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Open Carrying for about 2 weeks

shanebelanger

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Aug 25, 2009
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So a little background information, i've been open carrying for about 2 weeks and i'm nineteen years old. I have been looking around this forum for quite some time, talked to some LEO's (both state and local) and they all have the same reaction, it's fine, it's legal, go for it. I've slowly gotten my dad into carrying open as well, i've concealed since I was 18 and could get my ccw permit, we took the course together and we never leave home without it, if it is at all possible (hard with school).

I Have only gotten a couple stares, only one confrontation. One more than i'd like... I was open carrying in my last stop for the day, a small grocery about 2 miles from my home. I had already been to wal-mart and had just forgotten a few groceries so I swung in for what was going to be about a five minute stop. I walked in got a cart and proceeded to get my groceries. I was picking up the last thing on my list when the store manager/owner walked up to me and asked " what are you doing?" Of course I didn't think much of it I had never been confronted like this before so I kind of dumbly said "shopping"? Not thinking that he was confronting me about carrying. He then pointed to my HK USP Compact in .357 sig in a fobus paddle and said "do you carry that everywhere you go?" I replied "yes" then he asked "why"? I was kind of still in shock that I was being confronted about my decision to OC and was trying to be as absolutely polite and respectful as I could be as I always am (especially while carrying). I softly and as non-confrontational as I could be said "it's my right". He didn't hear me very well and asked what I said so I repeated it again stating that it is my right. He kind of nodded and said "do you have a permit?" I stated that I didn't need one to open carry but yes, I did have a permit to conceal a firearm. He then proceeded to tell me that I could not carry into businesses and I said Maine is an anomalous open carry state and that I can conceal (with my permit) or open carry in any business unless they have a sign posted outside the door (or federal, school you know the usual) and that I was sorry if there was a sign, I simply didn't see it. He nodded looking surprised that I knew what I was talking about Realizing now that I was not a bad person he said well, i'm sorry but with only two people working what your doing is making people nervous. I felt like saying so? all the murders going on recently when only one person was working?? thats better? what if they had been carrying, or a person in the store? Needless to say I said you don't have anything to worry about sir but what would you like me to do? He asked me to go put it in my vehicle and come back in without it. I said ok, I can do that. So I walked out, put it in the glove box, locked the vehicle, walked back in and he apologized again stating that he carries everywhere he goes as well which seems odd? And I definitely couldn't see any printing if he was? But by his initial reaction this was simply a lie to get me on good terms with him. I stated that seeing as it's right there nothing would happen and it's simply for my protection and that it is my right to carry it. He nodded and apologized again. I took my cart, put everything back item by item and gently placed the cart back where it belonged, looked at him told him to have a nice day and he said you do the same. I then went to the grocery store down the street, carrying again and got my groceries. All in all I think he has a lot more respect for me, as well as open carrying. I don't think he'll bother the next person that OC's in there! All in all what do you guys think? What did I do wrong, what did I do right? Opinions? Sorry for the length but I felt it necessary so you could critique my actions or in-actions.

Thanks,
Shane Belanger
 

BzBeretta

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A+ dude! You sound like a very mature 19 year old young man. You were correct in your actions and conduct in my opinion. The fact that there was no sign on the door gives you right to carry into that store regardless of whether it is open or concealed, however when confronted by an owner/manager who represents the business and they personally request that you not have your fire arm in the store you have two options. do what you did and put it in the car, or tell him that you will conceal it for him. without policy put somewhere for patrons to be able to see it he cant legally make you put your gun in your car unless he owns the business or property. A manager can request that you conceal it if he wishes due to the fact that he may feel hes losing business because of the publics view on it. (its a sad world we live in). Without a posted sign in a conspicuous place, the law is on your side for being allowed to conceal in that business. Openly carrying is a little different if the owner feels against it however.

Awesome work all in all man, keep on keepin on.

Nice gun too :) I own a Beretta Px4 Storm subcompact in .40 cal and carry openly or concealed as often as possible.

Thanks for the post dude.

What part of the state are you in?

BzBeretta
 

BzBeretta

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Nice! Im from the Gray-New Gloucester area, between (Auburn and Portland) I actually had the full size Px4 in .40 and brought it back due to it being too large for me to conceal (Im a pretty skinny dude) Great gun! Nice to see someone from my age range exercising their rights:)
 

shanebelanger

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Freeport, Maine, United States
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yeah, dad weighs 145 and is 5'8 and I weigh 140 and i'm 5'8 haha... so we're pretty small. He conceals it with some printing, but figures nobody looks anyways, which they really don't. How old are you?
 

BzBeretta

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21. Yeah printing can be a pain. im 5'10 70kg (155lbs) down here i have to worry about it a little more, a lot higher population = more eyes watching and more fingers dialing 911. I lived in the Bangor area for 2 years, while im ex girlfriend was going to UMO. such a different atmosphere. the higher up you go the more friendly the people seem to be. lol
 

bigtoe416

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Personally I would have told him that I would leave if he wanted me not to open carry. If he said that was what he wanted, then he could put his own groceries back.

I think it was pretty nice of you to go lock the gun up and then put the groceries back for him and say goodbye. I'm sure he felt that you were the better person for not making a scene, complying with his wishes, and not even leaving him with a chore to do.

On second thought, maybe I wouldn't have left him with the groceries...well done.
 
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