I don't feel safe

[StonewallRabbitry]

I have not had anything unusual happen lately oc'ing besides the occasional odd look or whisper "that guy has a gun,he must be a cop". Last Friday I was eating dinner with my girlfriend at Five Guys Burgers and Fries like we do almost every friday, a groupl of four adults and about five children came in right after we ordered and went to our seats. I heard the one girl (maybe 9 years old) say "That guy has a gun, I don't like this place, I dont feel safe here" to the adult woman, I got a mean look from the woman but couldn't hear what she said to the little girl.

I never really care if my OC'ing bothers adults but I must say that I did feel kind of bad for making the girl uncomfortable, In seven years of oc'ing this is the first time that I heard a child say anything. I wonder what the girls parents taught her about firearms owners, I just hope that maybe she will fell more comfortable next time she sees an OC'er since nothing bad happened.

[Curmudgeon]

I would encourage you not to feel bad, you did nothing to cause any discomfort for that girl. Her discomfort is a result of things she has been taught, by someone, anyone, but not you. They are responsible for her angst.

Incidentally, I catch a lot of little kids noticing my pistol. I try to notice because one never knows how each has been taught or raised. Every time I catch it I make sure to make eye-contact, smile and nod, just as I might do with an adult. It is surprising how many times the smile is returned.

Much can be communicated, yet not a word is spoken.

[Daycrawler]

I would not worry about making one little girl feel uncomfortable. Her parent might be anti gunners! A few days ago I was in Mcdonalds and it was packed. A little boy about 5 looks up at me and asks, why do you have a gun? Before I could answer he dissapeard in the crowd ice cream in hand. I think the reason he noticed was because he was so short.

[StonewallRabbitry]

It must not have made here feel too unsafe because after that she was running around and making lots of noise. Open carry has been going very well in York county lately, the only thing that happened was a walmart janitor asking me if I had a LTCF because the greeter was worried. It always amazes me when a person would ask someone that is carrying especially someone that is not a store manager, if they actually though the person carrying was a threat I doubt they would confront them

[C27433]

Don't feel bad. If she noticed your gun, there is no doubt that she also noticed that by the time she had left, nothing bad had happened. She learned an excellent lesson that day. Possession of a firearm does not logically conclude with a violent spree, and no matter what the libs teach her in school, she'll always remember the day she went to a restaurant where a man was carrying a gun, and he DIDN'T go crazy.

[Yentl Marmelstein]

Possession of a firearm does not logically conclude with a violent spree, and no matter what the libs teach her in school, she'll always remember the day she went to a restaurant where a man was carrying a gun, and he DIDN'T go crazy.

Man, you got THAT right!

[American1776]

Like others have said, I don't think you should feel responsible for the child feeling 'unsafe' at the sight of your sidearm. It's okay to feel bad about it, though. There are plenty of things in this world that I feel bad about, for which I have no responsibility for bringing about.

Your story got me thinking. When I was really young (like 8-10 years old), I actually carried around toy cap-guns in a shoulder rig-holster. I would treat my toy guns as if they were real. My father and mother were never pro-gun. My mother was (and still is) rabidly anti-gun. My father never encouraged my lifetime interest in firearms, but was less discouraging about it.

The point of this is to wonder whether perhaps a child's impressions about firearms may be a function of parental teaching PLUS other things. I wonder if children, with natural 'sheepdog' dispositions, would nevertheless retain pro-gun sentiments even in the face of parental disapproval.

I grew up in NJ; a place where only police officers carried guns, and if you were not a cop, and you like guns, you were one of the 'bad guys'. But from a young age, I 'knew' that one of the best ways for me to protect myself and others, was with a gun. I associated guns with the good guys, inspite of the gun-hostile environment in which I was raised.

Just food for thought about why the little girl had the reaction she did.

[zeroflat24]

Don't feel bad. If she noticed your gun, there is no doubt that she also noticed that by the time she had left, nothing bad had happened. She learned an excellent lesson that day. Possession of a firearm does not logically conclude with a violent spree, and no matter what the libs teach her in school, she'll always remember the day she went to a restaurant where a man was carrying a gun, and he DIDN'T go crazy.

Sure seems to be a lot of liberal bashing in here. I am a registered independent because I thing both parts are metally retarded. But not all liberals are socialist gun haters. Just like not all republicans are gun toteing rasicts.

[King 5.45]

Sure seems to be a lot of liberal bashing in here. I am a registered independent because I thing both parts are metally retarded. But not all liberals are socialist gun haters. Just like not all republicans are gun toteing rasicts.

Just wait until the grammar and spelling Nazis get hold of you ...

[Yentl Marmelstein]

Sure seems to be a lot of liberal bashing in here.

And that surprises you because WHY?