twpetry
Regular Member
I have just recently begun to OC my 1911 (in a serpa holster) just about everywhere I go, in and around the Fredericksburg area, specifically in Spotsylvania county, where I live. At first i didn't think i would carry open, but i'm starting to get more comfortable doing it, and i now see it as necessary. I have to tell you, in just the past few weeks the experiences i've had in this area so far have been close to ideal. I'm Proud to be an American, and a Virginian. I know not everywhere is like this so I must give credit to the county of spotsylvania, so far so good!
About a week or so ago I was headed out to the DMV to renew my vehicle registration. I stopped by a Wawa gas station for a sammich and drink. I noticed when i pulled up a deputy sitting in a marked suv, as I walked in to the store i noticed he was behind, i'm not sure but i don't think he was actively following me, i think (though i could be wrong) he just happened to get out at the same time. I casually held the door open for him, and went into the store, grabbed my items and got in line. the officer ended up behind me in line again which i thought might have been odd, but he had a coffee in his hand so i didn't assume he was following me. I paid for my items and left the store. The officer never said a word to me, after obviously noticing my firearm, isn't that the way it should be??
Then i went to the DMV, it was funny because as I walked in the security guard there had walked in right behind me, (though i doubt he saw my gun because he was on the other side of me) I stood in line for a minute then he walked up to me and asked me what i had. I told him it was a 1911. he then asked me how many rounds i had. I thought that was kinda odd, but i decided to tell him any way. We started politely chatting about guns and laws etc he seems interested (and not educated very well on gun laws etc.) and stood with me until i go to the information counter. The lady there was friendly, and the security guard told her "you see what he has there?" she said "what?" she hadn't noticed my gun. he said "he's got a gun there" she said "oh, so?" i almost laughed out loud haha. he then said that i alright and that he trusts me, but he was told he had to let management know i had a gun. the security guard and I talked for a few more minutes after that and i told him about OCDO, he was a nice guy. he then told me (jokingly) that he asked me how many rounds i had so if i had starting shooting he would know when i was out haha again he was a nice guy but a little ignorant, i suppose the security firm doesn't provide much training before put someone in charge of safe-keeping the dmv, not saying it would be better, but i wonder why a sworn police officer isn't posted there instead of a rent-a-cop, but i digress.
lastly, just the other day i was pulled over in my vehicle while open carrying. (my license plates are expired, i couldn't get them renewed when i went to the dmv before). the officer got out of his car quickly i only had time to put my car in park and roll down the window. I kept my hands on the steering wheel. he approached and asked if i knew why he pulled me over i said yes, i knew my plates were expired etc. he said ok, and asked for my license and registration. I then said "officer i just want to let you know I-" then he cut me off and said "you have a gun in your glove box?" i said "no, its here on my person" (never took my hands off the steering wheel). he said that "thats fine, do you have your drivers license?" i said "I do, but its in my back-right pocket, I don't want to reach for it" he said "ok, thats fine, dont worry about it, i'm not going to give you a ticket anyway" he went back to his car for a minute came back and told me i was good to go and to drive safe. What an awesome experience!! Didn't even care that I had a gun, and he didn't even look at my license. i should've got his name i'd like to report a compliment, i suppose i could FOIA the stop though. my question though is i dont have my CHP yet just put in the application like 2 days before that would that show up in his system already? i know it shows if you have a CHP, but i just put my app in he had to have known because he cut me off and asked if i had a gun?
anyway sorry if this is boring, or if its not in the right place, but i really felt i had to share my positive experiences after reading so many horrifying ones in other places. So far so good Spotsy county!!
About a week or so ago I was headed out to the DMV to renew my vehicle registration. I stopped by a Wawa gas station for a sammich and drink. I noticed when i pulled up a deputy sitting in a marked suv, as I walked in to the store i noticed he was behind, i'm not sure but i don't think he was actively following me, i think (though i could be wrong) he just happened to get out at the same time. I casually held the door open for him, and went into the store, grabbed my items and got in line. the officer ended up behind me in line again which i thought might have been odd, but he had a coffee in his hand so i didn't assume he was following me. I paid for my items and left the store. The officer never said a word to me, after obviously noticing my firearm, isn't that the way it should be??
Then i went to the DMV, it was funny because as I walked in the security guard there had walked in right behind me, (though i doubt he saw my gun because he was on the other side of me) I stood in line for a minute then he walked up to me and asked me what i had. I told him it was a 1911. he then asked me how many rounds i had. I thought that was kinda odd, but i decided to tell him any way. We started politely chatting about guns and laws etc he seems interested (and not educated very well on gun laws etc.) and stood with me until i go to the information counter. The lady there was friendly, and the security guard told her "you see what he has there?" she said "what?" she hadn't noticed my gun. he said "he's got a gun there" she said "oh, so?" i almost laughed out loud haha. he then said that i alright and that he trusts me, but he was told he had to let management know i had a gun. the security guard and I talked for a few more minutes after that and i told him about OCDO, he was a nice guy. he then told me (jokingly) that he asked me how many rounds i had so if i had starting shooting he would know when i was out haha again he was a nice guy but a little ignorant, i suppose the security firm doesn't provide much training before put someone in charge of safe-keeping the dmv, not saying it would be better, but i wonder why a sworn police officer isn't posted there instead of a rent-a-cop, but i digress.
lastly, just the other day i was pulled over in my vehicle while open carrying. (my license plates are expired, i couldn't get them renewed when i went to the dmv before). the officer got out of his car quickly i only had time to put my car in park and roll down the window. I kept my hands on the steering wheel. he approached and asked if i knew why he pulled me over i said yes, i knew my plates were expired etc. he said ok, and asked for my license and registration. I then said "officer i just want to let you know I-" then he cut me off and said "you have a gun in your glove box?" i said "no, its here on my person" (never took my hands off the steering wheel). he said that "thats fine, do you have your drivers license?" i said "I do, but its in my back-right pocket, I don't want to reach for it" he said "ok, thats fine, dont worry about it, i'm not going to give you a ticket anyway" he went back to his car for a minute came back and told me i was good to go and to drive safe. What an awesome experience!! Didn't even care that I had a gun, and he didn't even look at my license. i should've got his name i'd like to report a compliment, i suppose i could FOIA the stop though. my question though is i dont have my CHP yet just put in the application like 2 days before that would that show up in his system already? i know it shows if you have a CHP, but i just put my app in he had to have known because he cut me off and asked if i had a gun?
anyway sorry if this is boring, or if its not in the right place, but i really felt i had to share my positive experiences after reading so many horrifying ones in other places. So far so good Spotsy county!!
