New Forum/LTCF member needing some help

[svltrack]

Ok , I see no problem so far , other then your ( IMHO ) over concern with what other pants shitters will think or do just because they see your weapon. Like others have said, 99 percent of the sheep could stand right next to you and never even notice it. You said your not afraid of being able to stand your ground and quote the law permitting OC, And you say you beleive OC'ing is a " wonderful thing "and a deterrant, so whats the problem ? Listen Im not in anyway trying to coerce you into OC'ing if you really dont want to; just trying to understand why it is your so worried about what other strangers think or do ?

I am worried because other people's interpretation is the leading factor on whether the police get called. By the law I am well within my rights, in their minds though I look like someone from a mad max movie or something. I live in Yuppeville USA with Soccer Moms and Doctors. They call the LEO and say there is a crazy person on a bike and I am scared for my kids safety. This then gets me in a situation that I created simply by wanting to enjoy a sunday afternoon while protecting my safety. All in the eyes of the beholder sort of thing..

In all honestly, the part where I explain I am within my rights is the easiest part. If they agree with my take on the situation then it is not a problem. However if they agree with the other citizen that I was a nuisance then I am left to defend my rights which takes time & money

[fingers80002]

I am worried because other people's interpretation is the leading factor on whether the police get called. By the law I am well within my rights, in their minds though I look like someone from a mad max movie or something. I live in Yuppeville USA with Soccer Moms and Doctors. They call the LEO and say there is a crazy person on a bike and I am scared for my kids safety. This then gets me in a situation that I created simply by wanting to enjoy a sunday afternoon while protecting my safety. All in the eyes of the beholder sort of thing..

In all honestly, the part where I explain I am within my rights is the easiest part. If they agree with my take on the situation then it is not a problem. However if they agree with the other citizen that I was a nuisance then I am left to defend my rights which takes time & money

Well then just fucking CC..............

[son of the revolution]

I am worried because other people's interpretation is the leading factor on whether the police get called. By the law I am well within my rights, in their minds though I look like someone from a mad max movie or something. I live in Yuppeville USA with Soccer Moms and Doctors. They call the LEO and say there is a crazy person on a bike and I am scared for my kids safety. This then gets me in a situation that I created simply by wanting to enjoy a sunday afternoon while protecting my safety. All in the eyes of the beholder sort of thing..

No, You DIDNT " create the situation " Soccer Mom did by calling in a false police report based on an irrational fear of HER making. Now, if you were waving it around or something in what could be perceived to be a threatning manner , thats a bit different. Do you think Soccer Mom wets her pants and calls 911 everytime she see's a cop Open Carrying a gun ? Doubt it. Well how could she be sure you werent Undercover ? In fact more then a few people have been asked the " Are you a cop " just because they OC. Not saying anything about impersonating a cop, it just seems that for the few people that actually do notice the gun , their conditioned first response is to presume your an Officer.

Again , your choice totally. Im just a well known rabble rouser that doesnt give two shits what Suzy Homemaker and John Doe think or say when it comes to me exercising my rights.

[headcase]

I am worried because other people's interpretation is the leading factor on whether the police get called. By the law I am well within my rights, in their minds though I look like someone from a mad max movie or something. I live in Yuppeville USA with Soccer Moms and Doctors. They call the LEO and say there is a crazy person on a bike and I am scared for my kids safety. This then gets me in a situation that I created simply by wanting to enjoy a sunday afternoon while protecting my safety. All in the eyes of the beholder sort of thing..

In all honestly, the part where I explain I am within my rights is the easiest part. If they agree with my take on the situation then it is not a problem. However if they agree with the other citizen that I was a nuisance then I am left to defend my rights which takes time & money

You have been given all the information that can be had. Assess this information for yourself, and then act according to what you are comfortable with. Know your rights and be prepared to defend them when you exercise them, or don't exercise them. It really is as simple as that. If you are not comfortable open carrying a firearm, don't do it. If you are uncomfortable concealing a firearm, don't do it. If you are uncomfortable accepting what people on an internet forum tell you, don't do it. Really, no one is twisting your arm to put yourself into a situation you do not want to be in.

[svltrack]

To wear a sweatshirt on an 80 degree day is simply stupid and so is putting myself in harm because I might be harrassed. I have the right to wear a t-shirt & defend myself. There should be no reason that I need to inconvienence myself.

A lot of me asking you all these questions was to understand others point of view along with getting the facts. I know how I look at things, the problem is that I am kind of a reclouse and do not think like others might.

OC it is

[unloved]

To wear a sweatshirt on an 80 degree day is simply stupid and so is putting myself in harm because I might be harrassed. I have the right to wear a t-shirt & defend myself.

I'm certainly not trying to discourage you from carrying openly, but it is possible to effectively conceal wearing only a T-shirt. I do it all the time. There's no need to wear a sweatshirt on an 80 degree day.

[JCWohlschlag]

Let me attempt to simplify the subject. The mere act of open carrying a firearm cannot be considered “brandishing” by law because there is no such law. The closest relatives Pennsylvania has, and the ones that open carriers have been charged with before (and acquitted of) are disorderly conduct [18 Pa.C.S. § 5503] and terroristic threats [18 Pa.C.S. § 2706]. As you can see from the black and white text of it, the mere act of open carry does not fit either of those statutes. In order for public fear or inconvenience to play a role, it must be something the courts deem a reasonable person to be fearful of or inconvenienced by.

There is a lot more complexity to the issue, such as magisterial district court judges not actually being graduates of law school and therefore interpreting the law according to their own biased opinion, so I recommend you continue reading the forum. The forum contains a vast wealth of information on these subjects, but it is spread out over multiple threads. I guarantee you that the full scope of Pennsylvania firearms law and best practices is not something you can glean from a single thread.

[TaePo]

There are some people that have developed an irrational fear of clowns. If they should call the police, what should the officer do? Detain the clown, arrest him/her?

What would probably happen is a determination would be made to see if the clown were doing anything illegal/harmful. If nothing found, the complainer would probably be told to get over it already, don't call unless something illegal is happening or appears in its preliminary stages to be starting etc.

Also, I am surprised no one threw out the caveat about the definition of firearms. Basically, long guns are not included in the LTCF definition of firearms. In a vehicle they (long guns) must be unloaded with ammo in a seperate compartment from the weapon. There are also limitations on origination and destination points that can be used. (Some people do not realize this. So read the definitions as well.)

IANAL.

[whoshisface]

Ok, I admit it. I am just amazed by all of this; how bizarre it seems. No, I do not plan on walking into Wawa with a gun in my hand. I just like to know what I am doing; or if I am approached I do not sound like an idiot no matter or stupid looking I might really be.. LOL

Thanks for all the clarification

LOL. WAWA has seen my firearm plenty of times