Add two for me (at least)

[ungawa]

Was at the Wine and Spirits shop after the range today. For the sake of brevity I will refer to myself as "me:" instead of "The Mighty Ungawa:" None of this discussion was confrontational, people seemed curious. All named people are store employees.

Kid 1 (K1) while checking me out: "What kind of gun is that?"

I tell him. We chat a bit. Woman 1 (W1) from the next lane over, a very nice lady I have seen before is obviously interested and waiting for a break in the conversation.

Woman 1: "Are you a cop?"

Me: "No."

W1: "You're not?"

Me: "No."

W1: "How can you carry a gun like that? Do you have a permit or something?"

Me: "No license is needed to carry in the open, on your hip like this. You need a license to carry concealed. However, you also need a license to transport a handgun by car unless you are going to a range so you need one to get around anyway." K1 is still listening.

Man 1 (M1) at the main counter: "You're not a cop? How can you carry a gun like that?"

W1 to M1: "It's legal to carry on your hip, but you need a license to conceal it or transport it by car." LOL

M1 to me again: "But how can you have it in the open like that?"

Me: "It's legal to open carry in PA."

M1: "Where is that specified?" Sounds suspicious of the information.

Me: "There is no law against it."

M1: "Oh. OK!" Surprisingly that seemed enough to satisfy him.

W1 to M1 AGAIN: "It's legal to carry on your hip, but you need a license to conceal it or transport it by car." LOL!!!

W1: "You know I used to live in a different state and I always regretted not getting a permit [sic]."

Me: "You can get your LTCF here in PA. All you have to do is fill out one page and go to the Sheriff to get a picture taken. If you don't have a criminal record you will get your license."

W1: "Don't you need some sort of training or something? I took the training and it was very good. But I never got the permit."

Me: "Training is a very good idea for anybody carrying a gun. But there is no training and no other requirements. You fill out a one page application, give them around $35, let them take your picture, and you get your license in about 3 weeks in the mail."

W1: "But don't you need a good reason or something?"

Me: "No justification for need is required. PA is one of 40 states that are 'shall issue' - if you pass a background check they are required to give you a license by law. Just head down to the Sheriff and get one."

At this point I think just about all business in the store has stopped. All employees and customers in the front half of the store and stopped and watching and listening to the conversation.

M1: "40 states will give you a license just like that?"

Me: "Yes."

K1: "So now that I turned 21 all I have to do is turn in the form and I get a license?"

Me: "Yes."

K1: "Cool!"

There was a little more to the conversation but that's the jist of it. They all thanked me when I left. I count Kid 1 and Woman 1 as probable for their license. For some reason I suspect Man 1 already has his based on his head nods at key points in the conversation. I may also have inspired some of the customers. Or if they have LTCF already they have a lot to think about and look into. People seemed very interested.

I did not have fliers and I did not give them out. But I'm in that store about twice a week and will probably see these three employees again within the next week. I see them pretty often. I will have fliers with me.

Now, for me. I don't like to carry the fliers and when I have they get screwed up pretty quickly in my pockets, no matter where I put them. Flame away. But what this encounter has convinced me to do is to carry a large supply of them in my car for situations like this.

I've come a really long way since moving to PA. All due to this website. I'm very happy with the firearms I've acquired, what I have learned, and the training I've had. And the friends I've met. Now that I'm actually bringing other people in, it feels pretty good.

[smithwessn]

Sounds like a great encounter! +rep sent.

[mjfletcher]

Damn you Ungawa, while the rest of us are educating the public one person at a time you're getting entire storefuls. Next you'll be renting a hall and giving a speech to an audience of hundreds.

I always have a small stack of flyers in my van, plus a few folded over in my back pocket. I've sacrificed the outter one as a "wrapper" to protect the rest from damage.

[dc dalton]

Well done, rep sent!

[xxthe_beastxx]

Good story Mighty Ungawa. Too bad I didn't need anything from the state store. I had about 5 fliers in my pocket while we were out this morning.

[shooter357]

Well done MIGHTY ONE.

[ungawa]

I thought you were at work. You know we always shoot Sundays.

[YllwFvr]

That has to be some kind of record.

Not that we are competing

Great job ungawa. You are indeed Mighty. *kow tow*

[dlclarkii]

Me: "No license is needed to carry in the open, on your hip like this. You need a license to carry concealed. However, you also need a license to transport a handgun by car unless you are going to a range so you need one to get around anyway." K1 is still listening.

Just busting your balls here, but do you consider stopping at the ABC store to or from the range as an emergency stop? Last I recall stopping for fuel is really the only emergency. So you actually did need a LTCF to OC today since you made a non-emergency (IMO) stop from the range. FYI.

[1861]

Sounds like a great experience . REP sent