After an injury a couple of years ago, and a serious case of pneumonia, I have changed exercise from running to brisk walking. Recently, I spent a couple of months in Middleton, Wisconsin. Most of my walking in the area started about 0500, but on Monday, July 9, I had stayed up late, coming back from a play at American Player’s Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin. I slept in. I didn’t get out to exercise until after 0800. It was a mistake. Instead of a few cars along the route I was walking, it was a minor rush hour north of Lake Mendota. As usual, I was open carry.
Wearing t-shirt and shorts limits the options for concealed carry. Madison and Middleton are deep blue in their politics. 41 minutes and three miles into the walk, I saw the SUV with the flat and narrow light bar slowing down and stopping as it approached me. I was only 100 yards from turning off of the busy roadway, and 300 yards from the end of my walk.
I knew what was going on. The lights came on and the vehicle stopped. As I approached the Dane County Sheriff’s vehicle, the deputy got out. Good morning, I opened.
He stretched out his hand. I shook it. He introduced himself. His tone was apologetic. A hand shake is a time honored tradition between armed men. It shows the weapon hand is empty.
“I know you have the right.” he said. But with all these drivers, we got a call, and I have to check it out. I introduced myself. He said: “Out for a walk?” Yes, I said. Would you like a card? I was thinking of giving him a business card.
No, he said, it is open carry. It is a right. You don’t need a card, misinterpreting the card I was offering as an offer of ID or a CCW permit.
I sympathized with his position, having been on the other side of the contact equation.
He was not intrusive, essentially apologized for the contact, and never asked me to disarm or for ID.
It is a serious contrast with what happened to the Culver’s five, on September 18, 2010. They were arrested for disturbing the peace, for merely open carrying while eating dinner at a Culver’s restaurant in Madison. That case ended in a settlement of $10,000 to the open carriers who had been arrested and falsely charged.
The deputy was polite, professional, and knowledgeable. He did not approach the “man with a gun” call with a chip on his shoulder. I have been treated with less respect and more fear in stops in Yuma, Arizona.
The police have always been potential allies in the culture wars. Most street officers support the Second Amendment. As more people carry—openly or concealed—the police on the street find the people who carry are the good guys. Court cases educate them to treat armed citizens with respect. That respect is reinforced with street experience.
I am wary of volunteering information to strange police officers. But all open carriers are, to some extent, representatives of the gun culture. This is a balancing act. The officer made clear he wasn’t fishing for information. I did not volunteer much, except I was out for my walk.
The re-normalization of the gun culture continues.
Do you personally open carry or support it? What interaction have you had with law enforcement while carrying open or concealed? Share your answers in the comment section.
©2018 by Dean Weingarten
Sometimes I open carry and sometimes I carry concealed. I have only been asked about my weapon one time by police. I have concealed carry permit even though in AZ. it is not required. The one time I was asked was by a DPS officer who stopped me for exceeding the posted limit. He was very polite and ask I had a weapon and I replied yes he asked to take possession until the contact was completed I complied he returned my weapon with a written warning and a smile and I went on my way.
When I open carry I have been asked about my weapon many times by other civilians as to what type of gun Or such.
i normally don’t open carry just to avoid the stares and worried looks you get, not to mention the inevitable visit from store security or the local p.d. asking you to leave because people are nervous…
If I may, how are people going to become less nervous unless they are exposed so as to become desensitized. That is why I often open carry.
I’m a L.E.O. and always carry when off duty but the only time I open carry I’m in uniform on the job. I hate to sound critical of those who open carry but in my humble opinion it makes no sense whatsoever. Actually to me I can’t help but feel the open carry mode is a bit stupid. You open yourself to what the author above was subjected to and so very much more.
Open carry frightens those who know little or nothing about firearms or self defense. Business owners tend to be uneasy while your in their stores, bank tellers are so nervous they can’t work and I can go on and on.
But the biggest factor I take into consideration is you 100% loss any tactical edge you may have had. Thankfully this is not in the news each day but think of it this way; you are open carry – you go in the convenience store for a pack of gum, your at the counter facing the clerk and the guy behind you is a meth head and he is broke but he has a gun in his waistband under his shirt. He may think your an off duty cop or maybe your a wannabe cowboy hero – either way he needs to rob the store so while your back is to him he draws and puts on in the back of your head. Now he robs the store, takes your sidearm and wallet and strolls out of the store and disappears.
Keep you edge, stay alive, carry concealed. Even if this scenario does not occur you still are not sending fear into the minds of the liberals who hate you and your gun anyway. And…………. it may save your life and allow you to possibly save someone else.
I don’t personally open carry, but I think placing fear into the minds of the liberals is a good thing. In my opinion I’m more concerned with the person carrying a concealed pistol not an open carried pistol. The person carrying a concealed pistol may be a criminal, but it is very unlikely that the person with the open carried pistol is. I see a person with a gun and they are on my threat radar until I can discern if they are intending me or mine harm.
As I said above to someone else – How are people to become less nervous if people don’t open carry to desensitize them? It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Also, the idea of a tactical advantage to concealed carry is a myth. Action beats reaction every time. Further, I’ve yet to find an instance where a person was targeted for shooting by criminals simply because they were open carrying.
“But the biggest factor I take into consideration is you 100% loss any tactical edge you may have had. ”
Which is why the Police open carry, right?
If concealed carry was treated as a right and not a privilege to be allowed or disallowed as big brother sees fit at that particular moment, I would carry concealed. I’m not willing to offer up my personal information or play mother may I to exercise my 2A right.
I am a retired LEO and I occasionally open carry, if not I am concealed carry. I appreciate your points but respectfully submit that it depends on which state you live in. In Idaho, where I reside, open carry is common even though Constitutional carry is the law. I understand that it might be different in “blue” states and more urban areas. In the summer, with shorts and t shirts, concealed carry makes little sense and is often glaringly obvious..
I always and only open carry as a personal preference. However, I do support both open or conceal carry. Most officers either don’t care, don’t notice or think I’m one of them. There is the rare occasions an officer questions me as to why I choose to open carry and spews the myths and rhetoric of the anti gun community.
I open carry 95% of the time. The myths of 1st shot, tactical advantage, scaring people, are just that, myths. My own personal experience, I’m often thanked by veterans for exercising the right they fought for. My favorite, WWII Vet who was part of the Normandy Invasion. It also opens up a lot of conversation. Women especially will approach my wife when she open carries to find out what they can do to start carrying, and why she carries. These conversations would not happen when the firearm is hidden. For your reading pleasure http://dailycaller.com/2015/04/22/the-pro-liberty-choice-dispelling-the-myths-of-open-carry/
Thanks for this. I know the debate goes on and on, should we open carry or not. I carry a full sized Sig P320 Xcarry and an extra mag., under a t-shirt most of the time. Most of the time the t-shirt covers most of my equipment, but if it doesn’t, I’m ok with that. It sends a message that yes you might see it but I do not really care if it offends you. If I’m at a range, I open carry at all times. Our security team at church does advise that if you open carry, you may be the first target if someone wanted to take out the biggest or first threat that they came to. That does make sense, but on the other hand, maybe if someone saw that I had a hand gun on me, they may not want to take that big step of starting trouble. I support those who open carry !