OC in Santa Maria, CA Walmart today

[mamakennedy]

I'm stuck down here in Central CA and have been for the last month due to a death in the family. Well today I got tired of following my husband's wishes for me not to carry while I'm down here and grabbed my holstered gun.
Now for those of you who are not familiar with OC in CA, being from out of state CA kindly refuses to recognize any of my CC permits and will only allow me to Open Carry in a belt holster a unloaded gun.
So I belted on my mag & gun holsters and took my dad's dogs to the groomers at Pet Smart.

My sister and I got there at 9am and wandered the shopping center forever waiting on the dogs
Next to Pet Smart is a bunch of little shops along with a Best Buy, TJmax, Wal-mart, and Home depot.
There were the usual who would take a good long look at me and then turn tail and run...literally run.

After a while we were able to locate the hangers and a tube of tennis balls, and the 2 managers that were speed walking down the aisle at us calling for my attention.

They wanted to know why I was carrying, if I was a LEO, and where my government issued permission slip stating that I could carry a firearm in public. I was annoyed, but polite and explained that I needed no permission, or ID to carry...all I needed was to be 18 years old, be able to legally own a firearm, have it unloaded & openly displayed in a holster, and be in an unrestricted area (ie: school zone, USPS...ect).
The managers politely asked me to wait while they verified it with the local PD on the phone. Santa Maria PD was kind enough not to come running with guns drawn and simply told the WW manager that I was correct. The WW managers thanked me for explaining how I could carry and told me to enjoy my day shopping in the store.

All and all a good experience , then it got better. A few minutes later my sister and I were walking to the register to check out and one of the managers came walking towards me calling out again. She started talking about how she carries her Glock at home and at the range but didn't know she could actually carry in public. She was full of questions about how to OC, and I just happen to have a CA specific OC pamphlet in my pocket with the CA carry laws with web page addresses for more information and forums.

I think we have a new convert

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Blownsvt]

thats a pretty odd rule about making the gun stay unloaded. Kinda defeats the purpose really. In the right situation i suppose you could load first.

[mamakennedy]

It is an odd rule but it is the only way to carry with out a CA CC permit. CA does not issue non-resident permits, nor does it honor ANY out of state permits.

My firearm basically was an expensive hammer, but I did take the time to train at the range for drawing an empty gun and loading.

[Black Knight]

While I personally disagree with carrying an unloaded gun, it is the law there so "when in Rome". I do have a comment about the manager though. I hope you got his/her name. This manager seems to have a bit of common sense. They asked you a few questions and not knowing what was legal called someone to find out. After finding out you were correct, they allowed you to enjoy yourself in their store. Maybe not ideal but certainly better than many others. I would find some way of thanking them for their understanding. I would say a good contact considering the state.

[JohnK87]

I think OC should be legal in any state for any citizen legally authorized to own a firearm. CA making you unload it sucks.

Did the police do their verifications the gun was unloaded? At work we use these plastic "chamber clear" pieces that stick out a little showing the chamber is not loaded. I don't like the idea of being held with hand on the table just so an officer can handle my gun.

[retsupt99]

So did you have a magazine readily available?

[mamakennedy]

So did you have a magazine readily available?

Yes, 2 10rd magazines (CA also limits the number of rounds in a mag) on my belt within easy reach. I also had another in my pocket...all three were loaded with HPrds.

I had practiced drawing and loading the gun at the range before I was willing to carry an unloaded gun...It is not easy, nor do I like it but at least I could carry.

Did the police do their verifications the gun was unloaded?

PD never showed up. After the manager at WW verified with PD on the phone that what I said was correct she told them that their presences was not needed.

[Rob P.]

YES!

This is as it should be. Even though you may not personally agree with the unloaded carry option, it is the LAW here and we obey it. That the mgr listened to your explanation and then told the police that they weren't needed is a huge bonus.

Kudo's to the manager and you should contact corporate and give him some airtime. Level headed people are rare.

[dukalmighty]

I'm thinking the unloaded gun rule is so LEO will feel safer when approaching somebody that is OC'ing,I think it's a false sense of security since Law abiding citisens don't normally draw guns on cops and that BG's don't care about rules

[ccw9mm]

thats a pretty odd rule about making the gun stay unloaded. Kinda defeats the purpose really. In the right situation i suppose you could load first.

It is pretty silly. For most folks, it'll take a couple seconds to load up and fire, if needed. That's time a person might well not have, in a situation. And since there is so little difference between a loaded and unloaded one, otherwise, it seems horribly punitive against upstanding people do have such a law, yes. But then, anti-gun politicos aren't known for their reasonableness. Such is life, in 2010.

Nice to see a place where the LEO's don't blow a gasket over OC. Very sane. It's refreshing.

[Pikachu711]

Congrats on a successful OC experience in central CA. It is strange only being allowed to OC with an unloaded firearm. But I suppose it's better than not being allowed to OC at all.

I was kind of surprised that the local LEO's didn't dispatch a car all the same. UOC is not done on any major scale whatsoever. From what I've read it's getting more & more done by 2A advocates in Kalifornia.

Again, congrats on a successful UOC in central CA.

[mamakennedy]

I have sent a message to Walmart describing the situation & praising the way in which the managers handled it.

Granted, I would have perferred to have been left alone and not stopped at all, but they could have called the cops and had me on the ground cuffed.

[PastorPack]

Welcome to our lovely state.

You get full points for knowing and obeying our ridiculous laws.

Plus you get bonus points for having them printed and ready to convert a local.

[Rob P.]

I'm thinking the unloaded gun rule is so LEO will feel safer when approaching somebody that is OC'ing,I think it's a false sense of security since Law abiding citisens don't normally draw guns on cops and that BG's don't care about rules

In reality I believe that the unloaded laws are NOT for "Officer safety" as they are touted. Instead I think that it's just another "gotcha!" law that can be used against anyone stupid enough to not know the law and gangbangers for no other purpose except to expand the list of charges.

These are typically the charges that are thrown out during a plea bargain. As such they are worthless for any other purpose.

[Majorlk]

I have sent a message to Walmart describing the situation & praising the way in which the managers handled it.

Granted, I would have perferred to have been left alone and not stopped at all, but they could have called the cops and had me on the ground cuffed.

I'm betting you get an apology from WalMart's HQ and the staff at that store will be going through a training session on CA gun laws.