imported post
Good evening, friends. I'm new to OpenCarry.org as well as to the act of open carrying itself.
I live almost RIGHT between Lancaster and Philadelphia in Chester County with my husband and two cats. That's right, I'm a girl.
I also work at a gun shop and spend my spare time talking about, living, breathing, shooting and training with firearms (mostly handguns).
Though I have carried concealed for almost two years, tonight was my very first time open carrying.
The decision came after wearing a heavy sweater to work as a cover garment. Though I work at a gun shop we are required to conceal and while I am usually cold while at work and the sweater wouldn't bother me, today I was very hot and uncomfortable and had to result to taking my sweater off and tying it around my waist, over my gun.
When I got home from work I said to my husband, "Sometimes I'm just so sick of worry about it. I want to just open carry my gun and not have to worrying about whether it's concealed."
My husband replied, "Well, then, go ahead."
I was shocked at his reply as he is a stronger advocate of concealed carry vs. open.
I asked him if he was serious and if he really wouldn't mind and he said it was my decision.
I told him I would like to at least try it, but I wanted to go over PA's laws one more time before we stepped out the front door.
I did a search on the internet and came across this site and was able to print out the brochure provided in reguards to PA's laws on open carrying (thank you very much, by the way).
So, I familiarized myself with the laws (again) and off we headed to the Gap Diner for dinner.
As I stepped out of the vehicle I was extremely nervous. One-hundred times more nervous than my first day of concealed carry.
I know a couple people saw while we were being seated and I was very nervous.
We actually got moved about halfway through our meal and a couple more people saw me and my Kimber Ultra CDP, complete with spare mag pouch and spare mag as we made our way to the other side of the restraunt.
Picture:
As an older couple was leaving, the man stopped by our table and asked me if I was a plain clothes police officer.
I said that I was not.
He said, "Well, you must be some kind of Law Enforcement, right?"
I said, "No."
He said, "Is it a lighter?"
My husband laughed and said, "No, it's very real and perfectly legal."
I added, "It's for self defense."
He smiled and said, "In this day, you NEED it. Have a good night," and left.
I was happy that my first encounter was a good one, but I was recieving some less than plesant stares by other patrons.
I put my sweater back on for our trip to Hollywood Video.
It was a bittersweet evening, and something I'll definatly have to get used to if I continue to do it more. I decided to join here to maybe get some information, and maybe share some stories or meet some people in my area who have more experience with open carry than I do.
It's good to be here.
Good evening, friends. I'm new to OpenCarry.org as well as to the act of open carrying itself.
I live almost RIGHT between Lancaster and Philadelphia in Chester County with my husband and two cats. That's right, I'm a girl.
I also work at a gun shop and spend my spare time talking about, living, breathing, shooting and training with firearms (mostly handguns).Though I have carried concealed for almost two years, tonight was my very first time open carrying.
The decision came after wearing a heavy sweater to work as a cover garment. Though I work at a gun shop we are required to conceal and while I am usually cold while at work and the sweater wouldn't bother me, today I was very hot and uncomfortable and had to result to taking my sweater off and tying it around my waist, over my gun.
When I got home from work I said to my husband, "Sometimes I'm just so sick of worry about it. I want to just open carry my gun and not have to worrying about whether it's concealed."
My husband replied, "Well, then, go ahead."
I was shocked at his reply as he is a stronger advocate of concealed carry vs. open.
I asked him if he was serious and if he really wouldn't mind and he said it was my decision.
I told him I would like to at least try it, but I wanted to go over PA's laws one more time before we stepped out the front door.
I did a search on the internet and came across this site and was able to print out the brochure provided in reguards to PA's laws on open carrying (thank you very much, by the way).
So, I familiarized myself with the laws (again) and off we headed to the Gap Diner for dinner.
As I stepped out of the vehicle I was extremely nervous. One-hundred times more nervous than my first day of concealed carry.
I know a couple people saw while we were being seated and I was very nervous.
We actually got moved about halfway through our meal and a couple more people saw me and my Kimber Ultra CDP, complete with spare mag pouch and spare mag as we made our way to the other side of the restraunt.
Picture:
As an older couple was leaving, the man stopped by our table and asked me if I was a plain clothes police officer.
I said that I was not.
He said, "Well, you must be some kind of Law Enforcement, right?"
I said, "No."
He said, "Is it a lighter?"
My husband laughed and said, "No, it's very real and perfectly legal."
I added, "It's for self defense."
He smiled and said, "In this day, you NEED it. Have a good night," and left.
I was happy that my first encounter was a good one, but I was recieving some less than plesant stares by other patrons.
I put my sweater back on for our trip to Hollywood Video.
It was a bittersweet evening, and something I'll definatly have to get used to if I continue to do it more. I decided to join here to maybe get some information, and maybe share some stories or meet some people in my area who have more experience with open carry than I do.
It's good to be here.
