Rich B
Regular Member
imported post
I finally took the leap and devoted my entire weekend to open carry.
Equipment:
Saturday I wore my red CCDL shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. On my hip was my Glock 23 riding in my Desantis thumb break speed scabbard (OWB). This is often my concealed rig as well, so I was familiar and comfortable with it. I wore my Desantis double mag pouch on the opposite side on my back.
Late Saturday and all day Sunday I switched out for my Kimber Pro CDP, in the same style holster and again with a double mag pouch on my back.
Also, in my pocket was a copy of the CCDL 'is that legal' pamphlet and the DPS memo to the state police.
Summary:
Sunday:
Unsuccessful visits:
Conclusion:
I have to say, this weekend was very busy and my carry had a lot of surface area. My carrying was extremely obvious to anyone paying any attention as I made absolutely no attempt to cover up or to shy away from anyone. Surprisingly, many people either don't notice or they simply don't care. I made it a point to be a couple notches more friendly than I would normally be and anyone I saw looking at me I would respond my nodding and smiling at them.
Overall, I was well received. The vast majority of people were very positive and friendly. I got the occassional stare or look of judgement, but nothing over the top, and any potential negatives were outweighed by the support. Certainly nothing alarming at all.
My OC related encounters were very limited. It was really life as usual. My first was actually on the second day at North Cove Outfitters. One of the salesmen at the outdoor kayak event simply asked what my shirt and (motioning to my gun) was all about. No ill will was detected and I responded by chatting about OC a little and showing him my CCDL pamphlet. He thanked me for the quick lesson and went on about his day. I did the same.
The second encounter was downstairs at North Cove again. A North Cove worker came up, pointed at my shirt and said "great group". What a good feeling from a great store. I truly felt at ease there. I think people were more polite and helpful, but we have always had great experiences at North Cove, so I could be biased.
I should point out that we did not go to North Cove Outfitters for anything related to firearms or OC at all, it was merely coincidental since I was with family who was looking for a kayak. I am glad I went though, it was a great bolster to my confidence. I would need that later in the night.
My next encounter left something to be desired. We entered Branford Cue and Brew after a cursory look at the signs and flyers plastered over their front door and window. Nothing about firearms. We checked in and we were assigned a pool table.
The girl at the front desk was very polite and courteous as were all of the patrons I made contact with. I got our sticks, we racked and we played a couple turns. I am sure I had my fair share of eyes on me since they situated us in the middle of the room, but I saw no disconcerting reactions. I don't mind attention, I get stared at plenty anyway, and we both suck at billiards so that was bound to happen anyway. The waitress came over and she (on her own accord, not at all at our request) reclaimed a table and chairs for us by our table and took our order for a pitcher of Diet Coke. Looks like we are going to have a good time...
About 5 minutes later, I see a larger man coming up behind me fast and in a confrontational/authoritative manner. I stay cool, pivot around the table a bit and look to him so that we won't be too close, as I am not yet sure of his intentions or demeanor. He is apparently management (no real way to check his credentials, but that is how he represents himself) and tells me I need to "leave the iron in the car" and that I am making "a lot of people upset". I respond that I won't be disarming and that we would instead be leaving. He tells me "make it happen quickly".
We gather our stuff. I note that no one seems to be angry, alarmed or really even aware of what is happening. I grab the pool sticks and head over to the rack I obtained them from.
A girl there asks me "Are you a cop?".
I calmly reply "Nope".
She says (nervously, like she didn't mean to insult me) "I was just curious...".
I reply "I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, but I need to do it outside since I have been asked to leave."
At this point, the 6 or 7 people standing nearby are talking at me (somewhat loudly) telling me that is wrong that they asked me to leave and that I should just conceal and insist on staying, etc. The patrons in attendance were very supportive of my carry. I tell them "Thank you, but that is not the point, I need to leave, it is his right to request we leave."
We leave with no further incident, paying our 85 cent tab to the front desk girl who is very surprised that I was asked to leave. I have no idea what became of our pitcher of Coke, sorry to the waitress if she got stiffed on it, but we had no control over this.
I probably should have been more annoyed by being asked to leave, but I was actually bolstered by the fact that the patrons seemed to be very supportive of me and not towards the management. I made sure to be polite and professional and we got out of there quickly as requested. We didn't make it into a scene, although the other patrons seemed to be intent on it as we were leaving.
Overall, I am very happy. I will be open carrying as much as possible in the future. Thank you to the CCDL and to everyone on this forum that helped make me confident enough to do this.
I finally took the leap and devoted my entire weekend to open carry.
Equipment:
Saturday I wore my red CCDL shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. On my hip was my Glock 23 riding in my Desantis thumb break speed scabbard (OWB). This is often my concealed rig as well, so I was familiar and comfortable with it. I wore my Desantis double mag pouch on the opposite side on my back.
Late Saturday and all day Sunday I switched out for my Kimber Pro CDP, in the same style holster and again with a double mag pouch on my back.
Also, in my pocket was a copy of the CCDL 'is that legal' pamphlet and the DPS memo to the state police.
Summary:
Successful visits:
Newington - Bertuccis
Newington - Hoffmans
Meriden - Starbucks
Meriden - Old Navy
Meriden - Burlington Coat Factory
Meriden - Cold Stone
Wallingford - Linear Trail
Clinton - Chips Pub
Branford - Crooked Shillelagh
Branford - Ben and Jerrys
North Branford - Rose Orchards
Sunday:
Branford - Scotty's Breakfast
Old Saybrook - North Cove Outfitters (Very CCDL friendly, was greeted and complimented)
Niantic - Three Belles Marina
Westbrook - New Orleans Restaurant
Branford - Trailblazer
Wallingford - Archie Moores
Unsuccessful visits:
Branford - Cue and Brew
Conclusion:
I have to say, this weekend was very busy and my carry had a lot of surface area. My carrying was extremely obvious to anyone paying any attention as I made absolutely no attempt to cover up or to shy away from anyone. Surprisingly, many people either don't notice or they simply don't care. I made it a point to be a couple notches more friendly than I would normally be and anyone I saw looking at me I would respond my nodding and smiling at them.
Overall, I was well received. The vast majority of people were very positive and friendly. I got the occassional stare or look of judgement, but nothing over the top, and any potential negatives were outweighed by the support. Certainly nothing alarming at all.
My OC related encounters were very limited. It was really life as usual. My first was actually on the second day at North Cove Outfitters. One of the salesmen at the outdoor kayak event simply asked what my shirt and (motioning to my gun) was all about. No ill will was detected and I responded by chatting about OC a little and showing him my CCDL pamphlet. He thanked me for the quick lesson and went on about his day. I did the same.
The second encounter was downstairs at North Cove again. A North Cove worker came up, pointed at my shirt and said "great group". What a good feeling from a great store. I truly felt at ease there. I think people were more polite and helpful, but we have always had great experiences at North Cove, so I could be biased.
I should point out that we did not go to North Cove Outfitters for anything related to firearms or OC at all, it was merely coincidental since I was with family who was looking for a kayak. I am glad I went though, it was a great bolster to my confidence. I would need that later in the night.
My next encounter left something to be desired. We entered Branford Cue and Brew after a cursory look at the signs and flyers plastered over their front door and window. Nothing about firearms. We checked in and we were assigned a pool table.
The girl at the front desk was very polite and courteous as were all of the patrons I made contact with. I got our sticks, we racked and we played a couple turns. I am sure I had my fair share of eyes on me since they situated us in the middle of the room, but I saw no disconcerting reactions. I don't mind attention, I get stared at plenty anyway, and we both suck at billiards so that was bound to happen anyway. The waitress came over and she (on her own accord, not at all at our request) reclaimed a table and chairs for us by our table and took our order for a pitcher of Diet Coke. Looks like we are going to have a good time...
About 5 minutes later, I see a larger man coming up behind me fast and in a confrontational/authoritative manner. I stay cool, pivot around the table a bit and look to him so that we won't be too close, as I am not yet sure of his intentions or demeanor. He is apparently management (no real way to check his credentials, but that is how he represents himself) and tells me I need to "leave the iron in the car" and that I am making "a lot of people upset". I respond that I won't be disarming and that we would instead be leaving. He tells me "make it happen quickly".
We gather our stuff. I note that no one seems to be angry, alarmed or really even aware of what is happening. I grab the pool sticks and head over to the rack I obtained them from.
A girl there asks me "Are you a cop?".
I calmly reply "Nope".
She says (nervously, like she didn't mean to insult me) "I was just curious...".
I reply "I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, but I need to do it outside since I have been asked to leave."
At this point, the 6 or 7 people standing nearby are talking at me (somewhat loudly) telling me that is wrong that they asked me to leave and that I should just conceal and insist on staying, etc. The patrons in attendance were very supportive of my carry. I tell them "Thank you, but that is not the point, I need to leave, it is his right to request we leave."
We leave with no further incident, paying our 85 cent tab to the front desk girl who is very surprised that I was asked to leave. I have no idea what became of our pitcher of Coke, sorry to the waitress if she got stiffed on it, but we had no control over this.
I probably should have been more annoyed by being asked to leave, but I was actually bolstered by the fact that the patrons seemed to be very supportive of me and not towards the management. I made sure to be polite and professional and we got out of there quickly as requested. We didn't make it into a scene, although the other patrons seemed to be intent on it as we were leaving.
Overall, I am very happy. I will be open carrying as much as possible in the future. Thank you to the CCDL and to everyone on this forum that helped make me confident enough to do this.