Inappropriate exchange with gun store owner while concealed carrying at his store?

[Art3]

A navy seal and a conceal carrier walk into a bar together...
How do you know one's a seal and the other, a concealed carrier?
They'll both tell you.

 

[Art3]

I was in my LGS over the weekend for over an hour chatting with him and customers. I'm pretty sure no one knew I was carrying. It was fun talking to customers about the Sig P365, and how you could buy the regular one and put the XL grip on it, having 12+1 in a much smaller footprint than a G43x...( knowing that it worked because that's what was on my hip). So much inner chuckling!
Then I walked out and disappeared into the void with the same anonymity of a guy who did a food court pop at Arundel Mills.

 

[UCO___]

It's called concealed carry for reason. You weren't breaking any laws, you don't need to tell anyone you are carrying. it's new, I get it, but fall back to our fine upstanding Mr. Clinton's famous line, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" when it comes to carrying. You did your due diligence by looking for a sign. Gun stores are not a prohibited place, just enjoy your time in the store.

 

[OMCHamlin]

I say I felt some kind of way meaning I couldn’t determine if that was a threat or just an in appropriate response. I also told him I was carrying to show him what kind of holster I was looking for. IWB clip on

You are some kind of special! All the hell he was saying was to keep the damn thing HOLSTERED unless you have a “mortal threat that requires deadly force” while you are in the store. As a former gun shop employee, I can tell you there are enough IDIOTS that wander into a gun shop that just have to pull their carry gun to “show it to ya!”, and (you’re not gonna believe this), I got damn tired of being muzzled (or flagged)! Don’t pull your gun for show and tell in a gun shop, and above all “concealed means CONCEALED”! You guys got too damn much, too fast, you all are gonna screw it up, lose your new rights, AND YOU’RE GOING TO DESERVE IT! Fix yourselves, damnit!

 

[urbantchr]

Whenever I go to the bank I tell them I have a gun concealed in my pants, just so they know and to put them at ease.

jk

Love it, gonna use this whenever l meet new ladies, but include how big it is! Hahaha

 

[Squaregrouper]

I work PT in a gun shop. Our front door is posted that people with permits are welcome to carry, but do not remove it from the holster unless approved by staff.
There have been multiple occasions when uniformed armed guards have asked if they can carry before crossing the threshold. My standard response is "Sure. Keep it holstered and I will too". 100% of the guards got the humor and chuckled.

 

[Juan Valdez]

When you carry, don't mention you are carrying.

Otherwise, see post #3!

Do you tell everyone what religion you are, when you worship?

Agreed

 

[KingClown]

It’s entirely appropriate for them to ask people not to draw a loaded gun unless it’s being fired, whether open or conceal carried. That’s something gun stores have to deal with constantly.

If you want to try holsters, bring it in unloaded. Most stores will tell you to clear it at your vehicle and then bring it in. They don’t want customers unloading guns in the store either.

No my BRAKES use 1\4 20tpi 2 inch bolts.

 

[j&ksmall]

I visited a gun store in La Plata yesterday, I think the name of the store is Gun Monkey. Upon entering the front door I looked for any notifications about carrying a loaded firearm inside the store just to make sure I didn’t freak anybody out or violate any stores policy and I didn’t see any such notification so I entered the store and the store employee asked if he could help me and I told him I was looking for a holster for one of my other handguns I want to carry. He pointed me in the direction of the holsters he had and I then informed him that I was carrying my g26 in an IWB holster and I’m just exercising my new rights. I just received my HGP so I just wanted to inform him so that there’s no misunderstanding or mistakes in judgments occur. The guy replied “Just don’t pull it out unless I’m going to have to exercise my right”. I felt some kind of way about his response so I told him the there’s really no need for this kind of conversation and that I was informing him as a courtesy just in case I missed the sign or something.

Does anyone think this was appropriate or did I miss something?

Sounds like an attempt at humor to me but I wasn’t there.

 

[Tower43]

I personally know the owner of GMA... he's a quintessential smart ass, veteran and paramedic, ridden several medic units with him before. This was definitely a quip and a jab at you being... well weird. He doesn't care if people are carrying long as they aren't stupid in the shop.

 

[RobotDoctor]

I visited a gun store in La Plata yesterday, I think the name of the store is Gun Monkey. Upon entering the front door I looked for any notifications about carrying a loaded firearm inside the store just to make sure I didn’t freak anybody out or violate any stores policy and I didn’t see any such notification so I entered the store and the store employee asked if he could help me and I told him I was looking for a holster for one of my other handguns I want to carry. He pointed me in the direction of the holsters he had and I then informed him that I was carrying my g26 in an IWB holster and I’m just exercising my new rights. I just received my HGP so I just wanted to inform him so that there’s no misunderstanding or mistakes in judgments occur. The guy replied “Just don’t pull it out unless I’m going to have to exercise my right”. I felt some kind of way about his response so I told him the there’s really no need for this kind of conversation and that I was informing him as a courtesy just in case I missed the sign or something.

Does anyone think this was appropriate or did I miss something?

Yeah you did. You missed the part about keeping your mouth shut when you conceal carry. His response was actually funny.

 

[lazarus]

Like the OP I am new to daily concealed carry and probably overthinking the issues. I have been quite surprised how, in the short amount of time I have exercised the right in MD, it has become natural. And also pleasantly boring. What I worry about most is the Karens that may think they see something. I have come now to understand that it is unlikely most passersbys that are not in the firearms community are looking for the signs. LEO are more likely to notice, but care less. A couple of observations:

1. The GS employees I encountered often are grumpy. Not sure why.
2. I have NOT been to a GS since I began carrying. However, I have on previous trips seen 3 different posted policies: a.)no loaded guns allowed except uniformed police officers b.) Clear all firearms at the door with an employee unless you are concealed carrying c.) no policy posted

In the case of a.) i would probably turn around and come back on a day I was not armed. For b.) and c.) i would make sure i was concealed and go do my business. If during the business interaction it was necessary to show my firearm I would say something like: I have it here now, are you OK if I unholster and clear it? That tells them what they need to know and allows them to anticipate and control the upcoming interaction. Once I get the nod I would draw and clear my weapon, lay the mag and chamber round on the counter and show clear.

My limited experience about the gun store employees is it seems like 2/3rds of them know every little about guns even if the person already owns a couple. And often know less about Maryland gun laws.

Buying and picking up the handgun I just bought, on buying day there were TWO guys during filling out paperwork the poor woman had to explain to them separately that they needed to fill out and submit a new 77r to buy a new handgun. No the last one you did to buy a gun isn’t still good. Etc. like explain several times how it worked and what they needed to do. Despite from what I overheard it sounded like one of them this was his 3rd handgun in 3 months from the same LGS.

Picking up later she was explaining to an old guy his hunting license requirements that he had to have it ON him. Tagging requirements, etc. is it sounded like he had probably moved to the state fairly recently, or something like that. But he wasn’t getting that he just had to have the license in his possession, not wearing it (why I assumed he moved from out of state). But she spent probably 20 minutes doing his license and patiently explaining stuff to him 3 times before he finally saved his hand, thanked her and mutter “oh I guess I’ll just do whatever” and left.

 

[Biggfoot44]

You're Not Prohibited from carrying your HL in a back tag holder if you want to .

 

[Sundazes]

A navy seal and a conceal carrier walk into a bar together...
How do you know one's a seal and the other, a concealed carrier?
They'll both tell you.

What is one of them is vegan?

 

[Biggfoot44]

The one with the synthetic holster .

 

[Scorpionking0102]

I visited a gun store in La Plata yesterday, I think the name of the store is Gun Monkey. Upon entering the front door I looked for any notifications about carrying a loaded firearm inside the store just to make sure I didn’t freak anybody out or violate any stores policy and I didn’t see any such notification so I entered the store and the store employee asked if he could help me and I told him I was looking for a holster for one of my other handguns I want to carry. He pointed me in the direction of the holsters he had and I then informed him that I was carrying my g26 in an IWB holster and I’m just exercising my new rights. I just received my HGP so I just wanted to inform him so that there’s no misunderstanding or mistakes in judgments occur. The guy replied “Just don’t pull it out unless I’m going to have to exercise my right”. I felt some kind of way about his response so I told him the there’s really no need for this kind of conversation and that I was informing him as a courtesy just in case I missed the sign or something.

Does anyone think this was appropriate or did I miss something?

I believe his reply was in order. As we all know most gun store owners are packing on the outside. My question is why did you think you had to carry in a gun store when you weren’t even looking to buy for the one you were carrying? You should of brought your “other” hand gun in in a locked case and had him advise you on what to try out. If anything was to go down, I’m sure the owner could of taken care of business without your input possibly making the situation worse. So don’t get uptight so easily. It’s a new Maryland thing and Second Amendment right. Play on the side of curtesy and not be a “cowboy.”

 

[TangoSierra27]

I visited a gun store in La Plata yesterday, I think the name of the store is Gun Monkey. Upon entering the front door I looked for any notifications about carrying a loaded firearm inside the store just to make sure I didn’t freak anybody out or violate any stores policy and I didn’t see any such notification so I entered the store and the store employee asked if he could help me and I told him I was looking for a holster for one of my other handguns I want to carry. He pointed me in the direction of the holsters he had and I then informed him that I was carrying my g26 in an IWB holster and I’m just exercising my new rights. I just received my HGP so I just wanted to inform him so that there’s no misunderstanding or mistakes in judgments occur. The guy replied “Just don’t pull it out unless I’m going to have to exercise my right”. I felt some kind of way about his response so I told him the there’s really no need for this kind of conversation and that I was informing him as a courtesy just in case I missed the sign or something.

Does anyone think this was appropriate or did I miss something?

You shouldn't declare you are carrying to anyone. One of the main reasons for carrying a concealed weapon, is that no one knows you have a firearm until a life threatening incident occurs. Since your new to the CCW you may want to join or follow USCCA, Guns and Gadgets, or Colion Noir on YouTube for some guidance in this area. I'm a retired LEO, I have never declared I was carrying to anyone, it's just not done.

 

[bluedog46]

I visited a gun store in La Plata yesterday, I think the name of the store is Gun Monkey. Upon entering the front door I looked for any notifications about carrying a loaded firearm inside the store just to make sure I didn’t freak anybody out or violate any stores policy and I didn’t see any such notification so I entered the store and the store employee asked if he could help me and I told him I was looking for a holster for one of my other handguns I want to carry. He pointed me in the direction of the holsters he had and I then informed him that I was carrying my g26 in an IWB holster and I’m just exercising my new rights. I just received my HGP so I just wanted to inform him so that there’s no misunderstanding or mistakes in judgments occur. The guy replied “Just don’t pull it out unless I’m going to have to exercise my right”. I felt some kind of way about his response so I told him the there’s really no need for this kind of conversation and that I was informing him as a courtesy just in case I missed the sign or something.

Does anyone think this was appropriate or did I miss something?

i think he was just kidding.

 

[BTM9]

Perhaps exercising his right to ask you to leave !

 

[outrider58]

What is one of them is vegan?

The one with the synthetic holster .