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Open Carry - Staunton...Harrisonburg...Waynesboro...Ect

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
Hi, all! Just joined OCDO and this is my first post. I suppose like most (all?) of us on this site I think it is important that we as responsible gun owners show others that we are not all criminals and are, in fact, "normal" people. In order to accomplish this I am always inviting non-gun owning friends and family to the range to get introduced to the "other side" of guns that is not often shown to the masses in the media, etc. That is, that guns are not just a tool for the criminally-minded. I think another way to accomplish this is to open-carry. I hope that by OCing some of the taboo and stereotype will be removed in the eyes of non-gun owners. I just moved from the great state of Maryland (insert sarcasm here) to Manassas. While I was waiting for my CCW I did open-carry in a Buffalo Wild Wings in Woodbridge and was unfortunately ask to leave by the bouncer. He said he was aware that it was legal to OC. Anyway, it was about the time that I was paying my bill so I politely and calmly left after paying my bill. Since then I have received my CCW and have not open carried since. I think I need to gain some courage to start OCing regularly by going to some establishments that I know are OC friendly. If anyone knows of OC friendly restaurants, etc. in the Manassas area I'd appreciate you posting something. Thanks!

I'll shoot you a PM shortly to give you some information about Manassas and its surround for OC'ing.
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
Im in the harrisonburg/elkton area and almost always OC.havent had any real issues.just odd looks..

One heck of a (year and a half) necro post there always_packin.:p

Welcome to OCDO, and greetings from sunny, dry Arizona! I'm sure others will be along soon to extend a welcome as well.
Welcome to OCDO always_packin.

Lost of good people in Staunton/Harrisonburg/Waynsboro - nothing wrong with bumping a thread that shouldn't have fallen off along the way. Keep us posted - don't expect you to experience any real promlems.
 

always_packin

New member
Joined
Mar 6, 2014
Messages
5
Location
virginia
Welcome to OCDO always_packin.

Lost of good people in Staunton/Harrisonburg/Waynsboro - nothing wrong with bumping a thread that shouldn't have fallen off along the way. Keep us posted - don't expect you to experience any real promlems.


Thanks!
No so far no issues at all.just havent seen many others OC in the area.i went out today with wife and daughter(1 yr old) and ppl acted pretty normal (a few wierd looks) but assuming my kid was there (and I am usually always friendly towards others)kinda made ppl ease up.went to sharp shopper, walmart and a few other places.if I have any problems while OC ing I will definitely let you guys know.thanks for the welcome and hope to meet others who OC soon
 

J Bryant

New member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
1
Location
Fishersville, Virginia
I got my first handgun about 1 year ago and have been OC the last few months, I do have a CHP and CC depending on the weather and my mood. I haven't had any problems yet but when OC I try not to draw any attention to that thing on my hip.

Waynesboro - Target, PetSmart, Ross, Walmart, Sharp Shopper, CVS

Fishersville - Food Lion, Advance Auto, Dominion Outdoors

Staunton - Farm Choice, Tractor Supply
 

homestar

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Messages
79
Location
Ashburn, Va
Drove past a guy on a bicycle today in downtown Harrisonburg. He was sporting a pink shirt with a pair of handguns OWB with pink grips (One per side, maybe sigs). Anyone here? Curious if there was deeper meaning to the pink theme.
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
Drove past a guy on a bicycle today in downtown Harrisonburg. He was sporting a pink shirt with a pair of handguns OWB with pink grips (One per side, maybe sigs). Anyone here? Curious if there was deeper meaning to the pink theme.

Does it matter to you? Cuz it don't to me!
Indeed - what color grips would be acceptable?

We abhor such "hints" and even have forum rules against such.
 

homestar

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Messages
79
Location
Ashburn, Va
Indeed - what color grips would be acceptable?

We abhor such "hints" and even have forum rules against such.

Sorry for leaving this open to that kind of interpretation. It appeared the shirt was for an organization. That, combined with the grips of the same color, led me to wonder if it was related to a local gun rights event. Nothing more.
 
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Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
Sorry for leaving this open top that kind of interpretation. It appeared the shirt was for an organization. That, combined with the grips of the same color, led me to wonder if it was related to a local gun rights event. Nothing more.
Aah so - in support of Second Amendment Sisters or similar perhaps.


Also this one has a certain following.
 
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Marco

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
3,905
Location
Greene County
Too many place to list, but here are a few:

Bob Evan's
Mall
Home Depot
Safari zoo
Natural Bridge
 
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Va_Nemo

Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Messages
654
Location
Lynchburg
Ain't a thing in the world wrong with a pink shirt. I routinely wore one with matching pink and green paisley tie. It was great. And impressive.

Nemo
 

flyerrc

Newbie
Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
10
Location
Harrisonburg, va
OC in Harrisonburg

Living in Harrisonburg, I thought I would bump this thread. I OC quite often in the 'burg. Only place I've even been asked about my firearm was in the Dayton Walmart. A customer saw it and asked why I had a "pistol" on. I carry a Ruger P89 9mm. Told her I always carried and it was my 2nd amendment right to do so. She said it made her nervous to see people other than LEO's carry a "pistol" why she called it that is still unknown. I politely informed her that a lot of law abiding citizens carry all the time and she should not fear the firearms she could see and identify openly. I got the same ol' story about they how "kill" people.etc... I just told her that if I laid my handgun on a pile of clothes that it would lay there forever and never "kill" anyone until a creep picked it up and used it for that purpose. I explained guns don't kill, people kill, and asked why she didn't have a problem at all walking past the butcher knives in housewares where anyone could pick one up and "kill" people with one of those. She looked at me with a puzzled face and said "I never thought of that." Harrisonburg is mostly a OC friendly city as far as I can tell. Its the News media and false reporting that gives us OC'ers the stigma of bad people. We just need to educate the mass's and maybe they will see the truth.
 

BB62

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
4,069
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
... I explained guns don't kill, people kill, and asked why she didn't have a problem at all walking past the butcher knives in housewares where anyone could pick one up and "kill" people with one of those. She looked at me with a puzzled face and said "I never thought of that." ...
Good analogy.

Paragraphs are your friend, though! ;)
 

gutshot II

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2017
Messages
782
Location
Central Ky.
Living in Harrisonburg, I thought I would bump this thread. I OC quite often in the 'burg. Only place I've even been asked about my firearm was in the Dayton Walmart. A customer saw it and asked why I had a "pistol" on. I carry a Ruger P89 9mm. Told her I always carried and it was my 2nd amendment right to do so. She said it made her nervous to see people other than LEO's carry a "pistol" why she called it that is still unknown. I politely informed her that a lot of law abiding citizens carry all the time and she should not fear the firearms she could see and identify openly. I got the same ol' story about they how "kill" people.etc... I just told her that if I laid my handgun on a pile of clothes that it would lay there forever and never "kill" anyone until a creep picked it up and used it for that purpose. I explained guns don't kill, people kill, and asked why she didn't have a problem at all walking past the butcher knives in housewares where anyone could pick one up and "kill" people with one of those. She looked at me with a puzzled face and said "I never thought of that." Harrisonburg is mostly a OC friendly city as far as I can tell. Its the News media and false reporting that gives us OC'ers the stigma of bad people. We just need to educate the mass's and maybe they will see the truth.

Welcome to OCDO, flyerrc. I liked your story about OC in the Dayton Walmart. The only thing that I did not understand is your reference to the lady calling your Ruger P 89 a "pistol", twice. Why do you find that so unusual?

From Wikipedia:
A pistol is a type of handgun, especially one with a chamber integral with the barrel. The pistol originates in the 16th century, when early handguns were produced in Europe. The English word was introduced in ca. 1570 from the Middle French pistolet (ca. 1550). The most common types of pistol are the single shot, and semi-automatic. Seems to me that would be a good description of a Ruger P 89.
 
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flyerrc

Newbie
Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
10
Location
Harrisonburg, va
Welcome to OCDO, flyerrc. I liked your story about OC in the Dayton Walmart. The only thing that I did not understand is your reference to the lady calling your Ruger P 89 a "pistol", twice. Why do you find that so unusual?

From Wikipedia:
A pistol is a type of handgun, especially one with a chamber integral with the barrel. The pistol originates in the 16th century, when early handguns were produced in Europe. The English word was introduced in ca. 1570 from the Middle French pistolet (ca. 1550). The most common types of pistol are the single shot, and semi-automatic. Seems to me that would be a good description of a Ruger P 89.

Just as a former member of the Armed forces I just have always called my pistol a firearm or weapon. I forget how the mass's look at firearms. And it was her seemingly derogatory reference to the P89 as a "pistol".
 

gutshot II

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2017
Messages
782
Location
Central Ky.
Just as a former member of the Armed forces I just have always called my pistol a firearm or weapon. I forget how the mass's look at firearms. And it was her seemingly derogatory reference to the P89 as a "pistol".

According to the article that I posted above (and every dictionary I've ever seen), "pistol" is a correct and acceptable description of a Ruger P 89 and I don't think that you can expect some little old lady to speak like a military officer. How long have you been out? If you continue to carry a firearm in the civilian world, you can expect to hear it called a lot worse that that. I don't find anything even slightly derogatory about the word "pistol".
I hope you will be able to detach yourself the military jargon when you go to the "mess" or the "head" or remove your "cover" or retire to your "bunk" for the night. If you can't, you will have trouble communicating with a lot of people. Some of them here on OCDO.
 

flyerrc

Newbie
Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
10
Location
Harrisonburg, va
Open carry in CostCo Harrisonburg

I had some errands to do and was open carrying and had to stop at Costco in Harrisonburg to order some glasses. The gentleman checking cards at the door noticed my Ruger and asked that I either cover it or take it out to my auto before he would let me in the Costco. I do have a CCW permit and pulled my shirttail over my weapon and went on in. While at the optical counter he stopped by and told me thanks for complying with his request. I asked if there was a sign on the outer door to that request he said no that Costco was a private club and they did not have to place signs. He was very courteous chatted with me a while, said he carried also but stated company policy was "NO" guns in the store, but I looked OK, and he was OK with me covering the weapon up so as to not alarm other shoppers. Upon getting back home I did look up Costco's policy and it was indeed NO guns allowed in the stores unless you are a LEO. Just a heads up for others wanting to shop at Costco while OC'ing.
 
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