Open Carry experience thread.

OCed to Sam's Club on Saturday and had no issues, however I did run into a cranky older gentleman who seemed to be having a staring contest with my 1911; he wasn't shy about vocalizing his discontent with several other people on the bus, but he never once directed anything towards me. Some kids and their grandmother saw me carry, but it was all smiles there.

OCed at the Tucson All Souls Procession (2014) yesterday; about a hundred thousand people in attendance (according to their website http://allsoulsprocession.org/; it was VERY well attended) and not a single feinting horse or stampeding lady. ONE little girl seemed a bit confused as to why I carried, but she and her mother seemed satisfied to hear my reply "I'm one of the good guys. It's to protect myself." Oddly enough, the only person to say anything to me about my 1911 was a smiling homeless (?) man. His words: "I like that! An armed society is a polite society." I was escorting a friend and her friend to their car, so I ended up walking down most of Congress street* and later half of 4th Avenue* past bars, clubs, theatres, etc.

No gun snatching, no being targeted first, no problems, as it should be everywhere, not just here in AZ.


*These are the two primary streets that draw in all the college students and tourists. I don't like going to Congress too often (call it Pavlovian; Also, I prefer the more small-town feel of other areas of Tucson), especially after 9, but it's got its charm.

OCed on (the original) A-Mountain here in Tucson. The view from Sentinel Peak (the official name) was spectacular, and everyone there enjoyed it, despite the presence of my super-scary assault-black pistol with a vertical pistol grip.

Two kids just smiled as if to say "cool!", the parents smiled back at me, and the swarm of bees didn't care so long as I didn't get to close to their home and loved ones.

Was also able to introduce someone to the shooting sports; like others before her, she didn't transform into a mass-murderer or have the gun leap from her hands and start murdering babies and puppies. I guess all my guns must be defective? Maybe it's dependent on the PERSON? Just a wild guess.

As an aside, I had FOUR failures to fire from a single box of Triune Defense .45 ACP ammo.:uhoh: Solid strikes to the primer, but no boom. Good thing it is just (cheap) plinking ammo.

Great time at the OC lunch, as always

Had a great time with FreeInAZ and his guests and my guest at the OC lunch. The aroma of the food itself belied its hearty flavors, and the atmosphere was definitely friendly; the manager of the place had no problems with our OC. This friendly place will definitely see a return visit in the near future.

Great weather lent itself to eating outside, which I'm sure increased the visibility of our OC. I will admit this was only a fortunate coincidence, seeing as the venue was chosen for its ease of parking and the possiblity of enjoying the perfect weather.
More than a handful of people will from this day forth realize that Open Carry of sidearms is common here in AZ, and will forever remember the sight of an armed group causing *GASP* no trouble.:lol:

Turned a few heads on the way over and back, sparked some conversations from afar, and even got to educate two men who believed permits were needed to carry; our work is still far from done, even (especially?) here in AZ.

No "hut hut hut" from local LEOs, no frantic screams, etc. Always warms my heart when transplants realize the following scenario need not take place at the sight of an Armed Law-Abiding Citizen:
[video=youtube;eGqsCeN8Lh4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGqsCeN8Lh4[/video]

Still carry regularly around prescott area. Petco, walmart, heights church. Had prescott and Prescott valley PD notice me carrying and besides a simple greeting as we pass by nothing to chat about. Been professional as expected. Had a kid ask his mom "what is that" when he saw my gun. She turned and stared at it "I don't know dear"....

Nothing real exciting and I like to keep it that way.

I didn't open carry yesterday, and got called on it.

HolyOrangeJuice said:

Still carry regularly around prescott area. Petco, walmart, heights church. Had prescott and Prescott valley PD notice me carrying and besides a simple greeting as we pass by nothing to chat about. Been professional as expected. Had a kid ask his mom "what is that" when he saw my gun. She turned and stared at it "I don't know dear"....

Nothing real exciting and I like to keep it that way.

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In the morning, I walked across the street to the neighbors, as he was working on some yard plumbing. He said "where is your gun", and I was caught!

I said, "Thanks for reminding me, I was just stepping across the street...."

It does not happen often, but nice to have a neighbor notice when you screw up...

While travelling through to Nevada, OC'd all along I-40 including staying at Econolodge in Winslow, a stop at the Meteor Crater attraction, numerous gas fills, and lunch at what appeared to be the busiest burger joint (In and Out) in Kingman.

No issues whatsoever, no stink eyes, no comments, nothing...just as it should be. And my Sig P220 is pretty darned visible on my hip!

Cafe Zupas in Mesa

On Saturday my wife and I went to Cafe Zupas on Baseline & Val Vista. I decided to OC my Glock 22 as she was mad at me for mainly carrying my Makarov P-64 during the week Anyway, the place was busy (as most are, great food, great staff!!!) plenty of families including all ages. While I was there I needed to use the restroom, while washing my hands a young man (11-14) noticed my firearm and I saw his eyes get VERY big. He left the restroom as I did a few seconds later, I then informed my wife of what happened when I returned to our table. My wife then used the restroom as I started feeding our infant son, then came back and started eating her food (Moms sacrifice their warm meals for their children, thank you moms! :lol. A nice elderly couple had stopped by and asked how old our son was and mentioned how they are great grandparents to a child in the similar age range. We then left and here is where the real kicker comes into play: As we walk outside the front of the establishment (seating is out front as well) the kid who I ran into in the restroom shouted "DAD!! DAD!! DAD!! DAD!!" my wife and I continued to our car without problem, all I can hope is that the child's father let him know there is no need to shout when you see a law abiding citizen who is equipped with the means to protect his family.

First off: Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow OCers! Hope everyone had a great time with loved ones and that the day was well spent enjoying the Freedoms we still have, as well as remembering that others have fought to preserve them and keep them from becoming "licensed".
If it is only one day of the year that we truly sit down to consider how many ways we've been blessed, let it be today. I was lucky enough to spread the love of the shooting sports a bit with my cousin's children; we boldly faced soda cans and zombie oranges with nothing more than a pump-action BB gun, the rules of firearm safety were reinforced, and interest in shooting "for real" was instilled.

Javelina said:

On Saturday my wife and I went to Cafe Zupas on Baseline & Val Vista. SNIP...

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Sounds like a good time, and glad to hear the Mrs. is making sure you don't forget to carry. Is Javelina Jr. getting a taste for solid food yet?

OT: OCed at Phoenix Sky Harbor yesterday (Wednesday) when I came in from Tucson; no screaming or anything, but I could feel more than a few pairs of eyes following my 1911. Two middle-Eastern college students noticed my OC when I was in the restroom (don't know what was said but it seems they forgot about the GIGANTIC mirror seeing as the one nodded is head over to point me out to his friend). Two airport employees walked past me while staring down at my side (my eyes are up here, people:lol, then briefly looking up at me to exchange pleasantries.
I only interacted with one lady:
Me: "It's a 1911"
Her: "Oh, alright. I just saw it and got a little excited."
Me: "[chuckle] No reason to."

I wish I could say she was a gun gal, but the concept of a visible-armed citizen was probably foreign to her. At least she seemed to shrug it off as "but this is Arizona".

Also OCed today while at the park with the family. Lots of people, nothing really said about my sidearm, and only two kids seemed to be really curious about the OCers with three kids in tow.
As a side note, I realized I can still run around while I OC; time to take up running again.

OC'd at the Walmart in Globe. Saw a young couple OC'ing as well.

OC'ed at the Barnes & Noble in Chandler fashion mall without any notice whatsoever. Also at Target at corner of Baseline and McClintock where only 2 people seemed to look carefully at the 1911.

Merry Christmas, everyone!


I won't lie: it's been a while since I've been able to OC anywhere other than with friends in their homes. I've convinced several more that my OC is normal (they don't seem to be surprised/uncomfortable with it anymore), and I may have inadvertently surprised the roommate and boyfriend of one of my friends, though they did not seem frightened by the end of the night (I was informed later they simply thought it was "wierd that you carry a gun").

OCed at PHX Sky Harbor on Tuesday when I came in. No issues, though I did catch a VERY few curious glances.
With the level of Situational Awareness (SA) I encountered, it seems like I would have needed to cover my holster with "blinkies" for anyone to notice my full-size 1911.

Rusty Young Man said:

Merry Christmas, everyone!
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I won't lie: it's been a while since I've been able to OC anywhere other than with friends in their homes. I've convinced several more that my OC is normal (they don't seem to be surprised/uncomfortable with it anymore), and I may have inadvertently surprised the roommate and boyfriend of one of my friends, though they did not seem frightened by the end of the night (I was informed later they simply thought it was "wierd that you carry a gun").

OCed at PHX Sky Harbor on Tuesday when I came in. No issues, though I did catch a VERY few curious glances.
With the level of Situational Awareness (SA) I encountered, it seems like I would have needed to cover my holster with "blinkies" for anyone to notice my full-size 1911.

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I find comments like "its wierd that you carry a gun" strange since I have been carrying a gun for around thirty years, it seems normal to me. My first thought to this statement is to reply to them "Its wierd that you do not carry a gun". No real point, just how I view things today.

Christmas Eve OC Shopping

I had to do a bit of shopping on Christmas Eve and my Glock was calling my name since I haven't had her by my side in awhile. I went out with my wife and son, pushing him around in the shopping cart, this may be why I did not get into any real conversation with anyone over the fact I was carrying. I did however feel more looks then usual and had one kid say to his sibilings "that man has a gun" however no parents seemed to notice and/or care about what the child said. Over all it was a good day to OC

I have not posted in forever But I had to share.

I was OC'ing while fishing on the shore of Canyon Lake. I got there before sunrise, was the only one there. About 9am a Sheriff Deputy, parks next to my Jeep. The deputy came down checked my license, and we started talking about fishing. Right before he left, he thanked me for exercising my 2a rights! Love this state haha.

Honestly I have never really have had that big of a problem ever.

I often receive similar comments from law enforcement and security - except when OC'ing my AR-15 - but that's another forum.

PeterNSteinmetz said:

I often receive similar comments from law enforcement and security - except when OC'ing my AR-15 - but that's another forum.

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^ This is hilarious :lol::banana::monkey

A belated "Happy New Year!" to everyone!

Morbidph8 said:

SNIP...Right before he left, he thanked me for exercising my 2a rights! Love this state haha.

Honestly I have never really have had that big of a problem ever.

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Seems like a good LEO encounter (no problem with your OC or carrying in general, no asking for papers, and no assault). Did you get a bite or two to cook?

OCed in the snow up north, including during an unfairly stacked encounter involving frozen projectiles (AKA snowball fight:lol.
No bad comments, but I have reason to believe I broke my previous record of "number of COMPLIMENTS for my OC within a 3-day period". Plenty of "nice gun", "I have no problem with that", and parents telling their children "He's not a cop, he just carries for protection" comments, as well as some interest in the shooting sports.

Being a native Phoenician, I hadn't had too many chances of walking around in the middle of an honest-to-goodness snowstorm; not too bad if done infrequently, but I never knew exactly how fast "3-5 inches of snow" could pile up and cover the Earth with a strange, cold, powdery, water-based substance.:uhoh:

Had an interesting exchange at the McDonalds in the Foothills of Yuma. The Wi Fi went down at my brothers house so we decided too go to McDonalds and used theirs.

I helped my wife set up the computer the walked up to the counter to order a shake. As I approached the counter the young lady clerk put up both hands and said don't shoot. There was another young person at the counter a young male about 18.

There was a just a few people in the whole place. As the clerk said don't shoot I turned around looking for some one else and said who me. Why would you think I would shoot you. Don't you know that AZ is a constitutional carry state and it is perfectly legal to open or concealed carry. She said yes I was just joking I just gave her a fatherly look she was young enough to be my daughter. She ended up basically apologizing saying carrying a gun can be a good thing but I don't have much experience at it.

The young man asked is it legal to carry a gun here I told him again about AZ being a constitutional carry state. he said I just turned 18 I said then you can buy long guns from a dealer but you have wait until your 21 to buy a hand gun from one.

He asked what kind of gun are you carrying I said Glock model 23 40s@W He stated that a pea shooter, I said compare to what. Compared to mine I said and what do you shoot he said a 500 I said that is a lot of gun to carry he said it is impressive when I take it into someone's house. I said really what length barrel do you have they come in two lengths.

He starts to spread his hands apart to about 6 inch's. I said 6 inches right knowing they don't make a six inch one he says yea 6 inches. I then said what weight of bullets do you shoot he said I don't know but big ones. He said when I shoot it get lots of sparks out the end, You mean muzzle flash, yea that's it.

I said enjoy your 500 I find them a bit much for every day carry excused my self and sat down.

OCed yesterday evening as I got a very last-minute cashiers check (rent). No one ran, nobody screamed, and only ONE guy may have noticed at all (said hello timidly as he passed by); exactly how important/interesting can a text be that you walk/sit while only staring at a 3x5 screen?

Firearms Iinstuctor said:

SNIP...I said enjoy your 500 I find them a bit much for every day carry excused my self and sat down.

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He must carry all the time... in Call of Duty.
You might have run into a gamer; I've met two now that could tell me all the specs and details of a handful of guns, yet when I ask "so how often do you go shooting" only reply "oh, I haven't gone yet.
Hope your visit (?) to AZ wasn't bad, all things considered.

Rusty Young Man said:

He must carry all the time... in Call of Duty.
You might have run into a gamer; I've met two now that could tell me all the specs and details of a handful of guns, yet when I ask "so how often do you go shooting" only reply "oh, I haven't gone yet.

Hope your visit (?) to AZ wasn't bad, all things considered.

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That is what I figured to much computer time LOL I am here for 3 months until the cold weather goes away up north.