lcamino1984
Regular Member
imported post
Let me start off by saying that I have a lot of respect for you guys who are practicing open carry. I have been carrying concealed for a while and I have learned a lot from the people on this board in regards to the respectful practice of a very important right. I decided tonight that I would open carry for the first time and while the results could have been much worse, they were not positive.
I have been in the market to purchase a couple of new revolvers and I called up to the Silver Bullet in Grand Rapids to see if they had the models I was interested in. Usually they have decent service and they have guns in stock. I was in luck and they did have what I was looking for. I decided that this would be as good a time as any to try open carry for the first time.
I headed over to the place after work with my 642 in my blackhawk holster and they had the guns I had called about all ready for me. I filled out the paperwork, gave the salesman my license and CPL and he suggested I have a look around the store because the paperwork would take a while to fill out. While I was milling about another salesman came over to me and told me that Open Carry was not allowed and I either had to conceal it or lock it in my car. I said "Oh, so only your employees are allowed to open carry?" He said "Yes, only employees." I went to the counter, told the salesman that I had just been kicked out for open carry and that he should cancel the paperwork. He said he was sorry, and I left.
When I got back outside I realized they still had my credit card number (because I had placed a hold on the guns over the phone) so I decided to go back in and get that paper with my card number on it. I thankfully still had my pocket holser in my vehicle, so I converted to pocket carry and went back in with my blackhawk empty. When I walked back in the door 5 of the salesmen were gatherered around the counter talking about me (I know this because one of them said "there he is" and pointed at me). I asked for my paper and the salesman who was helping me earlier said something to the effect that I could now buy those guns that I wasn't carrying mine. I respectfully told him "I'd rather not give you my money if it's all the same to you." As he was handing me my credit card sheet I told him that I had previously bought all my guns from the Silver Bullet and would probably not be back. I guess they didn't want my $1500+.
I have never been kicked out of any place before, and it was very humiliating and embarrasing.
I then had dinner at the Trends Cafe in Caledonia with my 642 back in the blackhawk and no one seemed to notice or care.
So, the tally for the two businesses I visited while open carrying:
Gun store: Kicked out, purchase canceled
Family Resturant: Excelent food and service, no one seems to notice or care, big tip.
So, I guess I just have a few quesitons:
1) Is there a ligitimate reason to not allow open carry at a gun store, and if so, what is it and why are the employees exempt?
2) Is this normal, are most (supposedly) pro-gun people anti-OC?
3) Anyone know of a FFL in SW Michigan who doesn't have a problem with OC? I'm still in the market for those revolvers.
Edit:
Please see the resolution of this issue
Click Here for Resoultion
Let me start off by saying that I have a lot of respect for you guys who are practicing open carry. I have been carrying concealed for a while and I have learned a lot from the people on this board in regards to the respectful practice of a very important right. I decided tonight that I would open carry for the first time and while the results could have been much worse, they were not positive.
I have been in the market to purchase a couple of new revolvers and I called up to the Silver Bullet in Grand Rapids to see if they had the models I was interested in. Usually they have decent service and they have guns in stock. I was in luck and they did have what I was looking for. I decided that this would be as good a time as any to try open carry for the first time.
I headed over to the place after work with my 642 in my blackhawk holster and they had the guns I had called about all ready for me. I filled out the paperwork, gave the salesman my license and CPL and he suggested I have a look around the store because the paperwork would take a while to fill out. While I was milling about another salesman came over to me and told me that Open Carry was not allowed and I either had to conceal it or lock it in my car. I said "Oh, so only your employees are allowed to open carry?" He said "Yes, only employees." I went to the counter, told the salesman that I had just been kicked out for open carry and that he should cancel the paperwork. He said he was sorry, and I left.
When I got back outside I realized they still had my credit card number (because I had placed a hold on the guns over the phone) so I decided to go back in and get that paper with my card number on it. I thankfully still had my pocket holser in my vehicle, so I converted to pocket carry and went back in with my blackhawk empty. When I walked back in the door 5 of the salesmen were gatherered around the counter talking about me (I know this because one of them said "there he is" and pointed at me). I asked for my paper and the salesman who was helping me earlier said something to the effect that I could now buy those guns that I wasn't carrying mine. I respectfully told him "I'd rather not give you my money if it's all the same to you." As he was handing me my credit card sheet I told him that I had previously bought all my guns from the Silver Bullet and would probably not be back. I guess they didn't want my $1500+.
I have never been kicked out of any place before, and it was very humiliating and embarrasing.
I then had dinner at the Trends Cafe in Caledonia with my 642 back in the blackhawk and no one seemed to notice or care.
So, the tally for the two businesses I visited while open carrying:
Gun store: Kicked out, purchase canceled
Family Resturant: Excelent food and service, no one seems to notice or care, big tip.
So, I guess I just have a few quesitons:
1) Is there a ligitimate reason to not allow open carry at a gun store, and if so, what is it and why are the employees exempt?
2) Is this normal, are most (supposedly) pro-gun people anti-OC?
3) Anyone know of a FFL in SW Michigan who doesn't have a problem with OC? I'm still in the market for those revolvers.
Edit:
Please see the resolution of this issue
Click Here for Resoultion