List Your Open Carry Experiences Here

[FreeInAZ]

Do you ever eat at home? ;-)

I hope Bikenut never does eat in. Think of all the good he and his lady have done for others all while promoting OC. I do my best to follow his fine example.

On topic - OCing now - no issues, as it should be.

 

[Bikenut]

Do you ever eat at home? ;-)

My loving and wonderful wife Yooperlady not only deserves to always have roses on her table she also deserves to not be chained to the kitchen stove. She is a treasure that has made the golden years of my life so worth waiting for and she at least deserves to not have to cook very much in her golden years. So ... as long as there is money in my pocket we will eat out.

I hope Bikenut never does eat in. Think of all the good he and his lady have done for others all while promoting OC. I do my best to follow his fine example.

On topic - OCing now - no issues, as it should be.

And you, my good friend, have inspired me on many occasions. If only I could support OC as much as you do.

Carry on!!!

And today Yooperlady and I were out and about and I OC'd at:

Taco Bell in Clio where two people shared the $5 I left for the next in line. Both thanked us... both noticed the sidearm... neither thought anything of it.

As an aside... many kudos to the staff at the Clio Taco Bell... they really are a great bunch of people.

Then off to Menards where a very lively and helpful lady answered my question and helped us find everything we wanted to find.. alas... my search for a shower head with multiple settings that actually FREAKING WORKS!!! (can you tell my search has been... ummm... a bit frustrating?) continues...

Wal Mart where we stocked up on groceries and other stuff... and while many people noticed my sidearm no one thought much of it.. except one guy in a wife beater shirt and a pony tail that gave me the "I hate you because I think you are a cop." look. I just smiled at him, pointed him out to Yooperlady so she would know who to watch out for, and then I kept a wary eye on him as Yooperlady and continued shopping. After all... when she is shopping she is SHOPPING! and relies on me to be the "eyes" ....

And the end result of the day? Not one thing happened. Even though many folks noticed (I watched a lot of people ... situational awareness ya know.. so I saw many who noticed my sidearm) not one person ran away screaming, no one immediately whipped out their cell phone to make a MWAG call, no children (and there were several darling young girls running through the store driving their parents nuts) ran away crying in terror, no mothers clutched their children to their bosoms to soothe their fears of a guy wearing a gun, no manly men puffed up their chests for a confrontation, none of the Wal Mart staff demanded I leave, no cops showed up...

...actually the only thing that happened is Yooperlady and I did our shopping (we filled two carts fuller than full) and we spent a ton of money when we checked out.... and no one, not one, not even the little kids or their parents, really cared about my gun.

 

[Scooter]

OC'd at Cabela's then lunch at Taco Bell, had a talk with a man and woman about OC while eating with 2 of my daughters. We talked for about 15 minutes, very positive! We then went to Silver Bells Christmas Store across the street, no problem!

 

[CaptBW]

OC'd at Tom's Market in Interlochen, and Menard's at Chum's Corner. Nothing to report.

 

[cmdr_iceman71]

Open Carry Stop #13 Lathrup Village

I’ve been dual OCing everywhere I go as usual and it has been uneventful until today. I went out after work this evening to “DestinationXL” (a big & tall men’s clothing store) in Lathrup Village. I walked inside and the young female sales associate, Kristy, was helpful and courteous. Kristy was on the phone with her manager when I walked in; I asked where were the sports shirts, she pointed to the back and said she would be with me momentarily to assist. I rounded the corner of a clothing rack and was on my way, then in mid sentence I heard her gasp and catch her breath. She had saw all the guns and ammo on my belt. But being the professional that she was, Kristy quickly composed herself and came to help me rather nonchalantly. We spent several minutes looking at different shirts until I settled upon something I wished to try on. As Kristy lead me to the dressing room we passed two Southfield LEOs who were inside, standing near the front door. One young LEO and another older one who looked about six months from retirement.

Young LEO: Can I talk to you for a minute, please?

Me: Oh yeah sure how are you?

Young LEO: How you doing?

Me: Alright.

Younger LEO: What’s all the guns for?

Older LEO: Man, I don’t carry that many!?

Me: Hey, I’m just open carrying, I’m just exercising my right to open carry sir.

Younger LEO: (laughing) We thought you were DPD.

Me: No, no, no.

Younger LEO: You know who DPD is?

Me: Yes Detroit police, I’ve been stopped by them several times, you know same thing. Yeah, I’m just shopping guys.......alright?

Younger LEO: Ok. Its not a problem, its just that you make some people nervous. Go ahead, you’re good to go.

They turned and walked away and I continued to shop and be helped by Kristy the sales associate. She quickly explained that the officers frequently come in and check on her and the manager. I believed that she was telling the truth; however I wasn’t foolish enough to believe it was a mere coincidence that they were here now - they were called and the young LEO implied as much in his parting statement when he said I make some people nervous. I cannot be certain if it was the store manager or another customer who called on me.

 

[papa bear]

Younger LEO: Ok. Its not a problem, its just that you make some people nervous. Go ahead, you’re good to go.

.

sorry, this was probably a good encounter. but did he just dismiss you like a royal guard, dismissing a subject to the crown?

i may be reading more into this, but that is one thing that struck me

 

[DrTodd]

OT for a moment. DRTODD i have often wondered how it was that we call it "POP" here in the western part of NC/VA also. that is just strange

Yes, strange indeed.


On topic, OC'd at the Y and at my children's school for their curriculum night. No one said a thing.

 

[CaptBW]

OC'd at Traverse City Home Depot and Meijer's. Good to go.

 

[Raggs]

donuts!

Stopped at a local donut shop this morning and picked up a dozen donuts. On the way out a customer said "hey brother cover your pistol, you're out in public show some respect"
Not sure how I disrespected anyone.

 

[Pond Scum]

OC'd at the Apple Fest in Silver Lake Saturday afternoon. Walked the strip with all the cars & vendors, walked the food booth area, and back to parking. No comments, no stares, no issues. I suspect that everyone else was looking at the cars and buggies instead of looking at an old fart walking with a gun.

 

[Bikenut]

Stopped at a local donut shop this morning and picked up a dozen donuts. On the way out a customer said "hey brother cover your pistol, you're out in public show some respect"
Not sure how I disrespected anyone.

I also cannot understand the idea that hiding your gun somehow equates to respecting people since deceiving them with concealed carry is the ultimate in disrespect.

Nor will I ever understand the idea that hiding your gun so you don't scare people is more "manly" than just being upfront and honest with people about your gun. Somewhere I missed the memo about being afraid of offending people makes a man more courageous.

After all... with open carry a person is being honest about carrying a gun.... but with concealed carry a person is presenting a lie that says "it looks like I'm not carrying a gun even though I am" and perhaps for some gun carriers there is the arrogant idea that they have some kind of "advantage" because no one knows they have a hidden gun.

And criminals rely on that lie so folks will "feel safe" until the criminal whips out his "element of surprise" and attacks his unaware (there was a hidden gun) victim.

Ok.. all that above is my personal opinion... which means absolutely nothing.

Actually on topic..

OC'd at Taco Bell in Clio where we left $5 for the next person in line like usual... and an older couple was flabbergasted to discover their Sunday lunch had been paid for. The interesting thing was a fellow who was enjoying lunch with quite an extended family gathering had been paying attention and knew what was happening.. and he pointed Yooperlady and I out as the one's who had paid for the older folk's meal.

Now... that extended family all noticed my sidearm.. I saw them look. The guy who pointed us out got quite a kick out of the whole thing. And Yooperlady and I ended up having a very interesting conversation with that older couple before we left.

And, as usual, the staff at the Clio Taco Bell handled the whole thing perfectly.

And then we went to Wal Mart where not a damn thing out of the ordinary happened as I talked with some folks, even asking questions at the pharmacy... and we got our shopping done.

As an aside... just my observational skills at work..

The guy with the extended family appeared to me to possibly be LE. The haircut, the way he carried himself physically, the self assured demeanor, the general "I can handle anything" appearance of all the body language, said...

... cop.

Now don't get me wrong! I didn't say I can psychically discern who is a cop or not! I surely can't! Nor am I saying there is anything wrong with someone with a cop haircut or a cop demeanor enjoying some taco with his family.

What I am saying is that if my "cop radar" was on target... then.. to that cop in Taco Bell today.. maybe we impressed you by paying for the lunch of some total strangers.. but you impressed us by being a human being first, a family man second, and a cop maybe 4th or 5th today. And if you weren't a cop? Well.. you still impressed us.

 

[91 whiskey]

Went to Meijers, BP gas station and Marge's Doughnuts today. Decided to cover up at Marge's cause there were quite a few Wyoming police officers there. Yeah I know I'm not doing anything bad and it was a sissy thing to do but whatever. I'm still getting use to this.

 

[DocWalker]

Went to Meijers, BP gas station and Marge's Doughnuts today. Decided to cover up at Marge's cause there were quite a few Wyoming police officers there. Yeah I know I'm not doing anything bad and it was a sissy thing to do but whatever. I'm still getting use to this.

You know the police are not doing their image any good by being found in a dougnut shop, even worse in a group.

 

[Raggs]

You know the police are not doing their image any good by being found in a dougnut shop, even worse in a group.

But Marge's is awesome!

 

[Bikenut]

I showed it to a co-worker and she said she thought it was girly. I think it's nice.

I think it's nice that you like girly holsters...











Ok.. I'm just pulling your chain... it is a nice holster.

 

[91 whiskey]

Also went to the Michigan C4L barbecue in Alpine Twp on Saturday. I only saw one other ocer there but evidently there were a lot more who carried when they first got there and then secured their guns in their vehicles when the beer keg came out. I heard one of the park employees had approached someone about their firearm but don't know any details. If any of you all were there I was wearing an MSU sweatshirt.

 

[jeffrey-r]

OCed outside and inside Best Buy tonight at midnight to pick up GTAV. Outside in line for about 15 minutes and inside for 15 minutes, I'm sure the sidearm was noticed. No hard looks, no comments, no screaming, no security, no police. Just talking with other folks in line and making a purchase.

As it should be?

 

[MI_XD]

... If any of you all were there I was wearing an MSU sweatshirt.

..and the women screamed as they dragged their children away to safety...

sorry. I just couldn't help myself. It was there, ripe for the pickin.

MI_XD

 

[Bikenut]

Yooperlady and I (me OC'ing) got out and about today... we went to:

Beacon & Bridge near Montrose because the Camaro was thirsty...

Taco Bell in Clio where we were greeted with friendly smiles and some easy going conversation by the staff.... (good folks there!)

Wal Mart for a few odds and ends....

Fastway party store corner of M13 and Houlihan Rd. to buy a lottery ticket...

And, just like usual, nothing out of the ordinary happened.... exactly as it should be.

 

[Raggs]

Taco Bell, Meijer's, Menard's and Ace True Value, no issues whatsoever