usnsubmarine
New member
I live in Tucson, AZ. Open carry has been legal since the territory days. I always open carry, I've had more positive experiences than negative. I do it to desensitize the public to the idea of citizens carrying a sidearm. I'm as polite and gentlemanly as one could possibly be, even more so when I carry. I want people to associate respect/courtesy with "gun". I know not all of you like the idea of open carry, tactically, or otherwise. After being robbed at gunpoint at work, I began carrying, predominately concealed, and I've noticed over the 2 years of open carrying that interactions with beggers, druggies, and otherwise scum of the earth cretins have decreased to the point that I can't recall the last time I've been bothered/approached by one. I enjoy that.Alot.
I wanted to share some experiences, both negative and positive.
I was in Walmart, talking to my grandmother on my cellphone (she had me looking for an enema and stool softerners, ew.) A woman approached me, and kind of stood there looking at me, I asked her if I could help her and she said "Yes, 2 things. First I wanted to thank you for carrying that thing (as she points to my hip), I feel much safer with you here. I just wanted to shake your hand. Also, could you reach that green towel for me?" She was so sincere, and it made me feel pretty good.
My girlfriend and I just moved into a new apartment, the woman and her husband next-door were locking up their house as I hopped onto my motocycle. The woman came up to be and said "Hey I just wanted to welcome you guys to the area, when you first got here I was a little bit nervous when I saw you guys (my girlfriend open carries too) but after thinking about it, I feel pretty safe having you next-door. Its good to know that if we need help you're within shouting distance. You got my husband wanting a gun." This turned into a 10 minute conversation about conceal carry laws, and what gun to buy. Arizona just passed the law where anyone can conceal carry WITHOUT a permit. But I told them they should go to the local range and get training before buying the gun, and especially before carrying.
I've had about 10 or so of these kind of experiences. Either a thank you, or a "how do I go about carrying/getting a gun" type of response.
As far as negative stuff:
Aside of the occasional weird looks, and "omg?!?!" stares, I very very rarely get any bad encounters.
I was looking at a really nice bobber/chopper in a parking lot, when some guy pulled up next to me and says in a really snappy rude tone "Hey boy, you should cover that up. When a badguy comes looking for trouble you're the first whos gonna die." I asked him if he had ever seen this happen EVER in the news, and he had no response, he drove off like 17 year old boys do when they're trying to impress someone. My girlfriend and I laughed and continued drooling over the bike.
I had a woman the other day, shield her children while I was getting salsa from the salsa bar at a Mexican food joint. I heard one of the kids say "Momma, momma... momma... mom... "WHAT?" "Is that real?" as he pointed to me. She told me to "Get that people killer away from my babies!!!!!!" I was kind of having a bad day, and I just responded with a sarcastic "Really?...." Later which I regret. But seriously, it was silly. Even the couple next to me looked at me and rolled their eyes. Hah.
Anyways, I find it a great tool to get otherwise non-gun owners, armed. My girlfriend says I have an approachable look/personality which helps, and I'm pretty good with people. If I can get ONE person to arm themselves, I feel like I've done a really good job.
Thanks for listening.
I wanted to share some experiences, both negative and positive.
I was in Walmart, talking to my grandmother on my cellphone (she had me looking for an enema and stool softerners, ew.) A woman approached me, and kind of stood there looking at me, I asked her if I could help her and she said "Yes, 2 things. First I wanted to thank you for carrying that thing (as she points to my hip), I feel much safer with you here. I just wanted to shake your hand. Also, could you reach that green towel for me?" She was so sincere, and it made me feel pretty good.
My girlfriend and I just moved into a new apartment, the woman and her husband next-door were locking up their house as I hopped onto my motocycle. The woman came up to be and said "Hey I just wanted to welcome you guys to the area, when you first got here I was a little bit nervous when I saw you guys (my girlfriend open carries too) but after thinking about it, I feel pretty safe having you next-door. Its good to know that if we need help you're within shouting distance. You got my husband wanting a gun." This turned into a 10 minute conversation about conceal carry laws, and what gun to buy. Arizona just passed the law where anyone can conceal carry WITHOUT a permit. But I told them they should go to the local range and get training before buying the gun, and especially before carrying.
I've had about 10 or so of these kind of experiences. Either a thank you, or a "how do I go about carrying/getting a gun" type of response.
As far as negative stuff:
Aside of the occasional weird looks, and "omg?!?!" stares, I very very rarely get any bad encounters.
I was looking at a really nice bobber/chopper in a parking lot, when some guy pulled up next to me and says in a really snappy rude tone "Hey boy, you should cover that up. When a badguy comes looking for trouble you're the first whos gonna die." I asked him if he had ever seen this happen EVER in the news, and he had no response, he drove off like 17 year old boys do when they're trying to impress someone. My girlfriend and I laughed and continued drooling over the bike.
I had a woman the other day, shield her children while I was getting salsa from the salsa bar at a Mexican food joint. I heard one of the kids say "Momma, momma... momma... mom... "WHAT?" "Is that real?" as he pointed to me. She told me to "Get that people killer away from my babies!!!!!!" I was kind of having a bad day, and I just responded with a sarcastic "Really?...." Later which I regret. But seriously, it was silly. Even the couple next to me looked at me and rolled their eyes. Hah.
Anyways, I find it a great tool to get otherwise non-gun owners, armed. My girlfriend says I have an approachable look/personality which helps, and I'm pretty good with people. If I can get ONE person to arm themselves, I feel like I've done a really good job.
Thanks for listening.
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