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So, I should OC but not seem like I have a gun? Huh?

4K views 41 replies 31 participants last post by  schwaa 
#1 ·
NOTHING about comparing to Concealed Carry, please. I saw the fine print from the Mod Powers That Be.


Ok, weird situation, but here goes:

Earlier in the week, I went to a gun shop in the city that everyone told me was THE place to go. The customer service was great, but it left me a little confused. I went to shop for holsters -- one for the range and competition, one for CC. First, the guy there said that
there was no way I could conceal a Sig P239 on my smaller frame, and then he said how he OCs all the time, and we got into whether or not OC is an effective deterrent. He said why not just OC all the time?

I believe his point was that I shouldn't bother CCing anyhow, it's probably best to let them see that you are armed and protected. I countered with the fact that he's like 10 feet tall and kind of scary-looking, OBVIOUSLY people wouldn't see him right away as an easy target, but concealed means concealed, blah blah, didn't want a "bunny with a gun" call, etc. (I don't look like a cop. I look like a deer-in-headlights most of the time. He looked like a cop who could take Chuck Norris with his pinky finger. No one would question that he has a gun on his side. See the difference?)

But he was really singing the pros of Open Carry for me.

HOWEVER, --and here's the main point of my rabbity ramblings-- as I left the store with 3 shopping bags full of cool new toys, and my Sig carefully secured in it's blue plastic case, he and the other two people working there said that they would have him walk me to my car (which was directly out in front) because "we wouldn't want people to think you have a gun."

Um, what??? I could get the "wouldn't want people to think you have alot of cash on you" but...HUH? Why not? I thought one of the points of OC was to advertise that you're not easy prey? Am I looking at this whole OC thing with some twisted POV? Please set me straight now, because I got REALLY confused by that.

So -- the pros of my OCing are that rapists might think twice. But it's unsafe for me to walk out of a gun shop without a big scary man for protection?

Did I miss something in the pros and cons of OCing? Can someone please break it all down for me? My brain hurts.

Thanks
 
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#2 ·
Don't let other people tell you how you should carry, especially gun store employees. I would think since you're armed you don't need a big man to walk you out to your car which is literally just outside. Open carry can be a deterrent, but if you're not watching your six o clock, its a possibility you can become a target for someone who wants your sidearm. You need to weigh the risks and benefits of CC and OC and see which fits your lifestyle better.

I can't stand people who tell me I should carry a certain way, unless they're going to be my body guard and carry my gun for me, I'm going to carry how I see fit so as long as it remains legal.
 
#5 ·
HOWEVER, --and here's the main point of my rabbity ramblings-- as I left the store with 3 shopping bags full of cool new toys, and my Sig carefully secured in it's blue plastic case, he and the other two people working there said that they would have him walk me to my car (which was directly out in front) because "we wouldn't want people to think you have a gun."
I may be mistaken, but I think they were referring to the cased Sig. Not wanting someone to try and take advantage of the fact that you were not armed at the time.

As to OC or CC that is going to be something that you decide which is right for you. Not everyone feels comfortable OC'ing. I do sometimes, but as a general rule I CC mostly. Not all circumstances lend themselves to OC'ing. You will have to decide when and if you wish to OC and how much.
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
...who could take Chuck Norris with his pinky finger.
Them's fighting words! :rofl::rofl:

Seriously, maybe the guy grew so fast his head hit the ceiling or something. It doesn't sound like he was making much sense to me.
 
#7 ·
If you want to carry openly, do it. I'm all for it; it's actually kind of hot. If you never want to open carry, that's great too. So long as you carry, it's all good.
 
#8 ·
Man, oh man, I hope Archer has that right. If the guy meant anything else by that statement, I would have been making a big return really fast.
I love my local fun shop, great bunch of people there, ladies and gentlemen and none of them would ever say something like that to a female customer, without making it clear that they were offering to escort a customer with their hands full.
They know how to generate repeat business by the way they treat their customers. Want a holster for that new gun, they will grab everything in the store that fits and let you try them on. Want to try some new grips, they will install them and let you try them. Last purchase, buy a new gun and the owner tossed in 50 rounds of carry ammo.
 
#14 ·
"Fun shop!" Rugergirl, I am stealing that, that's great!
They had great customer service, it sounded a lot like your store, just except for that last part.

Maybe you guys are on to something though. Maybe it was just like, a courtesy thing, they knew my hands were full, and that my gun was empty and it a case, and wanted to make sure nobody tried to steal it on the 10-yard walk to my bunnymobile? I didn't get the feeling that they were being condescending, I just felt very confused.

Plus there is nothing that says they (anti gun nut) won't lie about
your actions and get you put in jail.To me its not worth it.
Well nuts. I didn't think about that. Hmmm...now I'm rethinking.

Now about the guy who escorted you out of the store.
If its a big chain store, not just a small hole in the wall gun store,
most big places have a policy about escorting people who buy guns
out when they check out ,but I've never seen that when you already
have a gun and are just trying on holsters,all they ask is that you don't
try putting your gun into their holsters with a loaded gun in their store.
What store was it?That just don't sound right to me!

BTW I just picked up 150 rounds of 9MM at Wal Mart if you need any.
I am willing to share at cost the next time we go shooting ,just an FYI.
It was big, but not a chain. Yeah, as long as I cleared it and showed them it was clear, they let me walk around and try on all the holsters. But when it got busy, they asked me to put my gun in my purse while I walked to the different departments. (I asked if I was going to be in trouble for concealing, but they said it was fine.)

*shrug*

Well, I'm sure I'll be back again, they're the biggest store I've seen so far. If it happens next time, I'll just have to ask "what do you mean?"

Maybe it was because I bought a ton of stuff and it was a courtesy thing?
 
#9 ·
First,I don,t OC because of the way NC. law reads.
Yes , it allows of OC if local law don,t have any restriction but
the way it worded any anti gun nut can call a cop and say your
carrying a gun and scaring people and the cops will come out and
interrogate you.
Plus there is nothing that says they (anti gun nut) won't lie about
your actions and get you put in jail.To me its not worth it.

Now about the guy who escorted you out of the store.
If its a big chain store, not just a small hole in the wall gun store,
most big places have a policy about escorting people who buy guns
out when they check out ,but I've never seen that when you already
have a gun and are just trying on holsters,all they ask is that you don't
try putting your gun into their holsters with a loaded gun in their store.
What store was it?That just don't sound right to me!

BTW I just picked up 150 rounds of 9MM at Wal Mart if you need any.
I am willing to share at cost the next time we go shooting ,just an FYI.
 
#10 ·
So -- the pros of my OCing are that rapists might think twice. But it's unsafe for me to walk out of a gun shop without a big scary man for protection?

Did I miss something in the pros and cons of OCing? Can someone please break it all down for me? My brain hurts.

Thanks
The only thing I think you missed is the fact that he walking you out to the car probably had nothing to do with protecting you. I'm not faulting him for it but some men will use any excuse to be around a nice looking woman. That's all. :hand10:
 
#12 ·
The gun store employee may very well have walked you out for your safety. After all, as you mentioned, your Sig was in its plastic case. All it would take is a BG to jump out and grab your bags and now he's the proud new owner of a Sig and all associated accessories. Probably seems a bit ridiculous since you parked right out front. Better safe than sorry I guess.
 
#20 ·
Sspargo definitely has the answer to this one. The ridiculous reason just proves it. :wink:
 
#23 ·
Yep, it sure did, Bear.

Bunny,Bunny,Bunny,Aint you old enough now to know when you are being hit on? We always walked the ladies to make sure they didnt have a carseat!LOL
Carry anyway you need to,as long as you feel safe.
BTW Chuck Norris handwashes my delicates!
Guess I'm not. I'm pretty bad at recognizing that stuff for what it is, I mostly just end up confused. *shrug*

When ol' Chuck is done at your place tell him I have dishes that need to be done! :ahhhhh:
 
#22 ·
Bunny,Bunny,Bunny,Aint you old enough now to know when you are being hit on? We always walked the ladies to make sure they didnt have a carseat!LOL
Carry anyway you need to,as long as you feel safe.
BTW Chuck Norris handwashes my delicates!
 
#24 ·
DANG IT! Who is it that's messin' with our Bunny? :aargh4:

Maybe he needs to know how I got my name? :image035:

:rofl:
 
#25 ·
I'm sure part of it had to do with the fact that you are a lovely young lady. In most cases, we men can be about as superficial as can be. My wife says most times all we're good for is killing spiders and opening jars. You would think that after talking to you for a while he would have know that you were capable of taking care of yourself, but you were in what is considered a very rough part of town, very rough indeed,and they had forced you to unload before you came in, so he could have just been trying to be nice. But I'm betting it had alot to do with the lovely young lady thing I spoke of earlier. Take care.
 
#26 ·
First, the guy there said that
there was no way I could conceal a Sig P239 on my smaller frame, and then he said how he OCs all the time, and we got into whether or not OC is an effective deterrent. He said why not just OC all the time?
Bunny,

We have TWO female Mods/Admin folks here (Betty and Limatunes) and from pictures floating around both public and private neither of them can be called "large framed" by any stretch of the imagination. And both carry weapons that are bigger than a SIG 239!

So ignore what the guy said, and search out some of the other women here...... There is some great info floating around!
 
#29 ·
Bunny,

Sounds to me like a confusion between being armed (also known as carrying) and transporting. At the time you left the store, you were not armed or carrying - you were transporting a firearm. A firearm being transported unloaded in a closed case cannot be considered to be armed.

Most people leaving a gun store are not armed, believe it or not. But, if it is evident they were shopping there, it is also evident to whomever may be observing that you might be transporting a gun. Therefore, as a person of smaller stature transporting a gun unsuitable in the present circumstances to be used in self defense, you would be presenting the appearance of being an attractive (no pun intended) target to a criminal.
 
#32 ·
Personally I CC I live in Comiefornia and you can OC but it has to be unloaded, UNLOADED man can you imagen OC for every degenerate to see and it is unloaded, and the cops dont care if thay see a gun thay will not treat you niceley.
Sorry back to the subject, you need to carry in a way that you are comfterble doing and makes you feel safe, otherwise people tend to not carry at all and that's no good.
 
#36 ·
That sounds like the people at "H" gun shop.
1. You probably needed to be walked out given the area.
2. He was probably trying to get cozy with you.

Either way, the people at that shop have pissed me off more than once by doing odd things like that, but they have the most guns around here.

Also, they are way overpriced. I mentioned the price I had found locally for a gun, and theirs was $100 more. They ended up just giving it to me without a fight. Anyway, when I pick my piece up there next week, I will try to avoid their shop for any further purchases.

/End Rant

Edit: Most of that isn't relevant, but I've had my fair share of strange experiences there too...
 
#37 ·
That sounds like the people at "H" gun shop.
Edit: Most of that isn't relevant, but I've had my fair share of strange experiences there too...
Glad to know it's not just me then.

(I got a discount, seemed pretty decent for the price after that, but my FFL dealer is WAY cheaper, so I will only go through him to buy actual firearms. Not to the H place.)
 
#39 ·
I refuse to go to FP. I got the "Little Lady" treatment over there and it took every fiber in my being to remain polite. They won't get one red cent from me. I don't suffer fools kindly, but I suffer mysogeny even less kindly. The guy there struck me as a mysogenistic fool, so he's a two-time loser according to Bunny Logic.
 
#40 ·
That sucks, hate to hear that. So neither of us like the two best gun shops in town...where do we shoot>?

I get far less than serious treatment as a 21 year old guy with spiky hair and a slightly liberal slant...I guess it's bad luck for good shop treatment.

Where do you go?
 
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