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First time carrying open

Meatbag79

New member
Joined
Dec 17, 2010
Messages
3
Location
Vancouver, WA
Today was my very first time carrying open, because my CPL just expired, and I wanted to carry legally. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, but I learned this: When I carry open, it forces ME to be absolutely respectful of other people. I know the lady at 7-Eleven saw my Glock 23 (with my M2 Corp Magazine Defense System installed), but we just exchanged very polite banter, smiling back and forth as I paid for my items and bailed. My hope is that she does not fear me for carrying open, because I've given her no reason to whatsoever.
 

LkWd_Don

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2012
Messages
572
Location
Dolan Springs, AZ
Welcome to the Forum!

You will be more sensitive to the looks from others for a while, I have been OCing for a while and still notice glances from others, but then I do not think I could be mistaken for being Law Enforcement.. LOL so the looks I get are probably more of.. is he a Criminal type of look but those who either know me or have seen me frequently know that I am not a criminal or immediate threat.

I like your avatar by the way.
 

golddigger14s

Activist Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
2,068
Location
Lawton, OK USA
Welcome to the forum. I'm a pretty mellow person to begin with, but I find myself even nicer when I OC. Thankfully I was carrying last Sunday when I took the kids to McDonald's. I don't expect much from MCD's in the first place, but they messed up my order so much I was on the verge of going postal. I was so PO'd I even took the time to send a heated email off to corporate. ==rant over== Carry on!
 

John Hardin

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
683
Location
Snohomish, Washington, USA
An armed society is a polite society.

<irony>...except for that segment of society who believes anyone lawfully carrying a firearm is just a violent nutjob looking for any excuse to shoot someone, and has to put them in their place by publicly accosting them and calling them rude names...</irony>
 

ak56

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Messages
746
Location
Carnation, Washington, USA
An armed society is a polite society.

<irony>...except for that segment of society who believes anyone lawfully carrying a firearm is just a violent nutjob looking for any excuse to shoot someone, and has to put them in their place by publicly accosting them and calling them rude names...</irony>

Those individuals are neither a part of the armed society, nor the polite society.
 

AlexMayhem

Regular Member
Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
46
Location
Washington
How I have went about with store employees

. . . My hope is that she does not fear me for carrying open, because I've given her no reason to whatsoever.

There are a few shops in town that I frequent which usually have the same staff working when I show up. I used to be concerned about the employees being worried when I was OCing, but after doing it long enough and recognizing they were comfortable with it I asked one of the gals why nobody in the store minded me excercising my 2A right - she simply stated that her and her bf (who also works there) CC, and it helded that I don't act wierd in the store. I've had more than one gas station clerk immediately notice my firearm and express their disdain for company policy that forbids employees to be armed.

In time maybe you could ask the gal at the store the same. A lot of people that ask me about my gun are comfortable with them because they were raised around them but were never taught about OC or CC - good opportunity to educate people that are simply gun tolerant, especially if you print off some of the WA State gun rights brochures or can leave some at the counter for other patrons.
 
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