Hoosierdood
Grandmaster
My wife and I had some errands to run today around South Bend, and I was of course OC the whole time. We stopped around 1:30 at Chik-Fil-A on the south side for lunch. There weren't many people there at the time and we enjoyed a nice meal. After a while, I went up for a refill on my drink and a nice young man named Jamar helped me.
He saw my pistol and asked "So, as a police officer, do all of you carry the same gun?" I said "Actually, I'm not a police officer." His eyes got as big as saucers and I think he about fell over backwards. He didn't realize that just anyone could carry a gun. He asked how a person would go about being allowed to carry a gun. I informed him that he needed to be 18, no felonies, and he could apply online or at the local police station. I noticed the manager listening to our conversation and he was nodding in agreement as I was explaining the process.
He then asked about juvenile records, and I told him that he could still get a LTCH if he had a juvenile record, but he would have to wait at least 5 years from the date of the record. He was completely bewildered and acted as if I were the first one to ever tell him that he could legally own and carry a gun. He asked if I had people mistake me for being a cop very often, and I told him that I get very few comments at all, but I do occasionally have people ask me if I am a cop. He asked what the difference was between a license and a permit, so I went on to explain that Indiana issues a License To Carry Handgun. He said he was definitely going to check into getting his LTCH.
By this time, a line had formed behind me, so I went back to my table.
I took out one of my business cards from my wallet, and wrote the INGO address on the back. I also wrote down the web address for Kodiak Range in South Bend. Before I left, I handed him my card and told him that INGO would have all the info he needed to obtain his LTCH. I also told him to check out Kodiak Range since they have very affordable training here locally. He had the biggest grin that I have ever seen, and thanked me for the info.
So, today was a good day. I got to educate a young man, and possibly influence him to exercise his rights.
He saw my pistol and asked "So, as a police officer, do all of you carry the same gun?" I said "Actually, I'm not a police officer." His eyes got as big as saucers and I think he about fell over backwards. He didn't realize that just anyone could carry a gun. He asked how a person would go about being allowed to carry a gun. I informed him that he needed to be 18, no felonies, and he could apply online or at the local police station. I noticed the manager listening to our conversation and he was nodding in agreement as I was explaining the process.
He then asked about juvenile records, and I told him that he could still get a LTCH if he had a juvenile record, but he would have to wait at least 5 years from the date of the record. He was completely bewildered and acted as if I were the first one to ever tell him that he could legally own and carry a gun. He asked if I had people mistake me for being a cop very often, and I told him that I get very few comments at all, but I do occasionally have people ask me if I am a cop. He asked what the difference was between a license and a permit, so I went on to explain that Indiana issues a License To Carry Handgun. He said he was definitely going to check into getting his LTCH.
By this time, a line had formed behind me, so I went back to my table.
I took out one of my business cards from my wallet, and wrote the INGO address on the back. I also wrote down the web address for Kodiak Range in South Bend. Before I left, I handed him my card and told him that INGO would have all the info he needed to obtain his LTCH. I also told him to check out Kodiak Range since they have very affordable training here locally. He had the biggest grin that I have ever seen, and thanked me for the info.
So, today was a good day. I got to educate a young man, and possibly influence him to exercise his rights.
