What do you do when you see someone carring a fiearm in a store?

[skip fox]

Leave!

Leave your shopping basket where it is and leave the store.

If people started doing this, stores would ban open-carry.

[hlthe2b]

1. I absolutely do so... The problem is concealed weapons. I don't care if they are carrying legally

or not. Having guns in the store means more targets when LEO come in to end any kind of disturbance and more risk of crossfire.

I hate that we are so cavalier with the public's safety under some VERY misguided sense of "more guns = more safety." It is ludicrous.

[DownriverDem]

26. I care

I did see a guy carrying some kind of rifle in Krogers. (Michigan) My first thought was "Really?" I wanted to ask him if he was really that afraid? Instead, I left the store. I just noticed that along with Walmart, Kroger has now asked folks to not carry in their stores.

[hlthe2b]

33. You sound more like me, so why do you care if legally carrying or not? I see it, I leave AND

I let the store know what I have seen and why I am leaving.

[MontanaMama]

47. I agree with you.

Leaving is fine and dandy but telling the store personnel why you’re leaving is the key. I’m not anti gun...I come from a hunting, skeet shooting background. I am anti-gun nut and I just want to be able to get my groceries bought without dodging a self proclaimed MAGAt soldier.

[hlthe2b]

70. I too come from a family of responsible hunters (mainly birds, occas. deer). NEVER would they EVER

have carried a gun into a store or anywhere except a gun shop for repair or related. NEVER.

[Demsrule86]

106. My Dad didn't hunt but my Mom's family did...and just pointing a stick pretend gun at someone got

you a whipping...he would never have carried a gun into a store or into a church. He taught all of us kids the proper way to hande a gun and gun safety. I lived in the middle of nowhere with my firstborn daughter...very young at the time...and a gun saved my life. I didn't even have a phone at the time...too poor.

[Grins]

123. YES! That's the important thing to do!

Politely, ask the store manager if their policy says open or closed carry is acceptable - and if it is you won’t be back. THAT often works! Happened in a couple Starbucks a year or so back. And quick. Like the next day the no-gun signs were up. Money Talks. And they were not going to lose regular customers over those idiots.

[yellowdogintexas]

181. In Texas, if you don't want firearms in your place of business

there is a sign which cites the part of the law which applies to places of businesses which do not want firearms.

If you have posted that sign the guns can't come in. I check for it if visiting a new restaurant or other business.

[SoCalNative]

131. They shouldn't be "asking"

they should be banning it outright. Period.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Agreed.

Avoiding eye contact just feeds into their paranoia and superiority

[Bettie]

8. And making eye contact

makes them feel you are being aggressive.

Leaving is the better choice.

[True Blue American]

3. So far,I have not seen one, but that is exactly what I would do.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. We don't have open carry yet, but that's my plan.

I will also let management know that I won't shop there again until they ban the practice in their store.

[TomSlick]

154. Granny. I hate to break it to you but

Attorney General Rutledge has opined that we do have open carry in Arkansas. Her opinion, a couple of years ago, is all that stopped the General Assembly from passing an open carry law.

Mind you, there is no basis in Arkansas law for the AG's opinion but most police agencies will operate on the basis that the opinion is correct.

[Arkansas Granny]

159. I didn't realize that. She's a real piece of work, isn't she?

[TomSlick]

160. You are more charitable than I.

I agree that she's a real piece of something.

[CottonBear]

5. I work in 2 places that allow open carry.

It is insanely frightening. I can’t leave work. Well, I could, but then I might not have a job. It’s happened once at each job. I hope it remains a rare occurrence until laws are changed.

[Hekate]

144. I think the whole point is to scare the bejaysus out of people. "Look at meeeee. I can squash you...

...like a bug!" This is just nuts. I am so sorry you have to work in these conditions.

[BlueTsunami2018]

6. I've never seen anyone doing this.

I have never seen a person walking around with an AR-15 or any kind of rifle. I’m not sure what I would do if I did. Probably ignore it I suppose. I’m not really all that excitable.

[sarge43]

10. You're not excitable, but the Rambo wannabe probably is.

You want to bet your life that he didn't just get fired and is feeling a bit salty?

[BlueTsunami2018]

121. Usually they walk in shooting.

Have any of these guys been quietly open carrying in the store/theater/school and then go ape shit out of nowhere ? I don’t walk around worrying about being shot all the time. I don’t think about it at all in my daily routine.

[sarge43]

126. I don't either.

However, I do believe that if I encounter someone carrying a lethal weapon in a place where there is absolutely no reason to have that weapon, I would become concerned about his/her reasons to do so. There is only one reason to have a gun; it's to destroy something(s) and/or kill someone(s).

I don't worry about an accident while driving, but I stay alert, cautious and keep the seat belt locked.

Yup, I'm a wimp and I want to keep on being a wimp.

[BlueTsunami2018]

127. I don't think it makes you a wimp.

Yours is the better self-preservation attitude. I’m at a point where I don’t care about it as much as I probably should.

[sarge43]

130. Well, you should

We need all good people.

[cannabis_flower]

148. I think maybe one other reason..

is to make their dick look bigger!

[sarge43]

152. There is that

Though it's unsettling that they confuse something that can create life with something that can destroy it. Another reason I don't want to be around someone who has that mind set.

[soldierant]

155. It doesn't make the dick look bigger,

but it does make the person carrying look like a bigger dick.

[3catwoman3]

177. Oh, that is a great rejoinder.

Permission to steal/borrow?

[soldierant]

190. Not original to me,

I saw it on a protest poster carried by another little old lady, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind - I certainly don't mind.

[sarge43]

183. That's a keeper. n/t

[cannabis_flower]

184. Well that's true

I didn't mean it actually made their dick look bigger but it doesn't mean they aren't compensating for something they feel they are lacking!

[Arazi]

191. Do we know that for sure? That they weren't browsing about beforehand?

[Amishman]

16. I've never seen it either and I live in a really red / conservative area

And it is legal in PA.

I guess I should be happy that it's at least one aspect of gun culture that hasn't caught on around here

[Freedomofspeech]

21. We live in blood red SW PA...

We have seen it on more than one occasion. It is scary as hell and we have left the store.

[DemocracyMouse]

43. The simple fact that Americans find the prevalence of guns disturbing...

means they are not well regulated. Period. And therefore they do not meet the condition implied VIVIDLY by the 2nd Amendment ("A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State). We are less free to enjoy our public life and none of this jack-ass low brow posturing shit is well regulated.

And automatic ANYTHING is not what the founders meant by "arms."

[DemocracyMouse]

45. And by using "low brow" I mean dumb fucking ass.

[Freedomofspeech]

108. I totally agree.

We have to live in fear every single day....and worry about our children and grandchildren doing something simple like going to school.😡

[DemocracyMouse]

192. Yes. Fear. I can't go to any public places these days without looking around.

[RobinA]

113. I Didn't Even Know

we had open carry in PA. I have never seen it. I live in the purple Philadelphia 'burbs where it really isn't something that would be done, but I have been all over PA. Gawd, I would leave the store, especially down in your neck of the woods.

[Freedomofspeech]

114. Already seeing Trump 2020 flags...

And new to me, we have seen two people flying flags that are half American and half Confederate. God, I despise this horrible, disgusting morons.

[Moral Compass]

7. I will leave

Haven’t run into it and I live in Dallas area. But if if I do see someone open carrying I will leave.

[fescuerescue]

173. I think open carry is illegal in Texas

From what I understand, you are pretty much surrounded by concealed carriers, but open carry is illegal.

[mwb970]

9. I would abandon my cart and walk right out.

There are other stores. And not a single person has been shot on Amazon!

[SoCalNative]

132. Or

by using Instacart.

[samnsara]

11. i would leave...

..but have only seen open carry at the farmers market and i cant leave cuz im a vendor..but if in a store and i saw one i would leave and stick post it on my cart why i left....

[Botany]

12. great idea ... this should go nationwide

If the dumb ass 2nd amendment freedom loving billy bobs want to openly
carry in a store then people should no longer shop in that store.

[MontanaMama]

53. Hey you might be on to something...

Maybe there would be a sore called “Open Carry Billy Bob Mart” where the gun nut MAGAt soldiers can exclusively shop so that they have a place to parade their lethal phallic bling AND buy their milk and white bread. If we’re lucky, one of them will get a little overly excited and take a few more out of the gene pool.

[Botany]

81. I have hunted and owned A FEW guns for years and I have run into some of the open carry Billy ...

.... Bobs in Ohio and instead of saying anything I walk away PDQ. I remember seeing one
Billy Bob with a 9 mm on his hip at the coin op car wash and he wanted to talk but I got away
as quick as I could.

BTW I have been to one gun show just to see what it was like and Good God in Butter it was
scary. "Hunting licenses" for liberals, Hillary Clinton targets, stars and bars (confederate battle
flag) bumper stickers, tons of guns and ammo, and lots of proud to be a dumb fuck people.

Gun fetish people are beyond hope. Their brains have been made mush by years of toxic
input. Did you know that Hillary had somebody killed in order to hide Bill's cocaine ring?

What we need to do is work hard and turn out the vote and make sure that vote is counted and
not spend 1 dime or 1 minute trying to reach out to those people. Some might come around after
they realize they are voting against their own best interests but if you get up 1st thing in the AM
thinking about your guns then like right to lifers nothing will get through to you.

Sorry to rant.

[MontanaMama]

92. You're 100% correct about billy bob gun nuts.

I live in MT and they’re everywhere. I come from a hunting, skeet shooting background...most of the people I know in those communities are not billy bobs. However, there are plenty of them around and they are, in fact, hopeless. Rant away! I like it.

[Botany]

96. My long gone maternal grandfather had a fruit orchard and ran some sheep outside of ...

... Ashland, Oregon and he had a 30:30 rifle that was in easy reach ... not when my brother and I visited as kids ...
for coyotes and he would have been horrified by this current generation of gun nuts and he used to let responsible
people hunt on his property too. Except when some hunters thought they were helping him by killing some bull
snakes on his property because he liked them because they killed gophers. He threw their asses of his property.

Sadly thanx to the NRA, right wing media & the internet's toxic spew, and generations of dumb fucks we have
millions of Americans whose brains are cooked by the idea that a gun makes you free.

[Liberal In Texas]

13. If a manager is around, I'd tell him/her why I'm leaving.

Or if there wasn't a manager around, I would make sure to call when I got home.

[dalton99a]

31. +1. Let them know.

[DaDeacon]

14. Or conduct business as normal...

I’m a CWC (did private security for a long time yadda yadda) and its no different to me than a person at a park with kids with a large dog it’s as dangerous as you let it be. I hate the shootings as well but Bubba with his holstered gloc pushing a shopping cart isn’t a worry. Open carry Bubba is a response to the violence not a cause. I’d rather see time and effort put into boycotting companies that advertise on hate talk radio etc.

[snowybirdie]

29. You absolutely have a right

to conduct your business normally. The majority folks choose to leave and have the right to not support that store. They feel you are not normal btw.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

30. Sorry, I would have no idea who you are if I saw you in a store.

I would prefer not to have to consider "Is he just some '2nd amendment is holy' sort of guy or did the guy just get dumped by his spouse, foreclosed on by the bank and fired at his job about to pull his gun and shoot at whatever is breathing nearby sort of guy?"

Strangers with guns in public places make me nervous.

[JGug1]

32. As dangerous as a large dog at a park

BS. It is NOT as dangerous as a large dog at a park. It is VASTLY more dangerous and frightening, and weird. Open carry isn't a response to the violence, either. It is a REACTION to the violence and and the violence is an excuse for carrying...It isn't the reason people carry, mostly.

[StarryNite]

50. Agreed!

[uponit7771]

71. +1, if the "good guys" can't stop mass killers in Texas then no state can IMHO. Lived there

[DaDeacon]

189. Just to make you aware...

BS for you not for me. Pit Bulls are deadly and when I see them around kids I get a little nervous but that' s me not you. To my point, if open carry makes you nervous I'm sorry, I don't do it but I'm not upset at those that do and I think it's very unproductive to make a big deal of it. With the actions, some of you are proposing "Open carry Bubba" will now feel like he is being attacked and would want to carry larger weapons more indignantly just to show he can. then what? we scream at them they shout back ....on and on.




Honestly, take a step back and recognize the fear and frustration they must be feeling to think the only way they can show power is to walking around with a rifle?!? I want to hear how we address that fear and remove that feeling.

[uponit7771]

69. Mass shooters have to open carry to be mass shooters, I don't know the difference between bubba

... and the idiot wanting to kill everything moving.

Call the police, tell them you're alarmed at someone with unknown mental state and intentions with exposed weapon ... let them handle it.

[Eyeball_Kid]

88. It's crazy to presume familiarity and knowledge of complete strangers with an exposed weapon.

I know NOTHING about strangers. That's why they're STRANGERS! If one is exposing a deadly weapon, I'm out of there. Now. We assume that there are norms and standards for civil behavior. Exposing a deadly weapon for no apparent reason is not a norm and standard. It's a sign of a willingness to frighten the bejesus out of people. And THAT'S not normal. I don't care if the only danger is that the carrier blows h/h knees to bits by forgetting to apply the safety to a sidearm and have the weapon go off. That danger is enough to get me away as quickly as possible. YOU might feel comfortable with open carry. Good for you. You have a rationale that, IMO, doesn't apply to people you don't know who have a deadly weapon in a public setting. You have no idea what they're thinking or what they will do with the power that they have in their very immediate possession.

[cab67]

103. depends on the kind of "open carry."

As I said in an earlier comment, I've encountered plenty of open-carriers. They were all carrying sidearms, and my primary concern wasn't the gun itself. I was more concerned with the carrier, for two reasons - 1, they were mostly elderly (some very much so), and I'd be worried about whether they had the physical stability to aim correctly should they draw their handgun, and 2, many - not all, but many - open-carriers drink large amounts of right-wing toilet water and are quick to see a threat where none may exist.

This seems to be far more true for open-carriers than for concealed-carriers.

The issue isn't (necessarily) that an open-carrier might be a mass shooter. It's that such a person might decide to use his or her firearm out of panic and hit the wrong target.

[grantcart]

134. In AZ the only guys I have seen with holsters on their waist are in their 20s

[oldsoftie]

167. As for age, I know an 80 yr old who can out shoot anyone else i know. EASILY.

he's trained for years.
But he's also an outlier.

[paleotn]

147. I care to differ.

Bubba and his holstered Gloc...i.e. his "cold steel fount of manhood"....is an example of the irrational fears that drives hate radio and populist, nut job politics. Irrational fear breeds hate. Both are fertile ground for reichwing propaganda.

[oldsoftie]

166. Also, there are some people who have a reason to carry even though they arent in a uniform.

Bondsmen, couriers, private armored service people, constables, etc. If its part of their daily routine, they probably dont think about removing it before entering a store.
But as i said in a post below, open carry, IMO, isnt the best way for someone other than uniformed cops

[Mister Ed]

15. My personal choice is to quietly leave. n/t.

[Kurt V.]

17. i give em the stink eye.

[ColesCountyDem]

18. I already do.

I do exactly that, with this difference: I tell an employee, preferably someone in management, why I'm leaving and won't be back until they change their policy.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

19. Agree. No way to know motive or temperament of an armed person.

If a disagreement breaks out with unarmed folks, at lease we have the options of either running away or punching it out.

Bullets leave no time for reasoning or escape.

KY........

[Tanuki]

20. The only time I've seen someone with a gun in a store was once when an armed robbery

was in progress. I agree with your point, and if I see anyone with a gun in a store in the future, even if s/he is just casually shopping, I will leave.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. Know your escapes and exits

Now I pay attention to ecapes, in case an event begins. I know where the "employees only" doors are, where the aisles run to. Pay attention to sounds at all times. Estimate the direction of any loud noises or shouting or screams. Pay attention to where you park, look around. Anything bizarre, go elsewhere.

I think there was a stakeout in a parking lot recently, but it looked strange, a low-life PI in an old car with a large dash mounted camera. He wasn't doing anything but wearing a hat and remaining in his car. I left the scene and went elsewhere.

We all have to think and be aware.

[appleannie1]

23. I would exit stage left leaving my thawing ice cream behind in the cart.

[Meadowoak]

129. I'm going to make up some wallet sized cards to carry for exactly that reason

Explaining that I no longer feel safe in their store, and that's why I left. If I see anyone with a gun, I will just toss the card in the cart and make a quick exit.

[ewagner]

24. A lesson I learned....

from a few years back was when I visited several gun dealers looking for a shotgun for home defense. In our community there were several instances of persons waking up in the middle of the night with an intruder in their bedroom and the police were at an absolute loss to determine how to stop it.

At one gun shop, every employee carried a weapon. I assumed that it was company policy. At the other gun shop NONE of the employees were armed. I was curious so I asked the owner why there was a difference. The owner was a former police officer in Chicago and he told me that if somebody came in to rob the store, the first persons they would look for would be those who were armed. They would be the threat that had to be addressed first.

soooooooo

If somebody wanted to do a mass shooting, their first targets would be security types and those walking around with "open carry"...or, as it is called by some "Constitutional Carry". In other words the guys carrying guns because they "feel safer" are actually making themselves the primary target for anybody with nefarious intent.

[SHRED]

40. I would think a home security system

Would be more effective while you sleep than a shotgun.

[ms liberty]

93. German Shepherds are, too. And they keep you warm in the winter! n/t

[Hekate]

146. Flocks of geese are notoriously noisy when disturbed at night...

...but you can't sleep with them.

[usaf-vet]

60. So what is wrong with "check your gun before coming into town" of TV fame.

If it made sense to western town sheriffs.

Was that only a movie reality?

Yes, maybe there is.

Google this: Is there any historical evidence of sheriffs making cowboys check their guns before coming into town?

Here is one result https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gun-control-old-west-180968013/

[yonder]

115. Thanks for the link. Good read.

I've come to learn that the wild West learned from movies and TV as a kid was actually quite different than what existed. Your link sheds even more light on it.

[usaf-vet]

117. You are welcome fellow DUer.

[oldsoftie]

168. Perfect illustration of why i think "open carry" is for suckers

Dont make yourself a target

[lastlib]

25. Leave is absolutely the right course. Run, don't walk.

I'd be tempted to call the police, and tell them the man is waving it around hysterically, but that might set off an incident.

[oldsoftie]

169. Run? Then YOU look like you've done something wrong!

As for your other comment, that could set you up for filing a false report

[phandancer917]

27. Remind myself....

...that I live in the country and this is not uncommon.

Now, if I had seen someone carrying when I lived in Montgomery County, MD -- run like hell!!

[Bromwell]

28. I have never seen it in SE Pennsylvania but

when I hear or see pictures of these people the first thought I have is OMG....what an absolutely terrified snowflake! If they think it makes them seem like a tough Rambo it really doesn't. Makes you look weak....small and afraid, not to mention possibly something is wrong with you.

[cab67]

34. I wish this was a practical solution.

I spent a lot of time in Arizona a couple of years back. I would see open carriers - nearly always elderly white men with a 9 mm on their hip - in pretty much every grocery store.

It would have taken a mass boycott of all grocery stores in the area to affect change.

I like this idea, but it has to be backed up with legislative action.

[aikoaiko]

35. Shop. They aren't the threat.

Ive not heard of any mass shooters going shopping before they opened fire.

[Arazi]

64. Dylan Roof sat in on the Charleston church bible study for an hour before he started shooting

How do you know these guys didn't shop before they started shooting?

[aikoaiko]

68. I don't, but thats true of every single person. I don't live in fear.

The mass shooting of random people are really low probability events.

[uponit7771]

66. What about before? The mass shooter has to open carry to be a mass shooter. Open carry is stupid

[aikoaiko]

72. No, they could conceal with a jacket or coat. Even a backpack.

You just don't know about anybody.

I don't really support open carry because it does sometimes scare people needlessly.

I recognize that, but it doesn't scare me.

[uponit7771]

73. ... then they have to expose the gun to use it at that point they are open carry ... period.

I don't think I should take chances

[aikoaiko]

75. Ok, but you do everyday.

[uponit7771]

77. Calculated mature ones ... of course

[Magoo48]

36. I'm embarrassed for them, then, I bite my tongue.

[Joe Nation]

37. So how do you tell a terrorist from a legal gun owner?

The truth is that you can't. If someone wanted to shoot up a store, they would only have to pretend to be exercising their NRA given right to carry a weapon and wait until they are in the middle of the store before they start shooting causing maximum carnage. This is madness. The gun makers need to be held accountable for their rein of terror.

[TheBlackAdder]

39. MAGA hat?

.

That denotes someone who is self-affecting, harboring extreme anger and prejudice, and is unpredictable.

They are also allowed themselves to be ideologically driven by a cult leader.

.

[uponit7771]

76. +1, just like the kid in Missouri !! He was legally open carry and they arrested him still. Open...

... carry is stupid, no one knew this kids intentions and he had hundreds of rounds of ammo on him.

[tblue37]

38. I haven't seen it, but I would leave immediately, and then I would call and write to tell the store

why.

[ebbie15644]

41. I would leave and fast

[Initech]

42. Thank God I live in one of those coastal elite states.

Where I don't have to put up with this, but if I lived in a state that did, I'd definitely be doing just that - leaving. And letting the managers know why.

[Codeine]

44. I avoid living in hillbilly states.

Easy-peasy.

[former9thward]

51. There are only 4 states which don't allow open carry.

So I guess you must consider most of the U.S. "hillbilly". Or maybe you don't know the law in your state?

[Codeine]

86. I'm not referring to laws.

It’s an issue of culture.

[cwydro]

102. States vary greatly depending where you might be in them. Generalizations suck.

I live in NC, which I’m sure you’d call a “hillbilly” state.

I’ve lived in the mountains, and I’ve lived in the cities, lived at the coast and lived in the country.

Never seen a person carrying a gun inside a store. Ever.

[former9thward]

46. Nothing.

I am not scared of guns. The people that start shooting up somewhere are not "open carrying". They charge in shooting.

[mr_lebowski]

54. Until they don't ... just sayin' (nt)

[uponit7771]

59. Aren't the people who charge in shooting open carrying too? Jus sayin, kinda hard to do the kill

... everyone thing with the firearm concealed.

[sarisataka]

48. Only seen open carry once

During an extended stay in ND.

I tend to evaluate the entire situation and made the determination that a guy grocery shopping with his wife and kids is pretty low on the threat scale. I continued about my business.

[mwooldri]

49. GTFO. n/t.

[Guilded Lilly]

52. Yup. Leave. Only once have I seen a gun toter, and I immediately left.

[bluedigger]

55. Assess the threat, determine the risk, and act accordingly.

I've never seen anyone carrying a long arm in a store, but I would assume anyone intending ill intent would have it at the ready (in their hands) rather than slung over their shoulder. As for holstered guns, I guess I would examine their demeanor. I've seen a couple guys open carry at City Market (Kroger in Western Colorado), but I live in a town that still drives cattle on the highway in city limits. I'd be much more nervous back in New Orleans if that happened. I hear gunfire regularly in both places that I've lived, but here in Cortez, it's just a nuisance from pest control, whereas in New Orleans it was something to read about in the paper the next day.

[pamela]

180. City Market in Cortez

As I was reading this thread, I was thinking about the time I saw someone carrying in a grocery store. It was City Market in Cortez.

[mr_lebowski]

56. I would take in the whole picture. Big difference between a normally dressed older dude

acting calmly with a 9mm holstered on his hip, a shopping cart, a spouse, and a couple kids ... vs a fidgeting, sweaty younger dude in camos w/none of those things and a AR-15 strapped across his back.

[AJT]

57. I would leave.....I have nver seen anyone open carry.

[The Genealogist]

58. Well, to be afraid and uncomfortable

A few years back, my partner and I were shopping a large market part of a regional chain. This piece of trash came in with his family, handgun clearly displayed in the holster at his waist,, and strutted all over that store so everyone could see. I saw this guy several times and he bought little. I think he was there just to show off his penis compenstor. My partner and I were very uncomfortable. We called the store when we got home and were basically told tough crap, it was legal. Judging by the looks on other people's faces, we were not the only ones uncomfortable with it. Damn gunhumpers.

[extvbroadcaster]

61. I don't like to see any guns

Here in Illinois we don't have open carry. Some states are gun crazy, look at Florida. Don't tell me about Chicago. Illinois has some decent gun laws. Trafficking guns into the state is a major problem. That being said, I think open carry is nuts. Look at the recent shootings in Texas. Where was the "good guy with a gun" there? Why didn't some pistol packing person draw down and open fire? Sadly, politicians and moronic voters have a "Clint Eastwood" fantasy about gun crime. The truth is that people rarely defend themselves or stop crime with guns. More often they shoot their neighbor over his b-b-q, they shoot their teenage kid sneaking back into the house, or they get tired of life and shoot themselves. When there is real gun crime, bystanders are not trained to handle it. If anything, they will make the situation worse by having a gun and then the responding officers will have to eliminate the "good guy with a gun" from the "bad guy with a gun." And don't buy the fantasy that just because a woman or a man puts on a uniform they are trained properly or will respond correctly to a crisis situation. Some people in law enforcement should not have a gun either. Look how many times police shoot people in situations that did not require it. Our whole country is gun nuts, and the world knows it. Until we get some sensible gun control incidents will continue to happen all over, everyday.

[uponit7771]

65. +1, keyword you used is "...stop..." not shoot the mass killer after they've killed 30 people alread

... already.

Stop them BEFORE they've killed, no one is going to do that because we can't tell the difference between the open carry nuts and the ones who want to murder everything moving.

I call the police, tell the police there's a person of unknown mental states, unknown amount of ammo and I'm concerned.

Don't take chances

[GulfCoast66]

116. Look at Florida??

A person open carrying in Florida would be breaking the law! We are not an open carry state.

So if here in Florida I see someone open carrying I would call 911 and tell them there is a person in the store displaying a firearm and would not be filing a false police report. The police would come and depending on how the person responded perhaps arrested and charged. Or shot for that matter.

[oldsoftie]

170. Actually, they are used quite often in self defense. Google it. I agree about the Rambo fantasies!

I see people on FB all the time posting about certain crimes & "if they'd had a gun" and the funny thing is, most of these, when you see video, the person is jumped and would never have a chance to pull a weapon! Like the times where someone gets knocked out by a sucker punch. You gonna pull your gun while unconscious???

[dawnie51]

62. Before you leave...

tell management why you're leaving. Leave no question as to why. Because you feel unsafe in their environment.

[uponit7771]

63. TAKE NO CHANCES CALL THE POLICE !!! The terrorist are open carry too and it's hard to tell who's who

[Codeine]

138. The plural of terrorist is terrorists.

A weirdly common error.

[Golden Raisin]

67. I have never seen it.

But I live in the bluest of blue places. I would leave the store immediately and strongly consider never setting foot in that store again until open carry was disallowed.

[Kali]

74. nothing, I am in rural Arizona

everybody has a gun in their vehicle, and a few dipshits need to have them on their person in an obvious display. I just assume they have small dicks, like I do with the big giant tires on some trucks. highly unlikely even the small dicks are going to be the next mass shooter. it isn't ever the ones you think it is going to be. that is why it is frightening.

at best families or (ex) girlfriends/wives are most likely to be able to warn or predict - random people aren't going to know until it is too late.

[uponit7771]

78. Yaw feel safe around gumpers I don't, anyone who needs a mass kill device for protection isn't ...

... out for good of public.

[Kali]

118. I try not to live in fear.

[redstatebluegirl]

79. I have left a store and a restaurant/bar here in Oklahoma.

Both times I told the manager why I was leaving.

[phylny]

80. I walk out. Simple. n/t

[Eyeball_Kid]

82. See someone open carrying in a store?

Leave immediately, AND on the way out, find the store manager and state exactly why you are leaving the store and why you aren't buying anything. It's the store's loss of revenue and your own sense of security that's at stake. IMO, don't talk with the person carrying the gun. Get the hell away. That person has the immediate power to put an end to your life AND those around you. You don't need to ask that person for his/her rationale for carrying a gun openly in a store. A rationale doesn't interfere with a bullet entering into your body, triggered by a stranger with a lethal weapon. Just get as far away from that person as possible.

Anyone with an open weapon ought to be the ONLY person in the store. A common sense reaction would be for EVERY customer to evacuate the store ASAP. If you see a deadly weapon, get away now.

[struggle4progress]

83. Na na na na hey hey

[WhiskeyGrinder]

84. Does concealed carry bother you as much?

[Ms. Toad]

85. Takes me back to when people were smoking in grocery stores

My practice was to go find the manager, carrying my full cart of groceries, and tell them there was someone smoking in the store and it was making me ill. If the manager refused to do anything, I informed them I was sorry, but that I could no longer shop there and walk out leaving the cart of groceries.

[LuckyCharms]

87. I've seen videos of these fucking assholes walking down the street with...

an AR strapped over their back, for no other reason than to "exercise their rights", or "perform a second amendment audit".

Fuck these people. Fuck them sideways.

I would question the stability of someone who does this.

They instill fear. Period.

There is no valid reason for them to instill fear. It doesn't matter if you are afraid of these people or not, because most people are afraid. I'd get the fuck out of there so fast, I'd be a blur. I would have no idea of the person's intention, and I'm not sticking around to find out.

[skip fox]

120. Yes. They are trolling for people like you and me.

They want the liberal whiners to have to confront their, possibly lethal, stupidity.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

89. First off, you have no way of knowing if a person

has whatever license or paperwork that permits them to open carry.

Concealed carry strikes me as equally bad. Despite what all the gun humpers say, there is almost no need for anyone to have a gun. If you hunt, your gun can be kept locked up until hunting season, then returned to the lock-up with any unused ammunition.

As for home protection, think of all the heart-warming times when a parent shot and killed a teen who lived in the house who was sneaking home after curfew. Yeah, that'll teach 'em.

I have not yet seen anyone openly carrying when I'm out in public. If I do I hope I'd actually have the presence of mind to walk out, and if in a restaurant leave without paying, while letting someone know exactly why I'm leaving.

I have seen signs on stores, the library, and I think some churches that show guns aren't allowed inside.

Here's another thing all those who think they need a gun with them every minute to be safe: as terrible as mass shootings are, they are still essentially isolated events. Any one person's odds of being in a mass shooting is incredibly tiny. And there's no reason to think another shooter would have improved things.

[lark]

90. I would absolutely immediately abandon my cart and leave.

I would also never shop there again and would call the store manager and let them know about this. If enough people won't shop there, maybe they will change their policies.

[RichardRay]

91. I live in Wyoming

I just carry on shopping.

[Codeine]

137. I grew up there.

I remember carrying my rifle down the dirt roads with other kids. It seemed normal at the time, but I’m glad I don’t live there now.

[CTyankee]

94. I never see this in CT. If I ever did, not only would I leave, I would alert a store employee on my

way out and call the police from the parking lot.

[AtheistCrusader]

153. In CT, that person may be legally carrying with a lawful permit.

[CTyankee]

179. Dunno but boy I sure feel safer now that I know I could be surrounded by "good guys with a gun"

Last edited Thu Sep 5, 2019, 12:58 AM - Edit history (1)

who of course have no mental issues and who will be there to save me from a bad guy with a gun. Damn. I gotta keep up...

No, really, if I knew someone was "carrying" I'd get as far away from him/her as I could get. I would not feel safe. I would feel less safe and more in danger.

[AtheistCrusader]

185. I generally feel more comfortable around people who are legally qualified to carry.

There have been a couple instances over the years of individuals who had a CPL or firearms license like CT, who went on a rampage, but it's super rare.

Statistically speaking, you're much more likely to be shot by someone who has no lawful business touching a firearm.


To be clear, I am in favor of universal background checks on sales, stringent requirements for concealed carry permits, and banning Open Carry, and a number of other gun control elements too, just don't land in the same place on comfort with people who are qualified, and armed, being around me.

I suppose I find the same equal ease around gatherings of adoptive parents, because similarly, I know we've all been through extensive background checks.

[CTyankee]

186. The accessibility of guns is a big issue for me. Hence, my feeling is that my chances of being shot

are greater if a gun is nearby, even if the carrier has training and a license. If that person loses control of his/her weapon, for whatever reason, the likelihood of another person gaining access to it, raises the possibility that the weapon can be used against me or others. The presence of a gun in a situation that I have no control over is my fear. And, I feel strongly, it is a WISE FEAR.

[AtheistCrusader]

187. I suppose, in fairness to your reaction...

You can't actually know in your state if the person you see carrying actually has a license. You'd have to challenge them. Which would, if they were a bad actor, put you in direct danger.

So I guess, in addition to the points you raised, I understand where you're coming from here. At a glance, there's no way to know.

[CTyankee]

188. That is correct. In my own family's experience, there were what I call the 3 A's involved:

Access, Anger and Alcohol. As you can see, I have thought this through and come to my own understanding and world view. I am not saying that any of these factors ensure a gun incident, but do raise the possibility. Hence, my use of the term "wise fear."

[scarytomcat]

95. Not in Texas

Stores now can not ban guns in storres

[AllyCat]

97. Leave. Even the concealed carry in WI

If I can see it, I’m out.

[dweller]

98. now that walmart and kroger have this new policy

i have hope other retailers will also adopt it, but i'm also afraid there will be more instances of open carry demonstrations by gunhumpers in protest...
this morning on cbs news they announced the new walmart/kroger policy and included a spot of the opposing opinion... a big bearded billybob drawling he'd be taking his business elsewhere (or at least i think he said this, as i'm not fluent in ignorish) and to complete the picture, he had a cap on with, in large capital letters, TRUMP


✌🏼

[greatauntoftriplets]

99. I've never seen anyone open carrying here in the Chicago suburbs.

But I'd probably leave.

[SoCalNative]

145. Because open carry

isn't legal in IL.

[Greybnk48]

100. I haven't had to yet, but I will leave

and very loudly let everyone know why I'm leaving!

[grumpyduck]

101. Well, all things being equal,

I'd more than likely move to another state.

[Sogo]

104. Great idea.

I've never seen that, but would follow this advice; plus inform the management that's why I'm leaving and that I don't plan to shop there anymore until they ban open-carry.

Some think small acts of resistance wouldn't work, but remember that Ghandi won India's independence by non-violent resistance.

[Demsrule86]

105. Leave the store...and tell someone on the way out why...then call the cops...they are better

equpped to deal with this person and determine his/her intentions.

[rownesheck]

107. A gun humping D bag

came into my store (in Houston area) carrying his fetishized piece on his hip. A customer came to me and said she was leaving and not purchasing her products. I told her that I understand why and completely agree with what she was doing. The company I work for currently doesn't prohibit open carry in their stores. Hopefully that'll change.

Luckily, the location where I work isn't filled with people who would open carry in a store. It's only happened once so far.

[PasadenaTrudy]

109. I live in SoCal, we don't do this nonsense here n/t

[MyMission]

110. Open carry is common here in NC

Getting a concealed carry permit here has a few extra steps, including an 8 hour class, and special application. I moved here in 2003, from NYC and saw my neighbor going upstairs with gun secured and visible at his back. Thought he must be a cop. Then found out he wasn't, just a gun owner who carries and must therefore have it displayed. Not concealed (unless those extra steps were taken).
So if you carry, it tends to be open. But I don't see it much, feel uncomfortable when I do.

I agree that we should leave the store and tell manager why.

Walmart is now prohibiting guns carried in their stores. Good for them!
Not a Walmart shopper much. They are also limiting ammo sales. Better late than never.

I remember when president Obama took office, a number of local Yahoo's mentioned going very early to Walmart on certain days they knew bullets were being delivered, so they could get their ammo, because folks were stockpiling and ammo was first come, first served, and all sold by midday.

[Cousin Dupree]

111. I would treat it as a threat. So I would leave immediately, go to my car and call the police.

Maybe if the police get enough calls, it will become a problem for them. You have no idea what the intentions are of the person who is open-carrying.

[elocs]

112. I'm 67 and I don't believe I've ever seen anyone other than a cop carrying a handgun.

I'm certain there have been those carrying concealed, but I've never seen anyone open carry.
Open carry is meant to intimidate people and that is true to a degree even with the cops who have a valid reason to openly carry a weapon.

[leftyladyfrommo]

119. I would get out fast. nt

[Falcata]

122. I keep on shopping

[skip fox]

124. I'm sorry. I don't want to wait for the benefit of a doubt. I'm gone.

In many cases people open carry to get a rise out of most of us. Okay they have succeeded with me, but I'm not going to trust the judgement of someone who is so adolescent to put the public in fear to make his gun-rights case.


I just Youtubed open carry and got an eyeful of these jokers taunting the police. These are children with lethal weapons.

I'm gone.

[at140]

128. Be suspicious if he does not get hold of a shopping cart

Mass shooters in stores are not known to get a shopping cart.

[samir.g]

133. call the cops

[Mr.Bill]

135. Point at them and laugh hysterically.

Not kidding.

[Codeine]

140. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone did that?

That shit would disappear overnight.

[throwthe_shoe]

136. what would happen if a person openly carried a firearm into a trump rally?

anybody have an answer?

[Mr.Bill]

143. They wouldn't get anywhere near the place without being stopped by the Secret Service.

[BigmanPigman]

139. I have never seen it and hopefully won't...

living in Southern CA would make the gun carrier a criminal. GOOD!

[Hekate]

141. I have not had this experience, but my plan is solid: park the cart & exit with all deliberate speed

I don't need groceries and ice cream that much.

ETA: Would tell an employee on the way out that someone has a gun -- they can do with that info what they will. But definitely would phone the manager after I got home.

[DIVINEprividence]

142. Take a picture post it go viral

And create a lot of uncomfortable pressure on the establishment. Any business has w right to not allow armed people into their store

[doc03]

149. I keep an eye on him and get out who knows he may

pull it out and start shooting.

[Smackdown2019]

150. History

If we dont learn from history, we will repeat it. Unfortunately, lessons of the past were dealt with death. In old west, town began to ban guns at their town limits. Now days, we have open carry. Does it work in theory that the far right promotes? No, blood spills.

I proposed earlier a way to allow the AR15, only permitted in gun clubs and are to remain there. If one possess one outside the club, they better have a gun dealers liscense. I am sure gun clubs would either open arms to this idea or deny the guns. If they enjoy it, they could charge the a store fee. They also could sell the gun, but non-gun dealers must have them secure for transportation by a gun dealer. What would this do? Get the guns out of the houses and into secure locations. If a AR-15 was found outside a gun clubs or unlicensed gun dealer, a class A felony.

History is something we should all not forget, for blood was lost and paid for with tears!

[shanti]

151. Well

I think to myself, "what an asshole". I never see it here in CA, but when I visit family in bumfuck AZ, I've seen men open carrying in Walmart.

[barbtries]

156. so far it's only happened once

and i was on my way out, walking behind the jerk.

i plan to let management know why i'm leaving, then do so. preferably leaving my full cart behind.

then check in on FB, tag the place and post why I left. doing this got a hotel in Phoenix to switch to CNN after the clerk told me he wasn't allowed to change it from Fox News.

[MarianJack]

157. I would do this, and...

...raise Hell with the manager on duty, letting them know that I vote with my pocketbook at every presented opportunity.

RESIST!

[xmas74]

158. It depends on the firearm.

I'm in Missouri. If I did this with every handgun we'd go hungry because there are too many in grocery stores. Rifles, semi,etc? I leave my full cart exactly where it is, walk out and call the store,speaking to management about why I left.

Restaurants? Doesn't matter if it's just a handgun. Alcohol and guns dont mix. I walk out immediately, then call and offer to come back another time to settle the bill.

[MartinLane]

161. Continue shopping

I see it from time to time; doesn't bother me at all. Never saw anyone brandishing in a store though; that would be real cause for concern.

One time I was waiting in line at a hearing room to watch a hearing on gun control bills in Olympia. There was a young man in line with a bolt action rifle slung over his shoulder; not against the rules. A few older men who were close to him chastised him for carrying with the bolt closed, so he opened it. When he was let into the entryway to the hearing room, I saw one of the security guards lecturing him. I could not hear what he was saying, but it appeared to be a warning about how he should behave.

He was not helping the pro-gun cause in any way shape or form in my opinion.

[proud patriot]

162. I live in Hawaii

we don't have that here.. thankfully.

[oldsoftie]

163. I continue to do whatever i was doing. Open carry is for suckers anyway.

If someone wants to come at you, whats the FIRST thing they'd do? Grab YOUR gun. Before you even know they want it.

[locks]

164. I see Kroger (King Sooper) has asked its customers not to carry a gun

into its stores. I have shopped at many Krogers, Safeways, Winn-Dixies etc. all over the nation for many years. If I EVER saw anyone carrying a weapon in a store I would immediately go to a manager and tell them I will NEVER enter their store again and that I would write to the company, the newspapers, and tell all my friends. No matter how convenient or good the store is. I have not shopped in Walmart or Hobby Lobby for years.

[lunasun]

165. My state does not have open carry. How many states do now ??some one posted only 4 do not

I did not know it has become so popular

[sarisataka]

172. According to the Giffords Law Center

Three states (California, Florida, and Illinois) and the District of Columbia generally prohibit people from openly carrying firearms in public. Two states (New York and South Carolina) prohibit openly carrying handguns, but not long guns, and another three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey) prohibit openly carrying long guns, but not handguns. In the remaining states, people are generally allowed to openly carry firearms, although some states require a permit or license to do so.

fords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/guns-in-public/open-carry/

[lunasun]

174. Thanks I guess I live in a bubble I had no idea it was the majority of states. Only some states

require a permit or license?😳

[sarisataka]

175. I count 14 states that require a permit

6 others allow it but with various restrictions, the rest of the states simply allow open carry of handguns

[fescuerescue]

171. I check them out. Then keep shopping

IF it's a cop (or appears to be), then I shrug.

If it's a gun hugger hillbilly, I roll my eyes.

What would be scary if I saw someone trying to conceal an assault rifle. That would be alarming.

But a pistol on the hip? Mostly it's a eye roller.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

176. I've never seen that, since my state's open carry law

applies only to handguns (with a permit) and I probably wouldn't notice it, or if I did I'd probably assume the person was law enforcement. You can't open-carry a rifle or a shotgun, so I'm not likely to see some gun-humping lunatic toting an AR-15 into Walgreen's.

If I did, I'd leave ASAP.

[YOHABLO]

178. I live in GA where it's legal. It's very common now. I don't think too much about it, but

I'm hoping that they've had proper training on gun safety. What else can you do?

[Maru Kitteh]

182. That's exactly what I do and I let management know on my way out.

And then formally contact management again once home.

[Kaleva]

193. While I live in a pro-gun part of Mi., I have yet to see anyone do such a thing (open carry).

Nor have I heard anyone say they saw a person open carrying in a store.