Last weekend I rode my bicycle to an Nirvana, an indian restaurant, for lunch buffet. One of the workers noticed my sidearm and asked me about it and we spoke for 30 seconds or so, but unfortunately I didn't have any flyers on me because I was worried they'd come out of my pocket while biking. He asked if I was carrying as a deterrent while biking (to fend off unruly drivers presumably?). I told him no, I just did it to remind people that they have the right to and for personal protection. It's interesting that the two Indian places I've been to have both spawned a conversation regarding carry. Maybe their courts announcement regarding Indian rights regarding carrying arms has it more on their minds?
On Wednesday I went to a Thai food restaurant right across the street from OSU. On the way back I walked through the park to the east of the main part of the OSU campus, but was technically still walking on university property. No issues.
On Thursday I visited the Wells Fargo in Philomath to talk to a banker for a little bit, no issues.
Yesterday I got a sandwich at the Old World Deli in downtown Corvallis. On the way home two guys around 20 years of age were riding their bicycles down the road in my direction. As the second one passed me I saw that he was staring at me. He then shouted to his friend and started talking about how I was carrying. They continued on their path but definitely looked back a few times. Last night I went to the Fedex/Kinkos to make some copies, no issues.
Today my friend and I both carried and handed out Ron Paul flyers at the farmer's market. No comments despite handing out 100 flyers in total. I spoke to a local pedicab driver for a while and introduced myself as the guy who carries a gun everywhere. He looked confused and asked if I was carrying at the moment and I looked down and replied in the affirmative. He was surprised he hadn't noticed. A Corvallis PD officer walked within three feet of me while I was handing out flyers. I didn't offer her one, but she didn't seem interested either. No issues with the firearm, but the farmer's market manager asked us to not be in the middle of the market handing out flyers. Apparently people can sing songs without a permit or paying for their space, but handing out political flyers gets complaints. She was pretty friendly and we agreed to move to an entrance/exit point. I need to research case law for first amendment and public space when permits are involved. Off the top of my head though, it seems allowing singers and not political flyers is a lot like prior restraint based on content (although no state action).
Overall a good week.
On Wednesday I went to a Thai food restaurant right across the street from OSU. On the way back I walked through the park to the east of the main part of the OSU campus, but was technically still walking on university property. No issues.
On Thursday I visited the Wells Fargo in Philomath to talk to a banker for a little bit, no issues.
Yesterday I got a sandwich at the Old World Deli in downtown Corvallis. On the way home two guys around 20 years of age were riding their bicycles down the road in my direction. As the second one passed me I saw that he was staring at me. He then shouted to his friend and started talking about how I was carrying. They continued on their path but definitely looked back a few times. Last night I went to the Fedex/Kinkos to make some copies, no issues.
Today my friend and I both carried and handed out Ron Paul flyers at the farmer's market. No comments despite handing out 100 flyers in total. I spoke to a local pedicab driver for a while and introduced myself as the guy who carries a gun everywhere. He looked confused and asked if I was carrying at the moment and I looked down and replied in the affirmative. He was surprised he hadn't noticed. A Corvallis PD officer walked within three feet of me while I was handing out flyers. I didn't offer her one, but she didn't seem interested either. No issues with the firearm, but the farmer's market manager asked us to not be in the middle of the market handing out flyers. Apparently people can sing songs without a permit or paying for their space, but handing out political flyers gets complaints. She was pretty friendly and we agreed to move to an entrance/exit point. I need to research case law for first amendment and public space when permits are involved. Off the top of my head though, it seems allowing singers and not political flyers is a lot like prior restraint based on content (although no state action).
Overall a good week.