I visited Martinsburg today, to take care of some business, and of course, since this trip took me out of the People's Republic of MD, it was a perfect excuse to OC. After transporting my firearm out of MD per MD law (unloaded, locked in the back of my vehicle), the MINUTE I "crossed the moat" I stopped at a gas station and put my Para where it belongs--loaded and on my hip in a Serpa...
I stopped at the Sheets between Harpers Ferry and Charlestown to get some lunch, and one fella came up to me and nodded at my Para and said to me "man, I'm SOOO jealous. That's a REALLY nice Para P-14 you have there... Anyone say anything to you about carrying it like that?"
I stuck out my hand to him for a handshake and told him, that he was the first person to comment on it today, and I also congratulated him on not only correctly identifying it as a Para, but the correct model. We had a long talk in the Sheetz about gun rights, and the law--he was from MD, and was bemoaning his inability to legally carry--despite the fact that as a contractor, his work took him ALL over the area--PA, VA, MD and WV. He had a FL non-resident permit, which covers him in VA and WV (but not in PA, I learned, and obviously not in MD), and we talked about MD's stupid permit issuance policy. All in all it was a VERY positive encounter.
I OCed in Martinsburg--to my storage unit, and to the Tractor Supply in Martinsburg. Nobody so much as blinked.
I also OCed in the Home Depot in Ranson to buy a wooden dowel for some bookshelves we are building, and to pick up some corks for a batch of cordial I will be bottling this weekend. Again, not so much as a second glance from anyone.
Man, it was nice to OC again--if only for a few hours. I will be finding more excuses to visit Martinsbug in the future--you can be sure of that!
Maryland sucks...