Saw a guy packing a pistol getting harassed at Costco

[runamuk]

How  in a scenario like mine just how does a person do it....I cant..... so in my case the open carry law doesnt really exist.

[Curly]

How  in a scenario like mine just how does a person do it....I cant..... so in my case the open carry law doesnt really exist.

Yeah, just like Costco apparently has a policy against it.  (Would be nice if they posted a sign so a person knew their rules before walking in).

Sucks that you can't carry at school.  With the shooting incidents at schools the last several years, you'd think that more people packing heat would deter shooting like that.

[Special T]

I will 2nd what many have said here. a right not used is a lost right. I think tactically  OC is not such a great idea... Surprise is a great tactical advantage... If i were to open carry i would do it as an educational experience for people. I would carry lots of copies of this tri-fold paper that tells about our laws... I would also have a lawyer on retainer, because some jack wagon is likely to cause me some legal bills... If i had unlimited time and $$$ i would OC all the time and use it as an opportunity to educate the public, since our system of governance has failed to educate its citizens.  God Bless those that take the time to OC, I just pray that they take the time to be an ambassador not a jackwagon...
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/attachment.php?s=f5b7a1772e082dc14fa8f2dc2d46247f&attachmentid=3385&d=1280151535

[rtspring]

I support the guy,its legal.

[ghosthunter]

One thing open carry taught me was a lot about our rights. Open carry or CC  or both as I do. Dosen't matter. What matters is that we have these rights and we should not be browbeat into being afraid to exercise them once in a while.
I do not get that people will walk by 20 or 30 people cc every day and than they see a gun on a guy pushing his kid in a Walmart and come un glued. Really? It's still a gun. Really if I where that afraid of them I would want everyone OC so I could move away from them.
I do not buy the afraid of guns thing. I think it is just people trying to tell other people how they should live.

I am holding hands with H20 on the covering game and stuff like that. I understand the who dead furry creature and blood thing.
But a guy walking down the street with his dog oc in a holster dressed nice and they have to call the cops? Really?

[Alchase]

If I would have seen that, i would have told the person complaining that "I won't take away your first ammendment if you do not mess with his 2nd amendment rights"!
 
Why do people think one is more important then the others? 

[7mag.]

I can't believe some of you people. Since when is it our duty to walk on eggshells to not offend the easily offended? Screw them. All the people that are so easily offended by what other people are doing while minding their own business, need to wake up and mind their own damn business. I don't need someone else telling me how to go about my life, I'm doing just fine.

With that said, I carry concealed every where I go. I don't carry openly, because I am not well enough versed in the law, to put a LEO in his place if approached. I don't feel I have enough solid information to defend myself at the scene, to not end up arrested. It is not worth it to me to possibly lose my concealed license, just to make a point. I also am not interested in attracting attention from anyone, especially would be bad guys. I would much rather have the element of surprise on my side in the case of an emergency.

I commend those that carry openly, I wish though, that some of them would be a little less brash, because as some of you have said, they are making it worse, not better. I think attitude plays a big role in touchy subjects such as this one.

If you don't feel well versed enough in the law to not get arrested, why do you take the chance of carrying then?  I'm not trying to degrade you, please don't take this like that.  But, our state law states Open Carry.  You have a CHL and carry concealed, that's your choice and works for you.  What if you're like "Gramps" a couple posts up and your sidearm is accidentally spotted?  What do you do then, when the police show up?  I guess a lot of it has to do with how it's called in......


 Reality v. Saldana

That's why I don't carry open. I have been approached by police because someone spotted my "concealed" pistol. I produced my permit, and that was the end of it, after they checked me out, and ran the serial number on my pistol.

[Fixnbirds]

It makes me proud to see a fellow American open carry. I conceal for tactical reasons. I prefer not to have the attention. Plus a Glock is ugly. If I had a custom 1911 I might wear it around the block once or twice as a fashion statement, but I'm from Virginia.

[Wenatcheejay]

I was at Costco in Tumwater on Saturday returning something when I overheard a customer complaining to an employee about a person carrying a weapon.  Then the pistol packer came over and I overheard him mention that it is within his rights to open carry and besides that he has a conceal carry permit.  Then I heard him say something about the other customer had been harassing him about the weapon.........then he walked out of the store.

When I was done returning my item, the customer was still outside complaining to a manager about the guy carrying a weapon in the store.  He must have been giving the poor manager an earful for quite a while.

Just thought I'd share.  Kind of interesting, I thought.  Not sure why the guy didn't conceal carry (since he has a CPL) and avoid the hassle, but it is his right and I'm glad there are people out there standing up for their rights.....

You should have told the manager you saw the person complaining eating produce & stealing merchandise and they that you suspect that they are using someone Else's Costco Card, they also made fun of a disabled child and made racist comments to another member of course then state, I AM VERY OFFENDED. Then, when the "high horse anti gunner" goes, "huh?" State you are now in fear for your safety and need an escort out of the store because of the possible violent intents of the other costumer.

[Savage Hunter]

Whether you opt to conceal or open carry, you are exercising your Constitutional right to bear arms which shall not be infringed.  I saw one reply that maybe this guy was trying to invite conflict by carrying in the open?  Really?  I doubt it.  I sometimes open carry, but usually conceal.  When I do open carry, I usually try to keep the weapon discrete, but I would never question a fellow citizen for exercising their right to bear arms.  Regardless, I question the sanity of any person that would confront an armed man.

[Special T]

Run, You should organize an empty holder carry event on school grounds like others have done on campuses. THAT would get some attention. 

[coachcw]

how about a open carry day where everyone that concells open Carry's for a day , I bet it would blow some minds how many carry .

[runamuk]

Special T I like that idea...I would have to actually buy a holster...lol.... when I have a little more free time I might see what I can do

[nw_bowhunter]

It is his right to carry, However voters remember situations like this. Not smart. It's wiser to keep it concealed.

[Special T]

Despite our current state of politics, our state does actually have pretty stong rights for gun owners... I like the empty holster idea for 2 reasons.
(1) It sends the same message as if there was a gun in it.
(2) There is NO WAY a goverment agency can deny a demonstration without huge backlash. A leather or fabric holster cannot hurt anyone anymore that the pen and paper most people carry...