MtnBiker6510
Sharpshooter
As is the norm for me the last month I removed my CC rig and switched to my OC holster as I left the office to run my errands and go home. The wife asked me to pick up chinese carry-out from Peking restaurant in Georgetown (NE Ft Wayne). As I was getting ready to leave with my carry-out, I was approached by a uniformed police officer. He just casually walked up to the counter while I was paying for my food.
Officer: “Hi there, do you have a permit for your firearm?”
Me: “Yes, I have it in on me right now; would you like to see it?”
Officer: “No thanks, but why do you open carry instead of keeping it concealed? A lot of people are intimidated when they see someone carrying a firearm or make you a target for someone wanting to take it away from you”
Me: “I carry openly as a way of exercising my right, and as a deterrent to violent crime against myself or my family.”
Officer: “I think to carry concealed would be smarter as it gives you the element of surprise.”
Me: “I don’t agree, a deterrent would help avoid a violent crime and relying on the element of surprise is only a reaction to something that has already happened. If that was true you would have undercover officers in banks and not uniformed officers, right?”
Officer: “I disagree”
Me: "okay, thanks for your time. Have a nice evening" and I turned and walked out.
When I walked in I passed a few people and there were a few customers, one of which called the police soon after leaving or watching me enter.
The officer was a nice guy and seemed to be aware of IN handgun laws; just doing his duty. I have been curious as to how the first encounter with PD would go as I’m pretty much guaranteed to be confronted about it from time to time. I hope the next one goes as smooth.
Officer: “Hi there, do you have a permit for your firearm?”
Me: “Yes, I have it in on me right now; would you like to see it?”
Officer: “No thanks, but why do you open carry instead of keeping it concealed? A lot of people are intimidated when they see someone carrying a firearm or make you a target for someone wanting to take it away from you”
Me: “I carry openly as a way of exercising my right, and as a deterrent to violent crime against myself or my family.”
Officer: “I think to carry concealed would be smarter as it gives you the element of surprise.”
Me: “I don’t agree, a deterrent would help avoid a violent crime and relying on the element of surprise is only a reaction to something that has already happened. If that was true you would have undercover officers in banks and not uniformed officers, right?”
Officer: “I disagree”
Me: "okay, thanks for your time. Have a nice evening" and I turned and walked out.
When I walked in I passed a few people and there were a few customers, one of which called the police soon after leaving or watching me enter.
The officer was a nice guy and seemed to be aware of IN handgun laws; just doing his duty. I have been curious as to how the first encounter with PD would go as I’m pretty much guaranteed to be confronted about it from time to time. I hope the next one goes as smooth.