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NoVA (Northern Virginia) - OC reports

sjhipple

Regular Member
Joined
May 31, 2007
Messages
1,491
Location
Concord, New Hampshire, USA
imported post

unrequited wrote:
Be very careful to give off a "good" vibe... recent 7-11 robbery puts us in a whole new light and I'm sure word's going around their internal communication chain to keep on the look out too:

http://www.alextimes.com/article.asp?article=7259&paper=1&cat=155
Stories like this one make it that much more important to show that there are good, law-abiding people who carry.
 

AbNo

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2007
Messages
3,805
Location
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
imported post

Popeye's in Centreville(?) in, made my order, and left.

I got a nasty look from some guy that looked like a manager that would never climb higher in life than managing fast food, but judging by how the workers reacted when he walked by, I got the feeling he gave everyone that look.

Mmm, spicy chicken. :celebrate
 

Tess

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2006
Messages
3,837
Location
Bryan, TX
imported post

9/1 - Springfield Mall
-- JC Penney - tried on lots of clothes and talked to many salespeople. No issues at all.
-- PayLess Shoes (manchild is now outfitted for school) , no reaction
-- Coming down the escalator, back in JCP, on our way out, a couple in front of me gave me several disgusted looks. They were too far away even for a nod and a "good day", so no discussions.

Catherine's (plus size clothes) - once again I was appalled by their attitude toward someone who wanted to spend money - it was my last time in there. They've never had an issue with my sidearm, but their sales staff has ticked me off over other things.

Then down to Dawsons, where I found two magazines for my Bersa 9mm (W00T!) and spousal unit bought a 2-shot 410/45 for a backup gun.

I think we need a bigger gun safe.
 

Kendo_Bunny

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
86
Location
Haymarket, VA, ,
imported post

Tess- I've had that experience at Catherine's before, and I wasn't even armed. The one in Manassas is a little nicer, but you get much friendlier sales people at Layne Bryant.

Okay, back to the issue at hand. Just 53 more days until I can OC around NoVA, Manassas-Gainesville-Haymarket area.
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
imported post

Another pleasant OC encounter today in a 7-Eleven. Just as I was getting in the car to leave, a customer who had been in line with me drove up to me and asked what a citizen had to do in order to be able to carry a sidearm. It was a friendly inquiry. He was really surprised when I told him. We chatted for about ten minutes.
 

swatpro911

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2006
Messages
418
Location
Home of the Heros, Virginia, USA
imported post

Fox wrote:
Over the past month I've begun open carrying as it's just too hot to carry concealed. To reduce any problems that might occur while doing so this far north, legal or otherwise I tend to dress better while doing so.

Over the month I've patronized the following establishments with absolutely no problems or questions raised.

Home Depot
Shoppers Food
Jerry's Subs & Pizza
Microcenter
7-11
Noodles & Company

The 7-11 was the only one I felt a little uneasy about, but then, who doesn't feel uneasy going into a 7-11?
It was late at night, I was drowsy and had to go to a movie. I decided to stop in to pick up one of those 5-hour energy drinks. As I pulled up the only available parking spot was right next to a George Mason University patrol car. I shrugged and pulled up. I noticed the officer was sitting in the drivers seat as I turned off my car, got out and went in the store. I should have put two and two together but it hadn't struck me that if all the parking spots were full there would be a lot of people in the 7-11. Got in line behind something like 8 people. Few others roaming the tiny store. Paid, thanked the clerk, told him to have a nice weekend, and exited. The GMU LEO was outside his car infront of the vehicle on the sidewalk, talking into his radio and looking at me as I exited. I glanced at him while I walked to my car, got in and drove off.
If you go to a 7-11 after dark, make eye contac with the cashier and smile. break the eye contact and go about your business and buy the item and during checkout u may say something fun related and when u leave u may say "aight have a good one" smile a little. Criminals dont smile they always have "screw face" just for u to know
 

FogRider

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
1,412
Location
Centennial, Colorado, USA
imported post

swatpro911 wrote:
Fox wrote:
Over the past month I've begun open carrying as it's just too hot to carry concealed. To reduce any problems that might occur while doing so this far north, legal or otherwise I tend to dress better while doing so.

Over the month I've patronized the following establishments with absolutely no problems or questions raised.

Home Depot
Shoppers Food
Jerry's Subs & Pizza
Microcenter
7-11
Noodles & Company

The 7-11 was the only one I felt a little uneasy about, but then, who doesn't feel uneasy going into a 7-11?
It was late at night, I was drowsy and had to go to a movie. I decided to stop in to pick up one of those 5-hour energy drinks. As I pulled up the only available parking spot was right next to a George Mason University patrol car. I shrugged and pulled up. I noticed the officer was sitting in the drivers seat as I turned off my car, got out and went in the store. I should have put two and two together but it hadn't struck me that if all the parking spots were full there would be a lot of people in the 7-11. Got in line behind something like 8 people. Few others roaming the tiny store. Paid, thanked the clerk, told him to have a nice weekend, and exited. The GMU LEO was outside his car infront of the vehicle on the sidewalk, talking into his radio and looking at me as I exited. I glanced at him while I walked to my car, got in and drove off.
If you go to a 7-11 after dark, make eye contac with the cashier and smile. break the eye contact and go about your business and buy the item and during checkout u may say something fun related and when u leave u may say "aight have a good one" smile a little. Criminals dont smile they always have "screw face" just for u to know
Easy enough for me. Got a kinda grim look on my face most of the time, but thats just my face. Say something to me and I perk right up and am relatively pleasant.
 

BobCav

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
2,798
Location
No longer in Alexandria, Egypt
imported post

Past weekend in 7-11, two FCPD there. Got my two bottles of soda, my strong side was facing them and I honestly don't even think they noticed. Walked home peacefully.

Yesterday OC'ed with my daughter in Springfield Mall. Non event all around.
 

Tess

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2006
Messages
3,837
Location
Bryan, TX
imported post

9/16 - Fisher Hardware - They're so used to seeing us OC in there I think they'd tell anyone who complained to go find another store.

Staples - US1 in the Mt Vernon Plaza (I think that's it - it's the Home Depot plaza). Not even any second glances
 

bohdi

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
1,753
Location
Centreville, Virginia, USA
imported post

Sunoco in Manassas of PWC PKWY, cheapest gas. Had a young man give me a bunch of long stares and inform his parents that I was carrying - obvious by gesturing and stares - but nothing other than that.
 
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