Interesting comment at the mall

TN_Mike · August 3rd, 2009, 03:10 AM

Wolfchase Mall here in the Memphis area is a kind of gray area for OC. They are not posted so it is 100% legal to carry either concealed or openly there but, we have all heard some stories about OC folks being asked to leave.

We went to the mall Saturday. Wanted to pick up the only Lee Child- Jack Reacher novel we didn't have yet and that Walden Books was the on ly one in town with a copy. Also wanted to check F.Y.E. to see if the final season of Battlestar Galactica is out on DVD, it is!

We get there and I realize I have not brought any type of outer cover garment. I have never OC'ed at the Wolfchase Mall but it looks like this will be the day." Here we go" I say to myself.

We go in, walk to the book store, no comments no nothing. I go in, tell the guy behind the counter that they have a book on hold for me, he find it, he clearly sees the two tone XD service model on my right hip in the Blackhawk SERPA. Doesn't say anything, doesn't look freaked out at all. I buy my book and out we go.

We walk across to the F.Y.E. and go in. I ask the lady behind the counter there if the DVD is out, she tells me it is but they are sold out. Crud.

I turn and start walking towards the back of the store to find the wife and kids, (Wife is OC'ing her XD .40 Sub Compact) and I hear this behind me:
"Look at this guy! He's got a pistol on!"

I turn around and I see two guys, one really big black guy with a dress shirt and tie on and a smaller Italian looking younger guy looking at me. He (the smaller guy) says "Is that real?"
I tell him yes it is real.
He says "You can do that? You can just walk around with a gun on in public?"
I tell him that yes, if you have the permit to carry it is perfectly leagal to carry a gun either openly or concealed.
He says "Oh, I didn't know that. I am from Chicago and you sure can't do that there!"
I asked him if he was visiting Memphis and he tells me they both just moved here for work. I take a few minutes and explain the process for getting the permit in TN and tell them that there are a lot of people in TN, and in Shelby County in particular that carry, either concealed or openly, and maybe they should consider doing the same.

As they walked away they thanked me and said they thought they were going to like living in Tennessee.

All in all, a very good experience. And no one else, even the mall cops that we saw said anything about my gun. No problems at all.

thebigdl86 · August 3rd, 2009, 03:19 AM

Hooray for a drama free experience.

deadeye72 · August 3rd, 2009, 03:42 AM

Sounds like you may have added a couple more to the ranks. I do not go to either of the malls around here because they are posted. No big loss though, I hate the traffic.

highoctane · August 3rd, 2009, 07:38 AM

Sounds like a good day!

Pikachu711 · August 3rd, 2009, 07:41 AM

That was an outstanding positive experience! We need to hear about more positive experiences as they occur. They don't happen all that often.

retsupt99 · August 3rd, 2009, 09:11 AM

TN Mike...nice advertising and 'recruiting'...the more individuals who are exposed to firearms in a peaceful way, the more common it can become an every day event.
What would the BG's do of they walked into a malll and EVERYONE was openly armed.
Who would they choose to victimize? Yikes, what a terrible choice to have to make...

Tombstone55 · August 3rd, 2009, 09:24 AM

A gun...RUN!!!

ccw9mm · August 3rd, 2009, 09:34 AM

Mike, kudos on the recruitment! While it can go many different ways, that's how it should go: no fanfare, no abject fear, and openly honest interest as to how citizens have acknowledged rights that folks from Chicago, Jersey and NYC only dream of.

Bunny · August 3rd, 2009, 10:00 AM

Woohoo! Excellent job, very nicely done! :)

archer51 · August 3rd, 2009, 10:20 AM

Good job Mike. Glad it was 2 freedom loving people who left Chi-town and not 2 of King Daley's boys.

August 3rd, 2009, 03:10 AM	#1
TN_Mike VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: West TN Posts: 7,720	Interesting comment at the mall Wolfchase Mall here in the Memphis area is a kind of gray area for OC. They are not posted so it is 100% legal to carry either concealed or openly there but, we have all heard some stories about OC folks being asked to leave. We went to the mall Saturday. Wanted to pick up the only Lee Child- Jack Reacher novel we didn't have yet and that Walden Books was the on ly one in town with a copy. Also wanted to check F.Y.E. to see if the final season of Battlestar Galactica is out on DVD, it is! We get there and I realize I have not brought any type of outer cover garment. I have never OC'ed at the Wolfchase Mall but it looks like this will be the day." Here we go" I say to myself. We go in, walk to the book store, no comments no nothing. I go in, tell the guy behind the counter that they have a book on hold for me, he find it, he clearly sees the two tone XD service model on my right hip in the Blackhawk SERPA. Doesn't say anything, doesn't look freaked out at all. I buy my book and out we go. We walk across to the F.Y.E. and go in. I ask the lady behind the counter there if the DVD is out, she tells me it is but they are sold out. Crud. I turn and start walking towards the back of the store to find the wife and kids, (Wife is OC'ing her XD .40 Sub Compact) and I hear this behind me: "Look at this guy! He's got a pistol on!" I turn around and I see two guys, one really big black guy with a dress shirt and tie on and a smaller Italian looking younger guy looking at me. He (the smaller guy) says "Is that real?" I tell him yes it is real. He says "You can do that? You can just walk around with a gun on in public?" I tell him that yes, if you have the permit to carry it is perfectly leagal to carry a gun either openly or concealed. He says "Oh, I didn't know that. I am from Chicago and you sure can't do that there!" I asked him if he was visiting Memphis and he tells me they both just moved here for work. I take a few minutes and explain the process for getting the permit in TN and tell them that there are a lot of people in TN, and in Shelby County in particular that carry, either concealed or openly, and maybe they should consider doing the same. As they walked away they thanked me and said they thought they were going to like living in Tennessee. All in all, a very good experience. And no one else, even the mall cops that we saw said anything about my gun. No problems at all. __________________ A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -Barry Goldwater 1968

August 3rd, 2009, 03:19 AM	#2
thebigdl86 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OK Posts: 620	Hooray for a drama free experience. __________________ "Anyone worth shooting, is probably worth shooting several times."

August 3rd, 2009, 03:42 AM	#3
deadeye72 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Mississippi Posts: 4,201	Sounds like you may have added a couple more to the ranks. I do not go to either of the malls around here because they are posted. No big loss though, I hate the traffic. __________________ HK P2000 .40 BENELLI NOVA

August 3rd, 2009, 07:41 AM	#5
Pikachu711 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,095	That was an outstanding positive experience! We need to hear about more positive experiences as they occur. They don't happen all that often. __________________ "80 Million gun owners can't be wrong!" Glock 26 (9mm) Nevada CFP Holder NRA Member

August 3rd, 2009, 09:11 AM	#6
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 22,822	TN Mike...nice advertising and 'recruiting'...the more individuals who are exposed to firearms in a peaceful way, the more common it can become an every day event. What would the BG's do of they walked into a malll and EVERYONE was openly armed. Who would they choose to victimize? Yikes, what a terrible choice to have to make... __________________ "That I cannot do." "Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." *********************************** NRA Life Member

August 3rd, 2009, 07:38 AM	#4
highoctane Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: tn Posts: 614	Sounds like a good day!

August 3rd, 2009, 09:24 AM	#7
Tombstone55 Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Paradise Posts: 144	A gun...RUN!!!

August 3rd, 2009, 09:34 AM	#8
ccw9mm VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oregon USA Posts: 8,418	Mike, kudos on the recruitment! While it can go many different ways, that's how it should go: no fanfare, no abject fear, and openly honest interest as to how citizens have acknowledged rights that folks from Chicago, Jersey and NYC only dream of. __________________ Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it. Thoughts: Justifiable self defense. Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims? Deal with evil through strength. Affirm the good in Man through trust. NRA. GOA. OFF.

August 3rd, 2009, 10:00 AM	#9
Bunny Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Carolina - LKN Posts: 1,198	Woohoo! Excellent job, very nicely done! :) __________________ Don't frisk me, I am the weapon. Sig Sauer P239 DAK (9mm) NRA Member & Pistol Instructor www.vanguardnc.com

August 3rd, 2009, 10:20 AM	#10
archer51 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: VA Posts: 6,316	Good job Mike. Glad it was 2 freedom loving people who left Chi-town and not 2 of King Daley's boys.

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