Hello all,
Name is Matt and I'm new to the forums. 22 years old, husband, father of a beautiful 5 month old daughter, and 4+ year vet of the US Army (got out for one year then found myself reenlisting again) in multiple MOS of 13B Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember, 11B Infantryman, and 31B Military Police. I've been a gun owner for 5 months (bought my first when my daughter was born) with a Glock 19 Gen 3 and a recently acquired Glock 42. Grew up in Upstate NY where as you know if you're not hunting then you're a criminal/mentally unstable for owning a gun, and I carried that mentality until the Sandy Hook shootings where I found myself saying "Man, if only someone had a gun there to stop it." which is when that realization sets in that "Even if bad guys carry guns, then good guys must carry them too." Just alittle info about myself.
I came here to basically talk and learn a couple things from the gun owners of the great state of New Hampshire where you can own any gun we want (almost any) and can carry without permit with no questions asked, and without stupid magazine restrictions.
Main reason of this post is to just share some good OC and CC stories I came across in my first 5 months of gun ownership.
1)Now first I'll admit that when I first started carrying I was uncomfortable carrying because I felt like everyone was going to overreact at the sight of a firearm (especially living right on the MA border) but those nerves were settled quickly with a visit to the grocery store. I'll admit I'm a huge supporter of Law Enforcement as that is something I eventually want to make my career in and I always thank a police officer when I see them for what they do everyday,one day my wife sent me to our local grocery store to grab more baby diapers and a Red Box movie. Either way I'm walking from the parking lot to the store when I stop at the road to let a motorcycle Police Officer ride through without having to stop, he acknowledges and waves, me praying he didn't see me open carrying my Glock 19. On the way out I stop at the Red Box and as I grab the disc from the tray I notice the yellow reflective jacket of said police officer standing behind me, I begin to panic as to what he's going to say when I turn around. So I turn around and make eye contact with the officer, he looks at me and extends his hand for a handshake and says "Thank you", I said "For what officer?" and he responds "Its people like you that deter or put an end to violent crimes. It makes my job easier when I know there are citizens out there willing to protect themselves or others, no questions asked." Of course that made my day and made me a lot more rest assured to carry anywhere.
2)This one is alittle less on the positive side. One day on my way to work I stopped at a Subway to grab myself lunch, and at that time was concealed carrying my 19. Now, I'm not the most heavy set guy in the world so concealing a 19 was alittle bit of a struggle for me (hence why I got a Glock 42). Either way there's a middle-aged gentleman behind in line, so standing there all of a sudden I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn around and this guy asks me in the middle of a crowded restaurant "Why are you carrying a gun? Are you a cop or something?" I respond politely "No sir I'm not a cop, just a legal gun owner." and I turn back around. He then says quite loudly "How do I know your not going to start shooting up the place? You can be a lunatic for all I know." At this point I just want to get out of there without any more attention coming my way, so I turn around and say quietly "Sir, I have 4 years of military experience and have never been arrested of any crimes, I assure you I'd be the one stopping a lunatic, not being one." I'm just ready to end this conversation and leave with my food. This guy then proceeds to ask an employee to have his manager remove me because I was creating "a hostile environment" solely because I was carrying a firearm, luckily I knew the employee because we used to be roommates before I got married (and I proudly still get a discount at that Subway
)
He tells the guy "I'm not asking him to leave, he's not breaking any laws." to which the man replies "Well you just lost a paying customer!" to which my friend replies back sarcastically "Well if I kicked him out I would have lost one either way so it doesn't bother me." To which a couple other people in the restaurant found that funny and began laughing out loud. The man got all red and PO'd and left in a huff.
Sorry to bore you all with my stories, but I'm glad to be apart of the forums!
Name is Matt and I'm new to the forums. 22 years old, husband, father of a beautiful 5 month old daughter, and 4+ year vet of the US Army (got out for one year then found myself reenlisting again) in multiple MOS of 13B Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember, 11B Infantryman, and 31B Military Police. I've been a gun owner for 5 months (bought my first when my daughter was born) with a Glock 19 Gen 3 and a recently acquired Glock 42. Grew up in Upstate NY where as you know if you're not hunting then you're a criminal/mentally unstable for owning a gun, and I carried that mentality until the Sandy Hook shootings where I found myself saying "Man, if only someone had a gun there to stop it." which is when that realization sets in that "Even if bad guys carry guns, then good guys must carry them too." Just alittle info about myself.
I came here to basically talk and learn a couple things from the gun owners of the great state of New Hampshire where you can own any gun we want (almost any) and can carry without permit with no questions asked, and without stupid magazine restrictions.
Main reason of this post is to just share some good OC and CC stories I came across in my first 5 months of gun ownership.
1)Now first I'll admit that when I first started carrying I was uncomfortable carrying because I felt like everyone was going to overreact at the sight of a firearm (especially living right on the MA border) but those nerves were settled quickly with a visit to the grocery store. I'll admit I'm a huge supporter of Law Enforcement as that is something I eventually want to make my career in and I always thank a police officer when I see them for what they do everyday,one day my wife sent me to our local grocery store to grab more baby diapers and a Red Box movie. Either way I'm walking from the parking lot to the store when I stop at the road to let a motorcycle Police Officer ride through without having to stop, he acknowledges and waves, me praying he didn't see me open carrying my Glock 19. On the way out I stop at the Red Box and as I grab the disc from the tray I notice the yellow reflective jacket of said police officer standing behind me, I begin to panic as to what he's going to say when I turn around. So I turn around and make eye contact with the officer, he looks at me and extends his hand for a handshake and says "Thank you", I said "For what officer?" and he responds "Its people like you that deter or put an end to violent crimes. It makes my job easier when I know there are citizens out there willing to protect themselves or others, no questions asked." Of course that made my day and made me a lot more rest assured to carry anywhere.
2)This one is alittle less on the positive side. One day on my way to work I stopped at a Subway to grab myself lunch, and at that time was concealed carrying my 19. Now, I'm not the most heavy set guy in the world so concealing a 19 was alittle bit of a struggle for me (hence why I got a Glock 42). Either way there's a middle-aged gentleman behind in line, so standing there all of a sudden I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn around and this guy asks me in the middle of a crowded restaurant "Why are you carrying a gun? Are you a cop or something?" I respond politely "No sir I'm not a cop, just a legal gun owner." and I turn back around. He then says quite loudly "How do I know your not going to start shooting up the place? You can be a lunatic for all I know." At this point I just want to get out of there without any more attention coming my way, so I turn around and say quietly "Sir, I have 4 years of military experience and have never been arrested of any crimes, I assure you I'd be the one stopping a lunatic, not being one." I'm just ready to end this conversation and leave with my food. This guy then proceeds to ask an employee to have his manager remove me because I was creating "a hostile environment" solely because I was carrying a firearm, luckily I knew the employee because we used to be roommates before I got married (and I proudly still get a discount at that Subway
)He tells the guy "I'm not asking him to leave, he's not breaking any laws." to which the man replies "Well you just lost a paying customer!" to which my friend replies back sarcastically "Well if I kicked him out I would have lost one either way so it doesn't bother me." To which a couple other people in the restaurant found that funny and began laughing out loud. The man got all red and PO'd and left in a huff.
Sorry to bore you all with my stories, but I'm glad to be apart of the forums!
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