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OC in Moscow/Pullman

Dave The Welder

Regular Member
Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
395
Location
Washington, USA
imported post

Hey all, I originally posted this on the washington page uder "OC in Eastern Washington" but then got to thinking thatit applies more here as it does there. If anybody is interested in startingOC lunches over here, sent me a PM. I'm planning on doing one in month or so in Spokane, but would love to do one well before that in Moscow. Anyway, here's what I wrote:

For those who don't know yet, I'm currently up in Pullman (I know, I know, everybody here is a Husky) attending summer semester for engineering. Anyway, being so close to the Idaho border, I thought that I wouldtest my rights by carrying...openingly... in the land of spuds. I started by doing some of research on Idaho's firearms laws, so that I would be prepared when the police told me that I was doing something illegal. Imagine my surprise when I called the sheriffs department this morning with all my new information in hand just to have the lady on the phone say, "You're absolutely right, as long as you have your CPL, we don't care if you carry openly or concealed, in or out a vehicle." They sure do have a different attitude in Idaho! Anyway, I made the 8 mile hop across the border into Moscow and went into the local Ace hardware store in search of some weapons of mass destruction to combat the growing number of ants who seem to think that my apartment is a great place to live. No one there even batted an eye, which I thought was impressive considering that I was packing a full sized 1911. I ended up chatting for several minutes with a few employees that had nothing better to do and they couldn't care less.

I’ve read some of the other poster’s experiences in sporting goods stores and decided to see what would happen when I entered the Big Five down the street. I resisted walking right in with a gun and going to the gun counter, and instead walked over to where they had the binoculars. After several minutes the manager walked over and asked if I was a peace officer. I replied that I wasn't, just a citizen, and he then asked me to produce some sort of proof that I could legally carry. I politely informed him that open carry was legal in Idaho without a permit, that the state had full preemption on firearms, and that the presumption was that someone carrying was legal until proven otherwise. I told him that out of respect for his store though, I would produce ID. I handed him my driver’s license and CPL and also informed him that there was full reciprocity between Idaho and Washington. I then apologized if I had broken any rules as I didn't see any sign on the door barring me from entering with a firearm and that if there was a corporate policy against this, I'd be happy to leave. I think that half of what I said went straight over his head. I don't know what he was expecting when he approached me, but he got a very polite well dressed citizen standing in his store with a firearm and full knowledge of the firearms laws.He just stood there for a second dumbfounded, before handing my CPL and license back to me. He said that because they sell firearms, they normally don't allow anybody to enter the store with a loaded firearm butthat me being in the store with a firearm wasn't going to be a problem, and I was welcome to continue shopping. I thanked him for allowing me to exercise my rights in his store and he walked off. I got the impression that I completely overwhelmed him with my polite and informative response.

After that I went shopping in the Pullman Safeway without incident and now here I am. I know what several of you are going to say, that I shouldn't have given him my CPL and ID as it wasn't required, however I felt that this was the best approach. I politely informed him that I didn't require any ID to carry openly, but that out of respect for him, I'd present what I had. And he acceptedmy CPL as proof that not onlywasn't I going to shoot up the place, but that I had a right to carry, a right which he felt that I had a right to exercise in his store. I could have refused to give it to him, but where would that have gotten me? Probably kicked out of the store. I saw this as ababy step. Even if I had to show proof, he walked away knowing that someresponsible citizens are carrying. Maybe next time somebody walks into his store dressed nicely with a firearm on, he'll look over and know that it's just another citizen exercising his rights instead of assuming that they're up to no good.

I don't know about you guys, but at least for now, if showing somebody my CPL will convince them that I'm a good guy and let me shop in their store armed when their policy is to kick people with guns out, then it's worth it to me.
 

IdahoCorsair

State Researcher
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
340
Location
, ,
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Dave, VERY well done!!! Nicely handled (like very very nice) and glad to know more people are OCing in Idaho.

To tell you my story in Moscow... I flew up there for a friend's wedding in Pullman, landing at the Moscow/Pullman airport in a private plane. I OC'd from the tarmac to the sports store (big 5 ?), to the restaurant, to several other places around town. I was dressed in 5.11s (to most people they're just cargo pants) and button up short sleeve shirt. This was the weekend that all the LE was in town for the memorial service for the officer who was killed in that shooting last month. No issues/confrontations with LE. Two good encounters with civilians who were apprehensive at first, but apparently pro when I walked away.

Keep it up!
 

devldogs55

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
104
Location
Puyallup WA
imported post

Hey there!

I live in Moscow.. and I'm a U of I student. I worked at Tri State (same as the Ace store you went in to) for two years. Their official policy is to not allow open carry.. but your experience will depend on who is working at the time you are OCing there. My room mate works at Big 5, and he told me the other day that his manager was freaking out about someone doing that in the store. You did just fine.

By the way... you have no legal obligation to prove your identity or eligibility to OC in Idaho whatsoever. You do NOT need a CPL to open carry in Idaho... even in a vehicle. Since it is presumed to be legal... you do not even need to produce a drivers license to a police officer because he is worried about your sidearm.

I do not see you having any problems with the LE here in Idaho.. or Moscow for that matter. When working at Tri State.. I worked at the gun counter for the 2 years, and I sold sidearms to 90% of the LEOs here in the area. I engaged in general BS and gun talk with them, and they are all very PRO 2A. Remember, there are very few places that you cannot excersise this right as well. I have open carried just about everywhere you can think of in Moscow, Pullman, Spokane and the rest of Idaho. Never once had a problem. Good luck... and let me know if you have any more questions.
 
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