Negative encounter at the Shop Rite

[American1776]

Out with the family (kid and wife) for Sunday groceries. Open carrying the S&W model 57 .41 magnum (6 inch barrel, basketweave Safariland duty rig).

In a crowded section of the frozen isle, an older woman blurts out to me:

Woman: "Are you a police officer"?
Me: No, I'm not.
Woman: "Then why are you carrying a gun"? (slightly elevated tone)
Me: "To protect my family and me"
Woman: (raised voice) "FROM WHO!!!"
Me: Hopefully, no one.

At this point, my wife leaned over to her and said something. The woman's face went ashen and she said: "I am".

I asked my wife what she said, and she told the woman: "Leave us alone now".

I was half expecting a local PD to be called, but nothing else happened.

[streaker69]

Woman: (raised voice) "FROM WHO!!!"
Me: From liberal whackjobs much like yourself that can't seem to control their emotions.

FTFY.

[DennisH82]

Many would say that we should try to educate folks like this but when they are that brainwashed its like talking to a wall. She and her ilk can not be so terrified of gun owners when they approach them and raise their voices as they ask the usual questions. I am wonder if your wife asked her if she was from NY/NJ in my past experience that is who does this. I live in PA long before I knew about OC/CC or even had an EDC and saw a number of folks carrying, I just smiled and nodded.

[DennisH82]

[QUOTE=streaker69;3702956][quote]
Woman: (raised voice) "FROM WHO!!!"
Me: From liberal whackjobs much like yourself that can't seem to control their emotions.

FTFY.

That deserves an Rep but the cheap bastard I am I can't seem to give you one

[priell3]

I hated Shoprite. The clients were on par with Wal-Mart shoppers.

[Ricochet]

Q: "Why do you have a gun, are you a police officer?"
A: "Thats my business."

Then while they stand there in a stupor, smile and walk off.

[Krichardson]

Q: "Why do you have a gun, are you a police officer?"
A: "Thats my business."

Then while they stand there in a stupor, smile and walk off.

Exactly....my answer would have been,"who do you think you are for you to think that I have to answer to you?"

[streaker69]

Woman: "Are you a police officer"?
Me: Why? Someone nearby with a dog?

[ArmyVet]

Woman: (raised voice) "FROM WHO!!!"..
Me: From the aliens who are trying to control my thought patterns. You DO see them don't you? I see them all around us. Shall I protect you from them? WATCH OUT! That was close...they almost grabbed you for their experiments. Do you believe in Bigfoot? He might be one of the alien life forms. What about the clouds? Do you like pizza with mayonnaise and lard? Do you thaw frozen food before you eat it? I like dirt. They're watching us ya' know...

[KCJones]

Many would say that we should try to educate folks like this but when they are that brainwashed its like talking to a wall.

Yeah. I'm sympathetic to folks who just honestly don't realize OC is allowed here (more than you think, especially in the 'burbs where they rarely see it), and happy to (briefly) explain in the spirit of advocacy.

But it's often hard to tell where they stand initially. "Are you a police officer?" is a fairly neutral question, and certainly one I've heard. Might indicate lack of knowledge, or might be an 'opening salvo' by some anti nut. Other variants are 'why are you carrying a gun?' and 'are you allowed to have that gun here?' and similar.

For the neutral/can't tell questions, I'd typically answer them all something like "Any citizen of PA who's not a felon is allowed to carry a gun for their safety & protection." (and yes, not technically 100% accurate, but gets the point across). Their response to that would dictate how it went from there. I've found it to be about 30/70 with (unfortunately) the 30 being some variant of "oh I didn't know that" and reasonable dialog.

Raised voice / outrage / etc. and I'm done 'edumacating' and I walk away. Also, obviously-confrontational question and/or attitude/tone? Walk away. Yes, I know, some would say I should 'assert my rights' and such, but I've found that basically pointless. They're gonna most likely go home and talk about the 'gun nut' at the store today, 'report me' to a store manager, call the cops, whatever. I'm almost certainly NOT going to alter that by talking to them and getting into some sort of debate.

FWIW, I was -never once- "asked" by someone who actually knew the deal. A few folks "in the know" would strike up a conversation by saying "Whatcha carrying?" or similar. It makes sense, I'd never walk up to an OCarrier and say "Are you allowed to have that?" or similar.