Swamp Fox
New member
imported post
I have carried concealed for over 38 years, but had never carried openly until this week. As Colorado will no longer recognize my non-resident FL and UT permits and has never recognized my Iowa permit, I decided to try open carry. Over three days, I carried my Para-Ordnance P-1245 and a spare magazine OWB everywhere I went. I drove from Eagle to the Franktown area and back. (I did know enough not to stop in Denver!) I stopped at two gas stations, several convenience stores and restaurants (take-out) and a couple of hotels in Eagle, Beaver Creek, Frisco, Castle Rock and Franktown. Most people I encountered had no discernible reaction (many probably didn't even notice), though a few seemed to get a slightly puzzled look on their faces. Only one person remarked on my pistol. A young man who was checking into the hotel at the same time I was asked me "What are you packing?" He told me he wanted to get a CCW in Colorado and that his dad had one in Virginia. I quickly explained that OC is legal in CO and why I was doing it. We didn't have time for a real conversation, but I think he was definitely more interested in CCW than OC. However, I count it as a positive encounter.
The real OC test for me was when I carried at the Eagle Airport. (Not in the airline terminal, but at the general aviation terminal and ramp.) I debated about doing it and whether it might not be over the line, but went ahead. The two guys who fueled my plane didn't comment on the pistol to me, but I wondered if they might not report it to their boss when they returned to the office. Once I was done working around my plane, I went into the terminal to return my rental car. As it was a weekday and business was slow, there were no other customers in the lobby. As I spoke with one of the customer service representatives at the counter, I noticed a uniformed policeman walk out of the back room (where the fuel guys were hanging out). While I continued to speak with the CSR, he approached to within about eight feet and gave me a couple of long looks, but he never said a word. On the other hand, the CSR told me her dad would LOVE to have an NRA shirt like the one I was wearing! She definitely had to see I was wearing a gun, but didn't show any reaction. Neither did her co-worker.
Frankly, I thought I might get some grief over carrying on the airport, even though I thought it was legal. The Transportation Security Agency has been getting pretty high handed lately...
I have traveled in every state and have never seen citizens open carrying except in Arizona. I have certainly never observed OC at an airport. I know some pilots carry concealed and many hunters carry their long guns in private planes, but they are always cased (and presumably unloaded.)
Perhaps I was just luck, but I felt OC in Colorado was a very positive experience. I will be back in Colorado for a few days next week. I will be in Ft. Collins, Castle Rock and Franktown for certain and maybe will have a chance to get back up into the mountains for a couple of days. I am looking forward to it!
I have carried concealed for over 38 years, but had never carried openly until this week. As Colorado will no longer recognize my non-resident FL and UT permits and has never recognized my Iowa permit, I decided to try open carry. Over three days, I carried my Para-Ordnance P-1245 and a spare magazine OWB everywhere I went. I drove from Eagle to the Franktown area and back. (I did know enough not to stop in Denver!) I stopped at two gas stations, several convenience stores and restaurants (take-out) and a couple of hotels in Eagle, Beaver Creek, Frisco, Castle Rock and Franktown. Most people I encountered had no discernible reaction (many probably didn't even notice), though a few seemed to get a slightly puzzled look on their faces. Only one person remarked on my pistol. A young man who was checking into the hotel at the same time I was asked me "What are you packing?" He told me he wanted to get a CCW in Colorado and that his dad had one in Virginia. I quickly explained that OC is legal in CO and why I was doing it. We didn't have time for a real conversation, but I think he was definitely more interested in CCW than OC. However, I count it as a positive encounter.
The real OC test for me was when I carried at the Eagle Airport. (Not in the airline terminal, but at the general aviation terminal and ramp.) I debated about doing it and whether it might not be over the line, but went ahead. The two guys who fueled my plane didn't comment on the pistol to me, but I wondered if they might not report it to their boss when they returned to the office. Once I was done working around my plane, I went into the terminal to return my rental car. As it was a weekday and business was slow, there were no other customers in the lobby. As I spoke with one of the customer service representatives at the counter, I noticed a uniformed policeman walk out of the back room (where the fuel guys were hanging out). While I continued to speak with the CSR, he approached to within about eight feet and gave me a couple of long looks, but he never said a word. On the other hand, the CSR told me her dad would LOVE to have an NRA shirt like the one I was wearing! She definitely had to see I was wearing a gun, but didn't show any reaction. Neither did her co-worker.
Frankly, I thought I might get some grief over carrying on the airport, even though I thought it was legal. The Transportation Security Agency has been getting pretty high handed lately...
I have traveled in every state and have never seen citizens open carrying except in Arizona. I have certainly never observed OC at an airport. I know some pilots carry concealed and many hunters carry their long guns in private planes, but they are always cased (and presumably unloaded.)
Perhaps I was just luck, but I felt OC in Colorado was a very positive experience. I will be back in Colorado for a few days next week. I will be in Ft. Collins, Castle Rock and Franktown for certain and maybe will have a chance to get back up into the mountains for a couple of days. I am looking forward to it!