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South Chipotle in Longmont.

marinepilot81

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
108
Location
Florida Panhandle
I've been studying OC for a bit, but just now got a chance to really do it. I'd appreciate comments, better techniques, etc concerning my encounter today.

My rig: riding on a motorcycle with a stainless 1911 inside a horizontally mounted shoulder holster.

I was waiting in front of the store for my friend to show up when 2 guys approached me casually and asked a few questions:

"Hey man, what are you doing over here with a gun strapped to you?"
-"I'm getting a burrito, man. What are you guys up to?"
"you're carrying a gun to get a burrito?"
-"yup, just chilling here waiting my friend to arrive so we can grab lunch."
"So you're not an off-duty cop or anything?"
-"Nope, just out for lunch."

I saw he had a Wisconsin shirt on and kinda finished off the rest of the conversation:
-"Wisconsin's laws are probably a little different, but in Colorado you don't need a permit and you can open carry most places. So it's perfectly legal to open carry as you go around town."

He nodded and went off about his business. I'd say that was a positive encounter. The one INSIDE Chipotle was very interesting, though. An older (55-65 yr old) couple sat behind me. I immediately noticed the woman get flustered, make 3 or 4 quick glances, and then start eating. After 30 mins or so her husband came around agressively, grabbed the chair next to me, and said:

"I'm all for carrying (I really hate these 'qualifying statements' BTW), but I'm not going sit here while you point your God damn gun at me!"
-"Sir, I'm not pointing my weapon at you."
"The hell you're not! I'm staring at your God damn barrel!"
-"Sir, are you just a customer here? Then enjoy the rest of your meal."
"Turn that damn thing down to the ground, idiot."
-"Sir, I hope you enjoy your meal."

They mumbled for another 5 minutes at the table about how I was an idiot, etc, etc and then moved to another table once available.

How do you deal with a guy like that?
 

ZackL

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
340
Location
Calhan, Co.
I don't think you really could have handled it any better. The design of your rig is one in which the barrel is facing behind you, I wouldn't personally wear a rig like that, but it is just a personal choice on what you're comfortable with. The older gentleman could have handled his situation better by saying something like "Nice 1911, but I think you could do with a better holster..." if he really felt he had to say something. On a whole it wasn't a bad encounter, just one that led to a confrontation about the design and choice of holster and obviously someone who thinks that only the vertical shoulder holsters should be sold.

I hope this incident won't deter you and that you'll enjoy the rest of your carry experiences without hassle.
 

Kingfish

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
1,276
Location
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
You handled it the best way you could I believe.

I am personally not a fan of OC horizontal shoulder rigs for this exact scenario but will support your right 100%.
 

marinepilot81

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
108
Location
Florida Panhandle
I only wear the shoulder rig when I'm on the bike. It's uncomfortable to ride with one on your waist for long periods of time. No, today didn't deter me from open carry. Sure, some old man didn't like my setup, but 2 guys outside Chipotle learned something and 2 people in the Tmobile store at 17th/Main (very tight quarters) smiled when I explained the situation, as well.

Muzzle happens. It's gotta point somewhere. And guns don't just "go off"....nevermind the retainment strap between the hammer and firing pin.

Yes, the muzzle points aft...but how many people do you think tailgated me on I-25 today? HA!
 

ZackL

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
340
Location
Calhan, Co.
lol I'll bet nobody tailgated you. Like I said, it's a personal choice for me, I don't like the way you have to draw from a shoulder rig, maybe I'll get one and try it out someday... I'm glad you'll still carry and I'm glad you had good experiences today as well. Maybe we'll have to get a statewide meet-up going on.
 

marinepilot81

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
108
Location
Florida Panhandle
Presentation from a shoulder rig is definitely not the fastest. And, on a motorcycle, it would probably be a chore to get out, but it's the most comfortable type for riding.

Now, I considered carrying two 1911s...one in the shoudler rig and one on my hip to solve that problem, but chickened out. A shiny 1911 in my shoulder rig draws enough attention ALREADY!
 

ZackL

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
340
Location
Calhan, Co.
Have you thought about a drop leg? I have a cheapy that I use through the winter to avoid a crappy concealing charge.
 

marinepilot81

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
108
Location
Florida Panhandle
I've got a drop leg holster, but even then, when you sit down you're going to be pointing the weapon forward. You can never win, the muzzle always points somewhere.

I was riding my dad's 2009 Black Road King. Such a sweet ride!
 

mahkagari

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
1,186
Location
, ,
How do you handle a guy like that? Just the way you did.

He's not going to sit there while XYZ? The hell he's not, he did so for 30 minutes.

My issue with carrying on a motorcylce is that you can't control the throttle in the unlikely event you have to draw.
 

ZackL

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
340
Location
Calhan, Co.
I wasn't worried about the muzzle. I was thinking for comfort riding. I would think that it would be just as, if not more comfortable than a shoulder rig.
 

RockyMtnScotsman

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
461
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
As far as comfort when riding my motorcycles, I use a Blackhawk Serpa paddle holster - comfort and retention.

As for the yahoo in Chipotle, I would have taken exception to his choice of language but aside from that there's nothing wrong with the way you handled it.
 

bomber

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
499
Location
, ,
They mumbled for another 5 minutes at the table about how I was an idiot, etc, etc and then moved to another table once available.

How do you deal with a guy like that?

tell him to go f*** himself

but thats just me
 

acmariner99

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
655
Location
Renton, Wa
All about preference

Sounds like you did ok. Shoulder carry isn't my first choice. A friend of mine has a similar setup, but says open carrying with the gun around the shoulder puts the weapon more at eye level so people are more drawn to it and will make comments. Since he is from Texas, a non-open carry state, he is more comfortable concealing anyway but supports the right to OC if you choose to do so. I simply keep a simple waistband retention holster for my XD, cover with a jacket or go IWB when the situation warrants it. It is all what about comfort, convenience, and ease of access. I don't think you could have done any better and you were not in the wrong. A properly holstered weapon isn't going to hurt anybody, so I would have just chuckled and went about my business.
 

Gunslinger

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
3,853
Location
Free, Colorado, USA
You handled it well, being polite to someone quite a bit older was a good tactic. I wear a shoulder holster in my Corvette--right bolster is in the way for most belt carry, but conceal it when I get out with a coat, or have a second belt holster available. I agree with Zack--look at a thigh rig, they are quite versatile these days.

If your arm substantially covers the holster--which can happen with a horizontal shoulder, you could be considered carrying concealed. And the muzzle pointing at someone behind you while seated can create a problem that next time may not go so well. In a 1911, cocked and locked is the correct carry mode, but if I was sitting there and had the muzzle pointing at me or my wife I'd make damned sure the pistol was condition 1 or 3. Damned sure. So I don't blame the guy for coming over. Think about it. How could he know what your carry condition was?
 

oldgoat

Regular Member
Joined
May 20, 2009
Messages
100
Location
Sulphur, Louisiana, USA
"They mumbled for another 5 minutes at the table about how I was an idiot, etc, etc and then moved to another table once available.

How do you deal with a guy like that?"

I absolutely support constitutional carry everywhere, OK having said that, I would prefer a different style holster, perhaps a vertical holster? No offense intended. Just my 2 cents.
 

Las Vegan

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
145
Location
Las Vegas
Nothing at all wrong with your mode of carry. That knucklehead had a better chance of getting into a head-on collision on the way home while simultaneously scratching a winning lottery ticket and getting a lap dance from Jessica Alba than he did of your gun just deciding all on its own to fire just because it happened to be in the horizontal position. What a jackass. I'd think a forum of gun toters would understand that as well, but people never cease to amaze me.
 

mahkagari

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Apr 28, 2009
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Nothing at all wrong with your mode of carry. That knucklehead had a better chance of getting into a head-on collision on the way home while simultaneously scratching a winning lottery ticket and getting a lap dance from Jessica Alba than he did of your gun just deciding all on its own to fire just because it happened to be in the horizontal position.

*takes of shoes to count on toes and calculate odds* So, I'm lost. How do I modify my carry mode to increase the odds of said lapdance? Let's be scientific here.
 

Kingfish

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
1,276
Location
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
I'd think a forum of gun toters would understand that as well, but people never cease to amaze me.

Are you saying that those of us who may not chose a horizontal rig believe there is a chance of the gun going off by itself?

Did anyone say that he should not have carried in his chosen method?

Did it ever occur to you that this movement is still pretty young and if we can just maybe make a few minor adjustments to make those that are on the fence about OC a little more comfortable (and avoid as much strife as possible) that we may want to think about it?
 
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