Outsider
Regular Member
HELLO FOLKS! Remember me? Your friendly Outsider is back with a story! I haven't been around for a long, long time because I've just been so dang busy. Anyway, I wanted to share with you a story that just goes too far.
Tonight my wife, my nine month old daughter, two of our closest friends, and I went to dinner at the New Chinese Gourmet Buffet on North State Street here in Orem. I was wearing my new Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal jacket (I'm a Native American from Washington) that my mother got me for Christmas. The jacket comes to the waist and the shirt I was wearing was a little long. I tucked in the shirt so it wouldn't hang out from the bottom of the jacket and look horrible (I would have thought I was wearing a dress had it been hanging out). I had my Kahr CW40 inside the waistband.
My party and I arrived at the buffet and got seated. I took off my jacket and went from concealed carry to open carry. Have done this in the past, no problem. I didn't want to un-tuck my shirt because then I would have to re-tuck it in when I put my jacket on, etc. I just didn't want to do it. After everyone got their food we were sitting and talking a man came up to me. He said he was fifty-eight, a concealed firearm permit hold, law enforcement, etc. He said he was going to give me some "unsolicited advise." I was polite and listened to him opinion. He basically told me I was going to get my head blown off because anyone could come and take my firearm. I was putting others in danger and giving up the element of surprise. It was the classic open vs concealed argument. I was completely polite, etc. I really didn't say anything. I stated I had some training, I was a private investigator, had been trained in bail enforcement, etc. I just basically listed my certifications and training. Not much, but I believe I have had enough to know how to do weapon retention, threat assessment, etc. The man left and we went about our dinner. We had a few laughs at our table about the encounter.
When the man was leaving he came back over to our table. He stated, "I called the police and they confirmed what you are doing is okay and within the law." Well, a red flag came up. This man said he was in law enforcement, so why did he call the police department to confirm the law he should have already known? He went on to say I was "young and irresponsible" and was putting everyone around me in danger. From there I took a stand (not literally standing up, just a moral stand). I told him that I wasn't going to argue with him. "I'm not going to argue with you, sir." He continued to say that he had four out of five sons in the military and a few other things. Again, I stated, "I'm not going to argue with you, sir." At this time he was basically yelling at me. He started to walk away when I said, "You said you were in law enforcement, sir. Can I see some ID?" He waved his hand at me and left the restaurant.
Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but when a citizen asks for your ID as a law enforcement officer you are suppose to produce it, correct? I think the exception is during undercover operations. So I think this man falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer. He said he was law enforcement, but then said he called the police to confirm what I was doing was legal? Then not producing ID when asked? Something was really wrong here.
I know everyone has their opinion and they are entitled to said opinion. There are places and times in which you can offer said opinion, but not while someone you don't know is having dinner with family and friends and interrupting their dinner and friendly outing.
Just thought I'd share with you my experience tonight going from concealed carry, open carry, back to concealed carry.
Tonight my wife, my nine month old daughter, two of our closest friends, and I went to dinner at the New Chinese Gourmet Buffet on North State Street here in Orem. I was wearing my new Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal jacket (I'm a Native American from Washington) that my mother got me for Christmas. The jacket comes to the waist and the shirt I was wearing was a little long. I tucked in the shirt so it wouldn't hang out from the bottom of the jacket and look horrible (I would have thought I was wearing a dress had it been hanging out). I had my Kahr CW40 inside the waistband.
My party and I arrived at the buffet and got seated. I took off my jacket and went from concealed carry to open carry. Have done this in the past, no problem. I didn't want to un-tuck my shirt because then I would have to re-tuck it in when I put my jacket on, etc. I just didn't want to do it. After everyone got their food we were sitting and talking a man came up to me. He said he was fifty-eight, a concealed firearm permit hold, law enforcement, etc. He said he was going to give me some "unsolicited advise." I was polite and listened to him opinion. He basically told me I was going to get my head blown off because anyone could come and take my firearm. I was putting others in danger and giving up the element of surprise. It was the classic open vs concealed argument. I was completely polite, etc. I really didn't say anything. I stated I had some training, I was a private investigator, had been trained in bail enforcement, etc. I just basically listed my certifications and training. Not much, but I believe I have had enough to know how to do weapon retention, threat assessment, etc. The man left and we went about our dinner. We had a few laughs at our table about the encounter.
When the man was leaving he came back over to our table. He stated, "I called the police and they confirmed what you are doing is okay and within the law." Well, a red flag came up. This man said he was in law enforcement, so why did he call the police department to confirm the law he should have already known? He went on to say I was "young and irresponsible" and was putting everyone around me in danger. From there I took a stand (not literally standing up, just a moral stand). I told him that I wasn't going to argue with him. "I'm not going to argue with you, sir." He continued to say that he had four out of five sons in the military and a few other things. Again, I stated, "I'm not going to argue with you, sir." At this time he was basically yelling at me. He started to walk away when I said, "You said you were in law enforcement, sir. Can I see some ID?" He waved his hand at me and left the restaurant.
Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but when a citizen asks for your ID as a law enforcement officer you are suppose to produce it, correct? I think the exception is during undercover operations. So I think this man falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer. He said he was law enforcement, but then said he called the police to confirm what I was doing was legal? Then not producing ID when asked? Something was really wrong here.
I know everyone has their opinion and they are entitled to said opinion. There are places and times in which you can offer said opinion, but not while someone you don't know is having dinner with family and friends and interrupting their dinner and friendly outing.
Just thought I'd share with you my experience tonight going from concealed carry, open carry, back to concealed carry.