I hope these types of comments are just jokes, perhaps by folks who don't OC - one of the major upsides to OC is the opportunity to have encounters with the public - other people will be observing your encounter and will take away an appropriate impression from smart alec responses like above.Why are you carrying a handgun?
Because my Glock doesn't know how to walk yet.
or
The poor little guy is just all tuckered out.
Mike the proselytizer!apjonas wrote:I hope these types of comments are just jokes, perhaps by folks who don't OC - one of the major upsides to OC is the opportunity to have encounters with the public - other people will be observing your encounter and will take away an appropriate impression from smart alec responses like above.Why are you carrying a handgun?
Because my Glock doesn't know how to walk yet.
or
The poor little guy is just all tuckered out.
Best type of resonse to "Why are you carrying?" questions, regardless of their tone, is a sort of friendly nonchalant comment spoken softly like "Oh, you know, just normal citizen carry for self defense. Are you a gun owner?"
I have never been asked "the question" while OCing, but I have used a similar analogy where I compare carrying a weapon to carrying a spare tire in my car to people I know who have questioned my OCing when I've told them about it. A few undecided people have understood it when I put it that way.I guess I would ask her "Do you own a car?"
"Yes"
"Do you carry insurance on your car?"
"Yes"
"Why? do you expect to have a wreck? I carry a firearm to be prepared, the same reason I have automobile and homeowners insurance."
You did PerfectLet me play with this some
Some lady comes up to me next to the ice cream case and says, "Can I ask you a question?"
I kept looking for the ice cream I wanted, but I knew what was coming, "Sure." Same reply
"Why are you carrying your weapon in here?" At least she had sense enough not to call it "that thing."
"I carry it to protect myself." Because no one said I can't
"Do you have a business card or anything?"
WTF? "No." NoWhy
"Are you in law enforcement or anything like that?"
"No." NOPE
"Do you have a permit for it?"
"Yes." YEP
"So why do you carry a gun?"
"Like I said, I carry it to protect myself." Have you seen how many nuts are in this world today?
"Who do you think you need protection from, people like me who are very unnerved by it?"
I finished up, chuckling, with, "I hope not."Sorry ma'am that you feel this way. but you do not have to worry about me harming you in any way. take care
With that, I just turned and went down the aisle, looking for the next item on my list.
Overall, pretty uneventful. Sure, there are TONS of smart azz comments I could have made at any point, but it wouldn't have done any good. I figured I'd do my part by being a clean cut guy, who isn't a cop, carrying a gun and not stirring up trouble.
You should have stuck around and continued the engagement. she might have been "hitting " on ya.WARNING: The following account contains no pithy, hoplophobe-slaying remarks.
I was grocery shopping after work with my gun on my belt.
Some lady comes up to me next to the ice cream case and says, "Can I ask you a question?"
I kept looking for the ice cream I wanted, but I knew what was coming, "Sure."
"Why are you carrying your weapon in here?" At least she had sense enough not to call it "that thing."
"I carry it to protect myself."
"Do you have a business card or anything?"
WTF? "No."
"Are you in law enforcement or anything like that?"
"No."
"Do you have a permit for it?"
"Yes."
"So why do you carry a gun?"
"Like I said, I carry it to protect myself."
"Who do you think you need protection from, people like me who are very unnerved by it?"
I finished up, chuckling, with, "I hope not."
With that, I just turned and went down the aisle, looking for the next item on my list.
Overall, pretty uneventful. Sure, there are TONS of smart azz comments I could have made at any point, but it wouldn't have done any good. I figured I'd do my part by being a clean cut guy, who isn't a cop, carrying a gun and not stirring up trouble.
The only thing I don't like about the insurance argument is in most states it is against the law to be uninsured...I guess I would ask her "Do you own a car?"
"Yes"
"Do you carry insurance on your car?"
"Yes"
"Why? do you expect to have a wreck? I carry a firearm to be prepared, the same reason I have automobile and homeowners insurance."
The only thing I don't like about the insurance argument is in most states it is against the law to be uninsured...
I avoid using the term 'weapon.' I own no 'weapons.' I do own firearms though but I own and possess no 'weapons.'"Why are you carrying your weapon in here?" At least she had sense enough not to call it "that thing."
Your mind is the weapon.mzmtg wrote:I avoid using the term 'weapon.' I own no 'weapons.' I do own firearms though but I own and possess no 'weapons.'"Why are you carrying your weapon in here?" At least she had sense enough not to call it "that thing."
The average 75 IQ member of the public needs to be reprogrammed from the anti-firearm term 'weapon,' to the proper and non-threatening term 'firearm.'
Not sure how many have thought about the use of these two terms and what they do to the psyche of the uninformed. Those in authority who use the term 'weapon' do so to instill and perpetuate fear in the general public and work to create an anti-firearm mentality whenever possible.