How should a person respond to a negative remark about OCing?

[mnrobitaille]

While visiting the Dollar Tree in Hermiston, OR, to pick up an aluminum baking pan, I had the following happen: While there we were browsing the food selections, Molly (my wife) found a nearly empty of bottle of Gatorade that just across the aisle, was a cold case full of. I told her to stay there, so I could go up & report the shrinkage to the personnel. The cashier called the manager up front, & after his arriving, we proceeded back to where the shrinkage was located. As we turned the corner, he commented, loudly for several in the vicinity to hear,

What you going to do, take me to the back & shoot me?

, one of those who heard him say that was my wife, as she was about 5 feet away. My response to his inquiry, aside from wanting to burst out in laughter, was simply

No, sir!

Aside from the incident at Costco, where my CC'd sidearm was seen, accidentally, I had not had a response of the like in the negative about the carrying of a properly holstered sidearm.

Did I response in the right way? How would you have responded?

 

[Bikenut]

My response?

I'm not going to shoot you but I bet because I have a gun you will hide behind me if someone does try to shoot you.

 

[WalkingWolf]

I ignore the comments, if employees, or company attitude I do not do business with them. Not about to get into a urinating contest in a public place while armed. Unless a person is recording it could end up with a legal hassle.

 

[mnrobitaille]

My response?

I'm not going to shoot you but I bet because I have a gun you will hide behind me if someone does try to shoot you.

I ignore the comments, if employees, or company attitude I do not do business with them. Not about to get into a urinating contest in a public place while armed. Unless a person is recording it could end up with a legal hassle.

I know with how he said it, there were a few other customers nearby that heard his inquiry. I, however, did not notice any reactions from them. I was looking at my wife when he said that, & I thought she was going to burst out in laughter.

It's almost as if he was accusing me of the shrinkage, just because of my OCing. Right after he made his inquiry, Molly (my wife), stated that she had noticed the shrinkage. From his mannerisms & attitude, he likely only had an 8th grade education with a GED. Apparently that Dollar Tree is known to have a high amount of shrinkage due to clientele.

 

[KBCraig]

Don't play pilferage police, for one. They'll find it, they'll know what to do, and they won't appreciate being called to handle a half-drunk beverage bottle as if it's an emergency.

You seriously had your wife wait right there to guard this bottle while you went to report it?

 

[Firearms Iinstuctor]

Normally I just smile and say you don't have to worry.

If I can I try and engage them into a pro firearms discussion give them a business card.

Most of the time one can have a very positive conversation.

The last time I had a negative comment was from a customer at the local farm supply store. I am well known there and never had the staff say a thing about my open carry.

I was carrying my 1911 in a Blackhawk serpa the customer rudely said aren't you afraid of some one taking that from you.

I just smiled at him and said that could be a very dangerous thing to try.

He backed up a step, the clerk told me to have a nice day as I was just finishing up paying.

I walked away leaving the other customer standing there with a dumb look on his face.

Wasn't the time or place to get into a discussion with a obvious hostile person.

Most of the time I try and get into a good positive discussion but one needs to know what battles are worth fighting and know what ones are not.

 

[solus]

alas, i also notify store employees whenever i find opened merchandise packages, etc., to allow them to know it occurred in case the scofflaw(s) are still in the store pilfering elsewhere.

as for inappropriate employee/citizery commentary like you describe, i calmly discuss with the individual i do not appreciate havinging my life put in danger from their unnecessary loud commentary, going on to describe what if(s) scenarios of:
-someone call 911 & police arrive guns drawn, or
-another armed citizen hears and without assessing the sitation comes in blazing, or
-an ‘anti’ exacerbates the 911 call & swat arrives with the whole tactical might they can muster believing they are stopping an ISS attack.
etc!

i take it as nervous chatter, but if i feel it was made with malice the employee is asked to find a manager for a mild discussion amongst ourselves on the dangers mentioned above.

good holiday to you and your family...

 

[MSG Laigaie]

I have heard this kind of verbiage before. It seems to come from people who are not familiar with those who carry firearms and they are showing their nervousness.

 

[Tess]

I've faced this - never (apparently) particularly seriously. My usual response is "Not unless you're a threat to me or mine. You aren't, are you?" It seems to defuse the situation rapidly. Of course, I have the added advantage of being an old fat white chick who doesn't exactly present as a threat.

 

[mnrobitaille]

Don't play pilferage police, for one. They'll find it, they'll know what to do, and they won't appreciate being called to handle a half-drunk beverage bottle as if it's an emergency.

You seriously had your wife wait right there to guard this bottle while you went to report it?

I have training in both retail & security, & know the costs associated with theft/shoplifting/shrinkage. Majority of the time, when I notice the shrinkage, & alert store personnel to it, they are highly appreciative. When I initially approached the associate at the register about it, it was as if she was the only associate in the store. I mentioned to her I did not want to take her away from the register as there were other customers in the store at the time. I mentioned to her, as well, that I had found some shrinkage.

The reason I had my wife stay there with the shrinkage, instead of bringing it up with me, was in case there was other shrinkage in the area that was related to the initial bottle of Gatorade. Also she was the one to spot it.

 

[MamaLiberty]

Once in a great while someone will throw up their hands and say, "Don't shoot me!" I hate that. One of the first times I told the man that I'd not had to shoot anyone in thirty years. I thought he was going to have a heart attack, seriously. He was suddenly terrified and left as fast as he could walk.

My remark backfired, badly. I would never say anything like that again in such a situation. Now I just smile and go on my way.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Once in a great while someone will throw up their hands and say, "Don't shoot me!" I hate that. One of the first times I told the man that I'd not had to shoot anyone in thirty years. I thought he was going to have a heart attack, seriously. He was suddenly terrified and left as fast as he could walk.

My remark backfired, badly. I would never say anything like that again in such a situation. Now I just smile and go on my way.

Bingo! That is how I handle rude remarks, I don't try to educate those that already have a hate for open firearms. Too many uncomfortable things can happen, most of which is the person calling the cops, and exaggerating the situation.

When people politely ask questions about carry I am more than willing to have a discussion. Most times those discussions start about the type of gun, or holster, or if it is legal. My wife, and I have had only one uncomfortable moment in Sanford Walmart. I was picking up some t-shirts, and a clearly upset clerk asked if she could help us. Anybody that knows Wally World knows that the help almost never offers help unless they suspect a shoplifter, or other criminal. We said no thank you, and went about our shopping.

 

[FreedomLover]

What has been described can be at best described as a poor attempt at humor without recognition or realization of the potential life-threatening results of the overheard and misunderstood verbalization.

I have "chastened" more than one over the years for such "humor" with good results.

 

[OC Freedom]

Bingo! That is how I handle rude remarks, I don't try to educate those that already have a hate for open firearms. Too many uncomfortable things can happen, most of which is the person calling the cops, and exaggerating the situation.

When people politely ask questions about carry I am more than willing to have a discussion. Most times those discussions start about the type of gun, or holster, or if it is legal. My wife, and I have had only one uncomfortable moment in Sanford Walmart. I was picking up some t-shirts, and a clearly upset clerk asked if she could help us. Anybody that knows Wally World knows that the help almost never offers help unless they suspect a shoplifter, or other criminal. We said no thank you, and went about our shopping.

+1

 

[VinnAY]

While visiting the Dollar Tree in Hermiston, OR, to pick up an aluminum baking pan, I had the following happen: While there we were browsing the food selections, Molly (my wife) found a nearly empty of bottle of Gatorade that just across the aisle, was a cold case full of. I told her to stay there, so I could go up & report the shrinkage to the personnel. The cashier called the manager up front, & after his arriving, we proceeded back to where the shrinkage was located. As we turned the corner, he commented, loudly for several in the vicinity to hear, , one of those who heard him say that was my wife, as she was about 5 feet away. My response to his inquiry, aside from wanting to burst out in laughter, was simply

Aside from the incident at Costco, where my CC'd sidearm was seen, accidentally, I had not had a response of the like in the negative about the carrying of a properly holstered sidearm.

Did I response in the right way? How would you have responded?

I stopped caring when I saw that you're "that guy".

 

[solus]

I stopped caring when I saw that you're "that guy".

???

 

[gutshot II]

While visiting the Dollar Tree in Hermiston, OR, to pick up an aluminum baking pan, I had the following happen: While there we were browsing the food selections, Molly (my wife) found a nearly empty of bottle of Gatorade that just across the aisle, was a cold case full of. I told her to stay there, so I could go up & report the shrinkage to the personnel. The cashier called the manager up front, & after his arriving, we proceeded back to where the shrinkage was located. As we turned the corner, he commented, loudly for several in the vicinity to hear, , one of those who heard him say that was my wife, as she was about 5 feet away. My response to his inquiry, aside from wanting to burst out in laughter, was simply

Aside from the incident at Costco, where my CC'd sidearm was seen, accidentally, I had not had a response of the like in the negative about the carrying of a properly holstered sidearm.

Did I response in the right way? How would you have responded?

Why would you feel compelled to respond at all? I don't respond to childish behavior, from children or adults.

 

[Maverick9]

Some people may react that way when confronted by an overly entitled Hall Monitor™.

Did you use the word 'shrinkage'? Or maybe you did the Donald Sutherland point? Either way, though, I'd shrink away from "reporting" things in the store, unless you're Bea Arthur.

 

[The Trickster]

I stopped caring when I saw that you're "that guy".

Agreed.

 

[rogue66]

I stopped caring when I saw that you're "that guy".

Yep