My first OC

[recon]

So i have had my LTCH for almost a year now and have been CCing the whole time. I just always assumed there would be comments/weird looks. Finally gave it a try yesterday just going to the VP and what do you know, it happened. As soon as i walked in the door one of the customers goes< "Whoah! I thought you were gonna rob us for a minute!" which made the clerk super nervous. she stayed way behind the counter until i had to handed her my money. The customer asked me if i was a cop or had a license to carry and I told him I had a license. Didn't make them any less nervous though. A pretty awkward situation altogether.

Is this normal?

 

[goinggreyfast]

Not normal at all, but it happens. I OC all the time and have never had anything like that happen to me.

Your calm reaction was good. Keep being nice, let them know you are just another guy and if they have enough positive experiences with folk who OC, they might just change their mindset.

 

[rimfire_crazed]

So i have had my LTCH for almost a year now and have been CCing the whole time. I just always assumed there would be comments/weird looks. Finally gave it a try yesterday just going to the VP and what do you know, it happened. As soon as i walked in the door one of the customers goes< "Whoah! I thought you were gonna rob us for a minute!" whi ch made the clerk super nervous. she stayed way behind the counter until i had to hande her my money. The customer asked me if i was a cop or had a license to caryy and I told him I had a license. Didnt make them any less nervous though. A pretty awkward situation altogether.

Is this normal?

No. I OC at least half the time and nobody has ever said a word to me.

 

[eldirector]

I've never gotten that reaction. Actually, I rarely get ANY reaction.

How were you dressed? I've learned that wearing something "decent" (jeans and polos for me, usually) gets the "Are you a cop/security?" comment. Dressing "down" (shorts or old jeans, and t-shirts) gets the stares.

Don't let it get you down!

 

[recon]

I've never gotten that reaction. Actually, I rarely get ANY reaction.

How were you dressed? I've learned that wearing something "decent" (jeans and polos for me, usually) gets the "Are you a cop/security?" comment. Dressing "down" (shorts or old jeans, and t-shirts) gets the stares.

Don't let it get you down!

Was just wearing jeans and a non baggy zip up hoodie lol

 

[CtWest]

Oh people crack me up.

You shoulda been like " What there's a gun on me?! GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!!" Haha

 

[recon]

Oh people crack me up.

You shoulda been like " What there's a gun on me?! GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!!" Haha

that would have been awesome lol

 

[CtWest]

And then run off screaming like a little girl....

 

[youngda9]

And then run off screaming like a little girl....

I thought little girls disarmed OC-ers...now I'm really confused.

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

Some people are really out of touch with reality but it sounds like you handled that interaction in a calm manner which is excellent. I CC 90% of the time because I do not want anyone to know I'm carrying /Personal Preference, but nothing like that has happened to me yet.

 

[CtWest]

I thought little girls disarmed OC-ers...now I'm really confused.

I thought they some how got their tiny little fingers in the finger guard and discharged the weapon?? Man, the things ya learn on here....

 

[blamecharles]

I have only had one person ever say anything and that was " where did you get your holster, I've been looking for a good one." and one other time when a cashier was messing with a regular and asked " can i borrow that" to which i said " no sorry it stays there till its needed." It really does matter how you dress on the looks you get. When i am in dress clothes i get the undercover/ detective/ LEO look. When i am in work clothes i don't get anything really. Mostly its how you carry yourself. I just walk in and if i see people looking at it i just smile and carry on like there isn't anything wrong, because there isn't.

 

[INyooper]

Outside of a few comments that I've seen as opportunities to educate people, it's never been a problem. As others have said, it comes down to how you present yourself. Most often, people either don't notice or care to make it an issue.

 

[ATM]

...Is this normal?

No. Especially not in Lafayette... been open carrying around there for many years without issue.

Sounds like you just happened upon an uninformed person with a blurting problem.

Your lack of reaction (and acting more "normal" than they are) really does go a long way toward establishing the normalcy of armed citizens, so hang in there if and when you choose to.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

Some of us have worse reactions than that with local law enforcement...


But seriously, a lot of it has to do with how you look unfortunately. A button up shirt and clean shaven face, maybe a trimmed gotee and nice jeans will have you covered 99% of the time. Also a nice looking gun and holster never hurt either.

1911>Glock for example.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I thought little girls disarmed OC-ers...now I'm really confused.

Only the five year old ones.

 

[blamecharles]

Some of us have worse reactions than that with local law enforcement...


But seriously, a lot of it has to do with how you look unfortunately. A button up shirt and clean shaven face, maybe a trimmed gotee and nice jeans will have you covered 99% of the time. Also a nice looking gun and holster never hurt either.

1911>Glock for example.

I just duct tape it on . Works well.

 

[SirRealism]

Since it was your first time OCing, you might have looked nervous yourself. The first few times I open carried, I went places where I was already a regular.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

Since it was your first time OCing, you might have looked nervous yourself. The first few times I open carried, I went places where I was already a regular.

Great advice right there.

 

[Tebow]

Oh people crack me up.

You shoulda been like " What there's a gun on me?! GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!!" Haha

that seriously made me laugh out loud. Very nice.