HungSquirrel
Regular Member
imported post
Lately I have been openly carrying so often I don't even think about it or get nervous while doing so. I think that is partly due to the fact that while I carry I make it a point to try to wear dress casual clothing and do so with a friend--usually female. I have been doing this in retail stores including Best Buy and Wal-Mart in the Mobile area.
I expected at least a comment from a Wal-Mart associate one of the five times I've carried there over the past three weeks; no one has said a word to me. A police officer even passed me by, although he was much like the vast majority of people in the store: he didn't notice I was carrying. I was once even bold enough to carry openly while wearing jeans and a black Alice in Chains t-shirt; no one in Wal-Mart said a word!
In fact, the only time anyone has said anything about my sidearm was in my own apartment complex. My complex is rather, shall we say, "urban". As I was walking to get the mail, a gentleman in is early-twenties wearing baggy jeans, a loose white t-shirt, and gold chains yelled to me:
"Hey, you a cop?"
"No," I replied.
"Haha! Check it out, he totin'! That muf----- TOTIN'!"
Check it out, I totin'. I think that will be my new slogan.
At any rate, my advice to people planning on probing the OC waters:
-- Dress nicely (at least a polo shirt and khakis). Sure, we all long for the day when everyone will treat all legal OCers in Alabama like human beings regardless of their manner of dress, but people make judgements based on appearances. People are less likely to think you're a hoodlum if you don't dress like a hoodlum.
-- Be confident. Walk with your back straight. Walk around like you belong...like you own the place. It will put you more at ease while OCing, and it will put those who see you at ease.
-- Start small. Before you try OCing in Wal-Mart, walk around your neighborhood. This may help you build confidence as advised above.
-- If you can, bring a friend, also dressed nicely. If you are male, consider bringing a female friend. I think it's less frightening to the sheeple if they see you looking domesticated, even if the lady in question is not your significant other.
-- Be polite with everyone with whom you need to talk. No one at Wal-Mart said anything about my sidearm. It may be partly due to the fact that when I needed to talk with them, I was always polite, pleasant, and smiling. Ask the cashier how her day has been! Don't be a grump!
Of course, all my confidence regarding OC could melt the day a police officer actually notices my sidearm... :what:
Lately I have been openly carrying so often I don't even think about it or get nervous while doing so. I think that is partly due to the fact that while I carry I make it a point to try to wear dress casual clothing and do so with a friend--usually female. I have been doing this in retail stores including Best Buy and Wal-Mart in the Mobile area.
I expected at least a comment from a Wal-Mart associate one of the five times I've carried there over the past three weeks; no one has said a word to me. A police officer even passed me by, although he was much like the vast majority of people in the store: he didn't notice I was carrying. I was once even bold enough to carry openly while wearing jeans and a black Alice in Chains t-shirt; no one in Wal-Mart said a word!
In fact, the only time anyone has said anything about my sidearm was in my own apartment complex. My complex is rather, shall we say, "urban". As I was walking to get the mail, a gentleman in is early-twenties wearing baggy jeans, a loose white t-shirt, and gold chains yelled to me:
"Hey, you a cop?"
"No," I replied.
"Haha! Check it out, he totin'! That muf----- TOTIN'!"
Check it out, I totin'. I think that will be my new slogan.
At any rate, my advice to people planning on probing the OC waters:
-- Dress nicely (at least a polo shirt and khakis). Sure, we all long for the day when everyone will treat all legal OCers in Alabama like human beings regardless of their manner of dress, but people make judgements based on appearances. People are less likely to think you're a hoodlum if you don't dress like a hoodlum.
-- Be confident. Walk with your back straight. Walk around like you belong...like you own the place. It will put you more at ease while OCing, and it will put those who see you at ease.
-- Start small. Before you try OCing in Wal-Mart, walk around your neighborhood. This may help you build confidence as advised above.
-- If you can, bring a friend, also dressed nicely. If you are male, consider bringing a female friend. I think it's less frightening to the sheeple if they see you looking domesticated, even if the lady in question is not your significant other.
-- Be polite with everyone with whom you need to talk. No one at Wal-Mart said anything about my sidearm. It may be partly due to the fact that when I needed to talk with them, I was always polite, pleasant, and smiling. Ask the cashier how her day has been! Don't be a grump!
Of course, all my confidence regarding OC could melt the day a police officer actually notices my sidearm... :what:
