Forgot where I lived today...

[pcon]

I went to the store to buy some ammo today and kind of forgot where I live...let me explain.

I moved from sunny Arizona to the wintery abyss of Michigan a few weeks ago to be with my new wife (we were married Christmas day). In Arizona, suffice it to say, guns are kind of a way of life out there. There are a few people that have not been exposed to some form of firearm, but for the most part, the populace is very comfortable with guns.

I moved to the bastion of mid-western liberalism (Ann Arbor, MI) where most people still have the notion that guns (hand guns specifically) are bad. I went to Meijer today (a Wal Mart direct competitor around these parts) to grab some ammo. When I got to the counter, I asked the nice lady for a box of SW .40 cal. She looked at me and said "I don't know what that is, which box is it in?" On our way up to the counter, she asked me what I was hunting. I responded "oh, these aren't for hunting...they're for self defense." I promptly got a wide-eyed look and the response of "oh...can these kill a person??" I replied with "any bullet can kill a person, that's why you must be responsible with any gun you may own." She says to me "What kind of situations do you put yourself in to feel a need to carry a gun?" She wasn't being condescending or rude, IMO, she was just ignorant to wanting a gun for personal protection. I told her the traditional deal of not knowing when an attack will happen, it's better to have it and not need it...those sorts of things. When we finally got to the front register (she said it was store policy to walk me up there with any ammo purchase) she asked if I was carrying a gun on me right then!! I was, of course, I don't leave the house without it. I replied to her that when a person chooses to go through the training to get a CCW (or CPL here), they do so to make sure that they can carry with no one knowing about it. I said "concealed means concealed" and left it at that. Again, I got the wide eyes...

I've really got to get used to the ignorance that will abound here with gun related issues. I think I did ok to show her that not everyone who carries a gun is a gangbanger degenerate thug.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[JD]

Well, you have to remember a couple of things:

MI has only been shall issue since 2001 so the concept is still new to some. Meijer was in MI waaaay before there was a Wal-Mart in the area, so technically Wal-Mart is Meijers direct competitor, Ann Arbor....well there's not much to say about Ann Arbor other than you should have moved further away either north, south, or west to get away form the UofM crowd.

[luvmyglock]

At least you dont live in Commiefornia. I did at one time, and let me tell ya...Anyways, MI isn't too bad, although there are those liberals like you encountered at the store. Maybe you will be able to convert some of them... Good luck in your travels.

[ratrodfink]

The naivete of the general public never ceases to astound.

[community]

move away from Ann Arbor and all those crazy people. I Know, cause I lived in michigan for 60 years. The only thing good about Ann Arbor is their summer art show.

[TOF]

We for many years have had people move to Arizona from the Gun Free Zone and attempt to take away our rights. Those of us Westerners still here will attempt to maintain those rights and should you decide to return hope you will join us in that effort.

Perhaps you will be able in some small way to influence those in Ann Arbor you associate with to change laws and opinions towards a more freedom oriented direction.

Stay safe

[nosights]

Cograts on the marriage and welcome to Michigan!

Sounds like the gal actually took it fairly well. I like Meijers and yes, they were here long before WalMart (back in the Thrifty Acres days). Meijers are so big I heard that they are putting a new one up and it will have both a Wal-Mart and a Target in it!

[JD]

We always called it "Shifty Acres"

[Captain38]

If you haven't done so already, you need to check to see how long your Arizona permit is valid after the move and how long you must live in Michigan before you can apply for one there.

There MAY be a period between when the Arizona CCW becomes invalid and the required length of time you must be a resident in Michigan before you can even apply for a CCW there. You MAY already be TECHNICALLY in violation.

Let's hope that is not the case.

[Thumper]

Well, now they have you! I'm sure things will be changing.

[mi2az]

Pcon,

You knew that would happen. Both of us being from A2. As for the guy fro Kalifonia. Ann Arbor was always refered as tje San Fansisco of the midwest

[Zsnake]

Now that you mention it, there must have been a change in Wal Mart policys. Last year when I bought ammo there, they escorted me to the door. This year, no big deal....threw it in a bag and said Adios. This is in VA.
I recon they figured I wasn't gonna load any of the new stuff on the way out to the parking lot! LOL

[PeterCartwright]

Sounds like you handled that pretty well. No reason to be either offended or defensive. You provided straitforward information that reinforced what statistics show, viz. the lion's share of concealed carry folks are safe, sound, normal people. A calm presence before such questions probably left the clerk thinking-not a bad thing at all.

PC

[rmodel65]

only thing walmart walks out here in my town is new guns. i bought a ruger 10/22 stainless they carried it for me. less work for me :P

[TRPCopper]

Well, you have to remember a couple of things:

MI has only been shall issue since 2001 so the concept is still new to some. Meijer was in MI waaaay before there was a Wal-Mart in the area, so technically Wal-Mart is Meijers direct competitor, Ann Arbor....well there's not much to say about Ann Arbor other than you should have moved further away either north, south, or west to get away form the UofM crowd.

Totally agree!