Cue,
good job on open carrying and coming home safely that night.
My intent is to aid, not to criticize any of your actions.
I'd like to offer some advice, as others have, on what to do when asked to cover up your carry weapon. I'm sure that you've done some of this already, but here's what I do.
1. Anticipate getting attention. Most of the time, nobody will say anything, but it is inevitable, if you OC often enough, someone will say something.
2. Be ready to respond. a few words, memorable, witty, or whatever, will be remembered by the one you talk to. "I carry because I love my family" or something to that affect may be something that you can find that rolls easily off your tongue.
3. achieve #2 by practicing #1, maybe reading through this thread and thinking, "here's how I'd respond if someone said X, Y, or Z to me."
4. If you're not sure how to respond, ask for clarification. that puts the questioner more on the defensive, and gives you time to think of how to respond. "Are you asking me to cover up my handgun??" "Do you know that I am carrying in a manner in compliance with federal, state, and local laws?" "by what authority are you asking me to cover my weapon?" "Oh, do you have a Ruger, too?" "why arent you carrying a gun?"
every time someone asks me about carrying, I kick myself afterwards for something that I should have said, but whenever I OC, these thoughts are constantly through my head, so I am always -somewhat- prepared.
Hope this helps
Keep carrying!
good job on open carrying and coming home safely that night.
My intent is to aid, not to criticize any of your actions.
I'd like to offer some advice, as others have, on what to do when asked to cover up your carry weapon. I'm sure that you've done some of this already, but here's what I do.
1. Anticipate getting attention. Most of the time, nobody will say anything, but it is inevitable, if you OC often enough, someone will say something.
2. Be ready to respond. a few words, memorable, witty, or whatever, will be remembered by the one you talk to. "I carry because I love my family" or something to that affect may be something that you can find that rolls easily off your tongue.
3. achieve #2 by practicing #1, maybe reading through this thread and thinking, "here's how I'd respond if someone said X, Y, or Z to me."
4. If you're not sure how to respond, ask for clarification. that puts the questioner more on the defensive, and gives you time to think of how to respond. "Are you asking me to cover up my handgun??" "Do you know that I am carrying in a manner in compliance with federal, state, and local laws?" "by what authority are you asking me to cover my weapon?" "Oh, do you have a Ruger, too?" "why arent you carrying a gun?"
every time someone asks me about carrying, I kick myself afterwards for something that I should have said, but whenever I OC, these thoughts are constantly through my head, so I am always -somewhat- prepared.
Hope this helps
Keep carrying!