Where did you OC today?

[ATM]

...I think once I get out there and try it myself, I'm going to feel VERY alone, and VERY nervous, like I'm in the wrong and will be told so.

... I think when I get mine, I need to OC with some of you guys sometime, to feel more comfortable about it...

A great excuse to make it to an OC event. Once you get comfortable with it, you still have the choice to carry however you see fit in varying situations. The advantage will then be that you will make the determination without fear or shame.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

An OC event? That would be awesome. How often do those go on? I'll have to keep an eye on the events forum.

I'm not an imposing or threatening kind of guy (hell, I'm an IT worker, and not all that tall)... so I figure I've got that "weak" feeling going against me if I tried it.

 

[Beau]

Last night around 2130 or so in WalMart at I-465 and Emerson. I was a little tense because it was late and I was alone. Usually when I'm shopping I have the wife and kids with me. I feel that people don't so much view me as a threat when they see me with the kids. No problems though.

Stopped at Speedway, Arlington and Southeastern, after shopping. Quite a few people in there. On the way out heard one girl say to antoher "he's carrying a gun".

Today around the neighborhood. Took the kids for a long walk. Well long for their little legs.

 

[jsgolfman]

At the dentist office. Went in to pick up my son and nary a look. They are probably used to me by now.

 

[JBob77]

OC'd to a little Mom & Pop grocery store about 5 miles from home. No one even looked twice. Little hole in the wall town, little hole in the wall store. Did I mention they sell ammo, maybe they are used to guns, but I've never seen anyone else OC in there!

 

[theturtle06]

While I was at work yesterday (err, Wednesday rather) there was a younger gentleman in (I forget which county the shirt said) Fireman's tshirt OCing an XD. I watched a couple of the customers gawk at his gun and was considering talking to him for a minute or two but he seemed like he was in a hurry running out to fill up gas cans in the back of his Jeep.

 

[aclark]

So you guys never get crap in the mall? They don't care? I think when I finally get comfortable with CC'ing, my first OC will be through there... like... submersive therapy :P

I have heard some people do, especially in Westfield Shopping Center, but when I went, I went right into the Dick's entrance and over to the gun section. After that I walked around the store a bit, but never got into the actual mall part. It was a tad busy so I didn't stay too long, I just felt a bit uncomfortable with all the kids and a non retention holster. (That'll change soon though thanks to Machinegun!)

 

[Beau]

Today at Meijer, Southport and Emerson for an hour or two. Dennys County Line and 31. Then to a place I've never been before. Shoe Carnival on US 31. All went well.

 

[mattfoley]

OC'd taking the kids for a walk tonite in Centerville. Was stopped by CPD and WCSD. I pulled my pink paper out and showed it to him before he even got out of the car. He said "You know what this is about huh?" I said " I figured." He at first said I was legal but he doesn't recommend it, and I just nodded. He asked for my Driver's License and compared the two. He asked what kind of gun I had ( I said "An XD") He asked how long I lived at my house and I obliged. He then gave me back my info and told me that he really does not recommend me carrying like that. He said "Carrying like that defeats the purpose."

He then said he recommends getting a shirt or jacket to cover it (did he realize how hot and humid it was today?) I just nodded and we continued walking.

 

[JBob77]

Today, I OC'd at the Thorntons on State St in New Albany, while gassing up the Chevy. I could've sworn two women were staring at me, and one was on the cell. I thought they were making the MWAG call, but nothing happened.

 

[Beau]

He said "Carrying like that defeats the purpose."
.

I'm glad it your encounter was not very stressful. This LE comment is my biggest gripe with anti OCers. How is a person conducting their daily lives, while visibly armed, defeating the purpose? People who have no interaction with firearms. Who have no other input than what the media tells them. Have no other choice than to believe that firearms are bad, only criminals use them and only the police should have them. It is my opinion. And it is just that, an opinion. Is that keeping our firearms hidden is what the defeats the purpose. This ensures that those whom are against firearms, or have no opinion, never witness a responsible citizen conducting their daily life while armed.

 

[lancinator]

I think OC is awesome, i just think that in this state people are a little uncomfortable with it and don't know that it's legal. for me it usually CC.

 

[rhino]

Last night at Grindstone Charley's in Speedway, an older woman started asking, "Are you a patrol officer? Is he a patrol officer?" I've carried openly there many times in the past, as have others. I've never had a comment or question.

At first I didn't understand, but she was asking if I was a cop. I told her I was not, and then she started with the "but you have a gun" business.

I would have explained it to her, but minuteman32 took charge of the situation and very calmly and profesionally explained the situation to her. She had absolutely no idea that it was legal for anyone other than a police officer to carry a gun, and I think she would not have believed it had minuteman32 not shown her his credentials and thus had credibility with her.

After he guided her to realizing all was okay, she became very friendly and wanted to know more about me and others, what we did for a living, etc.

It was an odd interaction (especially with her companion), but it went okay.

It's interesting to me that people's disconnect with both reality and ignorance of the law will push them into thinking that someone who looks like me could be a police officer. There is no way I'm a cop, but they tunnel-in on the gun and nothing else can penetrate their perceived reality that only police can/should/do carry guns, especially exposed.

Each and every time this happens we help educate at least one more person. It might not make them agree with us, but it's worth the effort and at least they'll be a little better informed. All all of the interactions I've had (like above) have ended in a positive manner.

 

[cce1302]

Lowe's this morning. No problems.

Kroger tonight (across the street from the Martin's that asked me last week to conceal my gun). They were quite busy, but nobody cared in the slightest, or mentioned anything.

Warren twp park after Kroger. Stopped there for half an hour or so to let the kids run and play on the playground. There was another (extended) family there, too. one of the little girls (maybe 8-10 yrs old) was at the swingset as I was pushing my 4 year old. She and a couple of the other kids were staring at my revolver, and she finally asked, "is that a real gun?"
I said, "Yes, it is."
She said, "are you a police man?"
I said, "no, you don't have to be a police officer to carry a gun."
She said, "Is it to shoot people??"
I said, "I hope not."
She said, "oh, so it's just in case you need it?"

Kind of funny that an 8 year old kid gets it, but other people don't. She didn't seem scared or anything, just curious.

 

[Sureshot129]

Southport Harley Dealer
Southport Cheese burger in paradise
Family gathering
gas station in Kokomo on 31


No problems, questions, conserns or comments

 

[Soundslikejosh]

So you guys never get crap in the mall? They don't care? I think when I finally get comfortable with CC'ing, my first OC will be through there... like... submersive therapy :P

Malls are a location where it is prudent to CC. Malls are private property and they almost all have a "no guns" rule. Some malls will have a small sign stating the rules --normally in the vestibule, others won't state their anti-gun stance but will inform you of such when their security guards escort you out of the building.

You don't have to like it, but malls don't generally allow guns, and since they own the building, they get to make the rules. You can OC but you better count on being asked to leave. This would not be a good place to try to warm up to OC.

There are plenty of places that don't infringe on the 2A, choose one of those places to start OCing. Walmart's stated policy is that they will follow state law regarding the carrying of firearms, so you don't have to worry about them. If someone does say something, you know they don't have a leg to stand on, so ask to speak to the store's general manager. A lesson in plumbing: $h*t runs downhill. Start at the top and you are likely to get results.

Good luck.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Fair enough, and makes sense. Didn't think of that with the mall

Is a showing-CC (IWB) worse than an all-out OC (side-mount, OWB). When I say worse, I mean... an OWB OC seems more leasurely and "Oh, this guy isn't trying to hide anything, he's probably ok"... while a CC IWB that's showing in an open-button shirt may give off the message of "I wonder if he's trying to hide that... for something... *gasp*"

 

[SirRealism]

It's interesting to me that people's disconnect with both reality and ignorance of the law will push them into thinking that someone who looks like me could be a police officer. There is no way I'm a cop, but they tunnel-in on the gun and nothing else can penetrate their perceived reality that only police can/should/do carry guns, especially exposed.

I don't OC much yet... just trying to warm up to it. But if/when I encounter someone like that, I don't have to think back too far to a time when I probably thought along similar lines. More through ignorance and conditioning (or lack of conditioning) than anything else.

Like GPIA7R I'm curious about whether loose CC is worse than straight OC or CC. I'd be interested in opinions on the perceived difference to the unarmed masses and police, as well as the differences in safety/tactics. (Hoping nobody turns this into OC vs CC debate. I've read plenty on that somewhere. ) Is OWB loosely covered by a polo (but printing) a bad idea?

 

[rhino]

Malls are a location where it is prudent to CC. Malls are private property and they almost all have a "no guns" rule. Some malls will have a small sign stating the rules --normally in the vestibule, others won't state their anti-gun stance but will inform you of such when their security guards escort you out of the building.

Another issue is that in a mall, you can expect to be in a "crowd." That means you're going to have a significantly greater potential problem with retention. Anywhere I'm in a crowd and can't effectively control the distance between other people and my body is a place where I am going to conceal what I have on my person.

 

[rhino]

Like GPIA7R I'm curious about whether loose CC is worse than straight OC or CC. I'd be interested in opinions on the perceived difference to the unarmed masses and police, as well as the differences in safety/tactics. (Hoping nobody turns this into OC vs CC debate. I've read plenty on that somewhere. ) Is OWB loosely covered by a polo (but printing) a bad idea?

I dunno! I'm huge and I'm lumpy, so it's next to impossible to see (unless you already know) that I'm carrying.

I've had people stare at what was my right suspender pooching outward (mine are not elastic) when I sat down that thought they were looking at my gun.