OCing for the cause-Operation Frosty

[mrortega]

I had some really good contacts today. We ate breakfast at the St. Joe McDonalds. A couple people really stared but no comments. There were quite a few people there. I had my G23 cross draw with a light attached. It was VERY visible. Next stop was Circle K on Fulton where a clerk took a long look. After shooting at Red Brush we stopped at the Newburgh Walmart. I was quick in and out and only a couple in line behind me got a look. We stopped at the Thorntons on Boonville Hwy for a potty break and soda. A dude getting in line behind me took a glance and then long look but didn't say anything. Next was grocery shopping at Wesselmans on Weinbach. The butcher walked past me, looked at my piece, smiled and said hi. The girls in the deli also saw it as I ordered some sliced ham. I got into a good conversation with the check-out guy about the robbery at the Pollack ave. Wesselmans. He said they hadn't had any extra training about what to do if it happened at their store. I told him my wife asked if I would shoot in the same situation and I had responded "No, not unless someone was stupid enough to approach me as I was on the floor covering her." He asked what I was carrying and I said a Glock 23. He asked about the caliber then said, "Yeah, my brother has the full size 22. I'll have to get a permit." I told him Indiana is "shall issue" and to get going on it. I told him I had met the "zoo guy" and as a result I was OCing all the time now. After a stop for an allergy shot (nobody noticed) we went to Alles Brothers furniture in Mt. Vernon. I know the owner pretty well and as I tried out a rocker I said, "Is this seat scratch-proof for when I sit down with this on" pointing to my gun. He laughed. As we got into our neighborhood we stopped to talk to a lady walker that we know. She talked about biking and walking in good and bad places in Evansville. I told her about TF and my ride of a few weeks ago and the lady we had seen who said she felt safe riding behind us. She said, "Do you carry a GUN?" I said I sure did then mentioned the zoo incident and an incident that happened to me years ago that led to my first license. I said if I'm ever in a bad situation again without defense I deserve what I get. All in all a really good day. A few more people saw an open carrier and a couple heard about TF.

 

[Mrs_Frost]

Ben and I open carried together last night when we went to vote. I am sure lots of people noticed but only one person mentioned anything. The guy who was helping set everything up complimented my gun. Ben even had a conversation with Rick Davis. Very positive experience

 

[mrortega]

Ben and I open carried together last night when we went to vote. I am sure lots of people noticed but only one person mentioned anything. The guy who was helping set everything up complimented my gun. Ben even had a conversation with Rick Davis. Very positive experience

Has anyone ever asked about both of you carrying or put two and two together and thought maybe TF is the zoo guy?

 

[Titanium_Frost]

Has anyone ever asked about both of you carrying or put two and two together and thought maybe TF is the zoo guy?

Dunno. No one has said anything yet but we have only open carried together recently.

 

[mrortega]

Dunno. No one has said anything yet but we have only open carried together recently.

The family who carries together stays together

 

[mrortega]

I posted about a tactical screw up today in another thread but while I was talking to our bookkeeper on her front porch I told her I've been carrying all the time lately and asked her if she heard about the zoo incident. She looked confused until I said it was a guy with his wife and infant son in a stroller who was "escorted" out for open carrying. She said, "Oh, yeah. Now I know what you're talking about." Before I could ask her opinion the dude I talked about on the other thread came up to the bottom of the porch steps and I never got back into the conversation.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

Was talking to one of my customers about the job and what else we needed to complete for him when the conversation turned to guns and carrying. I forget the whole thing but it ended up with him saying he could get his AK out and walk it up the street and be legal. I said absolutely I usually OC everywhere I can and I have only had problem one place I went...

He of course asked where so I said oh the Zoo. He said someone had told him thats who I was and I still don't know who did but I thought that was funny. Very cool guy and has pretty good gun stories from his time in the Army.

 

[mrortega]

Was talking to one of my customers about the job and what else we needed to complete for him when the conversation turned to guns and carrying. I forget the whole thing but it ended up with him saying he could get his AK out and walk it up the street and be legal. I said absolutely I usually OC everywhere I can and I have only had problem one place I went...

He of course asked where so I said oh the Zoo. He said someone had told him thats who I was and I still don't know who did but I thought that was funny. Very cool guy and has pretty good gun stories from his time in the Army.

You'd probably be surprised at how many people are aware of the story and most I've talked to have been positive about it or had no opinion. How did he guess it was you? Could be since your name was in the paper and you probably use that and not TF at work? Or maybe you still smell like monkey sh**.

 

[mrortega]

This weather is getting almost too cold for much more of this this season, BUT I went out of my way to leave my jacket off this afternoon for the shopping I had to do. First stop was Circle K on north Fulton. I had to stand in line so there were a couple of gawkers but no comments. One of my favorite ladies behind the counter took my money and she definitely say my G23 but didn't say anything. I've known her for a couple years and I think she considers me normal so another good sighting. Next stop was Evansville Appliance Parts for a rack for our dishwasher. Three guys on the counter noticed. I asked for the Vetern's day special but they just laughed at me. The young man who waited on me was an Iraq war vet. I said I've been back from Vietnam longer than you have been alive! He was very friendly and kept staring at my gun but never said anything. Probably stunned with the beauty of the Glock instead of that 92 he was forced to carry in the Sand Box. I hate envy. Next I went to Rallys on Virginia to talk with a manager about a dump of a house they own next to my wife's 93 yr old aunt. The place is a rat trap and fire hazard. I had my Vietnam Vetern's hat and big 'ole .40 on. I considered putting my jacket on so I wouldn't appear threatening if I started talking about their crappy house but decided they needed to see me as a normal guy. The guy I needed wasn't at that store so they directed me to the one on Morgan by the Harley dealer. The guy talked through the window and I was polite but told him I would call him next week and ask what they planned to do about the dump. He said, "cool", and I left. I'll keep doing this 'till I catch a good cold then that's it!!

 

[Mrs_Frost]

Was talking to one of my customers about the job and what else we needed to complete for him when the conversation turned to guns and carrying. I forget the whole thing but it ended up with him saying he could get his AK out and walk it up the street and be legal. I said absolutely I usually OC everywhere I can and I have only had problem one place I went...

He of course asked where so I said oh the Zoo. He said someone had told him thats who I was and I still don't know who did but I thought that was funny. Very cool guy and has pretty good gun stories from his time in the Army.

Everyone knows you. You are pretty much famous.

 

[HobbyGuy]

I think you mean infamous.

 

[Mrs_Frost]

I think you mean infamous.

 

[mrortega]

A little update from my post of this past Friday. On Friday afternoon 3 people showed up at the run down house that Rallys owns next to my wife's aunt. They walked around taking notes. BTW, they showed up within an hour of me talking to the guy at the Morgan Ave. Rallys. Yesterday 4 people showed up and completely cleaned the grounds. They removed trash, cut all the weeds and cut down a couple wild rose bushes in the front yard. Auntie had been patiently calling them for weeks and got nowhere. Mr. Ortegas visit, in person (and maybe armed to the teeth ) got almost immediate results. Please don't flame me about the armed comment but maybe they thought I was a cop, FBI, AC/DC, AFL-CIO or some such other thing. Anyway things are happening.

 

[mrortega]

ok guys, you inspired me. I'm not that comfortable OC'ing...yet... but I did go to the Eastside Walmart last night to buy a few things. Only in there maybe 20 min but shopped the groceries and was OC'ing my G26 on my hip. Didn't get any comments. The cashier looked a bit nervous and I know she saw it, but she didn't say anything. I wished her a good night at work and all was done. Greeted in and out by the greeter with no incident. I'm trying to help you guys with this cause. Any tips or recommendations for good spots to start out OC'ing?

Do you get to the west side much? I've carried a lot of times into McDonalds, Thorntons, Donut Bank and Hardees-all on St. Joe ave. Maybe if you went into the same places a few times they'd see a fresh face.

 

[mrortega]

I had one interesting encounter today. I took our van to our mechanic for oil/lube/etc. A lady who I know from a church that I go to for morning Communion sometimes was there. She is very sweet and my wife and I love her. She didn't notice my Glock on my left side when I sat down. When my van was ready I went over and she stood up for a nice hug. Her right had briefly touched my pistol and I said, "Watch the gun." She said, "OH", but wasn't freaked out. I then went into my usual routine about carrying full time for the last few years, TF getting booted out the zoo, the city of E'ville is going to pay, etc, etc. blah, blah. I explained the open carry at the zoo deal and said I was OCing in support of "that guy." She was cool with the whole thing and will probably be looking for it this Wednesday when I see her at church. Then I'll explain the problem with guns being prohibited on school/church grounds and hopefully make another convert.

 

[mrortega]

This morning the pest control guy came for the monthly bug spray of our business property that we are trying to sell. I was/am wearing my G23 with light in a nasty looking paddle holster. We had a conversation last month and he said he "probably" needed to get a permit since he carries once in a while. Well, yeeaaaahhhh! So this morning as soon as he came in he glanced at my piece and said he would definitely get going on his "permit" before he comes back next month. I asked if he lived in the city or county and he said city so I directed him to the poleeece station. As he was leaving I pointed out a pair of shoes laying out in the yard. People walk through at night a lot and we surmised that somebody probably stole them (they were a really nice pair of sport shoes) then couldn't use them because they were the wrong size. He said, "So it's kinda creepy around here sometimes?" I said yeah and that's why I carry full time.

 

[youngda9]

mrortega...seems that when OC-ing your life seems to revolve around your firearm. Interesting encounters in posts 281, 286, 289, 293, 296, and 296...and I'm only reading from page 8 of this post(I have 40 posts per page turned on). It certainly does get people talking. Good job educating those you meet along your travels. +1

 

[mrortega]

mrortega...seems that when OC-ing your life seems to revolve around your firearm. Interesting encounters in posts 281, 286, 289, 293, 296, and 296...and I'm only reading from page 8 of this post(I have 40 posts per page turned on). It certainly does get people talking. Good job educating those you meet along your travels. +1

Yeah, that's the whole point of this thread. I'm not necessarily a full time OCer but am doing this because the whole zoo thing bothers me enough to get involved.

 

[mrortega]

We went to Mass at a different church this morning and ran into an old friend afterwards. He asked if I was the one who had written the letter to the editor about the zoo incident with TF. I acknowledged that I was. He then cautiously stated that he didn't think it was appropriate that the guy carried his gun openly. I said I agreed with "the guy's" reasoning and explained the 21 foot rule of self defense. He said yeah, I guess I can see your point. I then said I had met the guy and have been OCing since then because of what he did and what the city did to him. My wife chimed in, "He's a really nice guy." (She's a great judge of character.) I told him about me and TF's ride on the Greenway and the lady we met who told us she felt safe riding behind us. My friend then told me about an incident where his daughter was jogging in the Garvin Park section of the trail a few years ago and saw a couple men who she got a real bad feeling about. She stopped and jogged quickly away from them. I told him I wouldn't even go on it without being armed and he agreed whole heartedly. He said, "There are some really bad spots and a woman was raped a few years ago." When we parted I think he had a better understand of the law and why some people OC. One more contact for TF.

 

[Mrs_Frost]

So TF and I went shopping today and we both OC together. We went to Best Buy, Sears, and Target. I know at least a few people noticed but no one commented. It was a good experience and it let people see a family out having a good time while open carrying.