Stressful Encounter today....

[ReconLdr]

As much as I hated to do it, I ventured out, into the post Thanksgiving/Pre Christmas madness today. I went to Dicks Sporting goods at Rt 33 & Freemansburg Ave in Easton. My wife asked me to stop and check prices on golf cart (pull cart) for her dad. I was carrying my 1911 OWB and wearing a hoodie that just barely covered it. That is unless I raised my hands above my head... which is exactly what caused this encounter today. I reached up to check some prices and my pistol was exposed and I hear:

Customer1 - OMG he has a gun!!! [rather loud but not screaming] What the hell is the matter with you?

Me - OMG, you don't have one??? What the hell is the matter with you???

Customer1 - My children are here, why would you carry a gun where there could be children?

Me - Because my children are here, and it is my job to protect them.

Customer2 - Do you have a permit? [approaching from the other direction]

Me - Of course I do.

Customer1 - Just because you have a permit doesn't give you permission to walk around armed like that... The permit allows you to OWN A GUN, not carry it.

Me - Yes it does. It allows me to carry any place not prohibited by law. Dicks sporting goods is not a prohibited place.

Customer2 - Well you had to go through a lot of training, and the permit costs a lot of money right?

Me - I have training but it is not required to get a LTCF. If $38.00 is considered expensive then....
Customer1 - [cutting me off] You just don't understand how dangerous it is to be walking around with a gun....what are you gonna do, load it up and shoot someone for cutting in front of you in line?

Me - First, IMO it is more dangerous walking around without a gun. Second, if you think that is how people who carry reconcile differences you are an idiot, this conversation is over.

Customer2 - I am really interested in getting a permit....

Customer1 - [cutting him off] I am calling the police

Customer2 - WILL YOU SHUT THE HELL UP??? I AM TRYING TO ASK THE MAN A QUESTION!!!!

Customer1 - I am calling the police...

Me - Please do... you will save me the trouble.

Customer1 - Why would you call the police on me?

Me - You are harassing me, my kids and this guy... I am here with my kids, minding my own business and you start running your mouth....

[awkward silence for about a minute]

Me - [turning to Customer2] It really is very easy... just go to the sheriffs office and fill out the paperwork...

Customer1 - [muttering as he walked away] I can't believe I moved here...

Customer2 - Thanks for the info, I will let you get back to your shopping...

This is when the employee approached us:

Employee - Sir, do you really have a gun?

Me - Yes

Employee - Do you have a LTCF? [using the proper term]

Me - Yes

Employee - Have nice day

This was a very stressful encounter... I had one guy wanting to know how he could get a "permit" and an obvious Anti gunner firing questions at me at the same time.

When everything was over my daughter said "Daddy, that man should stop being mean, Santa Claus won't bring him presents... his elfs (I know it is spelled wrong.. this is how she said it) are everywhere."

[headcase]

Sadly, the elfs don't have the power to incinerate the mean people...

Good for you, and the girl for understanding that some people are tools...

[CHEMICAL]

Sadly, the elfs don't have the power to incinerate the mean people...

Good for you, and the girl for understanding that some people are tools...

This made me "LOL"

[jonnyec]

I wonder where customer 1 moved from. I'm going to take a wild guess .... does the state have the initials NJ or NY in it at all?

[markheck1]

Me - OMG, you don't have one??? What the hell is the matter with you???


Me - Please do... you will save me the trouble.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's priceless!!!!

Errrkk...What......see the gears turning...........

Man..that would have been funny as hell to see

[Rosco the Iroc]

WOW!!!!!

But all and all the responses (other than cust 1) were full of WIN!

[whoshisface]

Dude I don't know you but I already like you.

Rep in bound when I get to my pc!

"please do it'll save me the trouble" my new line.

[mrjam2jab]

Customer1 - [cutting me off] You just don't understand how dangerous it is to be walking around with a gun....what are you gonna do, load it up and shoot someone for cutting in front of you in line?


Customer1 - [muttering as he walked away] I can't believe I moved here...

I wonder where customer 1 moved from. I'm going to take a wild guess .... does the state have the initials NJ or NY in it at all?

California....

[BimmerJon]

I can't stand people that act rude in front of children, especially mine.

Hate that shit!

Best thing to do in those situations is not engage in conversation with them (you're not going to help stop the argument or educate them)

And warn them that YOU'LL call the police if they don't leave you alone.

[whoshisface]

I might have pointed to the gun counter and said if you feel that way then why would you bring your kids to a place that's full of them?