First encounter

[usp9c]

Well, I've had my handgun for about a 1.5 years now and have been carrying since not long after. Mix of CC/OC but increasingly more comfortable with OC. When I've OC'd, I've never had anyone say something until today.

The fiancee and I were at Bed, Bath, Beyond in Cranberry doing the wedding registery thing.. no one said anything until an hour and a half into it, when our helper noticed it when I stepped in front of her for something.

Her: Is that a GUN?
Me: I'm sorry? (caught me off guard)
Her: Is that a gun?
Me: Uh. Yes.
Her: WHY?
Me: Self defense.
Her: Oh. Well.. I feel safer now.

As soon as I said s/d I immediately regretted not saying the "cop is too heavy to carry" line.

Next time

[streaker69]

Me: Self defense.
Her: Oh. Well.. I feel safer now.

You: What part of "self" didn't you understand?

Good job.

[gunnin-for-the-big-one]

As soon as I said s/d I immediately regretted not saying the "cop is too heavy to carry" line.

Ill have to remember that one if i get asked the same thing, that cracked me up more than humpty dumpty fallin on a bed of nails.

[cakeshooter]

You: What part of "self" didn't you understand?

Good job.

LOL..........

[Shisno]

I think your response was great. Personally I like to keep it neutral until I figure out if the person is being curious or condescending.

Also, ain't it funny that it took her an hour and a half to notice a gun on your side? Some people are just so unobservant.

[usp9c]

You: What part of "self" didn't you understand?

Good job.

Haha, also a good line!

I think your response was great. Personally I like to keep it neutral until I figure out if the person is being curious or condescending.

Also, ain't it funny that it took her an hour and a half to notice a gun on your side? Some people are just so unobservant.

Yeah, I wasn't really in a conversational mood, especially after having been there so long already. I was amazed that it took her that long though.

Afterwards, we went to Moes and I felt an older gentleman at the table across from us eyeing me up, but no encounter there. Could have all been in my head but I could have sworn I'd caught him glancing more than once.

[mrnyman]

Anything to do with "self" has been socially engineered out of the american psyche a long time ago, e.g self employed, self help, self respect, self defense, self consciousness , it has been replaced by socialized dependency , i'm surprised she even understood what self defense meant.

[usp9c]

Also worth noting.. I stopped at the fire department to drop something off (I am a volunteer) and another firefighter was there. He saw me, and immediately saw the holster at my side and said "What's that?" I asked him if he meant my pager (jokingly) then informed him I'd been carrying for so long. He'd never noticed. A couple of guys have asked about it here and there but nothing negative Hell, one guy just got a Glock .45 last week and someone at work picked up an M&P .40 2 days ago, and a lifelong friend has finally gotten a Ruger SR9 about 2 months ago . Seems I've been designated the "go to" guy for questions regarding to law and safety (thanks to all the info here!!)

[Shisno]

Also worth noting.. I stopped at the fire department to drop something off (I am a volunteer) and another firefighter was there. He saw me, and immediately saw the holster at my side and said "What's that?" I asked him if he meant my pager (jokingly) then informed him I'd been carrying for so long. He'd never noticed. A couple of guys have asked about it here and there but nothing negative Hell, one guy just got a Glock .45 last week and someone at work picked up an M&P .40 2 days ago, and a lifelong friend has finally gotten a Ruger SR9 about 2 months ago . Seems I've been designated the "go to" guy for questions regarding to law and safety (thanks to all the info here!!)

Lol, I think that has happened to the majority of us. It happened to me as well.

[priell3]

I think your response was great. Personally I like to keep it neutral until I figure out if the person is being curious or condescending.

Also, ain't it funny that it took her an hour and a half to notice a gun on your side? Some people are just so unobservant.

That's how I respond. If they want to learn more then I'm all too happy to oblige.

You are 100% right - 99% don't notice.