XD Owner
Regular Member
imported post
FYI, the 8th congressional District (Arlington, Alexandria, part of Fairfax and Reston) is the home of Jim Moran (D-VA). He is a semi-notorious gunbanner.
Anyway, decided to start open carrying this summer since it is so hot, and open carry means one less thing to do if I have to draw. Also that shooting at the Jewish Center in Seattle got me motivated to open or conceal carry wherever and whenever I was legally outside my home.
My equipment:
One pair of shorts or jeans;
one brown leather belt by Fossil,
one Fobus SP-11 Holster, right-hand side,
One Springfield XD, 3" Sub-Compact, 9mm, bitone (Condition 3),
shirt, shoes, baseball cap, Maui Jim sunglasses.
So, here is where I have been OC'ing the last few days.
I accompanied my wifeto her orthodontist. No comments by staff or other patients.
Wal-Mart in the Hybla Valley area. Get a snack at the McDonald's inside Wal-Mart. Cashier kind of raised one eyebrow. In the auto accessories area, one man wearing a blaze orange long-sleev shirtasked if I had a permit. Told him I didn't need one. He said that (meaning open carry) is illegal in Texas. I replied, "Thank god, I'm in Virginia. His friend laughed. I left that area and checked out the knives and shotgun ammo. I hear some whisperings by a female employee to her male colleague (gun, corporate policy). She leaves. Guy at counter shows me a tactical knife at my requestand tells me he has no problems with customers open carrying, but that his colleague has gone to get a manager. Then he tells me while I keep trying to figure out how to rapidly open the knife that a manager is nearby, looking me over, and then leaving. Proceed to checkout to meet my wife and go back to my my vehicle. In the parking lot, a young man with Down's Syndrome greets me. I say hello to him. He says kind of loudly, "Hey, he has a gun."
Accompany my wife to a doctor's office. Sign in vehicle at front desk so it will not get towed. Go to office (female staff only.) Look over a hunting magazine (wasn't expecting that). Leave with wife. No comments. Staff displayed just the slightest sign of annoyance, though, sinceI would not give themmy SSN (which is totally different from my health insurance ID number.)
Go to Gilbert's Shooting Range (Lorton, VA.) Of course those guys could care less.
Then decide I need some delicious Wisconsin-style cold custard and proceed to the Dairy Godmother in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. This is it, the bluest part of the 11th Congressional District, a District which voted for John Kerry by a 2-1 margin. Where the entire five-member City Council isDemocrat and probably puked in disbelief when I suggested that they stop fingerprinting people who apply for CHPs. The girl at the counter cheerfully asks me what I would like. I go for a medium Summer Dream on a sugar cone.
Young male co-worker at a table (doing some sort of busywork), looks amazed.
I sit down and devour my post-shooting (at the gun range) treat. I go get a drink of water afterwards and as I leave, I see the guy behind the counter now with the biggest eyes I have seen in a long time. None of the other customers, I guess noticed, except for a little boy who asked his mother, "Why does he have a gun?" I missedhearing a response.
Go to a store on Duke Street. Owner says, "Hey, you're packing! Where do you shoot? I go to Shooter's Paradise in Woodbridge." He goes on some more. I worry that a customer is waiting for the owner and politely leave. Go the Giant on Duke Street to buy some produce. No comments.
And the amazing thing was no one got hurt (pat myself of the back.)
Keep on packing!
FYI, the 8th congressional District (Arlington, Alexandria, part of Fairfax and Reston) is the home of Jim Moran (D-VA). He is a semi-notorious gunbanner.
Anyway, decided to start open carrying this summer since it is so hot, and open carry means one less thing to do if I have to draw. Also that shooting at the Jewish Center in Seattle got me motivated to open or conceal carry wherever and whenever I was legally outside my home.
My equipment:
One pair of shorts or jeans;
one brown leather belt by Fossil,
one Fobus SP-11 Holster, right-hand side,
One Springfield XD, 3" Sub-Compact, 9mm, bitone (Condition 3),
shirt, shoes, baseball cap, Maui Jim sunglasses.
So, here is where I have been OC'ing the last few days.
I accompanied my wifeto her orthodontist. No comments by staff or other patients.
Wal-Mart in the Hybla Valley area. Get a snack at the McDonald's inside Wal-Mart. Cashier kind of raised one eyebrow. In the auto accessories area, one man wearing a blaze orange long-sleev shirtasked if I had a permit. Told him I didn't need one. He said that (meaning open carry) is illegal in Texas. I replied, "Thank god, I'm in Virginia. His friend laughed. I left that area and checked out the knives and shotgun ammo. I hear some whisperings by a female employee to her male colleague (gun, corporate policy). She leaves. Guy at counter shows me a tactical knife at my requestand tells me he has no problems with customers open carrying, but that his colleague has gone to get a manager. Then he tells me while I keep trying to figure out how to rapidly open the knife that a manager is nearby, looking me over, and then leaving. Proceed to checkout to meet my wife and go back to my my vehicle. In the parking lot, a young man with Down's Syndrome greets me. I say hello to him. He says kind of loudly, "Hey, he has a gun."
Accompany my wife to a doctor's office. Sign in vehicle at front desk so it will not get towed. Go to office (female staff only.) Look over a hunting magazine (wasn't expecting that). Leave with wife. No comments. Staff displayed just the slightest sign of annoyance, though, sinceI would not give themmy SSN (which is totally different from my health insurance ID number.)
Go to Gilbert's Shooting Range (Lorton, VA.) Of course those guys could care less.
Then decide I need some delicious Wisconsin-style cold custard and proceed to the Dairy Godmother in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. This is it, the bluest part of the 11th Congressional District, a District which voted for John Kerry by a 2-1 margin. Where the entire five-member City Council isDemocrat and probably puked in disbelief when I suggested that they stop fingerprinting people who apply for CHPs. The girl at the counter cheerfully asks me what I would like. I go for a medium Summer Dream on a sugar cone.
Young male co-worker at a table (doing some sort of busywork), looks amazed.
I sit down and devour my post-shooting (at the gun range) treat. I go get a drink of water afterwards and as I leave, I see the guy behind the counter now with the biggest eyes I have seen in a long time. None of the other customers, I guess noticed, except for a little boy who asked his mother, "Why does he have a gun?" I missedhearing a response.
Go to a store on Duke Street. Owner says, "Hey, you're packing! Where do you shoot? I go to Shooter's Paradise in Woodbridge." He goes on some more. I worry that a customer is waiting for the owner and politely leave. Go the Giant on Duke Street to buy some produce. No comments.
And the amazing thing was no one got hurt (pat myself of the back.)
Keep on packing!