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Best Open Carry Experiance.. EVER!

G27

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
573
Location
Kitsap County, Washington, USA
imported post

Ok, so tonight I got off work and I wanted to go eat. So I asked my two friends if they'd like to come over to Shari's with me. So they got there first and got a table. As I pulled in I saw not one, not two, not three, but FOUR state patrol cars in the lot all lined up. I figured to myself, well this is either going to go bad or very bad. But I still said screw it, I knew the law was on my side and I didn't care. So I tightened my belt and made sure it was extremely visible. I walked in and wouldn't you know I had to walk by all 6 state patrol officers to sit at my table? I walked by and they didn't even bat an eye, and I know they saw it. I sat at my table and was a bit shaky. Not sure why! So I went to the bathroom and walked by them again just for good measure, just to see if they would say anything, negative or not. Nothing was sad. Needless to say if I can walk past 6 state patrol officers and not one of them say a word, I think Kitsap County is by far safe enough to openly, open carry. So Kitsap residents, strap those sidearms to your side proudly! :celebrate:monkey
 

eBratt

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2006
Messages
271
Location
Fort Collins Area, CO
imported post

Wow, I'll say that deserves a bit of celebration. And to think I was nervous OCing on my motorcycle on highway 3 because I wasn't sure how the WASPs would react.
 

glock23

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
81
Location
Clark County, Washington, USA
imported post

People should not fear their goverment but, rather their goverment should fear them.

I forgot who made that quote so if you know post it please, It couldnt be more true.



Good job on theopen carry you have more balls then me.

I have been pulled over by WSPtwice (seatbelt, I know)and theytook my mag once and the secound timemy gun. Guess I will not inform them I have a gun again because they decided to be a turd...... Dont getmewrong I have a lotof respect for LEO'sbut takeing my gun and mag after I'm upfront with you and you have my CPL they I will not disclose....sorry for going on a rant.
 

jchen012

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2006
Messages
144
Location
Bellevue, WA, ,
imported post

Congrats G27! It must have felt good to walk by 6 troopers and have nothing happen! (which is the way it should be)

As for LEOs taking your gun during traffic stops... I feel your pain... Respect is a 2 way street.
 

dng

State Researcher
Joined
May 25, 2007
Messages
1,290
Location
, , USA
imported post

WTG G27! I too am somewhat nervous when OCing around LEOs, even though I know it is perfectly legal. I've never had any trouble, but some of the stories you hear about have a way of putting me on my guard. It's great to hear they didn't bother you at all! Keep on carrying!
 

gregma

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
618
Location
Redmond, Washington, USA
imported post

ixtow wrote:
glock23 wrote:
I have been pulled over by WSPtwice (seatbelt, I know)and theytook my mag once and the secound timemy gun. Guess I will not inform them I have a gun again because they decided to be a turd...... Dont getmewrong I have a lotof respect for LEO'sbut takeing my gun and mag after I'm upfront with you and you have my CPL they I will not disclose....sorry for going on a rant.

I was asked "why do you have this?" when I handed him my permit, out of courtesy. Something I didn't have to do. I was asked to tell him where it was, so he might take it 'for his safety.' I told him, "unless you have a concrete reason why you feel a terry stop (he perked right up when he heard me use those 2 words) is validated here, no." He raised his voice and once I heard "...there's no reason for a decent person to have this..." I stopped listeningand just blurted out "Am I being detained?" He gave me a dirty look, walked back to is cruiser, came back with the ticket some 20 minutes later, and said nothing more than "sign here" and left.
Did you file a complaint with IA, or the department?
 

gregma

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
618
Location
Redmond, Washington, USA
imported post

ixtow wrote:
glock23 wrote:
I have been pulled over by WSPtwice (seatbelt, I know)and theytook my mag once and the secound timemy gun. Guess I will not inform them I have a gun again because they decided to be a turd...... Dont getmewrong I have a lotof respect for LEO'sbut takeing my gun and mag after I'm upfront with you and you have my CPL they I will not disclose....sorry for going on a rant.
so he might take it 'for his safety.'
You know, I haven't been disarmed yet, but I'm thinking I might try saying the following when asked to disarm for "their safety"...

"With all due respect, the safest place for my sidearm is securely in it's holster. Accidents can't happen if you aren't handling it."

Might not work, might get their gun drawn on me, but I'm going to try it at least.
 

Pa. Patriot

State Researcher
Joined
May 4, 2007
Messages
1,441
Location
Just a "wannabe" in Mtn. Top, Pennsylvania, USA
imported post

Good job G27. And thanks for the report.
In a forum like this we tend to hear more negative stories and reports dealing with LEO than positive.
The positives outweiht the negatives, they just don't get reported due to the nature of the forum. Most LEO know the laws, it's the few that don't that make for all the interesting reading here :)
 

glock23

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
81
Location
Clark County, Washington, USA
imported post

The time that the WSP Trooper took my mag he told me to take it out of the gun, to which I replyed "I do not feel safe reaching for the butt of a gun and giving you my mag" he told me to do it anyway. As I was doing this he put his hand onhis gun and I SLOWLYgave him my mag. It was all pointless consideringI hadone in the chamber still and I had an extra mag on me and another magin my car. No I did not file a complaint with WSP I didn't want to look like a complainer who is upset he got a seatbelt ticket so now hes looking at getting back and I thought the trooper might be just following a policy. That has changed!

Other then that SUPPORT your local Police agency they have a tuff JOB!



sorry for the Hi Jack, you can slap me later.
 

G27

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
573
Location
Kitsap County, Washington, USA
imported post

Thanks, guys! I just wanted to show you that not every cop is a dick and that a majority of them do know the law, and most probably (maybe going out on a limb here) support you guys. Anyway, it was a great OC experiance to say the least.
 

USN_MA1

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
154
Location
, Washington, USA
imported post

That was a great experience. I have to say, after my little stint out the other day I really don't feel to worried about OCing anywhere. Well, maybe one place. My barber. She is one of my Supervisor's wife. We talk guns and sheknows I carry (cc) but I don't know how the others would take it. Every other customer in there is a cop anyway, all friends of hers...

She is gun friendly, mind you, but I don't know the owner. I just don't want to make anything awkward for her.

My paranoia stems from the lack of good barbers at my disposal. She is not the cheapest, but the best one I have ever had. That is what is really important to me...:p
 

amlevin

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
5,937
Location
North of Seattle, Washington, USA
imported post

dngreer wrote:
WTG G27! I too am somewhat nervous when OCing around LEOs,
Why? If you aren't doing anything wrong why are you allowing them to intimidate you in your own mind?

Smile, walk on, and carry proudly! If you stay cool, there won't be any issues.



Sometimes, it is like the old saying that "an animal can sense your fear". Sometimes, your unease arounc a LEO can trigger his interest in you. It IS part of their survival mechanism, after all.
 

dng

State Researcher
Joined
May 25, 2007
Messages
1,290
Location
, , USA
imported post

amlevin wrote:
dngreer wrote:
WTG G27! I too am somewhat nervous when OCing around LEOs,
Why? If you aren't doing anything wrong why are you allowing them to intimidate you in your own mind?

Smile, walk on, and carry proudly! If you stay cool, there won't be any issues.



Sometimes, it is like the old saying that "an animal can sense your fear". Sometimes, your unease arounc a LEO can trigger his interest in you. It IS part of their survival mechanism, after all.

I know I am doing nothing wrong, and I am not allowing them to intimidate me. I do "Smile, walk on, and carry proudly". I do stay cool, and I have not had any problems. I do not let the LEO see that I am nervous. What I was saying is that for me, it is natural for my heart rate to go up when carrying around a LEO because I am still relatively new at OCing and because of the stereotype some LEOs have of gun carrying citizens. When around LEOs I realize that this might be time I have to stand up and defend my right to carry, and I still don't have all the gun laws memorized. I could be put on the spot and have to be able to sound educated on this issue without coming off as a smart aleck. This could be a really bad example, so forgive me if it is, but it is similar to the feeling I used to get before a game in high school. I knew what I was doing was right, I knew I could do it, but it was time to "perform". When confronted by a LEO, it would be time to "perform." Hopefully you understand what I am trying to explain.

I would venture to guess that everyone who has OCed has gone through the same thing. I'm sure I'll be more relaxed with time, but I am still learning right now. Give me some time and I'm sure I'll be able to keep my heart rate at normal in a few months. :D I am not running and hiding, just getting more comfortable with OC.
 

amlevin

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
5,937
Location
North of Seattle, Washington, USA
imported post

dngreer wrote:
amlevin wrote:
dngreer wrote:
WTG G27! I too am somewhat nervous when OCing around LEOs,
Why? If you aren't doing anything wrong why are you allowing them to intimidate you in your own mind?

Smile, walk on, and carry proudly! If you stay cool, there won't be any issues.



Sometimes, it is like the old saying that "an animal can sense your fear". Sometimes, your unease arounc a LEO can trigger his interest in you. It IS part of their survival mechanism, after all.

I know I am doing nothing wrong, and I am not allowing them to intimidate me. I do "Smile, walk on, and carry proudly". I do stay cool, and I have not had any problems. I do not let the LEO see that I am nervous. What I was saying is that for me, it is natural for my heart rate to go up when carrying around a LEO because I am still relatively new at OCing and because of the stereotype some LEOs have of gun carrying citizens. When around LEOs I realize that this might be time I have to stand up and defend my right to carry, and I still don't have all the gun laws memorized. I could be put on the spot and have to be able to sound educated on this issue without coming off as a smart aleck. This could be a really bad example, so forgive me if it is, but it is similar to the feeling I used to get before a game in high school. I knew what I was doing was right, I knew I could do it, but it was time to "perform". When confronted by a LEO, it would be time to "perform." Hopefully you understand what I am trying to explain.

I would venture to guess that everyone who has OCed has gone through the same thing. I'm sure I'll be more relaxed with time, but I am still learning right now. Give me some time and I'm sure I'll be able to keep my heart rate at normal in a few months. :D I am not running and hiding, just getting more comfortable with OC.

I can appreciate what you are saying. Let me offer the following:



First and foremost, if what you are doing is right and legal you should never feel like you will have to defend your actions. Under the American system of Justice, it is up to them to prove you were doing something wrong.

Second is that because you are given the right to carry a gun under both the Bill of Rights AND the State Constitution (Washington, in this case), that is all the information you need to remember.

The only laws you truly need to remember are those that deal with prohibited areas or unlawful use.



When you no longer allow the LEO's presence to cause your heart rate to increase you will have it made. Your gun will be as comfortable on your person as a well worn pair of jeans.
 

gregma

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
618
Location
Redmond, Washington, USA
imported post

amlevin wrote:
dngreer wrote:
WTG G27! I too am somewhat nervous when OCing around LEOs,
Why? If you aren't doing anything wrong why are you allowing them to intimidate you in your own mind?

Smile, walk on, and carry proudly! If you stay cool, there won't be any issues.



Sometimes, it is like the old saying that "an animal can sense your fear". Sometimes, your unease arounc a LEO can trigger his interest in you. It IS part of their survival mechanism, after all.
I think I can answer that, at least for me. Because even though I am not doing anything illegal. Even though I have the law on my side...

You can only win your case AFTER...

1. You get put on the ground, need in the back or on the head.
2. Your arms are put behind your back and handcuffs applied.
3. You are put on a hard plastic seat with your arms behind your back.
4. You are fingerprinted, mug shot, given up everything.
5. You are strip searched, and given ill fitting clothes.
6. You are escorted to a cell with rapists, drug dealers, murderers, etc.
7. You sit in there, if you are not a rich microsoftie, until you can get your court appointed lawyer to get you released which can take several days.
8. You lose your job because you haven't shown up for several days.
9. THEN you get your day in court.

And that's not the worse that can happen, that's only the second worse. The worse has the officers gun pointed at you when it accidentally "goes off".

Truth be told they do have ultimate power "out there" no matter what anyone thinks. You can be arrested for anything, at any time. And I seriously doubt the ACLU will be running to give "one of those gun nuts" free lawering.

Does that stop me from OC'ing? Absolutely not. I will not cower in fear. However, I am also not burying my head in the sand. I know what can happen and am ready to deal with it. It still makes my heart skip a few beats when I see an LEO and I don't know their intentions.

Call me cowardly if you wish, I'll call it being a realist.
 

G27

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
573
Location
Kitsap County, Washington, USA
imported post

Oh don't get me wrong trying to play Mr. Cool. After I sat down my hand was literally shaking. It was rush. There is just something about carrying openly around other people who openly carry, and who just happen to be LEO's. haha. :lol:
 
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