Well, I had my first negative encounter in so many years I've lost count. It's been a couple days now, but it was fairly amusing so I figured I'd share here (to the best of my recollection).
My woman and I were in McDonalds (Burke Centre Parkway) getting lunch and, in her case, filling out a job application. I decided to go sit and eat while she conversed with the on-duty manager. Not halfway through my first burger, I notice that there's a guy talking to the manager and, as he's growing visibly more agitated, I begin to hear what he's saying: "There's a man over there with a gun, and I'm very offended by it. You know, I carried a gun in combat..." (By his age I'd guess Vietnam, if not Korea).
The manager seemed confused and unsure how to respond, and this guy is all set to cause a scene because he's not getting instant gratification, so I go against my initial judgment and approach to have a few words with the two gentlemen. I don't remember my exact words, but I started with something like, "You know, everyone seems to be just eating their food except you, who seems intent on causing a scene. If my lawful behavior bothers you that much, you can always leave." To which he responds indicating that he will leave, but only if the manager won't eject me.
At this point the manager asks me to take my gun to the car. I told him, "no, sir, I can't do that. It isn't safe to leave my gun unattended, especially after attention has been drawn to it. If you'd like me to leave I'll do that, but you should know that it's totally cool for me to be armed according to state law, and it's also in accordance with McDonald's corporate policy that I be allowed to stay."
At this point the angry guy starts berating me, asking me what I'm scared of, why I need a gun, etc. I try to convey that it's not a matter of fear, and I could explain if he would stop putting words in my mouth, but at this point he's visibly angry (quivering and stuttering for words) and it isn't getting through. He repeats that he's "offended" by my gun, so I say, "well, the fact that you're offended by my lawful exercise of rights offends
me."
I don't remember his exact words, but they were to the effect that I am a coward and they involved several words unfit for polite company. So, I said, "I think the fact that you'd swear at a stranger in public speaks volumes about your character, sir, and the fact that you're resorting to
ad hominem attacks speaks volumes about the strength of your position."
So, he responds (yelling now), "Well I think that gun is also a statement. It's a statement that you're a ******* idiot!" I don't remember my exact words here, but they were essentially, "OK, well if all you're going to do is swear and insult me, then this conversation is over."
I'm fairly certain at that exact moment he realized how inappropriate his behavior had been, and how he'd just been made to look the fool by a man half his age, whom he was trying to provoke, but who stayed cool and collected, civil and polite, in the face of his tirade, underlining by contrast his own childish attitude and outburst. I'm certain because the next thing he does is turn to the manager, apologize, and say, "he's right. He's just exercising his rights. I'm leaving." And he does precisely that.
The manager was still a little miffed, and told me he was going to call the Fairfax County Police to be sure I was in the right (because, he said, he comes from SC which is not a permissive state. Right he was!). He spent a grand total of 30 seconds (if that) on the phone with a dispatcher (I presume). I didn't hear the other end of the call, but they had my back, as he asked if it was "cool to bring a gun into the restaurant", and a few seconds later thanked them, hung up, and went back to serving burgers.
The entire staff was buzzing for the next 10 minutes or so about the incident. I was pleased that the general tone of it seemed to be in my favor. One younger gentleman seemed himself quite offended by the whole affair, because I heard him repeatedly assert (during and after), "but it's his second amendment right!!!" in a tone of voice which very effectively conveyed his real meaning: "what the ****!?". Another young lady told the manager, in a tone of voice which indicated her own extreme lack of concern, "oh yeah, that guy comes in here all the time. He's always got the gun."
I finished my food, had a few more polite words with the staff, and went about my day.
I'll thank the forum for all I've learned about the power of civility.
Also: antis have a lot to learn if they expect their position places them on the high horse by default, which in their monumental arrogance they seem to.