Wish I could get Mel to write my stories for me but ... Here goes.
Went into the closest HD to pick up a few things - sprinkler heads, wasp killer (he shot at me first OUCH!), ant killer etc.
Of course I had my handgun in the holster. A clerk helped me find the ant stuff I was looking for and another very helpful guy helped whth the sprinkler head. Even pointed out a money saving 2-pack of just what I wanted. No one seemed to even notice I was carrying.
But then... a somewhat more observant and perhaps more senior employee (not age) came up to me and asked "Do you have a license to carry?" Well I do have my CHP but instead of answering with a simple 'Yes' I calmly stated that Colorado does not require a license to open carry. His response was "I am asking you not to carry while in the store." I responded that I have been in here many times shopping while open carrying and this is the first time someone has said it was not permissible." I continued with "Does Home Depot have a written policy that he could show me that states the company policy cuz I certainly would not want to continue doing it if it is prohibited." He then had to head off to keep a forklift from being run over by customers. I said "I'll be around shopping for a while so I'd look him up before I left." I started to go off then turned around to him and said "By the way I do have a permit but that is for concealed carrying but is not required for open carrying in the state of Colorado." His response was "Ok that's all I wanted to know."
After another customer pointed out another 2-for-one superdeal on wasp shoot 'em dead stuff (first picked up an 18oz can for 3.97, then noticed same brand but in a fancy colored 20oz can with same chemistry for 2.97. Hmmm. Thats better, but the 2-for-one deal had two of the same 20oz cans bundled for 2.97. Pick your price. I'm cheap so took the two for 2.97) I checked out then got permission to go back in to customer service. As I was explaining to the CS clerk my OC question, the somewhat more observant and perhaps more senior employee emerged from the office and said he was just looking up the answer to my request and said that in fact it is OK to open carry in the HD as long as the gun is registered and you have a permit. I reiterated that Colorado does not require a license to openly carry handgun but that I do have a permit to carry concealed. He finally confirmed that is OK to openly carry in HD. I thanked him and proceeded on my way.
All-in-all a pleasant and hopefully somewhat educating encounter.
I then proceeded to Walmart and picked up some .22 Short ammo where no one seemed to notice or care. Of course behind my back women and children may have been running and screaming in horror but I didn't notice.
Went into the closest HD to pick up a few things - sprinkler heads, wasp killer (he shot at me first OUCH!), ant killer etc.
Of course I had my handgun in the holster. A clerk helped me find the ant stuff I was looking for and another very helpful guy helped whth the sprinkler head. Even pointed out a money saving 2-pack of just what I wanted. No one seemed to even notice I was carrying.
But then... a somewhat more observant and perhaps more senior employee (not age) came up to me and asked "Do you have a license to carry?" Well I do have my CHP but instead of answering with a simple 'Yes' I calmly stated that Colorado does not require a license to open carry. His response was "I am asking you not to carry while in the store." I responded that I have been in here many times shopping while open carrying and this is the first time someone has said it was not permissible." I continued with "Does Home Depot have a written policy that he could show me that states the company policy cuz I certainly would not want to continue doing it if it is prohibited." He then had to head off to keep a forklift from being run over by customers. I said "I'll be around shopping for a while so I'd look him up before I left." I started to go off then turned around to him and said "By the way I do have a permit but that is for concealed carrying but is not required for open carrying in the state of Colorado." His response was "Ok that's all I wanted to know."
After another customer pointed out another 2-for-one superdeal on wasp shoot 'em dead stuff (first picked up an 18oz can for 3.97, then noticed same brand but in a fancy colored 20oz can with same chemistry for 2.97. Hmmm. Thats better, but the 2-for-one deal had two of the same 20oz cans bundled for 2.97. Pick your price. I'm cheap so took the two for 2.97) I checked out then got permission to go back in to customer service. As I was explaining to the CS clerk my OC question, the somewhat more observant and perhaps more senior employee emerged from the office and said he was just looking up the answer to my request and said that in fact it is OK to open carry in the HD as long as the gun is registered and you have a permit. I reiterated that Colorado does not require a license to openly carry handgun but that I do have a permit to carry concealed. He finally confirmed that is OK to openly carry in HD. I thanked him and proceeded on my way.
All-in-all a pleasant and hopefully somewhat educating encounter.
I then proceeded to Walmart and picked up some .22 Short ammo where no one seemed to notice or care. Of course behind my back women and children may have been running and screaming in horror but I didn't notice.
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