you want me to get my manager?' with an obvious 'how dare you challenge me, I'll get someone to set you straight' intonation...
I say 'as a matter of fact, absolutely, I'd rather this get cleared up so you understand'....
Then full panic mode sets in... She dials the number.. and when she doesn't get an answer in 10 seconds she seems visibly upset... another worker comes up and asks what wrong, a military guy comes up and says 'I don't think it's an open carry state', I inform him that it is, the OTHER home depot says it is, and asks what's going on.. The lady apparently hadn't even SEEN my holstered handgun, and went into panic mode #2 when she saw it......after mil guy mentions it. I tell him I don't know, I just wanted to clear up any confusion... HE says there's nothing wrong, nothing illegal, and not to worry about... I try to talk to the old lady that started the whole thing, and it looks like she's about to cry.. So I tell her I have all the laws in a nice little brochure, and ask her if she'd feel better if she knew it was legal (very politely), and she says 'no, I'm the one that's upset', so I try to console her a bit.. tell her it's legal, that there's nothing wrong with it, etc etc.. and the other home depot guy says not to worry about it.... Meanwhile, she's shaking, saying 'what's the number for the police'.... and starts walking away.... Home Depot associate #2 tells her that it's OK.. then tells ME it's ok, and that I don't need to stay....
I go out to my car, grab a bundle of brochures, and head back in....
The manager had made his way to the front, surrounded by about 5 employees... I walk up, shake his hand and introduce myself... I explain what happened, and he said he knew it was the law, and corporate policy, and he even said, kind of laughingly, 'Yeah, when she described you, I said 'we know this guy, he comes in here all the time, he comes in and gets his stuff and leaves, there's never a problem''... I kinda joked around and said 'Well, I've had words with tom (the General Manager)before', and laughed, another associate piped up and said 'Well, it's policy, Tom doesn't have anything to say in the matter'... A few of us chuckled... Lucky apologized, said it wasn't an issue, not to worry about it. I gave him a bundle of pamphlets, and suggested that he let his associates know, to which the 6 or so associates around all said 'we know' in one way or another... Lucky reiterated that indeed all the associates were aware of the law, and that it was HER that had the problem, not 'home depot'.... I still left him with a couple of pamphlets.. We shook hands, and I left.....
As I'm leaving, I hear a call go out for a public service detail, a woman matching the description of the lady that had the 'issue' would apparently be 'waiting outside for your (police) arrival' . So Apparently she called the police... I didn't care enough to follow up... I tried to calm her down, tried to educate her, tried to talk to her, if she wants to flip out, that's on her...
Today, I walk in to get some pipe insulation for my AR pistol lower.... I brought my stripped lower with me, to make sure I got the right size....
So I pick it up, head to checkout, and hand over my cash... She's polite, if not cheery..... hands me my change and recpt..
Then she notices the lower I had set down (to grab my wallet).......
She asks 'oh, what's that?'..
I promptly reply... 'A lower'
She , inquisitively inquires, 'a lower what'?
So I respond, ' A lower receiver for an AR15'..
She gets this disapproving look on her face and says something along the lines of 'you'd be wise not to bring that in here again'
So I asked her why....
She says 'because'
I tell her 'It's not illegal, and it's corporate policy to follow state law'..
She says 'It doesn't matter, do you want me to get my manager?' with an obvious 'how dare you challenge me, I'll get someone to set you straight' intonation...
I say 'as a matter of fact, absolutely, I'd rather this get cleared up so you understand'....
Then full panic mode sets in... She dials the number.. and when she doesn't get an answer in 10 seconds she seems visibly upset... another worker comes up and asks what wrong, a military guy comes up and says 'I don't think it's an open carry state', I inform him that it is, the OTHER home depot says it is, and asks what's going on.. The lady apparently hadn't even SEEN my holstered handgun, and went into panic mode #2 when she saw it......after mil guy mentions it. I tell him I don't know, I just wanted to clear up any confusion... HE says there's nothing wrong, nothing illegal, and not to worry about... I try to talk to the old lady that started the whole thing, and it looks like she's about to cry.. So I tell her I have all the laws in a nice little brochure, and ask her if she'd feel better if she knew it was legal (very politely), and she says 'no, I'm the one that's upset', so I try to console her a bit.. tell her it's legal, that there's nothing wrong with it, etc etc.. and the other home depot guy says not to worry about it.... Meanwhile, she's shaking, saying 'what's the number for the police'.... and starts walking away.... Home Depot associate #2 tells her that it's OK.. then tells ME it's ok, and that I don't need to stay....
I go out to my car, grab a bundle of brochures, and head back in....
The manager had made his way to the front, surrounded by about 5 employees... I walk up, shake his hand and introduce myself... I explain what happened, and he said he knew it was the law, and corporate policy, and he even said, kind of laughingly, 'Yeah, when she described you, I said 'we know this guy, he comes in here all the time, he comes in and gets his stuff and leaves, there's never a problem''... I kinda joked around and said 'Well, I've had words with tom (the General Manager)before', and laughed, another associate piped up and said 'Well, it's policy, Tom doesn't have anything to say in the matter'... A few of us chuckled... Lucky apologized, said it wasn't an issue, not to worry about it. I gave him a bundle of pamphlets, and suggested that he let his associates know, to which the 6 or so associates around all said 'we know' in one way or another... Lucky reiterated that indeed all the associates were aware of the law, and that it was HER that had the problem, not 'home depot'.... I still left him with a couple of pamphlets.. We shook hands, and I left.....
As I'm leaving, I hear a call go out for a public service detail, a woman matching the description of the lady that had the 'issue' would apparently be 'waiting outside for your (police) arrival' . So Apparently she called the police... I didn't care enough to follow up... I tried to calm her down, tried to educate her, tried to talk to her, if she wants to flip out, that's on her...