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First not so nice encounter

Glocklover20

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
85
Location
Jackson county MS
So I have been open carrying since the law went into effect. I oc everywhere I can, this includes walmart. I went in today to grab a few canned veggies and some frozen corn dogs since I hate to cook and of course I was OC! Go figure right... As my girlfriend and I walked in I grabbed a buggie and we both needed the restroom so we walked over parked our buggie out front and went to relieve ourselves. I came out and this heavy set lady in her 40's was leaning on my buggie. I asked her respectfully if that was the buggie I had just placed their and she said yes and handed it over. I walked to the other side to wait on my girlfriend and she saw my glock. She then asked if I was a cop so I told her no, she informed me that I was not allowed to carry my gun if I was not a cop. I smirked I have to admit( only because she was really that ignorant ), then I told her that the oc law passed in sept and that right after the law passed I spoke to the manager of Walmart and was given the ok to carry in their stores since they follow state laws. She then told me again that she didn't think I could carry, at that point I realized she had made up her mind so I told her it really was none of her business, I told her if I saw her walking her dog I wouldn't come over and tell her should couldn't be on a sidewalk( I no I shouldn't have but I couldn't help myself she really pissed me off), then I finished the encounter by telling her if she didn't like it she could go voice her concerns to the manager. She chose not to, she chose rather to follow the guy with the gun, that she obviously had a prob with, all around the darn store with her husband while my girlfriend and I finished our shopping. I held my tongue
as I didn't want to escalate the situation with my gun on me because I feel that's just asking for trouble. She followed us after we checked out and we parted ways in the parking lot. I felt I could have handled it better but she had her mind made their was not educating her.
 

Q-Tip

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
102
Location
Mississippi/Tennessee
If you've already nicely explained the law, sometimes the best response is just "ok", and walk away. Hard to argue with that.

Also, IMO it is more correct to say something like "OC is not prohibited by any law and is specifically protected by Article 12, Sec. 3 of the MS Constitution." HB2 had nothing to do with OC, it merely defined CC to mean fully concealed, and specifically listed visible, holstered firearms as an example of a firearm that was not concealed. It kinda helps people understand the whole "open carry law" nonsense.
 
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papa bear

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
2,222
Location
mayberry, nc
GLOCKLOVR, i think you did an excellent job, just watch your temper. treat these people like what they are stupid sheeple. you wouldn't get mad at a sheep that did something stupid, so just chill out. have fun with it. ask them what law say's you can't. it can be fun

you are right you should never start trouble while you are carrying. i have family in MS, so i would like to keep up with this

Maybe you would like to start a "OC experience in MS" topic post
 
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BB62

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
4,069
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Whether the woman was stupid, ignorant, or irritating, you need to take a different approach - both for your benefit and ours.

Some people don't want to be educated, but they can cause you trouble more easily if you let yourself be antagonistic towards them.

Let's say a manager or a LEO becomes involved, and asks bystanders what they saw...? "Well, there was this smart-@ss guy with a gun who was berating this woman..." Sounds real good for you, eh?
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
As she apparently was not a store manager, and apparently was not interested in learning about the new law, you may have been better of with a comment such as "Thank you for saying that" as you walk away - although I personally prefer just walking away. (If they want to follow me and cause a disturbance it will be very noticable.)

Overall I'd say you did a good job. Responding to "You can't do that here" - whether it is lawfully carry your handgun or lean up against the wall and watch the shoppers go by - is always difficult. Because of that, it is often recommended that you not only mentally rehearse your response(s) but practice them with a friend who agrees to keep going no matter what you say. You learn the difference between when to hold them, when to fold them, and when to walk away.

stay safe.
 

Glocklover20

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
85
Location
Jackson county MS
Whether the woman was stupid, ignorant, or irritating, you need to take a different approach - both for your benefit and ours.

Some people don't want to be educated, but they can cause you trouble more easily if you let yourself be antagonistic towards them.

Let's say a manager or a LEO becomes involved, and asks bystanders what they saw...? "Well, there was this smart-@ss guy with a gun who was berating this woman..." Sounds real good for you, eh?

I thank you for your comment but I don't feel that I in any way berated her or caused a big scene I did pop back a few comments which I said above I shouldn't have done, I'm 20 ( just a wi baby ) so I think I handled it a lot better than most 20 year olds would. Also what, in your opinion, would be a better approach? I read and consider every comment I see so it's not going to go in one ear and out the other I promise you that, I don't want anyone to feel they are wasting their time
 
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BB62

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
4,069
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
I thank you for your comment but I don't feel that I in any way berated her or caused a big scene I did pop back a few comments which I said above I shouldn't have done, I'm 20 ( just a wi baby ) so I think I handled it a lot better than most 20 year olds would. Also what, in your opinion, would be a better approach? I read and consider every comment I see so it's not going to go in one ear and out the other I promise you that, I don't want anyone to feel they are wasting their time

Okay, you're only 20 - no problem! I'm mere months older than you! ;-)

Let me reply to each part of your post:

"... she informed me that I was not allowed to carry my gun if I was not a cop. I smirked I have to admit (only because she was really that ignorant ), then I told her that the oc law passed in sept and that right after the law passed I spoke to the manager of Walmart and was given the ok to carry in their stores since they follow state laws. She then told me again that she didn't think I could carry, at that point I realized she had made up her mind so I told her it really was none of her business..."

No smirking, and no "it's none of your business". Whether she made up her mind or not, she went from 'informing you' to saying she 'didn't think you could carry' - so your little informational blurb had some effect. Just say "Nice talking to you" and leave, or "That's not the case, but nice speaking with you" - and leave.


"I told her if I saw her walking her dog I wouldn't come over and tell her should couldn't be on a sidewalk (I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help myself (YES, you could) she really pissed me off (too bad - learn to control yourself), then I finished the encounter by telling her if she didn't like it she could go voice her concerns to the manager (nice move!!! NOT)..."
1) Lack of self control and 2) wasn't the encounter distasteful enough at that point? Don't invite more trouble. What if she had taken up your challenge, and you found out that the manager on duty was not the manager you had previously spoken with??


"She chose not to, she chose rather to follow the guy with the gun, that she obviously had a prob with, all around the darn store with her husband while my girlfriend and I finished our shopping."
If this happens in the future (let's hope it's not because of your actions) but because the other party to the "conversation" is wacko, try having a conversation about the weather, a sports team, or whatever with the person. That may drive them crazy enough to leave, or it may let them see beyond your gun. However, I wouldn't try this route until you're more controlled, and much more comfortable with yourself than you appear to be at the moment.


"I held my tongue as I didn't want to escalate the situation with my gun on me because I feel that's just asking for trouble."
NICE WORK! But remember, the situation was already escalated because of your prior choices.


"She followed us after we checked out and we parted ways in the parking lot."
OMG! :uhoh:


"I felt I could have handled it better..."
Uh huh.


"...but she had her mind made their was not educating her."
Not all your interactions will be about education, so you'd better accept that fact. Find some methods which work for you when faced with a person who views you as a baby killer, or a gun with legs, or an idiot, or whatever. Know who you are, know the law, and don't feel compelled to prove it to anyone. (LEOs and judges merit a different approach, however)

I hope this helps.
 

XD9_MS

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2013
Messages
19
Location
Desoto County, MS
So you don't have to be 21 to OC in MS but you have to be 21+ to CC? Basically no permit is requires to OC?
 
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Glocklover20

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
85
Location
Jackson county MS
Okay, you're only 20 - no problem! I'm mere months older than you! ;-)

Let me reply to each part of your post:

"... she informed me that I was not allowed to carry my gun if I was not a cop. I smirked I have to admit (only because she was really that ignorant ), then I told her that the oc law passed in sept and that right after the law passed I spoke to the manager of Walmart and was given the ok to carry in their stores since they follow state laws. She then told me again that she didn't think I could carry, at that point I realized she had made up her mind so I told her it really was none of her business..."

No smirking, and no "it's none of your business". Whether she made up her mind or not, she went from 'informing you' to saying she 'didn't think you could carry' - so your little informational blurb had some effect. Just say "Nice talking to you" and leave, or "That's not the case, but nice speaking with you" - and leave.


"I told her if I saw her walking her dog I wouldn't come over and tell her should couldn't be on a sidewalk (I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help myself (YES, you could) she really pissed me off (too bad - learn to control yourself), then I finished the encounter by telling her if she didn't like it she could go voice her concerns to the manager (nice move!!! NOT)..."
1) Lack of self control and 2) wasn't the encounter distasteful enough at that point? Don't invite more trouble. What if she had taken up your challenge, and you found out that the manager on duty was not the manager you had previously spoken with??


"She chose not to, she chose rather to follow the guy with the gun, that she obviously had a prob with, all around the darn store with her husband while my girlfriend and I finished our shopping."
If this happens in the future (let's hope it's not because of your actions) but because the other party to the "conversation" is wacko, try having a conversation about the weather, a sports team, or whatever with the person. That may drive them crazy enough to leave, or it may let them see beyond your gun. However, I wouldn't try this route until you're more controlled, and much more comfortable with yourself than you appear to be at the moment.


"I held my tongue as I didn't want to escalate the situation with my gun on me because I feel that's just asking for trouble."
NICE WORK! But remember, the situation was already escalated because of your prior choices.


"She followed us after we checked out and we parted ways in the parking lot."
OMG! :uhoh:


"I felt I could have handled it better..."
Uh huh.


"...but she had her mind made their was not educating her."
Not all your interactions will be about education, so you'd better accept that fact. Find some methods which work for you when faced with a person who views you as a baby killer, or a gun with legs, or an idiot, or whatever. Know who you are, know the law, and don't feel compelled to prove it to anyone. (LEOs and judges merit a different approach, however)

I hope this helps.

Thanks, while I don't agree with everything you said (surprise lol), I do see your point, and how you broke that up made your point very easy to read.:)
 

Glocklover20

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
85
Location
Jackson county MS
So you don't have to be 21 to OC in MS but you have to be 21+ to CC? Basically no permit is requires to OC?

Yes, the state can't regulate OC from what I understand, they can however regulate cc. I can not buy a handgun but can carry it because the law says that the OC age is 18 and it was a gift from my dad, he could only give me the gun because I was over 18 so I'm no longer underage.
 

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
Sorry to butt into MS affairs, but great thread! Informative. And the mature reaction from the OP to critiques speaks well of him. I expect him to become one of the best 2A ambassadors around. Kudos.

BTW, I have to agree with almost everything BB62 had to say. Must be an Ohio thing. ;)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled MS programming. Congratulations on successfully smacking down the idiots who didn't understand the simple concept of what concealed carry is! Well done!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

<o>
 

Kopis

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
674
Location
Nashville, TN
It can be tough and frustrating talking to someone who isnt aware of the law, much like trying to explain that "No firearms" signs are ineffective when applied to someone already bent on committing a felony. I think the OP did ok and will do better in the future with a little coaching which he is receiving well.
 

BB62

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
4,069
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Sorry to butt into MS affairs, but great thread! Informative. And the mature reaction from the OP to critiques speaks well of him. I expect him to become one of the best 2A ambassadors around. Kudos...
I agree. Willingness to take constructive criticism is a good sign!
 

KBCraig

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
4,886
Location
Granite State of Mind
I would only suggest one thing: instead of telling her to take it up with the manager, I would have reported her for following me around as I shopped.
 

XD9_MS

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2013
Messages
19
Location
Desoto County, MS
I would only suggest one thing: instead of telling her to take it up with the manager, I would have reported her for following me around as I shopped.

True. I don't really see what they were trying to prove/accomplish with following him around, and even in the parking lot!. THAT would be considering harassment. Go figure, the person "offended" ended up committing the punishable act....:banghead:
 

Glocklover20

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
85
Location
Jackson county MS
I would only suggest one thing: instead of telling her to take it up with the manager, I would have reported her for following me around as I shopped.

I think if I had done that then she would have followed, I can just imagine security, then cops, then me being disarmed( the worst thing, I hate when someone touches my gun, it's mine if you want one go buy one:)....)
 

davidmcbeth

Banned
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
16,167
Location
earth's crust
I thank you for your comment but I don't feel that I in any way berated her or caused a big scene I did pop back a few comments which I said above I shouldn't have done, I'm 20 ( just a wi baby ) so I think I handled it a lot better than most 20 year olds would. Also what, in your opinion, would be a better approach? I read and consider every comment I see so it's not going to go in one ear and out the other I promise you that, I don't want anyone to feel they are wasting their time

Just tell her to go away, she's bothering you .... or ignore her completely ...

"are you a cop?" people should not answer anyone's questions ....

she's stressing you !!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK7Ad8RA6Gs
 

eamelhorn

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2012
Messages
143
Location
ripley wv
A week ago Sunday evening my wife and I are on our way home from church. We stop at a Dollar General store about a mile from our home. There was no one at the register. I could here him speaking to someone from just down the isle. As they came out there was a man OC'ing nicely dressed. I could see the young man was very scared, but was still being professional in his dealings with the patron. I asked the OC'er. Are you LE or just OC, he said, I just carry this way. I was CC as I was coming from church, we had a short chat about OC and CC. I realized I knew the OC'er from way back. The young man running the register who never said a word during our short chat changed his whole attitude. You could see his fear had subsided. Maybe we help educate this young man somewhat. The OC'er was a fellow minister that I knew from several year ago. I'm happy to say I am seeing more OC in my small community of about 3000 people.
 

4angrybadgers

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2009
Messages
411
Location
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
So you don't have to be 21 to OC in MS but you have to be 21+ to CC? Basically no permit is requires to OC?

Open carry is protected by the Mississippi Constitution, Article 3, Section 12.
The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the Legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.

The status of OC was unclear to many in the past, due to fuzzy wording in the statutes regarding concealed carry (concealment "in whole or in part"). What the general populace refers to as "the open carry law" that passed last year, changed that phrase regarding concealment so it was clearer, and added a sentence or two elucidating that a holster/scabbard was not itself concealment. I am not aware of any statutes regarding the minimum age to OC in MS, but I am not all-knowing. 97-37-13 may apply, but it uses the word "concealed", and I haven't noodled over it enough to know for sure.

Concealed carry is regulated by the state legislature through several laws. From memory: 45-9-101, 97-37-1, 97-37-9; possibly more. The "License to carry stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver" is defined in 45-9-101, and the minimum age for obtaining the permit is 21.

Now, 97-37-9 outlines several defenses to a charge of CCW (97-37-1). For example, "...he was lawfully engaged in legitimate sports...". None of them define a minimum age, so theoretically it could work for someone <21. HOWEVER!, those are defenses against a charge, not exemptions, meaning you'd have to be arrested and charged before you could claim it, so please don't take this as any advice that it's a good idea.

OK, I really need to quit rambling and get back to work. :D
 
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