Mr. Bruce's Open Carry Log

[Mr. Bruce]

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I found other's OC log's on this site helpful and informative so I decided to log in my experiences as well. I'm a 36 year old male, married, with one 9 month old daughter. My daughter, my wife, and a few other experiences by myself and members of my family are the reasons why I now open carry. Everyone seems to wonder about Newark and the surrounding area with regard to OC. I live in this area.

Saturday, Feb 16, 2008

I wore jeans, running shoes, a tucked in T-shirt and a waist length zip up jacket. I carry a Sig Sauer P250 in a Sig black polymer paddle holster. The paddle holster holds the gun a bit farther away from my body than others I've seen but it is great for keeping my jacket from inadvertently concealing my gun.

Went to Capriotti's sub shop in the Newark Shopping center at about 1 pm to pick up sandwiches. A couple waiting for their food noticed but kept right on chatting. Right before I left one of the guys behind the counter making the subs noticed and I think he was just trying to figure out what kind of gun it was. No one said anything and the trip was uneventful. This was my first OC.

In the early evening I went to Happy Harry's in Brookside plaza. I walked around the store for a few minutes, found some medicine (my daughter has a cold), and batteries that I needed. I don't think anyone in the store noticed. I must say I was nervous at the counter because some kids kept getting real close to me and they were kinda behind me. I kept shifting over but they just moved with me ...looking at the candy under the counter. I am really aware of who is around me because I don't want anyone grabbing my gun. Otherwise, this trip was uneventful.

 

[MustangDave]

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I always enjoy reading oc logs, I will be looking forward to reading more.

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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Sun Feb 17, 2008

Went to Lowes in Newark. First time out with wife and daughter. Struck up conversation with cashier and other customer in line. (conversation had nothing to do with OC) I don't think anyone noticed anything. Uneventful.

 

[Pa. Patriot]

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Good for you!
Amazing how little people care about someone OC'ing, isn't it?

Good luck and good on you for helping continue to put the positive image of "the good guys" carrying guns back in the public.

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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Monday Feb 18th, 2008

Went to Sears hardware in college square. Walked around tool aisle for a bit and no one helped me or even noticed I was in there. When I went across the store I passed 3 employees. I immediately had someone asking me if I needed help and if they could help me find something. The guy was sorta laughing in disbelief as he was asking me if I needed help. I may be reading the whole thing wrong, but it seemed as if he was trying to get me what I needed and get me out of the store. Let me stress.. I could be wrong, he could have been being very helpful, but my first impressions was that he was trying to get me on my way and out. Kinda got a weird vibe. I was never asked to leave.

 

[MustangDave]

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Some people are like that in retail. I don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but I think I noticed something weird today, too. I oc'd in Taco Bell, when I entered there was only one customer, looked like he just finished eating. He left, but after I ordered, I noticedhe seemed to pace back and forth outside the entrance. Guess he wanted to make sure I wasn't robbing the place.:uhoh:

I could be wrong.

 

[ConditionThree]

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Mr. Bruce wrote:

Monday Feb 18th, 2008

Went to Sears hardware in college square. Walked around tool aisle for a bit and no one helped me or even noticed I was in there. When I went across the store I passed 3 employees. I immediately had someone asking me if I needed help and if they could help me find something. The guy was sorta laughing in disbelief as he was asking me if I needed help. I may be reading the whole thing wrong, but it seemed as if he was trying to get me what I needed and get me out of the store. Let me stress.. I could be wrong, he could have been being very helpful, but my first impressions was that he was trying to get me on my way and out. Kinda got a weird vibe. I was never asked to leave.

Ive noticed something similar. On one occasion, I was preparing to place an order at a restaurant and the cashier was falling all over themselves to be 'nice',repeatedly calling me 'sir' and asking how I was-- twice... I believe law enforcement view this behavior as ascribable to a 'boot-licker', one who is overly submissive to authority. These people, having never seen an armed citizen are making the leap that you possess some authority that they do not- which I think is a more difficult perception toshakethan police challenging the lawful carry of an exposed firearm.

The police can easily be corrected, whereas the populous make themselves difficult to educate, clinging on to long established perceptions and assumptions about guns and those who carry them. Dispelling these assumptions should be part of our mission.

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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Thursday Feb 21, 2008

Oc to Acme in suburban plaza at around 4 PM. I'm a little more at ease and am not really checking faces for reactions. I am more concerned with my surroundings and who is behind me now. I had one employee kinda hovering around me for a few aisles, I think he was keeping an eye on me but no one said anything. I stopped for gas on the way home and I think I freaked out some guy who was rolling a joint in his car while he was pumping gas. I almost laughed at him but wanted to avoid a confrontation.

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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OC'd to IHOP for the monthly meeting. I did get a reaction from someone as I was leaving. A woman coming down the aisle was clearly terrified and she jumped to the side and squeezed against the booth as far as she could. She kinda put her hands in front of her face in fear. Don't know if anyone else in the meeting saw that. I felt bad for scaring her. Other than that the carry was uneventul. IHOP was great.

 

[dave_in_delaware]

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That was probably the same woman who saw my fiancee's gun, and asked her if she was a detective. My fiancee said that she wasn't. And the woman just left as fast as she could. The woman was definitely afraid of guns.... probably thanks to the media telling her that "guns just go off" by themselves....

To me, that's just like being afraid of ice picks, hammers, and tire irons: they're all tools, too. But can kill IF USED IMPROPERLY/MALISCIOUSLY.

We have so much education to do on the sheeple....

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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Went to Babies R Us by the Christiana Hospital today. Walked around the whole store. Saw a couple of wide eyes by patrons, but no employee grief. I was in the store for a good 45 minutes as well. Uneventful.

 

[sprat]

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Mr Bruce

you and I walked out the door from the meeting together, as I was ahead of you I didn't see the woman react to you OC ing, the woman behind the register was fine as was the waitress, she was wonderful, took the group pic and was pleasant when we left, I made a concerted effort to say good night &to thank herand she thanked me.

Wynder great job running the meeting and picture modifications

Dave great job on the cards and glad Carman came along, IfI make it to the next meeting at the range, the woman will be with me.

Sprat

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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Sprat.. I think the reason the lady was SO startled was because you blocked her view of me until I got right up to her.


Sunday Feb 24, 2008.

I was busy today. I OC'd to Brew HA HA on Concord Pike (202). This was about 9:30 AM. I ordered my bagel and proceeded to stand by the counter and read a paper. There was an older couple sitting sorta behind me against the wall. The woman said kinda loud "We are trying to figure out what agency your with because of that thing on your hip." The husband stated" I guess The Parks service." I told them I was just an electrician, which got a good laugh from a few people in the store. The woman then asked what in the world I needed the gun for. I told her self defense. She replied that she didn't think it had gotten that bad out there. I looked at her for a second and just turned around and kept reading the paper. No one said anything else but it was clear she was totally perplexed. Kinda strange... I mind my own business ALL THE TIME and never bother anyone. People think that I HAVE to talk to them because I have a gun. Not a bad experience.... just a little annoying for me I guess.

OC'd to Ethan Allen on Kirkwood highway at about 3:30 PM. The woman that came up to help us said she would be happy to help and she wouldn't ask as to why I had a gun. I said "OK" and didn't miss a beat and started talking about a piece of furniture. Clearly ignoring her fishing attempt for info. About 10 mins later she said "Ok, I have to know.... are you a detective or something? I only ask because my brother is one in Scotland." I told her no I was not. I was just a guy protecting himself and family. She smiled and said that was totally understandable. The nice thing was, I think she really meant it and DID understand it. She wasn't stand-offish, and her manner remained open and she actually warmed up to me a little more. I felt much better about this experience than the one from the morning.

My wife and I talked some about my OC and she said she actually feels safer when she is out with me now and at home as well. We have some house rules we both worked out and as long as I follow those, she's totally fine happy with how everything is.

 

[Wynder]

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Mr. Bruce wrote:

We have some house rules we both worked out and as long as I follow those, she's totally fine happy with how everything is.

Mind if I inquire?

 

[Mr. Bruce]

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The rules are where I put the gun when I'm not wearing it. The gun must be in one of these places so she knows where it is and that is is safe from others.. especially kids.

 

[Wynder]

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Mr. Bruce wrote:

The rules are where I put the gun when I'm not wearing it. The gun must be in one of these places so she knows where it is and that is is safe from others.. especially kids.

Amen. Mine's either in my safe or in my holster on my person when we're leaving.

 

[dave_in_delaware]

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Mr. Bruce wrote:

"We are trying to figure out what agency your with because of that thing on your hip."

"Ok, I have to know.... are you a detective or something?

Answers:

"I'm with the Right to Keep and Bear Arms for the defense of self, family, home and State Agency."

"Yes. Something...." (Make 'em keep thinking!! :uhoh: )

 

[OneShot]

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ConditionThree wrote:

Mr. Bruce wrote:

Monday Feb 18th, 2008

Went to Sears hardware in college square. Walked around tool aisle for a bit and no one helped me or even noticed I was in there. When I went across the store I passed 3 employees. I immediately had someone asking me if I needed help and if they could help me find something. The guy was sorta laughing in disbelief as he was asking me if I needed help. I may be reading the whole thing wrong, but it seemed as if he was trying to get me what I needed and get me out of the store. Let me stress.. I could be wrong, he could have been being very helpful, but my first impressions was that he was trying to get me on my way and out. Kinda got a weird vibe. I was never asked to leave.

Ive noticed something similar. On one occasion, I was preparing to place an order at a restaurant and the cashier was falling all over themselves to be 'nice',repeatedly calling me 'sir' and asking how I was-- twice... I believe law enforcement view this behavior as ascribable to a 'boot-licker', one who is overly submissive to authority. These people, having never seen an armed citizen are making the leap that you possess some authority that they do not- which I think is a more difficult perception toshakethan police challenging the lawful carry of an exposed firearm.

The police can easily be corrected, whereas the populous make themselves difficult to educate, clinging on to long established perceptions and assumptions about guns and those who carry them. Dispelling these assumptions should be part of our mission.

Amen...

 

[stephpd]

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Mr. Bruce wrote:

I was busy today. I OC'd to Brew HA HA on Concord Pike (202). This was about 9:30 AM. I ordered my bagel and proceeded to stand by the counter and read a paper. There was an older couple sitting sorta behind me against the wall. The woman said kinda loud "We are trying to figure out what agency your with because of that thing on your hip." The husband stated" I guess The Parks service." I told them I was just an electrician, which got a good laugh from a few people in the store. The woman then asked what in the world I needed the gun for. I told her self defense. She replied that she didn't think it had gotten that bad out there.

I keep thinking that most people think that since we carry we are with some sort of LEO. Or we have some sort of special need to be carrying. Hopefully this will correct itself and folks might feel the need to protect themselves.

I'm not sure but I think the waitress at IHOP was the same one as the first meeting. I could be wrong since I'm terrible with names but she looked very similar to the waitress we had the first time. Don't think she asked why we carry at either meeting.

Sorry I missed the patron wigging out at IHOP, either I was further back in the crowd or was in condition white (hope not).:shock:

 

[dave_in_delaware]

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Yes, we had the same waitress both times. And she was "cool" both times.