SteveInCO
Regular Member
Colorado Springs area
I have until today OCed in gun stores, shooting ranges and the homes of people who are staunchly pro gun; places that clearly would approve, fairly often in the past. (NB: Dragonman's is an exception--don't bring a gun in there without prior approval.) It's not necessarily common at these places though; one large chain gun shop is perfectly gun friendly but I had never, until today, seen anyone else OC in it before today. (But I am getting ahead of myself.) Call these "friendly territory," where the owners are overjoyed to see you carry.
I have occasionally seen other OC take place in grocery stores and Walmarts. "Neutral territory."
Today was my first tiny foray into neutral territory.
A friend and I went shooting. I will CC (or in friendly territory OC) a CZ-75 in 9mm; it's fairly concealable. Being in friendly territory I did just that going into the indoor range. I did bring my nightstand gun with me, though, to test a new brand of ammo in it, it's a Glock 20 (10mm), and I do have an outside the wasteband holster that sticks out a LOT for it. It's strictly an OC piece with the accessories I have now.
Anyhow as we were packing up my stuff I said, "well what the hell" and put on the G20. My friend and I went to a subway across the street from the gun shop we were going to next, and both of us OCed into that establishment.
It's in a not-very-good neighborhood, so I was expecting some signs of alarm from people who'd be worried that we meant violence. But not a thing. No sign anyone even noticed. Maybe they are used to the gun shop employees (who always OC 1911s while at work) going over for lunch, who knows? But that was it; my first OC outside of Very Friendly territory.
I did ditch the gun when I stepped into a little vestibule that was really part of a bank lobby to use an ATM. It was after hours but I don't know how "touchy" banks get about OC. My friend was driving, I told him to by all means use my G-20 first if necessary.
Last stop of the day was back in "Friendly Territory," that other chain store I mentioned. And I did see someone OCing; we exchanged the usual "what are you carrying" info (his was a S&W in .40 I believe). A different individual I know from elsewhere saw me and went out of his way to tell me how happy he was to see me carrying (though he himself was not, at least not OC). I get that a lot from older people; I think they think "youngsters" like me (I am pushing 50 but apparently don't look it) are going to the dogs, gun-wise.
Those were the only comments I got, and they weren't even in the "neutral territory."
Cool! Next step is a Walmart!
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2013.9.10 - recall elections for oath-of-office violating state senators!
I have until today OCed in gun stores, shooting ranges and the homes of people who are staunchly pro gun; places that clearly would approve, fairly often in the past. (NB: Dragonman's is an exception--don't bring a gun in there without prior approval.) It's not necessarily common at these places though; one large chain gun shop is perfectly gun friendly but I had never, until today, seen anyone else OC in it before today. (But I am getting ahead of myself.) Call these "friendly territory," where the owners are overjoyed to see you carry.
I have occasionally seen other OC take place in grocery stores and Walmarts. "Neutral territory."
Today was my first tiny foray into neutral territory.
A friend and I went shooting. I will CC (or in friendly territory OC) a CZ-75 in 9mm; it's fairly concealable. Being in friendly territory I did just that going into the indoor range. I did bring my nightstand gun with me, though, to test a new brand of ammo in it, it's a Glock 20 (10mm), and I do have an outside the wasteband holster that sticks out a LOT for it. It's strictly an OC piece with the accessories I have now.
Anyhow as we were packing up my stuff I said, "well what the hell" and put on the G20. My friend and I went to a subway across the street from the gun shop we were going to next, and both of us OCed into that establishment.
It's in a not-very-good neighborhood, so I was expecting some signs of alarm from people who'd be worried that we meant violence. But not a thing. No sign anyone even noticed. Maybe they are used to the gun shop employees (who always OC 1911s while at work) going over for lunch, who knows? But that was it; my first OC outside of Very Friendly territory.
I did ditch the gun when I stepped into a little vestibule that was really part of a bank lobby to use an ATM. It was after hours but I don't know how "touchy" banks get about OC. My friend was driving, I told him to by all means use my G-20 first if necessary.
Last stop of the day was back in "Friendly Territory," that other chain store I mentioned. And I did see someone OCing; we exchanged the usual "what are you carrying" info (his was a S&W in .40 I believe). A different individual I know from elsewhere saw me and went out of his way to tell me how happy he was to see me carrying (though he himself was not, at least not OC). I get that a lot from older people; I think they think "youngsters" like me (I am pushing 50 but apparently don't look it) are going to the dogs, gun-wise.
Those were the only comments I got, and they weren't even in the "neutral territory."
Cool! Next step is a Walmart!
--------------
2013.9.10 - recall elections for oath-of-office violating state senators!
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