Bebog
Regular Member
imported post
I have been carrying openly for quite some time now and have been very lucky so far. The most animated exchange was a couple weeks ago at the Chicken Barn in Smithfield. The cashier there is very young and absolutely amazed at my carrying. Not at all offended or scared, just amazed. We had an extremely pleasant disscusion which also involved another patron and the owner (husband). (The husband/wife owners are super cool and they make some awesome chicken!)
:celebrate
So far, it has been a real non-issue until Saturday.
I head out Saturday to Merchant's in Garner to get my wife's car some new shoes and took little man figuring on some Father/Son time. The tire store said it would not be long, about an hour or so. Well their definition of "not long" does not agree with mine so I decided to walk down to the IHOP for some lunch. Bobby, the owner there, has always seemed real cool and when I walked in he noticed but said nothing and acted like "no big deal". The waitress saw it and said nothing nor indicated it bothered her in any way and I was thinking "cool, just another uneventful outing". Then, she sat us in a booth across the isle from a party of 6-8 which definitely noticed. Immediately, one of them said something and then all of them turned and looked our way. There was some grumbling and foul looks and then they all got up to leave. Now I was not wanting to start anything and just wanted to have lunch with my little boy. I was watching him and noticing them out of the corner of my eye. As they walked past, one of the females said "that should be considered child abuse". I just looked up and saw her disgusting look and turned my attention back to the one who meant much more to me than she did. Like I said, not the time nor inclination to start anything at that moment.
It was very obvious what their problem with me was and I just sat there not really knowing what to think. I have always been ready for a foul reaction, always ready to be picked on by cops, and always ready to be asked to leave an establishment. I just NEVER though someone would stoop so low as to accused me of "child abuse" just to emphasize their point. How freaking low!
:cuss:
Now to IHOP credit, the waitress continued to be good as gold. I even ordered a to go plate for the wife on the way out and waited in the front for that. The whole time, I talked with Bobby when other patrons were not coming in and out. At no time was it ever an issue with any other patrons or staff.
But I got to admit, it made me think whether I was doing the right thing. I kept telling myself I was and I do still believe it. My kids will be taught respect for guns, gun safety, marksmanship and sportsmanship, self protection, etc. But, no matter how resolved a person is, as any of you with children know such a comment is a strike right at the heart......and it hurts. I guess that is why the low lifes do such things.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but just wanted to make you aware of another disgusting tactic and ask if anyone else has been is such situation.
I have been carrying openly for quite some time now and have been very lucky so far. The most animated exchange was a couple weeks ago at the Chicken Barn in Smithfield. The cashier there is very young and absolutely amazed at my carrying. Not at all offended or scared, just amazed. We had an extremely pleasant disscusion which also involved another patron and the owner (husband). (The husband/wife owners are super cool and they make some awesome chicken!)
:celebrate
So far, it has been a real non-issue until Saturday.
I head out Saturday to Merchant's in Garner to get my wife's car some new shoes and took little man figuring on some Father/Son time. The tire store said it would not be long, about an hour or so. Well their definition of "not long" does not agree with mine so I decided to walk down to the IHOP for some lunch. Bobby, the owner there, has always seemed real cool and when I walked in he noticed but said nothing and acted like "no big deal". The waitress saw it and said nothing nor indicated it bothered her in any way and I was thinking "cool, just another uneventful outing". Then, she sat us in a booth across the isle from a party of 6-8 which definitely noticed. Immediately, one of them said something and then all of them turned and looked our way. There was some grumbling and foul looks and then they all got up to leave. Now I was not wanting to start anything and just wanted to have lunch with my little boy. I was watching him and noticing them out of the corner of my eye. As they walked past, one of the females said "that should be considered child abuse". I just looked up and saw her disgusting look and turned my attention back to the one who meant much more to me than she did. Like I said, not the time nor inclination to start anything at that moment.
It was very obvious what their problem with me was and I just sat there not really knowing what to think. I have always been ready for a foul reaction, always ready to be picked on by cops, and always ready to be asked to leave an establishment. I just NEVER though someone would stoop so low as to accused me of "child abuse" just to emphasize their point. How freaking low!
:cuss:
Now to IHOP credit, the waitress continued to be good as gold. I even ordered a to go plate for the wife on the way out and waited in the front for that. The whole time, I talked with Bobby when other patrons were not coming in and out. At no time was it ever an issue with any other patrons or staff.
But I got to admit, it made me think whether I was doing the right thing. I kept telling myself I was and I do still believe it. My kids will be taught respect for guns, gun safety, marksmanship and sportsmanship, self protection, etc. But, no matter how resolved a person is, as any of you with children know such a comment is a strike right at the heart......and it hurts. I guess that is why the low lifes do such things.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but just wanted to make you aware of another disgusting tactic and ask if anyone else has been is such situation.