Open Carry experience thread.

[FreeInAZ]

Hi - All I have been asked to post a thread here by some others so that people can relate their open carry experiences.

I know that this is Arizona and it is a given that OC should be a non event. However - besides myself and my family I have rarely seen anyone carrying openly? So let's let others who might be thinking of trying it or are new to the great state of Arizona know that it's okay to do so if they want.

I'll start -

OCed recently at an art fair in Cave Creek. No issues - did have a couple of older couples wisper "he got a gun" I just glanced towards them and smiled and went about my shopping. As they left I noticed they got into a car with Illinois plates so they were probably snow birds from the Chicago area? For the most part I find that rarely do people even notice I am wearing a visible pistol. When they do I just smile or nod and that's that. When I'm out with my family - if my wife is OCing I will often switch to CC just to see the curious looks that people give me and the smiles she gets from many of the women passing by. You see,
I don't mind being viewed as the fellow who has a wife that can protect him and his child if needed at all.

 

[AZRobert]

All in all my experiences have been good. I've only had one place of business ask me to leave. Something I've noticed is that people are honestly not aware of their surroundings. I've had people pass me on my strong side and not notice my gun (I wear it at 4 o clock) until they are past me or I turn for some reason and it's right there.

I can hear people whispering sometimes, but I just ignore it, if they have a question they'll be an adult and ask. I've noticed that the manager at PetSmart smiles when he sees me carry in his store.

I migrated here from Washington and it's open carry up there I just didn't exercise it, so far I'm really enjoying Arizona.

 

[azcdlfred]

I live in liberal dominated Tucson as open carry everywhere I legally can. I view it as a form of public innoculation mixed with the belief that a right not exercised is a right lost. I dont see very many others open carry, but I don't care. After over 10 years of open carrying in Arizona, I can't recall a single bad incident.

Fred

 

[ccwinstructor]

I and my brother will be open carrying at the Capitol tomorrow.

I live in liberal dominated Tucson as open carry everywhere I legally can. I view it as a form of public innoculation mixed with the belief that a right not exercised is a right lost. I dont see very many others open carry, but I don't care. After over 10 years of open carrying in Arizona, I can't recall a single bad incident.

Fred

In the spirit of the times, I think I will bring an AR .... got to find a sling .... I understand the Rally is to start at 10:00. I intend to get there early to find parking.

 

[FreeInAZ]

In the spirit of the times, I think I will bring an AR .... got to find a sling .... I understand the Rally is to start at 10:00. I intend to get there early to find parking.

+1 Please post how it went here if you have time.

 

[ccwinstructor]

This report is also posted elsewere on the forums

+1 Please post how it went here if you have time.

Picture of Rally

Pro-Constitution and Second Amendment Rally at Arizona Capitol, 8 February, 2013

I attended the Rally on 8 February at the Arizona Capitol that was aimed at protecting the Constitution, especially the Second Amendment. I and my brother arrived about half an hour early and were able to find parking. Some other reformers looking to protect the Constitution and roll back some of the infringements on citizens rights were arriving just as we got there. They had an extra Gadsden flag for my brother to carry, and I had brought a megaphone because of the lack of organization and an audio system at the last rally. Next time, I will bring a soap box.

The rally seemed completely spontaneous from various calls for a rally on the internet. There was no organization. There were no invited speakers. A couple of people had written speeches that were heartfelt and valid, but it was clear that they were ordinary citizens who felt compelled to come forward, not practiced politicians or public speakers.

The media wanted a spokesperson, and I was wearing a suit and carrying a megaphone, so I was drafted. I wish that I had been better prepared. My remarks were extemporaneous. But I have had a bit of public speaking experience. They were well received by the crowd. I answered a number of questions by the media. I think I did not make horrible mistakes, because I did not see any of that footage used. I tried to keep it to a few simple points. We are here to protect the Constitution and the Second Amendment. The Bill of Rights all protect each other. We are using our First Amendment rights to protect the Second Amendment. Universal Background Checks are unacceptable because they move toward registration and confiscation. Governments are far more dangerous than individual criminals.

I only found one report on the local news. They showed the rally and had a few words from me, and they quoted my brother as well. I said an attack on the Second Amendment is an attack on all the Bill of Rights.

My brother said we were there to stop infringements on the Second Amendment.

Then they gave a coverage to an anti-rights politician from the legislature.

The power of the editor was awesome. Our words were more convincing if they were written down and read, but the anti-rights politician was shown strolling with the reporter, relaxed, full body shot, with complete questions and answers given in complete sentences. His only real answer was "we must do *something*, without any explanation of how the *something* would do any good. He claimed that "universal background checks" would not keep anyone from owning guns who should not. Our responses were of close up head shots of extreme short cuts of a few words. It made us look much less credible. The visual appearance that was given was old extreme white guys versus reasonable leftist legislator.

I did not go up to give a statement. But, the point of the rally was to show opposition to the unconstitutional laws that are being pushed. Once there, and seeing that the rally was virtually spontaneous, with no organization, I felt compelled to try to make the best of it.

Lessons learned: Be prepared to give a statement. Know that you will be edited. The words were not bad, the dress was decent, but the editing of the visuals was biased. I will lose the hat while being interviewed next time. The shot of me shows the hat tilted back (no mirror), and barely shows me wearing a suit.

This morning, I saw the written story to accompany the visual clip. The written story was relatively balanced, and we came out fairly well.

Dean Weingarten

Link to video report of AZ Second Amendment Rally on 8 February

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/02...ry-second.html

Update, I found another story on Fox, it was a bit better.

 

[TOF]

The link does not work.

 

[FreeInAZ]

The link does not work.

Update - this link works http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/citizens-report-from-8-february-second.html

I had trouble too TOF. I found the pic by going to the main page http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/ and scrolling down a bit. For me it's on the left side. Just look for the palm trees and the Gadsden flags .

 

[Old Uncle Ho]

Open carry in Tucson.

"I live in liberal dominated Tucson as open carry everywhere I legally can. "

I do the same, every day all day. A few exceptions but very few. On Friday I was in Barnes and Noble at Foothills mall. I enter thru B & N and never a problem. This time there was an older couple behind me and I heard her say "it make me uncomfortable". I assumed she was referring to me, but no way to know. I'm out in the Catalina area and several ladies in a local restaurant carry. In the past 6 or 7 months I can only recall seeing 3 other open carriers. One walked into the restaurant with a sidearm on his hip and a shoulder rig. Impressive. The other two were in Basha's market. I have several times been into the airport but of course not into the security area. No problem. Also the Waffle house on Ina near 10, where folks have mentioned a gun free zone, and have always open carried with no problem.

Old Uncle Ho

I am armed, and dangers to me are indifferent.
Shakespear, Julius Ceasar, 1.3.114-5

 

[FreeInAZ]

OC'd @ fry's, walley world (shelfs empty of almost all ammo only had some 410 & 243 shells. I asked the clerk what the deal was & I quote "the truck is only bringing us a few boxes of ammo at a time, even though we have requested pallets. By the time I bring them in there is a line of people waiting for their 3 box limit & the shelves are bare again..." ) , than to target and office max. No issues as usual

 

[FreeInAZ]

OC'd @ Sky habor airport today (in non-secure areas). No issues as it should be.

 

[gunslinger493]

Open Carry in Chandler

Carried at Whataburger, Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. No problems at all. The Whataburger guys commented on the "Wrong Diner" commercial from Glock.

 

[FreeInAZ]

Carried at Whataburger, Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. No problems at all. The Whataburger guys commented on the "Wrong Diner" commercial from Glock.

You mean this one Yep great video. I am known to OC several of their products on a daily basis with no issues.

[video=youtube;_vDA9CIj93c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vDA9CIj93c[/video]

 

[UTOC45]

OCing in Tucson

I'm from Utah and visited Tucson for a few days and got married while down there. I Oc'd the whole timeand had no problem. I even OC'ed in Gilbert at a Sushi place. Loved my whole experience while I was there. I will be moving down to Tucson on Monday the 11th :banana: :monkey So add one more to the OC bunch

 

[FreeInAZ]

I'm from Utah and visited Tucson for a few days and got married while down there. I Oc'd the whole timeand had no problem. I even OC'ed in Gilbert at a Sushi place. Loved my whole experience while I was there. I will be moving down to Tucson on Monday the 11th :banana: :monkey So add one more to the OC bunch

Congratulation's & Welcome!

Now on topic carried while picking up a nice new 45 to OC today! :banana::banana:

 

[sharkey]

I saw an OC'er at Jamba Juice on Central and Thomas today.

Then I went into the Deli over there and saw a ton of police OC'ing.

I was going into work so was unarmed and felt naked.

 

[FreeInAZ]

I saw an OC'er at Jamba Juice on Central and Thomas today.

Then I went into the Deli over there and saw a ton of police OC'ing.

I was going into work so was unarmed and felt naked.

Yep - a funky feeling that I go through everyday when I walk my child into her school. I always think in the back of my mind "I hope the crazed goofs are sleeping in today..."

 

[davesnothere]

I've OC'd at several different places over the years, and I've heard comments, but never been told not to carry. I am hyper-vigilant of no guns signs, and there are a few places where I conceal because I don't want a management argument when they have improperly posted signage, such as hand-drawn signs that say "no guns".

The only times I've had active conversations with non-carriers (don't know if they were anti's or not) were at Wal-Mart (once), Red Mountain Café (elderly diners from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin - yes, I asked where they were from), Hoosier's Café (elderly diners again), and Iowa Café (table full of 20-somethings wearing Obama shirts (probably antis, but really cordial) and talking about some event they were organizing).

I had one difficult experience in Mesa with a new MPD officer who was a transplant from California (several years ago), and that ended well once the supervisor showed up. I think I posted here about that experience at the time, but I can't locate the thread. Maybe I posted at arizonashooting dot com.

I mix and match my carry style based on what I know about what I'm going to be doing in advance. I try and avoid establishments that don't tolerate OC, but that's not always possible (I'm a local first shopper, rather than an internet shopper, and some things simply can't be obtained without going into stores that block OC), and sometimes CC is my preferred mode of carry for personal reasons.

On a side note, I've been considering carrying my SAA .45 LC just for grins. Nothing like an Old West shooter to capture the imagination.

 

[FreeInAZ]

@ Davesnothere

Must have posted the LE encounter at the other site you mentioned? However I was able to reach back into the way back time machine and dig up your very first post here. Posted on Dec.21, 2008 - Enjoy
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?52216-New-to-the-Forum-and-New-to-OC

 

[Phoenix David]

Not super recent but during the summer after closing down the range me and the other RO's would go to Hobe Meats for their Saturday BBQ, all 3 of us OC'ing. No issues, other than the female of our group seem to get more looks her way especially from other females.