lancers
Regular Member
Well after years of hesitation (not normal with me), I went out and open carried at some stores. I was wearing black slacks and a button down with my SA XD9 in the Bianchi 7500 holster. All of the places were in Maplewood, MO.
I first went to Autozone. to my surprise, I don't think anyone even noticed. I saw some people look at me, but it was probably more because I was semi-dressed up compared to everyone else there.
Next I went to Lowes. The two workers at the door for sure noticed it, but they were very friendly in welcoming me. I walked around the store and I think a few other people noticed, but they didn't seem to care. Then two women employees asked me if I needed help. I told them what I needed and they pointed me in the right direction. Then the one said to the other in a joking manner, "he can have what ever he wants, he has a gun." The other said, "I didn't do it" as she must have thought I was a cop. They were friendly, so I didn't really comment back. I went to check out and one of the women from before was at the register. She asked, "What do you do?". I said excuse me and she asked again. I said, "what do you mean?". She said, "well you have a gun". Then I told her I was just a regular person and that open carry was legal here. She said, "oh yeah, I know". The way she said it though, she at least convinced me she knew it was. Then she asked for the 4 digits at the end of my card (I had put away), but if I knew them, I could just give them to her. "I trust you" she said. I couldn't think of them off hand so I got my card back out. She then told me she would remember the me and the 4 numbers next time I came in. I said thank you and have a good day and walked out.
Then I went to the Wal-Mart in the same plaza. Quite a few people noticed the gun, but just seemed to go on their way. It seems if you just act like what you are doing is ok, everyone else thinks it is too. Then as I was checking out with some oil, I saw 3 cops come in looking around. I was thinking, here we go. Turns out, they were there for a shoplifter instead.
What I learned:
1) Most people don't notice
2) The ones that do, think you are allowed to do it
3) People are really friendly to you
4) No one tries to take your gun (like some anti-OC people say will happen)
I really plan to start doing it more often now.
I first went to Autozone. to my surprise, I don't think anyone even noticed. I saw some people look at me, but it was probably more because I was semi-dressed up compared to everyone else there.
Next I went to Lowes. The two workers at the door for sure noticed it, but they were very friendly in welcoming me. I walked around the store and I think a few other people noticed, but they didn't seem to care. Then two women employees asked me if I needed help. I told them what I needed and they pointed me in the right direction. Then the one said to the other in a joking manner, "he can have what ever he wants, he has a gun." The other said, "I didn't do it" as she must have thought I was a cop. They were friendly, so I didn't really comment back. I went to check out and one of the women from before was at the register. She asked, "What do you do?". I said excuse me and she asked again. I said, "what do you mean?". She said, "well you have a gun". Then I told her I was just a regular person and that open carry was legal here. She said, "oh yeah, I know". The way she said it though, she at least convinced me she knew it was. Then she asked for the 4 digits at the end of my card (I had put away), but if I knew them, I could just give them to her. "I trust you" she said. I couldn't think of them off hand so I got my card back out. She then told me she would remember the me and the 4 numbers next time I came in. I said thank you and have a good day and walked out.
Then I went to the Wal-Mart in the same plaza. Quite a few people noticed the gun, but just seemed to go on their way. It seems if you just act like what you are doing is ok, everyone else thinks it is too. Then as I was checking out with some oil, I saw 3 cops come in looking around. I was thinking, here we go. Turns out, they were there for a shoplifter instead.
What I learned:
1) Most people don't notice
2) The ones that do, think you are allowed to do it
3) People are really friendly to you
4) No one tries to take your gun (like some anti-OC people say will happen)
I really plan to start doing it more often now.
