Aaron1124
Regular Member
imported post
During your experience openly carrying your firearm, what, if any, was your worst encounter, and how did you handle it?
I use to open carry, but now carry concealed. I've been a firearm owner for many years, and have probably only open carried about roughly 10 times, but two of those times involved me getting hassled.
It surprises me now, considering I read many open carry stories on the Washington forum, and rarely, if ever, do people get bothered or hassled by people. The two stores in which posed a problem were Target and Walmart, and I'm talking about two and a half years back.
I was carrying in Target in Tukwila, WA, and had intended on just running in and grabbing a couple of items, and I suddenly hear a holler from a man who presented himself as some sort of manager or supervisor. I have no idea what his name was. He asked if I was an off duty officer. I responded with "Nope" and continued walking (I was in a bit of a hurry) and then he told me that I can not bring my "loaded weapon" in the store unless I was a police officer. I didn't really have the time to start arguing with him about the law, but I did tell him it was "legal, by the way", and politely asked if I could simply pick up what I came for, check out, and leave. He told me that wouldn't be a problem, but informed me to "Please leave the weapon in the vehicle" next time. I just gave him a nod and a smile, and went on my way.
I later wrote a letter, made a copy, and sent one to the target store itself, and one to the main office.
The other time was a little later - around Christmas time of '08. I went in to Walmart, and immediately (and I mean IMMEDIATELY) the door greater told me that I can't bring a gun in to the store. This time I wasn't in such a rush, but I wasn't in the mood to sit and argue either. I don't like doing that, especially when people have a thick head, and don't even bother reading what the law actually says. I asked him if I could speak with a manager about that, and he actually refused me the first time, and told me to leave. I again, politely asked if I could speak with the manager before leaving. I told him if not, that's fine, but I'd appreciate speaking with the store manager, if they're available.
At this point, he left, and minutes later, came back with someone who introduced himself as an "assistant manager". He asked if he could help me.
I briefly explained the situation, and asked if it's against their policies to carry in their store. He said "Oh! I apologize! I wouldn't have even noticed you were carrying! Actually it's not. We get people in here regularly with their firearm. We get many customer complaints, but that's typical. It's not a problem as long as it stays holstered!"
Of course, by the time that conversation was done, it was about 20 minutes in to what could have been 5 minutes.
During your experience openly carrying your firearm, what, if any, was your worst encounter, and how did you handle it?
I use to open carry, but now carry concealed. I've been a firearm owner for many years, and have probably only open carried about roughly 10 times, but two of those times involved me getting hassled.
It surprises me now, considering I read many open carry stories on the Washington forum, and rarely, if ever, do people get bothered or hassled by people. The two stores in which posed a problem were Target and Walmart, and I'm talking about two and a half years back.
I was carrying in Target in Tukwila, WA, and had intended on just running in and grabbing a couple of items, and I suddenly hear a holler from a man who presented himself as some sort of manager or supervisor. I have no idea what his name was. He asked if I was an off duty officer. I responded with "Nope" and continued walking (I was in a bit of a hurry) and then he told me that I can not bring my "loaded weapon" in the store unless I was a police officer. I didn't really have the time to start arguing with him about the law, but I did tell him it was "legal, by the way", and politely asked if I could simply pick up what I came for, check out, and leave. He told me that wouldn't be a problem, but informed me to "Please leave the weapon in the vehicle" next time. I just gave him a nod and a smile, and went on my way.
I later wrote a letter, made a copy, and sent one to the target store itself, and one to the main office.
The other time was a little later - around Christmas time of '08. I went in to Walmart, and immediately (and I mean IMMEDIATELY) the door greater told me that I can't bring a gun in to the store. This time I wasn't in such a rush, but I wasn't in the mood to sit and argue either. I don't like doing that, especially when people have a thick head, and don't even bother reading what the law actually says. I asked him if I could speak with a manager about that, and he actually refused me the first time, and told me to leave. I again, politely asked if I could speak with the manager before leaving. I told him if not, that's fine, but I'd appreciate speaking with the store manager, if they're available.
At this point, he left, and minutes later, came back with someone who introduced himself as an "assistant manager". He asked if he could help me.
I briefly explained the situation, and asked if it's against their policies to carry in their store. He said "Oh! I apologize! I wouldn't have even noticed you were carrying! Actually it's not. We get people in here regularly with their firearm. We get many customer complaints, but that's typical. It's not a problem as long as it stays holstered!"
Of course, by the time that conversation was done, it was about 20 minutes in to what could have been 5 minutes.
