stealthyeliminator
Regular Member
There are many threads on here highlighting negative encounters between police and OCT members. I just wanted to take the time to tell you all what a typical day is like at an OCT event.
A group recently planned a short event. They'd eat at a local restaurant, then walk to a nearby intersection to hand out pamphlets.
So, everything begins smoothly. While one is ordering his food, a gentleman strikes up a conversation. "What kind of rifle is that?" The topic shifts around between the goal of OCT, ammo prices, the country (rural), etc.
They're sitting in the restaurant, eating their food. A few customers, after being in the restaurant for some time already, having already ordered and received their food, decide to go call the police. They make little effort to hide it.
In walk two police officers. With a smile on his face, the officer reaches his hand out to the closest gun-toter to shake and then makes some comment about having to come out since they received a call. Almost immediately, they say hang on just a second, and disengage the conversation with the gun-toters to go and talk to the other customers. They make their way around the room, explaining to each group of customers after the other the legality of the group's actions. While some customers are a little perturbed that their police call is not resulting in the punishment or ejection of the OCT members, one customer pipes up over the other conversations to say he doesn't have a problem with it. The officers then make their way out the door, about 2 minutes after walking in, shaking hands with a few OCT members on their way out. The OCT members offer pamphlets to the other patrons in the restaurant to try and explain their purpose with carrying rifles. Some are more receptive than others, one woman making the comment, in response to the explanation that OCT is trying to reach the goal of carrying handguns instead of rifles, that she would rather not see it at all, referring to any firearm in public. As the OCT members finish eating, they go grab some photos with the restaurant staff, and head out to the road.
Being sure to keep traffic safety in mind, they begin handing out pamphlets at the intersection. Also being mindful that many, if not most people, are conditioned to "hate" people at intersections, because they're almost always asking for something instead of handing something out, they try to read someone's interest before approaching their vehicle. A quick head shake yes or no is often given to indicate whether they are willing to receive a pamphlet. Some simply shout out their window or honk their horn in support. Some try to offer donations. Some pull into the nearby parking lots to have conversations. At one point an officer stops by one of the members on one of the sides of the intersection. Unfortunately, the business on that corner called the police to ask if there was anything he could do to put an end to the OCT member handing out pamphlets. Thankfully the officer is aware of the applicable laws and is honorable to apply them to the situation accurately. He simply instructs the OCT member to stay as close to the road as possible, as to stay on the right away and off of the private property of the business. They then chat about guns and carry rights a little while and the officer departs. The officer makes the comment that he would have no complaints should constitutional carry be passed.
Several hours pass and the group is running low on pamphlets. They decide to pack it up. As they're walking back to their vehicles, a reporter pulls up. The reporter is one that listens to police radio traffic and responds to cover incidents that occur. Hearing that there are quite a number of calls regarding the OCT the members he heads their way. He takes some information on the group and they all depart.
That's a typical day in the life of an OCT event. No one was frightened*. No one got hurt. No one was detained. No one was arrested. No one said a curse word at a police officer. No one chanted anti-government sayings. No one hid from sight. The typical day in the life of an OCT event is a good, good day.
*Some might argue that those who called the police in the restaurant were frightened. I think not, else they would not have remained seated 4 feet away. They were not frightened, they simply did not like what they saw, and desired to use coercion to put an end to it. With an honorable police force, though, their use of force was cut short by good principle and accurate application of law.
A group recently planned a short event. They'd eat at a local restaurant, then walk to a nearby intersection to hand out pamphlets.
So, everything begins smoothly. While one is ordering his food, a gentleman strikes up a conversation. "What kind of rifle is that?" The topic shifts around between the goal of OCT, ammo prices, the country (rural), etc.
They're sitting in the restaurant, eating their food. A few customers, after being in the restaurant for some time already, having already ordered and received their food, decide to go call the police. They make little effort to hide it.
In walk two police officers. With a smile on his face, the officer reaches his hand out to the closest gun-toter to shake and then makes some comment about having to come out since they received a call. Almost immediately, they say hang on just a second, and disengage the conversation with the gun-toters to go and talk to the other customers. They make their way around the room, explaining to each group of customers after the other the legality of the group's actions. While some customers are a little perturbed that their police call is not resulting in the punishment or ejection of the OCT members, one customer pipes up over the other conversations to say he doesn't have a problem with it. The officers then make their way out the door, about 2 minutes after walking in, shaking hands with a few OCT members on their way out. The OCT members offer pamphlets to the other patrons in the restaurant to try and explain their purpose with carrying rifles. Some are more receptive than others, one woman making the comment, in response to the explanation that OCT is trying to reach the goal of carrying handguns instead of rifles, that she would rather not see it at all, referring to any firearm in public. As the OCT members finish eating, they go grab some photos with the restaurant staff, and head out to the road.
Being sure to keep traffic safety in mind, they begin handing out pamphlets at the intersection. Also being mindful that many, if not most people, are conditioned to "hate" people at intersections, because they're almost always asking for something instead of handing something out, they try to read someone's interest before approaching their vehicle. A quick head shake yes or no is often given to indicate whether they are willing to receive a pamphlet. Some simply shout out their window or honk their horn in support. Some try to offer donations. Some pull into the nearby parking lots to have conversations. At one point an officer stops by one of the members on one of the sides of the intersection. Unfortunately, the business on that corner called the police to ask if there was anything he could do to put an end to the OCT member handing out pamphlets. Thankfully the officer is aware of the applicable laws and is honorable to apply them to the situation accurately. He simply instructs the OCT member to stay as close to the road as possible, as to stay on the right away and off of the private property of the business. They then chat about guns and carry rights a little while and the officer departs. The officer makes the comment that he would have no complaints should constitutional carry be passed.
Several hours pass and the group is running low on pamphlets. They decide to pack it up. As they're walking back to their vehicles, a reporter pulls up. The reporter is one that listens to police radio traffic and responds to cover incidents that occur. Hearing that there are quite a number of calls regarding the OCT the members he heads their way. He takes some information on the group and they all depart.
That's a typical day in the life of an OCT event. No one was frightened*. No one got hurt. No one was detained. No one was arrested. No one said a curse word at a police officer. No one chanted anti-government sayings. No one hid from sight. The typical day in the life of an OCT event is a good, good day.
*Some might argue that those who called the police in the restaurant were frightened. I think not, else they would not have remained seated 4 feet away. They were not frightened, they simply did not like what they saw, and desired to use coercion to put an end to it. With an honorable police force, though, their use of force was cut short by good principle and accurate application of law.
