eBratt
Regular Member
imported post
Wife needed a few items from the paint section and I needed to check some prices on a few other items, so we made a stop at Home Depot. I was dressed in blue jeans, and a blue fleece pullover with my XD9 4" service model in a CQC Serpa, right side and had my wife and two kids with me.
Finished in the paint area and stopped to look at a new model refridgerator that caught our eye as we were moving through the store. While looking, I noticed a man approaching me from my right hand side. I turned and greeted him. He seemed a bit befuddled as to how to start the conversation and finally said something along the lines of "your gun."
I asked him what he meant and he asked if I had a permit for it. I indicated that no permit was necessary for open carry in Washington. He then indicated that he was concerned about it and indicated he was with Home Depot's security department.
He proceeded to indicate to me that my gun made him very uncomfortable and that he was concerned about it. I asked him why it made him uncomfortable and he responded that he was concerned about the safety of the store and his own personal safety and expressed a preference that I leave my weapon in the car. I expressed some empathy for his concern about personal safety and mentioned the recent shootings in Nebraska and Colorado and noted that those are the same reasons that I carry.
At this point he seemed to relax a bit. My daughter then screamed that she needed to use the potty, so I told my wife to go ahead and take the kids to the bathroom and that I would follow. The security guy and I then followed her at a leisurely pace just chatting. He commented on my holster and knew it was a Serpa. We chatteda about XDs (he has a 40), holsters, etc. His history, as he related it, is in Navy Military Police. He CCWs while off the clock and is prohibited from carrying at work.
I steered the conversation back to the immediate situation as my wife was checking out. I asked him about the contact and asked whether he was insisting I cover up or come in disarmed. He indicated that he would prefer that I would do that. I asked him what he meant by that comment and he explained that the safety department needs to take measure to make the store as safe as possible. I asked if that was his personal opinion or if it was store policy. He himmed and hawed and vaguely pointed out that it wasn't store policy. Having a foggy recollection that Home Depot followed state law on firearms (like Wal*Mart), I took a stab at it and indicated that such was my understanding. He then confirmed that my belief was correct. I reiterated that OC was legal as per Washington law and asked him whether I would be ejected from the store should I come in again. He said that I would not be ejected but that he would probably follow me around like he had during this encounter.
I pointed out to him the logic behind peaceful OCers being the ones you really don't need to worry about and explained that there are a number of us (it may be a small number, but a number none the less) that carry here on the Kitsap peninsula and that he will most likely encounter others. He acknowledged that and indicated that he would rather have contact with them and get a feel for them himself. I thanked him for his overall courteous approach, shook his hands, and exchanged names (his is Chuck).
He then continued to walk and chat with me and my family as we headed to our vehicle. He wished us a Merry Christmas and headed back in the store.
So, all in all, a pretty fair encounter. I was not expressly asked to cover up, was not ejected from the store, and was not asked to not return. He was polite and I enjoyed our talk about guns (his "baby" is a Desert Eagle). He is pretty easily recognizable (both ears are pierced, small blue hoops) and was rough shaven. Again, his name is Chuck. All in all seemed like a nice guy.
Now, I did neglect two things...first, I meant to drop the OCDO webpage reference with him and didn't and then I didn't ask how long he's been there as I (and others) have been OCing there for a while with no encounters at all. Family, myself included, is just getting over the flu, so I'll chalk it up to that.
Anyway, I will continue to OC at Home Depot. Looks like I'll get to know Chuck a bit better too.
Wife needed a few items from the paint section and I needed to check some prices on a few other items, so we made a stop at Home Depot. I was dressed in blue jeans, and a blue fleece pullover with my XD9 4" service model in a CQC Serpa, right side and had my wife and two kids with me.
Finished in the paint area and stopped to look at a new model refridgerator that caught our eye as we were moving through the store. While looking, I noticed a man approaching me from my right hand side. I turned and greeted him. He seemed a bit befuddled as to how to start the conversation and finally said something along the lines of "your gun."
I asked him what he meant and he asked if I had a permit for it. I indicated that no permit was necessary for open carry in Washington. He then indicated that he was concerned about it and indicated he was with Home Depot's security department.
He proceeded to indicate to me that my gun made him very uncomfortable and that he was concerned about it. I asked him why it made him uncomfortable and he responded that he was concerned about the safety of the store and his own personal safety and expressed a preference that I leave my weapon in the car. I expressed some empathy for his concern about personal safety and mentioned the recent shootings in Nebraska and Colorado and noted that those are the same reasons that I carry.
At this point he seemed to relax a bit. My daughter then screamed that she needed to use the potty, so I told my wife to go ahead and take the kids to the bathroom and that I would follow. The security guy and I then followed her at a leisurely pace just chatting. He commented on my holster and knew it was a Serpa. We chatteda about XDs (he has a 40), holsters, etc. His history, as he related it, is in Navy Military Police. He CCWs while off the clock and is prohibited from carrying at work.
I steered the conversation back to the immediate situation as my wife was checking out. I asked him about the contact and asked whether he was insisting I cover up or come in disarmed. He indicated that he would prefer that I would do that. I asked him what he meant by that comment and he explained that the safety department needs to take measure to make the store as safe as possible. I asked if that was his personal opinion or if it was store policy. He himmed and hawed and vaguely pointed out that it wasn't store policy. Having a foggy recollection that Home Depot followed state law on firearms (like Wal*Mart), I took a stab at it and indicated that such was my understanding. He then confirmed that my belief was correct. I reiterated that OC was legal as per Washington law and asked him whether I would be ejected from the store should I come in again. He said that I would not be ejected but that he would probably follow me around like he had during this encounter.
I pointed out to him the logic behind peaceful OCers being the ones you really don't need to worry about and explained that there are a number of us (it may be a small number, but a number none the less) that carry here on the Kitsap peninsula and that he will most likely encounter others. He acknowledged that and indicated that he would rather have contact with them and get a feel for them himself. I thanked him for his overall courteous approach, shook his hands, and exchanged names (his is Chuck).
He then continued to walk and chat with me and my family as we headed to our vehicle. He wished us a Merry Christmas and headed back in the store.
So, all in all, a pretty fair encounter. I was not expressly asked to cover up, was not ejected from the store, and was not asked to not return. He was polite and I enjoyed our talk about guns (his "baby" is a Desert Eagle). He is pretty easily recognizable (both ears are pierced, small blue hoops) and was rough shaven. Again, his name is Chuck. All in all seemed like a nice guy.
Now, I did neglect two things...first, I meant to drop the OCDO webpage reference with him and didn't and then I didn't ask how long he's been there as I (and others) have been OCing there for a while with no encounters at all. Family, myself included, is just getting over the flu, so I'll chalk it up to that.
Anyway, I will continue to OC at Home Depot. Looks like I'll get to know Chuck a bit better too.
Why just today I spent about 60 minutes trying to find crap at HD, and as I wondered isle after isle I never saw a single customer service agent (or whatever they call them these days).
