For someone who chose to confront such a person I'd say you did a marvelous job of it. And the end result being that they left is a positive result. I'm not sure I would have approached the man, but if I ever feel the need to have to do that in such a situation I'm going to remember how you handled yourself and hope I can achieve a similar, peaceful outcome.
An Open Carry observation I had
I live in the Great Smoky Mountains area here in Tn. The GSM is the top national park for visitors,over 10 million a year,most all of them from out of state. I was out in Gatlinburg visiting a few friends that own shops there,going C.C. A good friend of mine runs one of the amusement rides there.Well, I heard, then saw a group of motorcyclists pull up in the lot,out of staters with Alabama plates.One big guy in the bunch was going OC. The place was packed,long line of tourists waiting to ride, lots of families with kids. So the bikers get in line. I glanced a few times at this guy and what I saw made me really observe him. The whole time he's standing in line he's readjusting his OWB, touching his weapon, readjusting, touching, hiking up his pants, placing his hand on the weapon,readjusting, BUT what really got me was that the whole time he's going about this he is glancing around to see who is watching him,like he was looking for an audience. I saw others getting a bit stiff, pulling their kids close, giving Rambo there some space.
My friend noticed what was going on and gave me an Eye roll. I excused myself and walked up to this guy and in a low voice said hello. When he acknowledged me I struck up a small conversation and asked him what type of weapon he had and how long he had been OCing. His take was that I was some non gun owner interested in Open carrying. The reply I got was that he had been Open Carrying for years as he says.Well, to make this short I did tell him that I conceal carry had have for about 7 years and that one of the reasons I don't Open Carry was because of the image some people have due to people like him. Well his jaw dropped! He right away tried to puff up but I told him I watched him for minutes playing with his gun. I turned just a bit , lifted the back of my shirt Just enough for him to see my Sig that I carry in an IWB holster.Much as I did't relish the idea of having to tell this full grown man I advised him that he , as someone that OC's has an obligation to do in a responsible manner and IF as he said he had been carrying for years he should know better and if he carried to put on a show he carried for all the wrong reasons and he was a factor on why some people have an issue with it. None of this went over "too Well " with him or his group and they got out of line, hopped on their bikes and left.
What it comes down to is if you are going to OC, you have to do so with the responsibility that it calls for.Some I,m sure may say I should have MYOB,but we as people that carry Open or Concealed, We have a duty to ourselves and others to dispel all the myths and misinformation that those that don't carry have. Someone like him just perpetuates all they think
My friend noticed what was going on and gave me an Eye roll. I excused myself and walked up to this guy and in a low voice said hello. When he acknowledged me I struck up a small conversation and asked him what type of weapon he had and how long he had been OCing. His take was that I was some non gun owner interested in Open carrying. The reply I got was that he had been Open Carrying for years as he says.Well, to make this short I did tell him that I conceal carry had have for about 7 years and that one of the reasons I don't Open Carry was because of the image some people have due to people like him. Well his jaw dropped! He right away tried to puff up but I told him I watched him for minutes playing with his gun. I turned just a bit , lifted the back of my shirt Just enough for him to see my Sig that I carry in an IWB holster.Much as I did't relish the idea of having to tell this full grown man I advised him that he , as someone that OC's has an obligation to do in a responsible manner and IF as he said he had been carrying for years he should know better and if he carried to put on a show he carried for all the wrong reasons and he was a factor on why some people have an issue with it. None of this went over "too Well " with him or his group and they got out of line, hopped on their bikes and left.
What it comes down to is if you are going to OC, you have to do so with the responsibility that it calls for.Some I,m sure may say I should have MYOB,but we as people that carry Open or Concealed, We have a duty to ourselves and others to dispel all the myths and misinformation that those that don't carry have. Someone like him just perpetuates all they think
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I CC and MYOB . Nobody charged me with setting the world 'right'. My policy is 'never let the left hand know what the right hand is doing'.
Good for you. like the old saying goes. " You are either part of the problem, or part of the solution" Down here what he was doing could be considered Brandishing a weapon. And around children no less. If a grown man wants to carry on like a fool, wanting to be "Noticed" I can guarantee I,m not the only MAN that would have set him straight. Would not matter if I was carrying or not ,he still would have got schooled. If it gave him reason to rethink his behavior than so much the better. It obviously did as he was the one to leave.
Acting Responsibly. Who could say anything negative about an incident that resulted positively, like yours. Nicely done.
People who refuse to take positive action and correct something wrong in a positive way is largely why our Country is traveling south on the graph of great places to live and travel. Folks have a hard time acting responsibly more and more. It teaches the upcoming generation nothing. I see it everyday, even with something as simple as trash littering.
People who refuse to take positive action and correct something wrong in a positive way is largely why our Country is traveling south on the graph of great places to live and travel. Folks have a hard time acting responsibly more and more. It teaches the upcoming generation nothing. I see it everyday, even with something as simple as trash littering.
Maybe you triggered him and he had to go to his safe space. Poor feller :rofl:
You say he called attention to his OCing. But you posted here, made an account basically so you could call attention to your righteousness.
What's the difference? I don't see that him adjusting his carry around 'children' to be necessarily dangerous. You solved a situation that wasn't really a problem; if you did the right thing why do you need to brag about it?
Oh, and welcome to DCDC. :smile:
What's the difference? I don't see that him adjusting his carry around 'children' to be necessarily dangerous. You solved a situation that wasn't really a problem; if you did the right thing why do you need to brag about it?
Oh, and welcome to DCDC. :smile:
What is the positive outcome here? The guy didn't thank you for pointing it out, as if he didn't know what he was doing. He didn't say he would work on it. He didn't say he just needed some new pants or belt. He left. All you did was move him down the road. Nothing from your story tells me that he came away with a different perspective on open carry.
If he's been riding his bike all day, that may have been the first real chance for him to adjust it. Sounds like he could have been more subtle but wish you had a video of it so we could see how this scenario really was.
Everyone here knows that I am not an OC proponent for a whole host of reasons but at the same time, that is my own personal decision and I do not object to someone else doing it were legal. I may not think it is prudent but I do not object and do not consider it an affront to my sensibilities. That being said, I think the OC citizen had more of a right to do what he was doing than you did to interject yourself into his business. I don't think the OC citizen has an obligation to personally satisfy what each individual considers to be a "responsible manner". I think he has an obligation to obey the law and to not recklessly or negligently endanger the public.
Ehhh I would have told you to get lost.
I wonder if that had been the response of the biker, would this thread exist?Ehhh I would have told you to get lost.
I would argue that people like this are all the more reason to open carry, to show how it can be done responsibly. You failed in that respect.
It could also be said that you also brandished/menaced when you flashed your CC piece, isn't that considered bad etiquette (at a minimum) unless a clear threat is present?
It could also be said that you also brandished/menaced when you flashed your CC piece, isn't that considered bad etiquette (at a minimum) unless a clear threat is present?
I seriously doubt it ,but then I would have said what I had to say and left you to process it as you felt.If that meant you went away butthurt then so be itEhhh I would have told you to get lost.
First, why doubt his response? Second, what about his response comes off as butthurt? His response would be the same as mine. If I'm somewhere OC, and I'm not breaking the law, why should I leave? Because someone who is uncomfortable says something to me?I seriously doubt it ,but then I would have said what I had to say and left you to process it as you felt.If that meant you went away butthurt then so be it
If you were speeding, and at a stop light the guy next to you told you you should be more responsible and not speed, would you simply comply?
perhaps you could give an idea HOW standing in a ticket line amongst numerous people,constantly readjusting and Checking to see if your gun is still on your hip shows how to be a "Responsible" OPer?I would argue that people like this are all the more reason to open carry, to show how it can be done responsibly. You failed in that respect.
It could also be argued that you also brandished/menaced when you flashed your CC piece, isn't that considered bad etiquette (at a minimum) unless a clear threat is present?
Perhaps I wasn't clear in my first post, I would argue that people like this are all the more reason for YOU to open carry, to show how it can be done responsibly. Lead by example, instead of flashing your gat at people you don't feel comfortable around.perhaps you could give an idea HOW standing in a ticket line amongst numerous people,constantly readjusting and Checking to see if your gun is still on your hip shows how to be a "Responsible" OPer?
What if a third party had seen you expose your gun, and assumed you were threatening the biker, who they potentially had not seen was carrying a gun? Suddenly you are the bad guy threatening someone with your gun while in a crowd filled with children.
I am biker and let me tell you some times your pant, underwear, belt and weapon can get all out of sorts. I have probably done the same dance if front of an audience on several occasions. The gentleman was not making any threating moves or removing his weapon. People in the crowd probably thought he was weird. I am glad you were nice about it to him but he was threatened by you and left. I would have too.
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