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Ruark wrote:

jmra wrote:

Ruark wrote:How many of you would open carry at a mall? There have been a number of times when I've CC under a light jacket, then got to the mall shopping with my wife about noon or so. By then the weather had heated up and I wanted to take the jacket off and leave it in the car.

I would never consider OC at a mall. If it got warmer I'd take off the jacket and pull my shirt over my firearm. OC in a mall is almost a guarantee call to 911 of MWAG.

So? You're completely legal. All a cop can do is ask to see your CHL. Besides, I'm dressed neatly (slacks, short sleeve button down dress shirt) and my shirt is tucked in; I don't want to pull it out just for that reason, especially when I'm not doing anything wrong.

I think for OC to really work, we need to not be intimidated. MDA would have a good belly laugh at how we're "so scared of them."

I do agree that RESPONSIBLE, well dressed people need to take the place of those who have been the face of the OC movement up until now. If you want it accepted by the mainstream, the behavior has to appear mainstream. My biggest reluctance to OC in a mall is that there are too many people all around you. Anywhere that there is a high incidence of pick pockets is a bad place to OC. IMO.

Also, I don't go to the mall, like ever. So pretty much no chance of me OCing there.

OK, here's my plan for OCing and potential interactions with LEO:

First off, the only time I plan on OC'ing would be around my town (Alvin, pop approx 25k-30k). And not always then, but sometimes while going out to breakfast, maybe a stop at Home Depot, ect. I may OC when going out to lunch after a PASS, IDPA, or USPSA match because it's just easier that way. I will NOT be one of the ones seeking out a confrontation by parking at a gas station and taking a stroll down a busy street just to generate MWAG calls.

I won't OC in major cities like Houston. I agree with the earlier poster that I would rather be concealed in major metropolitan areas.

If stopped, the following will be my MO:

1. When asked for ID, politely say "sure, just letting you know that my wallet is in my hip pocket right behind the gun, are you OK with me reaching back there?" Then show the ID. If I'm on my way within 3-5 minutes, without further hastle, I will document the encounter when I get back home but take no further action. If these encounters are as rare as I suspect they will be, I will eventually quit documenting.

2. If every trip out with an OC handgun results in one or more of these stops, I will eventually file a complaint with the city or county that is excessively stopping me with dates and times.

3. If I run across an officer who disarms me, unloads the gun, runs the serial number to "make sure it's not stolen", detains me for an excessive amount of time, or other harassing measures, I could be filing a complaint against that officer immediately after the stop. During the stop, I will only ask some questions pertinant to the forthcoming complaint such as the officers name, but will otherwise be compliant and polite. If, at the conclusion of the stop, the officer appologizes for the inconvenience and articulates a reason such as a robbery in the area or some other justification that makes sense (other than a MWAG call), I could even let something like this slide.

I fully expect that item number 1 is the only one that will be happening in my small world. That being said, I'm glad I don't live in Austin.