Gun Stores that Openly Oppose Open Carry? [New Events: Ran Into Owner While OCing]
There are obviously differing opinions that instantly surface as soon as Open Carry is mentioned. However, I was surprised today at something I overheard while inside one of my local gun shops.
I was at Crackshot in Anderson today at about 3:40pm browsing for revolvers and reloading equipment. I had multiple benjamins in my wallet, and I was going to be buying some dies, powder, bullets, etc... I also would have bought a revolver today if they'd had what I was looking for (but they didn't). This is the closest Gun Store to my house, and I frequently make purchases here.
However, today I was put off and ended up not spending a dime.
I was standing at the gun counter when a husband and wife couple came into the store and proceeded to ask the salesman behind the counter some questions about Indiana's handgun permit. The salesman they were talking to was not the store owner, but I have seen him in there a few other times--taller guy, grey hair, grey mustache.
After the customer had asked the basics about the handgun permit (where to get it, how much was it, how does the lifetime option work, etc...) he asked this question: "Is Indiana an Open Carry or Concealed Carry State?"
At this my ears perked up, because I am a big proponent of Open Carry for those who wish to shoulder the small burden that comes with it. I personally choose to Open Carry often (though I wasn't today), because I believe it is healthy for society to see well behaved law abiding citizens carrying guns. I do it for comfort and for socio-political reasons, and if I am eschewing some tactical advantage that concealed carry might have, I am willing to deal with that.
The salesman's response to this customer's question was this; he said, "The law doesn't specify how you have to carry, but do NOT Open Carry. If you do, you will be bringing a LOT of negative attention to yourself that you do NOT want."
At this, I wasn't too riled; I hear this kind of stuff all the time. But it's what he said next that bothered me. He said, "There have been guys that've walked in here Open Carrying, and every time I tell 'em to get out!" He said all of this with a very obvious passion (borderline anger) in his tone.
I thought, really? A store that sells nothing but items that pertain to the 2nd Amendment would tell someone to leave simply for expressing his or her 2nd Amendment rights?
Whether or not one agrees Open Carry is a good idea or not is one thing. But I believe that Open Carry is, in fact, our right. Whereas concealed carry is a privilege that can be regulated or not allowed at all.
Nevertheless, after hearing this I put the two items that were in my hands back on the shelf and left. I was -this- close to taking off my cover garment and walking back into the store. I really wanted to see if he would kick me out with the owner standing right there, or I wanted to see if he was all talk. But alas, I didn't...
It's obvious that a Gun Store has the same right to ask people to leave for Open Carrying just like any other store, but it did surprise me that this would be the case.
[Edit: Read post #39 within this thread where I ran into Mike, the owner of Crackshot guns, while I was out Open Carrying]
There are obviously differing opinions that instantly surface as soon as Open Carry is mentioned. However, I was surprised today at something I overheard while inside one of my local gun shops.
I was at Crackshot in Anderson today at about 3:40pm browsing for revolvers and reloading equipment. I had multiple benjamins in my wallet, and I was going to be buying some dies, powder, bullets, etc... I also would have bought a revolver today if they'd had what I was looking for (but they didn't). This is the closest Gun Store to my house, and I frequently make purchases here.
However, today I was put off and ended up not spending a dime.
I was standing at the gun counter when a husband and wife couple came into the store and proceeded to ask the salesman behind the counter some questions about Indiana's handgun permit. The salesman they were talking to was not the store owner, but I have seen him in there a few other times--taller guy, grey hair, grey mustache.
After the customer had asked the basics about the handgun permit (where to get it, how much was it, how does the lifetime option work, etc...) he asked this question: "Is Indiana an Open Carry or Concealed Carry State?"
At this my ears perked up, because I am a big proponent of Open Carry for those who wish to shoulder the small burden that comes with it. I personally choose to Open Carry often (though I wasn't today), because I believe it is healthy for society to see well behaved law abiding citizens carrying guns. I do it for comfort and for socio-political reasons, and if I am eschewing some tactical advantage that concealed carry might have, I am willing to deal with that.
The salesman's response to this customer's question was this; he said, "The law doesn't specify how you have to carry, but do NOT Open Carry. If you do, you will be bringing a LOT of negative attention to yourself that you do NOT want."
At this, I wasn't too riled; I hear this kind of stuff all the time. But it's what he said next that bothered me. He said, "There have been guys that've walked in here Open Carrying, and every time I tell 'em to get out!" He said all of this with a very obvious passion (borderline anger) in his tone.
I thought, really? A store that sells nothing but items that pertain to the 2nd Amendment would tell someone to leave simply for expressing his or her 2nd Amendment rights?
Whether or not one agrees Open Carry is a good idea or not is one thing. But I believe that Open Carry is, in fact, our right. Whereas concealed carry is a privilege that can be regulated or not allowed at all.
Nevertheless, after hearing this I put the two items that were in my hands back on the shelf and left. I was -this- close to taking off my cover garment and walking back into the store. I really wanted to see if he would kick me out with the owner standing right there, or I wanted to see if he was all talk. But alas, I didn't...
It's obvious that a Gun Store has the same right to ask people to leave for Open Carrying just like any other store, but it did surprise me that this would be the case.
[Edit: Read post #39 within this thread where I ran into Mike, the owner of Crackshot guns, while I was out Open Carrying]
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