LA OC Experience Reports

[Ian]

I noticed you guys don't have a thread dedicated to just OC experiences like a lot of other states do so I figured I would make one and get the ball rolling.

The main purpose of this thread is to show people new to the idea of open carry that it's completely normal and most interactions with the general public while open carrying will be non-events.

Post if you have a good encounter, a bad one, or if nothing happened at all (the best kind).

So share your experiences!

 

[Ian]

I'll get things started with my first day in Baton Rouge and a lot of open carrying!

I'm living in Baton Rouge through July for work so I will be open carrying just about every opportunity I get.

Baton Rouge:
• Cox Communication - Had to pick up my equipment for new service. The girl helping me did a double take on the firearm, but didn't mention it. Got me in and out within about a minute flat. Probably the most painless experience I've had with an internet provider. I wish I could have said the same for when I had to call them later when it wasn't working on install.
• Petsmart - Staff was very friendly, did not notice/look at/mention my firearm.
• Jimmy Johns - It was well after the lunch rush so I was the only customer at the time. Non-event and they seemed happy to have me in there.
• Target - On this one, I thought I might possibly get some problems from staff given Target's stance on firearms in the past. I was in the store quite a long time getting all the necessary things for a new apartment and never had any issues at all. I passed right by a State Trooper and if she noticed, she didn't act like it.
• Lowe's - Apart from the cashier doing what I can only describe as the "potty dance," there were zero issues here.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful day of stretching the ole 2A wings! Being a native Texan, we don't quite have that option yet, but hopefully we'll get it soon if this new legislation passes. I have other experience with OC having lived in Colorado.

Do you guys get together and have dinners/lunch/etc?

 

[Ian]

Happy Easter everyone.

• iHop: Figured I would get some breakfast and coffee, after I saw the line going out the door from the Easter crowd, I looked elsewhere. You guys know of any good breakfast places in east BR?
• Starbucks: Pretty packed, but decided to wait in line anyways. Other than the guy behind me in line having his eyes glued to my gun, nothing to report.
• At home: Met the technician from Cox at my place to fix the internet situation. He didn't seem bothered by it.
• Walmart: I don't really like going here, but Target was closed for Easter. Had a comment from the cashier.

Cashier: "You da poleeece?"
Me: "No ma'am, just a Texan."

Wished the greeter a happy Easter on the way out.
• Bass Pro Shop: Went to take a look a look at the gun section. Asked the guy behind the counter if they heard anything yet about when they get the new Glock 43. He had no idea what I was talking about. I understand if he is not a Glock guy, but it's kind of his job to know about guns. Then again, from the conversation I overheard him having with a customer about pistols, I can't say I was surprised.

I'm eating lunch now. Unfortunately I had to disarm due to ya'lls ridiculous law in regards to restaraunt carry. Anyone have some decent restaraunts that don't serve alcohol and are not fast food?

Carry on.

 

[HeroHog]

Hello, Speedy Mercer, Former VP and current Secretary/Treasurer for Louisiana Open Carry Awareness League (LOCAL). I've been open carrying in the Shreveport area for 35+ years now with no real incidents to report. The only incident of note was when the police were called to find me and ask me to put my gun in a car when I carried into an un-posted hospital. Main cop was VERY nice and knew and understood the law. No one took my gun or any stupid stuff. They just escorted me to my car. End of story.

For years we held our meetings in IHOPs and they were quite glad to have us. The "Wal-Mart Walk" is pretty much the 1st thing a new Open Carrier does. It's become it's own meme and the butt of many digs at newbies!

 

[oldgoat]

Kroger

Sulphur Kroger, on a regular basis, nothing remarkable to tell about. Another shopper once gave me the stink eye.

 

[HeroHog]

There is a report on LOCAL from an Open Carrier where it went BAD wrong on him because his wife had a small amount of pot and some pills that she didn't have the prescription on her for (she was in his vehicle along with a friend). IF he stood his ground and didn't allow them to search his car, he wouldn't have had these issues. You MUST know the law and your rights if you are going to carry no matter if it's open OR concealed! He DID win his jury trial and all charges were dropped but it cost him money, his job, his reputation and several days in jail.

 

[Ian]

Baton Rouge:

No issues last night on a few errands.

It was late last night and I needed some food nearby so unfortunately I went to McDonalds. Apart from the employees and a lovey-dovey teenage couple, I was the only one in there. I couldn't remember the last time I had a BigMac, so I figured I would get one. When I went to place my order, the girl looked down at my side-arm, then back up at me and asked me if I would like two BigMacs for only 40 cents more than one single one. Why not, sounds like a good deal.

Went over to Home Depot right before they closed to grab a few things. The sign on the door said they closed at 9PM, but the website said 10PM. I asked the first employee I saw if they were open because the sign said 9PM. She briefly looked down at my firearm and then said that they were still open. I found my items, checked out, and left.

 

[Wolfgang1952]

I am the Pres. of The Florida Parishes Chapter of LOCAL. I‘ve been OC’s for the last 10yrs. My normal dress is jeans, t-shirt if weather permits. I am all over the three north shore parishes and southern Mississippi. I have only been asked to leave two places in the last couple of years. Both places wear reconciled with. I don’t know why, but most people’s questions are, Are You A Bounty Hunter? My answer usually is, is there a bounty on you? If so I will be happy to collect. Then I get a good laugh out of them. I’ve been hassled buy the cops twice. Once in Mandeville and the other was in La Rose.

And as to a special page just for OC, I don’t think we need one. That’s what we have LOCAL for. OC has been legal in Louisiana sense 1870.

My normal dress



My normal mode of transportation.



Wolf

 

[Glockrunner]

BR generally seems pretty good for OC.

I've been OC'ing for 2 years and haven't had a bad reaction yet. I think 99% of people see 'something' and fill in it being a phone.

Jimmy Jones on Coursey? OC'ed in there often, no reaction ever.

Only place I was asked to leave was Toys-R-Us. Friend manages there and I'd meet him to discuss educational toys etc, so we walked the store for about 10 minutes before he got a call on his radio - THEN he noticed, told 'radio' there was no problem, but he was told to ask me to take it outside.

Apart from that I've carried everywhere.

 

[Ian]

Jimmy Jones on Coursey? OC'ed in there often, no reaction ever.

Yep, that's the one.


The other day I went over to CORT furniture to pick up a cheap office chair. They've got some pretty good deals over there. It wouldn't quite fit in my car and the guy was very helpful taking the chair apart for me. He even offered to let me take the socket wrench home so I could put it back together without having to buy a tool. I didn't bring any of my tools with me up here otherwise I would have had it. I declined since I was going to the store anyways, but appreciated the offer.

I have noticed everyone acting incredibly nice to me while open carrying. Could have something to do with the way I dress, but it's all good experiences none-the-less. I went into the store the other day and walked right by a Deputy from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Dept. I don't know if he noticed or not, but he didn't say anything.

 

[HeroHog]

Funny story from YEARS ago; I was working at my brother's Frame & Front-End shop as a Mechanic and would make wrecker runs as needed. One day I had to drive a good ways away to pick up a car from a dealer to bring back and be fixed. Now, at the time, I was 6'1" @ 250 lbs and that was mostly muscle. I also carried my Model 59 S&W on my hip when operating the wrecker. I got way down there to the shop and asked where the car was to be picked up. They said they couldn't release it for some B.S. reason. I borrowed their phone, called my brother and told him what was up. He had me put the shop manager on the phone and I did and stepped back and just stood there with my arms crossed across my chest while the two talked. Voices raised, the manager stopped, looked me up and down, and said, "Ok, no problem" and had one of their guys Help me go get and hook up the car and off I went.

I got back to the shop and asked my brother what he said to the guy and he said he told him that I was "coming back with a fender, bumper but SOMETHING worth that two way tow or I wasn't leaving!" Apparently, after looking at me, he believed it...

 

[Ian]

Baton Rouge:

So I had a couple of interesting experiences last night. I spent all night building a new computer and by the time I finished, it was getting close to midnight. I needed to get a part from Walmart and was starving so I figured I would stop by and get something to eat first. Jack in the Box was on the way. Being almost midnight, it was pretty empty looking, but I wanted to see if I could eat inside so I didn't get my car messy. I walked in and there was nobody at the front window. I guess the only girl working the front was taking drive thru orders. I waited for a few minutes and she came my way and then stopped dead in her tracks with a really surprised look on her face. She looked straight down at my gun and stared for a few seconds before looking back at me almost waiting for me to do something.
Me: "Hello, could I get a sourdough Jack please?"
Her: "Uhhh, Gaaaaaaaary? We have a customerrrrrrrrr in the front."
It was pretty clear at this point that they thought the front was locked and I was not supposed to be inside the building. I walked out to my car and went to the drive thru so we could have the same conversation and I could get my sandwich.


Went over to Walmart to grab an external CD player for the computer since I didn't put one in it and needed to install Windows. I found one on the website for 30 bucks, but it rang up 60 bucks at the cash register. Apparently Walmart also changes out all its cash at midnight, so things were extra slow. I looked over to the exit and a Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Deputy walked in and sat down by the door. I guess he was there because of all the cash that they were moving around. She called a manager over to the check out lane using the PA and at the same time the Deputy got up and started walking toward me. I thought, "alright, here we go." However, when he got close I asked him,
Me: "How you doin tonight sir?"
Deputy: "Pretty good, thanks."
Then he kind of awkwardly stood near me since I was waiting for the manager to get a higher manager for the price override. I guess he then got bored and sat down behind me. I think he was over by me because the manager had brought over the cart full of all the cash when she came to deal with my pricing issue. We finally got it all sorted and the general manager just told them to give it to me at the price on the website. I told the deputy to have a good night and headed home. No issues.

 

[HeroHog]

That's pretty much how it normally goes for me. I once had some idiot customer in Lowe's put his hand's up and jokingly say "Don't shoot!" I gave him "The Look" and said that the gun was for "bad guys," not him and that I prayed that I would never had to use it then went on with my shopping.