I open carry a lot here in our rural county here in Va, no one pays much attention. However.com when I travel cross the border to WV or any larger area (Christiansburg / Roanoke) I always conceal. Around here no one seems to care...A few weeks ago I rolled in to a local petrol station where a group of bike riders were stopped doing the poker run thing (100+ bikes) it felt kind of strange standing in line with 25 bikers and being the only one openly armed. LOL
Adventures in Open Carry
- Thread starter sakeneko
- Start date
the357plan
New member
Accidently...
In Texas it's not legal unless you're hunting or on private property (I believe) with the owner's permission. Beware, there may city ordinances against it.
Anyway, back when Texas became "Shall Issue" I got my CCH and started carrying. One day as I got out of the car to go into Walmart, my light jacket pulled up over the Ruger SP101 strapped onto my side and came back down between the gun and my side, exposing it. I walked all through Walmart shopping and then checked out through one of the front counters. Walking out the front door, I finally realize the gun was exposed and covered it.
Nobody had said anything, looked at me funny or acted as if it wasn't normal. My friends said since I was middle-aged, clean-cut and had short hair, everybody must have thought I was a LEO of some sort. Since then I've been more careful and that's never happened again.
However, I have had the revolver fall out of an improperly sized holster on to the floor of Krogers (a large grocery store chain) as I bent over to get something on the lower shelves. No discharge, it was just plain embarrassing. Nobody said anything although I'm sure they thought something. I sent the holster back to the manufacture and they returned the same model properly sized with thumbsnap - free.
-DL
In Texas it's not legal unless you're hunting or on private property (I believe) with the owner's permission. Beware, there may city ordinances against it.
Anyway, back when Texas became "Shall Issue" I got my CCH and started carrying. One day as I got out of the car to go into Walmart, my light jacket pulled up over the Ruger SP101 strapped onto my side and came back down between the gun and my side, exposing it. I walked all through Walmart shopping and then checked out through one of the front counters. Walking out the front door, I finally realize the gun was exposed and covered it.
Nobody had said anything, looked at me funny or acted as if it wasn't normal. My friends said since I was middle-aged, clean-cut and had short hair, everybody must have thought I was a LEO of some sort. Since then I've been more careful and that's never happened again.
However, I have had the revolver fall out of an improperly sized holster on to the floor of Krogers (a large grocery store chain) as I bent over to get something on the lower shelves. No discharge, it was just plain embarrassing. Nobody said anything although I'm sure they thought something. I sent the holster back to the manufacture and they returned the same model properly sized with thumbsnap - free.
-DL
When walking out of a Cavenders store in Plano, Tx last Christmas season, I was putting away my billfold when I swept back my coat and exposed my OWB holstered pistol. A off duty police officer who apparently was watching the door as a rent a cop was looking right at me. Our eyes met but he was cool and didn't say a thing. I've been kinda careful about that since.
I prefer concealed carry but here in VA you can NOT concealed carry in any restaurant that serves alcohol. However OPEN carry is completely legal and at this point I've lost track of how many times I've done a subtle "un-conceal shuffle" as I walk into a restaurant with friends.
So far I've had the police show up once, wave hi, and leave. The worst incident was a wife's co-worker who saw us and had a quiet little freak out later over the fact that I was armed. I feel a little bad because it apparently created a bit of friction at work for my wife (she's a teacher) but I'm very proud that she handled it well.
I agree with Mr. James. It's a little disconcerting how few people even notice. Sometimes you see that "flicker" of the eyes that lets you know they saw but aren't making a deal out of it but most people seem to equal "black item at the belt" with "blackberry" or whatever and never actually "see" what you have on.
So far I've had the police show up once, wave hi, and leave. The worst incident was a wife's co-worker who saw us and had a quiet little freak out later over the fact that I was armed. I feel a little bad because it apparently created a bit of friction at work for my wife (she's a teacher) but I'm very proud that she handled it well.
I agree with Mr. James. It's a little disconcerting how few people even notice. Sometimes you see that "flicker" of the eyes that lets you know they saw but aren't making a deal out of it but most people seem to equal "black item at the belt" with "blackberry" or whatever and never actually "see" what you have on.
That depends on your state.
Try here for information: http://www.handgunlaw.us/
Or since you are in MI
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-10953--,00.html
From the above listed page...
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