imported post
Carried again today. To return to work as a paid RSO at the SLOSA.org range (took a leave of absence for this last Iraq tour), I needed to have a hearing and blood lead level test done. Entered the medical office to no fanfare, asked the lady for the admittance forms to fill out, then sat for 35 minutes with a Filipino family waiting to be seen. Technician finally called me, took me to the exam room for vitals, then upstairs for the hearing test. Only when I emerged from the sound booth did he notice the gun, and asked if I "was a cop".
"No."
"Are you licensed to carry that?"
" No."
"Why do you have it then?"
"It is legal in California to openly carry and unloaded firearm"
"Well, we prefer you do not do it next time you come here."
"OK."
Nice lady...with a Son in Afghanistan...took my blood, than also asked about the gun.
"Are you a cop?"
"No"
"Why the gun?"
"It is legal in California to carry this way"
"Really?"
She had finished with me, and after a final signature, I went to my truck and returned with a copy of the Cal Carry Flyer to give to her. She seemed genuinely interested in the laws.
Left there to take a wide berth around the main downtown street, as it falls in a school zone, to get to my favorite sandwich shop. The owner was there, and he wanted to know why I wasn't packing one of my AR-15's instead....I told him they made too large a bulge in my pocket
Took the long way home to avoid the school zones, but stopped at a liquor store owned by a fairly irate Pakistani. While paying for my Dr Pepper, he asked what brand of .45 it was, as he prefferred Kimbers. Had a nice conversation about guns and .45's in particular. Turns out he's not so irate after all, just usually pissed at the stupid college kids he regularly deals with. He left Pakistan after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, because he knew he would get drawn into that war as a Mujihadeen. Fled to the USA, got naturalized, got a bank loan, and bought the store.
Yeah, I was there for about 2 hours, but he bought me a burger from his deli when he found out I came home from Iraq a month ago. He glanced around at one point, checking for anyone in the store, then brought out his Kimber Pro Carry he keeps at the register, loaded with Corbon 168's. Very nice.
Shook hands, and he said I was welcome armed in his store anytime.
Continued home with no more stops.