Handling a family situation OC/CC

[shefearsnothing]

So in 6 days we'll be going to my aunt's for an informal family gathering. It's sort of an annual thing. My dad and step-mom drive up from VA and he does the covered bridge bike ride and he cuts off early near my uncle's house and meets up with family. Anyway, the last time I was visiting with them and firearms came up I wasn't carrying yet but was planning on buying my own and all of my cousins completely freaked out. I guess none of my aunts or uncles really gave an opinion and my grands weren't there. I have posted before that my dad has come around to the idea of me carrying and is accepting (I don't know that "supportive" would be appropriate). My dad feels VERY strongly opposed to anyone who is not a LEO carrying concealed. On one hand I feel that I'll carry however is appropriate according to whatever I decide to wear that day (ie if I decide to wear something that allows me to CC then fine and if not then I'll be OC for the day) and on the other I feel that I should OC out of respect for my dad. I am sure with over 10,000 members someone here has had this situation with their family before. I am the kind of personality that really doesn't care what people think in general. I am respectful to the public in general and do not want to give a bad impression of firearms owners in general if I am out and about if that makes sense so I go out of my way to be extra polite in particular if I OC. Where my family is concerned we differ on A LOT of things. My "religion" is a biggie. We really don't discuss it. I am still catching shit about putting my daughter on the potty at 5 weeks old but hey, it worked out just fine. It's not potty training no matter how many times I have tried to tell them this. It's about COMMUNICATION and there are people in the eastern part of the world who don't have diapers who do this from birth so...yeah I'm not making my kid a future murderer or anything by doing this. It's actually a bonding kind of thing. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. I'm just saying, this is not the first thing there is going to be conflict on and I NEVER CCed my kid's potty when visiting with them. I really don't WANT to CC!! I want to say HELLO PEOPLE THIS IS MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE IT AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EXERCISE YOURS BUT PLEASE RESPECT MY RIGHT TO DO SO!!! (yeah ok, so really I want to shout it.) I can't stand that my family is oppressive. I know I will not change them and I do not desire to do so. I would like for them to not try to change me. So has anyone had any experience with this and can you just tell me to go and it will be fine? I WILL NOT let it in my car either. I am STRONGLY opposed to letting firearms in vehicles. That is just my personal thing. Even if I CC they are going to know I have it on me because everyone if my family is very into hugging hello and goodbye...and so am I...just ask anyone from here who has met me. I'm all about the hugs. (you're supposed to get 7 hugs a day BTW) Feel free to give me a LONG list of reasons (or posts to refer to) to throw at them other then the general "personal protection" because I have one relative in particular who thinks she knows everything. I swear if she says Freud to me one more time I am going to blow a gasket...(and let's face it there are much more fun things to....um...n/m) I do plan on explaining for the millionth time that just my husband's occupation makes me a higher risk. Also, no one in my family has EVER been a victim of violent crime (lucky them) and I have TWICE so...yeah, this is what I am dealing with. TIA for any words of wisdom.

[Statkowski]

no one in my family has EVER been a victim of violent crime (lucky them) and I have TWICE

That says it all in a nut shell.

I wouldn't recommend going all out carrying a pink Kalishnakitty AK-47 with 30-round magazine strapped to your back - discreetly concealed carry might very well be the way to go.

Any objections from anyone? Remind them of the lead statement in this posting. You refuse to be a victim any more, and bad things can happen at any time, anywhere. Tell them you respect their opinion, but ask that they respect yours, too.

[shefearsnothing]

I wouldn't recommend going all out carrying a pink Kalishnakitty AK-47 with 30-round magazine strapped to your back

I only have a glock 26. Now don't go giving me any ideas!!

[normanvin]

Originally Posted by shefearsnothing

I only have a glock 26. Now don't go giving me any ideas!!

Guns stores have lots of guns....

[jcabin]

I'm in the same boat. I've carried around my mother/father/brother. They support it. As far as the rest of the family, i've carried around some cousins, and they support it and think my gun is real neat ! Though there hasn't been a family get together since I received my license earlier this year. I don't know if OC'ing will go over well.

[Seventy4Blazer]

wear it, if they bitch, lock it up in the car after explaining your situation. i dont blame you. i have never been a victim of violent crime, but i dont wnat to either...

[Brown-Bear]

Well they did'nt stop you from the potty thing and it seems to have worked out, so I say carry however you're comfy and tell them its a personal choice,a nd they don't have to like it, but you're a grown woman and can do what ever you feel is necessary to protect you and yours.

Dave

[General Geoff]

Go ahead and open carry if you want, but keep in mind they might just freak out enough to ask you to leave. I usually just cover up when I'm with extended family (my parents are happy, even proud, that I carry, and my sister is indifferent).

[shefearsnothing]

Thanks. I really appreciate knowing that others think it's ok to just say "hey this is how it is so live with it."

I should also correct a previous statement and mention that I did recently take one of my cousins shooting and we had a good time. I hope to take her again sometime. I don't mind buying the ammo for now and taking her. I know that she doesn't have the money to buy her own and I think she should DEF be hanging out with someone more experienced and taking some safety courses before she runs out and buys her own stuff anyway. Her b/f about had a cow screaming that one of us was going to shoot the other one but guess what? We both went home in one piece that night! She is really quiet though so I am sure she will keep to herself if an argument ensues.

My mom said to me today "why not let it at home?" I said HELLO!? Crime knows no limitations! Anything can happen anytime and anywhere! Why should I be UNprotected because my family is um...well insert whatever adjective you like to use for such a class of people.

Geoff, I highly doubt they would go far enough to ask me to leave. If anything, the person I spoke about who likes to throw around Freud's name (cousin's wife), would just start asking before functions "is Meleanie going to be there and what time?" so they could be sure to visit and leave before we showed up so her kid wouldn't be in any danger...you know because my pistol might jump out of the holster on its own and shoot someone. *sigh* Maybe it just won't go as bad as I think. I thought my dad might be more weird about it then he was when I carried around him in Va. He's my DAD though. On one hand my family has just learned to expect that I'm going to do shit they don't like or agree with.... on the other hand this is a new envelope I'm pushing... Damn, can't wait until the wedding next year....ROFL! How am I going to carry concealed in formal attire? *dies*

ETA: ok Pennsy and MrUgly...you win. I'm an instigator. LOL. (see wedding comments)

[normanvin]

Originally Posted by shefearsnothing

Thanks. I really appreciate knowing that others think it's ok to just say "hey this is how it is so live with it."

I should also correct a previous statement and mention that I did recently take one of my cousins shooting and we had a good time. I hope to take her again sometime. I don't mind buying the ammo for now and taking her. I know that she doesn't have the money to buy her own and I think she should DEF be hanging out with someone more experienced and taking some safety courses before she runs out and buys her own stuff anyway. Her b/f about had a cow screaming that one of us was going to shoot the other one but guess what? We both went home in one piece that night! She is really quiet though so I am sure she will keep to herself if an argument ensues.

My mom said to me today "why not let it at home?" I said HELLO!? Crime knows no limitations! Anything can happen anytime and anywhere! Why should I be UNprotected because my family is um...well insert whatever adjective you like to use for such a class of people.

Would she leave her spare tire in the garage, and go on a trip?