M-Taliesin
Regular Member
Howdy Folks!
Yesterday turned out strange. As a rule, when open carrying, I never get any comments. Yesterday was way different. I wore my RIA 1911 in a Serpa style holster on my right hip.
I was doing work on my evergreen bushes out front of the house. Trimming them back with electric clippers. A man drove by in a blue SUV and said to me "Isn't it great to live in Colorado where Open Carry is legal?" I looked up from my labors and smiled broadly as I replied "You bet it is!" As the guy reached the corner and looked back, I shouted "Open Carry dot Org!!!"
I've never seen that guy before, and thought it remarkable that he said something.
Later that day, I was shopping at King Soopers when a pair of young (25ish) men said "You carrying your gun like that, you a cop or got a permit or something?" They were astounded when I told them open carry is legal. "If you can walk into a gun store, pass the background check and walk out with a handgun you've purchased, yeah... you can carry it openly. Just stay the heck out of Denver city and county, school zones and the like." As I was putting my purchased victuals into the Jeep, they came out and approached me again. "Yeah, but to openly carry, you gotta have a permit, right?"
"While I have a permit, it isn't required for open carry. You only need a carry permit to carry concealed in Colorado."
I then used my Droid to pull up Article 2, section 13 of the Colorado Constitution to show them the precise wording.
"Shall not be called into question". They were rocked! I explained that there are certain restrictions and they might consider checking out Open Carry.Org for more information. Guess we will see if they turn up! LOL!
Then later, we drove to a Country Kitchen Buffet situated at the old Stapleton area. Yeah... Denver! And yeah, I open carry there because it's private property, and so long as the management doesn't object or ask me to leave, I'll open carry! Anyhow..............
We walked to the table, and a group of 3 folks were sitting at a table we passed by. One of the gentlemen saw my 1911 and asked "Do you know the hammer is back on that handgun?!?!?!" I needed to pee something awful, and simply said "Yes, I do!" then ran off to have myself a tinkle tantrum. When I returned, I approached that gentleman. "I didn't mean to short-change you on an answer so I figured I should explain a bit more.
This holster is a safety of sorts. It covers the trigger guard completely, so nothing can pull the trigger unexpectedly. Second, I have the safety on, which can be turned off as the handgun is being drawn because it is mounted right where it can be naturally clicked off as my hand takes hold. With the safety on, the firing pin is rotated out of position and the slide is locked. The slide cannot move with the safety on." He seemed to appreciate that I took the time to talk with him. He told me they are up here from Texas and he carries concealed with a permit. I explained that I open carry as a matter of preference. "Since you are from Texas, you are likely very much aware of restaurant shootings that happen there. Should somebody try that sort of thing here, I'd put a stop to it before they can do much damage."
Anyhow... that's how my day went yesterday. 3 comments from 3 different encounters with other citizens. That's more comments than I usually hear in a whole month of open carrying. Kinda odd, ain't it? Maybe it has something to do with spring coming on. I dunno. But it struck me as odd!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
Yesterday turned out strange. As a rule, when open carrying, I never get any comments. Yesterday was way different. I wore my RIA 1911 in a Serpa style holster on my right hip.
I was doing work on my evergreen bushes out front of the house. Trimming them back with electric clippers. A man drove by in a blue SUV and said to me "Isn't it great to live in Colorado where Open Carry is legal?" I looked up from my labors and smiled broadly as I replied "You bet it is!" As the guy reached the corner and looked back, I shouted "Open Carry dot Org!!!"
I've never seen that guy before, and thought it remarkable that he said something.
Later that day, I was shopping at King Soopers when a pair of young (25ish) men said "You carrying your gun like that, you a cop or got a permit or something?" They were astounded when I told them open carry is legal. "If you can walk into a gun store, pass the background check and walk out with a handgun you've purchased, yeah... you can carry it openly. Just stay the heck out of Denver city and county, school zones and the like." As I was putting my purchased victuals into the Jeep, they came out and approached me again. "Yeah, but to openly carry, you gotta have a permit, right?"
"While I have a permit, it isn't required for open carry. You only need a carry permit to carry concealed in Colorado."
I then used my Droid to pull up Article 2, section 13 of the Colorado Constitution to show them the precise wording.
"Shall not be called into question". They were rocked! I explained that there are certain restrictions and they might consider checking out Open Carry.Org for more information. Guess we will see if they turn up! LOL!
Then later, we drove to a Country Kitchen Buffet situated at the old Stapleton area. Yeah... Denver! And yeah, I open carry there because it's private property, and so long as the management doesn't object or ask me to leave, I'll open carry! Anyhow..............
We walked to the table, and a group of 3 folks were sitting at a table we passed by. One of the gentlemen saw my 1911 and asked "Do you know the hammer is back on that handgun?!?!?!" I needed to pee something awful, and simply said "Yes, I do!" then ran off to have myself a tinkle tantrum. When I returned, I approached that gentleman. "I didn't mean to short-change you on an answer so I figured I should explain a bit more.
This holster is a safety of sorts. It covers the trigger guard completely, so nothing can pull the trigger unexpectedly. Second, I have the safety on, which can be turned off as the handgun is being drawn because it is mounted right where it can be naturally clicked off as my hand takes hold. With the safety on, the firing pin is rotated out of position and the slide is locked. The slide cannot move with the safety on." He seemed to appreciate that I took the time to talk with him. He told me they are up here from Texas and he carries concealed with a permit. I explained that I open carry as a matter of preference. "Since you are from Texas, you are likely very much aware of restaurant shootings that happen there. Should somebody try that sort of thing here, I'd put a stop to it before they can do much damage."
Anyhow... that's how my day went yesterday. 3 comments from 3 different encounters with other citizens. That's more comments than I usually hear in a whole month of open carrying. Kinda odd, ain't it? Maybe it has something to do with spring coming on. I dunno. But it struck me as odd!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
