An 'Open' Observation

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I was in the local Barnes & Noble the other day. While there, I observed a young man, high & tight, white T-shirt & jeans, sitting on a bench in the magazine section, reading, with a Glock openly carried on his hip.

I was carrying myself, but not openly. Since he was behaving normally I didn't involve myself with him in any way. Did keep a weather eye out for him though. Yesterday, I called the sheriff's office, which is a recorded line, & talked with a deputy. I asked him about the situation, as I was under the opinion that open carry was not legal for civilians in the city.

I was told that in Montana, open carry is legal for anyone who has a concealed weapon permit, except in the usual places, ie. where alchohol is served, banks, & schools.

Of course, open carry is legal statewide except in the National Parks, and in populated areas that have passed ordinances against it. But the state carry law apparantly negates the local law. I would have thought the intent of the law was to prevent hassle in case of an inadvertant flash. I would never have thought someone's allowed to walk down main street packin'. And I've been carrying here for years.

Gotta say though, there was no 'stir' or any other indication that people were upset in Barnes & Noble. It was populated also, this was on a busy afternoon, not some weird hour of the day.

Comments?

900F

 

[forquidder]

Open Carry

Homeland Defense.....................................The way it was meant to be.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've been carrying openly now and then. So far, nobody's even noticed.

 

[P95Carry]

As a statement - and a rights preservation excercise .... I applaud it totally.

I am even happier when it causes no stir or hysteria .... it is then a particularly useful demonstartion of peaceful armed society ... wish it were totally widespread as an option ... without the risk of sheeple heart attacks!

 

[R.H. Lee]

I have no problem with it. I can't help but think what a dither the lefties
who populate the local Barnes and Noble would have been in had the same thing happened here in San Luis Obispo. SLO PD (snort) would have been called and dispatched their finest SWAT (snort) team. It would be a hoot.

 

[Josey]

I know a CAS shooter who rides his Harley to shoots. Two Buntline Rugers, two Ruger Sheriff models in shoulder holsters and a bandoleer across his chest. We were asked if a movie was being made. I have openly carried into BAM before. My Ruger 44-40s, S&W breaktop in my boot and my derringer in my vest pocket. The odd thing was when I opened the door and held it for some ladies entering. My good manners dropped their jaws. I even removed my hat.

 

[R.H. Lee]

My Ruger 44-40s, S&W breaktop in my boot and my derringer in my vest pocket. The odd thing was when I opened the door and held it for some ladies entering. My good manners dropped their jaws. I even removed my hat.

A photo of THAT would be priceless!

 

[TallPine]

Open carry is legal in MT except where guns are prohibited.

Concealed carry without a permit is legal outside city limits.

Permit required for concealed carry within city limits.

Since he was behaving normally I didn't involve myself with him in any way.

Well, gee, now - that was nice of you ...

BTW, a while back I saw a guy carrying a "black rifle" on a sling in downtown Billings. I paid him no mind, as did everyone else that I could tell.

 

[Zundfolge]

Sounds like mvpel had to drive all the way to Montana to do his book shopping

 

[Majic]

I have never understood those who carry concealed that are surprised when they see someone carrying open. They are doing no more than you are, excersing their right, but yet you have to carefully watch them.
On many other threads there has been many things said against open carry, but it all points to a very serious issue. The concept of divide and conqueror can prevail and the anti-gun side won't have to lift a finger. Why can't we the gun owners just respect the right to carry no matter how someone legally chooses to do it?
If we can't trust each other, then who will trust us?

 

[Treylis]

I've carried openly a number of times into Barnes and Noble and there's never been a problem. Nice to see someone else having the same experience.

 

[BluesBear]

...there was no 'stir' or any other indication that people were upset...

This is the way it's supposed to be!

Maybe there's hope for America yet.


I have often been asked why I carry a Leatherman tool on my belt each and every day. The funny thing is I am only asked this after I have started using it. (usually to fix/adjust something that belongs to someone else.) I just smile and say, "I carry it because you never know when you might need a screwdriver... like right now."

 

[Zach S]

I have often been asked why I carry a Leatherman tool on my belt each and every day. The funny thing is I am only asked this after I have started using it.

LOL!!! Me too!!! Funny aint it? Thats like seeing someone changing a tire and asking why they carry a spare.

 

[Kaylee]

The odd thing was when I opened the door and held it for some ladies entering. My good manners dropped their jaws. I even removed my hat.

Truly, chivalry is not dead. Thank you kindly, sir.

-K

 

[mfree]

I'm down in Tennessee and therefore have a much higher count of "sheeple" than I'd guess Montana does... and I've had my own runins with open carry, or close to it.

I used to work for a radioshack (gack hurk ) in Alcoa... we were about the only place anywhere you could get certain batteries... like the ones in some brands of illuminated scopes.

Couple guys had no problems walking in with a slung shotgun or rifle (each once, two seperate times) which I understand, they didn't want to detach the scope. The manager had visibly high blood pressure, but I just got the guys their batteries and rung them out. It's no big deal, it's the gun you don't see (or the one pointed at you) you've got to worry about

I had my own high blood pressure moment once though... You rarely see carry around since at the time CCW was just passed and open carry isn't common. A guy comes into the store and there's what in my fuzzy memory appeared to he aa S&W 686 on his left hip.... and no badge. Heart skipped a beat, then reason took over that hey, he's probably a warrant officer, bondsman, PI, something... if you're causing trouble, you're probably not going to have a *nice* gun, and it certainly isn't going to be in a custom holster on your hip in plain view

 

[chas_martel]

God, it really distrurbs me that when people, GUN OWNERS, see open carry their first thought is , "..must be cop.".



Geez, I am obviously living in the wrong century....................................


We are sooooo screwed if gunowners are responding like this. What is the
hope for the sheep?

 

[TallPine]

Guns .... Leatherman ... how about pickups ???????


"How come you drive that big gas hog?"

"Will you help me move this weekend?"

 

[1911Tuner]

Open Carry

I remember a time in my area that an openly carried sidearm wouldn't draw
so much as a second glance. If an LEO said anything at all, it was to inquire about how you liked the model and to offer his for examination of his action job...usually performed by a retired W-S police Sargeant. I've even carried openly into the Hall of Justice in downtown Winston-Salem to get a pistol permit, and had the Forsyth County Sheriff come out of his office to talk guns with me....and it hasn't been all that long ago. Times have changed. Now an openly carried pistol creates a stir that's just a little short of panic...even in a farming community like King or Rural Hall.

I'm lucky in that I know most of the local cops...worked on their guns, and hunted our elusive Whitetail Deer and spent a lotta range time with'em... They know that I carry, and even bump frisk me once in a while in the
grocery store or a diner...but let somebody they don't know walk around
with one on a belt, and they get real concerned about it. Time was that they didn't...

Sad state of affairs, if you ask me...

Just my 2% of a buck.

Tuner

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I rode my motorcycle to a IHMSA silhouette match back in the early 80's. A friend of mine who lives in town hauled my guns and ammo for me. When we got back I went to his house and picked up my stuff. Strapped the cased Wichita on the back seat, now where do I carry this Super Blackhawk? Oh, yeah, I have a holster. So I rode the 10+ miles home with my hogleg strapped on my hip.

Only one person that I know of even noticed. Remember Billy Gallegos, the Iran hostage? Well he did a double-take as he drove by me in his Camaro. The look on his face said "What's this civilian doing carrying a gun?".

 

[mfree]

"God, it really distrurbs me that when people, GUN OWNERS, see open carry their first thought is , "..must be cop."."

Well, This was at least 5 years ago.. I was somewhat a different person. Straightened my arrow, so to speak, since then

 

[Kinsman]

Like Mr. Pine said....
In Montana, conceal 'em if you got 'em, no permission needed outside city limits...

Open carry where you want.

I have open-carried a big ol' Hawgleg .44 in the city and nobody said anything. Lots of guys hereabouts keep rifles in plain view in their truck racks, all the time...not just during hunting season.

I lived in Southern Cal for a few years and usually had a .32 colt stashed. Nobody ever the wiser. I do prefer to keep 'em hidden, but I like to see folks open carry.

Gives me the warm-and-fuzzies.

 

[bogie]

Now, campers, someone's gonna jump down my throat over this, but here goes...

I live in St. Louis. Open carry here = brandishing.

I still occasionally see folks, generally looking like off-duty cops (but not always...), etc., carrying opening.

Thing is, I don't always see badges, or other stuff.

This sorta makes me nervous... Face it. There is a segment of the population out there who gets off on what I'll call the "Travis Bickle Syndrome." Strap on the hawgleg, and attitude, and play "you talkin' to me?" If some wannabe mall ninja is wandering around with his own portable boomstick, that makes me nervous.

 

[TallPine]

bogie, I think your condition is called "hoglegphobia"

 

[fjolnirsson]

someone's gonna jump down my throat over this

Not me. As you've stated, open carry is not legal in St. Louis. If it ain't legal, I don't advocate open carry.
Only thing that gets me all worked up is when people berate and down right make fun of a guy for open carry in a place where it's legal. Legal is legal. If the soccer moms haven't made open carry illegal someplace, and a gunnie feels like it, there shouldn't be a hue and cry from the RKBA folks, should there?

 

[Matthew Courtney]

I live in St. Louis. Open carry here = brandishing.

Can you cite a specific statute to back up this assertion? I have searched Missouri law and can find nothing defining "brandishing" or even making "brandishing" any kind of crime.