M-Taliesin
Regular Member
Howdy Folks!
Over the past couple of days, I've been sending messages back and with a newcomer to the OC forum. His handle is Keens. We agreed to meet up this morning at the King Soopers located at 225 and Parker Road. He said he was really nervous about OC'ing, but sure would like to go run errands with me today so off we went.
I got some gas and he drove up as I was ready to pull away from the pumps. We parked and he got out of his car and came around to meet with me. "Where is your sidearm?" I asked. He did not have it on his belt. I suggested he get his gun and put it on. After all, we met up to OC, so get the gun on the belt! LOL!
As soon as he had his pistol secured on his belt in a holster, I felt like the host of Top Shot: "Competition begins now!" I chided.
Since we were already at King Soopers, and since I would need sustanance, we started out there. Went to the deli and I bought some turkey, then to find some flavored water that I wanted, and a few other items while at the store. Keens said he was really nervous, but followed my lead and observed how I move through public with the confidence I've grown since I started OC'ing. One older gentleman asked if we were detectives or something. I told him no, we are LAC's. "What the hells is an LAC?" he asked. "Legally Armed Citizen" I replied. We had a brief discussion of the legality and constitutionality of open carry and it was entirely a pleasant encounter.
After that, we went to a Verizon store because I had a question about my new phone. The gentleman who handled my questions complimented us on exercising our 2a rights. Then it was off to Best Buy to see what new DVD movies might be in the offing. I ended up applying for a credit card while there, and brought home a flick to watch. Then we headed over to Tires Plus so I could make an appointment for an oil change. Our next stop was Walmart, and we checked their prices on ammunition before checking the price on cargo pants I will buy when I get paid.
I believe I may be missing someplace that we went, but it doesn't matter. We went about our normal, law abiding business without any problems. I think Keens was surprised that we were barely noticed, let alone bothered. I explained that the only problem associated with OC'ing existed right between my own ears, and thanks to the OCDO forum, I managed to get beyond my own apprehensions. I hope that Keens is much more comfortable with the idea of open carrying after our trek than when he started out. He observed "It's like another article of clothing really." I told him yeah, that's about it. Keens did notice a couple of folks who visibily dropped their jaw when they saw our guns, but nobody made a fuss.
Since my wife was scheduled to go on patrol (ride along) with a county sheriff's deputy tonight, I had to break our visit off shorter than I'd like to get home and make sure she got going on her own little adventure.
As for Keens, he is a really nice young man, and I enjoyed the heck out of his tagging along on our trip around town today. I hope he feels more confident now than before we met. Otherwise, I'll just have to drag him back out for another day of OC'ing! I enjoyed his company and he is looking forward to attending a meet-up whenever we can arrange one. I should really get cracking on setting up something for some of us folks to gather and spend a bit of time telling our own war stories of open carry!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
Over the past couple of days, I've been sending messages back and with a newcomer to the OC forum. His handle is Keens. We agreed to meet up this morning at the King Soopers located at 225 and Parker Road. He said he was really nervous about OC'ing, but sure would like to go run errands with me today so off we went.
I got some gas and he drove up as I was ready to pull away from the pumps. We parked and he got out of his car and came around to meet with me. "Where is your sidearm?" I asked. He did not have it on his belt. I suggested he get his gun and put it on. After all, we met up to OC, so get the gun on the belt! LOL!
As soon as he had his pistol secured on his belt in a holster, I felt like the host of Top Shot: "Competition begins now!" I chided.
Since we were already at King Soopers, and since I would need sustanance, we started out there. Went to the deli and I bought some turkey, then to find some flavored water that I wanted, and a few other items while at the store. Keens said he was really nervous, but followed my lead and observed how I move through public with the confidence I've grown since I started OC'ing. One older gentleman asked if we were detectives or something. I told him no, we are LAC's. "What the hells is an LAC?" he asked. "Legally Armed Citizen" I replied. We had a brief discussion of the legality and constitutionality of open carry and it was entirely a pleasant encounter.
After that, we went to a Verizon store because I had a question about my new phone. The gentleman who handled my questions complimented us on exercising our 2a rights. Then it was off to Best Buy to see what new DVD movies might be in the offing. I ended up applying for a credit card while there, and brought home a flick to watch. Then we headed over to Tires Plus so I could make an appointment for an oil change. Our next stop was Walmart, and we checked their prices on ammunition before checking the price on cargo pants I will buy when I get paid.
I believe I may be missing someplace that we went, but it doesn't matter. We went about our normal, law abiding business without any problems. I think Keens was surprised that we were barely noticed, let alone bothered. I explained that the only problem associated with OC'ing existed right between my own ears, and thanks to the OCDO forum, I managed to get beyond my own apprehensions. I hope that Keens is much more comfortable with the idea of open carrying after our trek than when he started out. He observed "It's like another article of clothing really." I told him yeah, that's about it. Keens did notice a couple of folks who visibily dropped their jaw when they saw our guns, but nobody made a fuss.
Since my wife was scheduled to go on patrol (ride along) with a county sheriff's deputy tonight, I had to break our visit off shorter than I'd like to get home and make sure she got going on her own little adventure.
As for Keens, he is a really nice young man, and I enjoyed the heck out of his tagging along on our trip around town today. I hope he feels more confident now than before we met. Otherwise, I'll just have to drag him back out for another day of OC'ing! I enjoyed his company and he is looking forward to attending a meet-up whenever we can arrange one. I should really get cracking on setting up something for some of us folks to gather and spend a bit of time telling our own war stories of open carry!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin