mbhudson
Regular Member
So let me first say this may be long winded and if you will stick with me, I hope you'll agree and contribute so any way...
Hi my name is Mark and I have been open carrying in and around Lynchburg for about 4 years now. I have had many positive and a few negative experiences that have led me to decide that as an open carrier and advocate, I should be willing to accept some responsibility for the education of the people around me. After a walk this morning and conversation with another guy who did not know he could open carry in VA, it became clear to me that it's time to act on those feelings.
I was walking downtown this morning and passed a store that had a sign that refers to the police and this guy stops me and says hey that sign would be perfect for you. I responded to him with a laugh and said thanks but I'm not a cop. He drew back and with a mild shock says but you're carrying a gun to which I said yes sir you can carry a gun in VA. He says well yeah I guess so with the right permit so I slow myself down a bit and explain to him that open carry is legal in VA and you do not need a permit to do so and I gave him an open carry info card he read it and with a smile said I thought you had to have a permit. So we talked for a few and parted ways leaving with a smile he said thanks for the info.
The point to this story for me was that I had encountered yet another person in my town that had no idea he could carry a gun in VA without seeking permission, so as I continued to walk I started to think how do people not know this why is this not talked about in places other than sites like this one, and what can I do to help educate people in my area on their rights? I already carry when I go out which isn't that often I guess and I do talk to friends and family about it fairly often but what about the people around Lynchburg? So now getting to the point.
I'm aware that there are occasional open carry dinners in the area that to my understanding have had meager results. No offense intended to those have been there; I tried to make one and just couldn't myself but it seems that it would be much easier to get more participation if we had a regular type of thing going on and not just a Sunday lunch/dinner. I've had very good experiences on my OC walks and just while moving around town so here is my plan for the future. I am committing to myself for now and others if you wish to join to leave my house once a week with the intention to open carry in a deliberate manner at a place that will present a chance at talking to someone about their right to carry.
I'm not entirely sure what that even looks like at the moment, but I'm thinking walks downtown or Rivermont or a local park etc. and maybe a lunch or dinner while doing so at the moment. My only for sure company will be my wife and that's the purpose for this post; I hope that more of you will consider joining us as I believe it is a "the more the better" type of thing. I think that the more of us there are carrying the greater our chances of being able to educate those around us, and wouldn't we all be safer if Lynchburg were known as a town where people were packing, as well as tell our reps that we like our rights and want to keep them.
I'm asking you to join me on a walk/dinner/lunch whatever it turns out to be. I will post again with a new topic of where I'm going and what I'm doing the day or two before or if you're interested in getting together or have an idea, pm me and I'll give you my number and we can talk about it. I hope to get to know more of you soon and that we can join together in making Lynchburg an open carry town. Thanks for your time; responses and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi my name is Mark and I have been open carrying in and around Lynchburg for about 4 years now. I have had many positive and a few negative experiences that have led me to decide that as an open carrier and advocate, I should be willing to accept some responsibility for the education of the people around me. After a walk this morning and conversation with another guy who did not know he could open carry in VA, it became clear to me that it's time to act on those feelings.
I was walking downtown this morning and passed a store that had a sign that refers to the police and this guy stops me and says hey that sign would be perfect for you. I responded to him with a laugh and said thanks but I'm not a cop. He drew back and with a mild shock says but you're carrying a gun to which I said yes sir you can carry a gun in VA. He says well yeah I guess so with the right permit so I slow myself down a bit and explain to him that open carry is legal in VA and you do not need a permit to do so and I gave him an open carry info card he read it and with a smile said I thought you had to have a permit. So we talked for a few and parted ways leaving with a smile he said thanks for the info.
The point to this story for me was that I had encountered yet another person in my town that had no idea he could carry a gun in VA without seeking permission, so as I continued to walk I started to think how do people not know this why is this not talked about in places other than sites like this one, and what can I do to help educate people in my area on their rights? I already carry when I go out which isn't that often I guess and I do talk to friends and family about it fairly often but what about the people around Lynchburg? So now getting to the point.
I'm aware that there are occasional open carry dinners in the area that to my understanding have had meager results. No offense intended to those have been there; I tried to make one and just couldn't myself but it seems that it would be much easier to get more participation if we had a regular type of thing going on and not just a Sunday lunch/dinner. I've had very good experiences on my OC walks and just while moving around town so here is my plan for the future. I am committing to myself for now and others if you wish to join to leave my house once a week with the intention to open carry in a deliberate manner at a place that will present a chance at talking to someone about their right to carry.
I'm not entirely sure what that even looks like at the moment, but I'm thinking walks downtown or Rivermont or a local park etc. and maybe a lunch or dinner while doing so at the moment. My only for sure company will be my wife and that's the purpose for this post; I hope that more of you will consider joining us as I believe it is a "the more the better" type of thing. I think that the more of us there are carrying the greater our chances of being able to educate those around us, and wouldn't we all be safer if Lynchburg were known as a town where people were packing, as well as tell our reps that we like our rights and want to keep them.
I'm asking you to join me on a walk/dinner/lunch whatever it turns out to be. I will post again with a new topic of where I'm going and what I'm doing the day or two before or if you're interested in getting together or have an idea, pm me and I'll give you my number and we can talk about it. I hope to get to know more of you soon and that we can join together in making Lynchburg an open carry town. Thanks for your time; responses and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited:
