The one time I OC'ed (off my own property) was into a Cracker Barrel and it was solely because I forgot my jacket at church.
I figured "how big a deal can it be?". I asked to be seated by the window to limit exposure. A woman and a young soldier, in uniform, came in and sat directly behind me.
Within two minutes my wife said the woman behind me was gesturing and making, uh, gun pointy-finger signs at my backside. So, I turned to address her, discovered she was a guest of the soldier, visiting from Chicago and she was...amused, scared, excited, and unnerved once she saw the weapon in my holster. She also seemed to want to have an extended and loud conversation about my carrying in public.
I calmly explained our laws regarding carrying weapons and she seemed calmed if a little dubious about the whole thing. She said that in her Chicago neighborhood if someone had a gun it meant that it was either a cop or a gang-banger. I told her I understood but that here she could see for herself - peaceful carry, non-threatening to anyone else and really no problem other than getting her worked up a bit.
Frankly, I was glad to be able to discuss it with her but the whole event is why I prefer to keep concealed. I just don't want the attention - good or bad - generated by OC. However, I do not begrudge anyone else his right to carry as he sees fit within some wide limits.
I figured "how big a deal can it be?". I asked to be seated by the window to limit exposure. A woman and a young soldier, in uniform, came in and sat directly behind me.
Within two minutes my wife said the woman behind me was gesturing and making, uh, gun pointy-finger signs at my backside. So, I turned to address her, discovered she was a guest of the soldier, visiting from Chicago and she was...amused, scared, excited, and unnerved once she saw the weapon in my holster. She also seemed to want to have an extended and loud conversation about my carrying in public.
I calmly explained our laws regarding carrying weapons and she seemed calmed if a little dubious about the whole thing. She said that in her Chicago neighborhood if someone had a gun it meant that it was either a cop or a gang-banger. I told her I understood but that here she could see for herself - peaceful carry, non-threatening to anyone else and really no problem other than getting her worked up a bit.
Frankly, I was glad to be able to discuss it with her but the whole event is why I prefer to keep concealed. I just don't want the attention - good or bad - generated by OC. However, I do not begrudge anyone else his right to carry as he sees fit within some wide limits.
