NakedOne
Regular Member
Ok I have casually lurked around this forum for most of the summer learning about what is going on in Wisconsin concerning open carry. I am a concealed permit holder of a few states and normally carry while traveling. Open carry is new to me though.
I did finally join Wisconsin Carry Inc and ordered a few shirts. I went to the West Bend Meet and Greet today too. I just observed everyone and didn’t carry while there. I went to learn and listen mostly. Not from the open carry guys but more from the others that were observing those carrying.
Most customers seemed to look at my hips before engaging in a conversation to see if I was carrying. One girl ask me what was going on, I just replied they were having coffee just like us. She seemed to look like something was odd, so I added that it was perfectly legal to carry openly. She was fine with that and left. The one thing I noticed was that the walk way/door area was sort of a maze to get thru to the door. Not a big deal for me, I’m 6’2” 250, but it would have been nice to have a clear area for the other customers.
Overall those there seemed to calm my nerves as to who is openly carrying at these things. I didn’t see anyone grab their gun and show it to others…..which I have seen at various shooting matches and REALLY bothers me! I also didn’t see anyone with a belt full of magazines on their weak side hip. Or some mail order badge saying he could conceal carry.
The one thing I did notice is a nice array of weapons but most being full size. Does anyone open carry a compact gun? Carrying a gun ALL day every day is a pain, smaller is better in my opinion. Now I sure won’t argue the up side of sight radius on a full size or magazine capacity of them. My other observation was not a single revolver there (that I saw).
So at your next Meet and Greet I’ll join you and not just lurk in the background learning.
I did finally join Wisconsin Carry Inc and ordered a few shirts. I went to the West Bend Meet and Greet today too. I just observed everyone and didn’t carry while there. I went to learn and listen mostly. Not from the open carry guys but more from the others that were observing those carrying.
Most customers seemed to look at my hips before engaging in a conversation to see if I was carrying. One girl ask me what was going on, I just replied they were having coffee just like us. She seemed to look like something was odd, so I added that it was perfectly legal to carry openly. She was fine with that and left. The one thing I noticed was that the walk way/door area was sort of a maze to get thru to the door. Not a big deal for me, I’m 6’2” 250, but it would have been nice to have a clear area for the other customers.
Overall those there seemed to calm my nerves as to who is openly carrying at these things. I didn’t see anyone grab their gun and show it to others…..which I have seen at various shooting matches and REALLY bothers me! I also didn’t see anyone with a belt full of magazines on their weak side hip. Or some mail order badge saying he could conceal carry.
The one thing I did notice is a nice array of weapons but most being full size. Does anyone open carry a compact gun? Carrying a gun ALL day every day is a pain, smaller is better in my opinion. Now I sure won’t argue the up side of sight radius on a full size or magazine capacity of them. My other observation was not a single revolver there (that I saw).
So at your next Meet and Greet I’ll join you and not just lurk in the background learning.