Strange encounter with another carrier

[Brian D.]

I meet fellow oldsters at a nearby McDonald's about twice a week. Last week just a couple of us were there when a pair of young guys got food and sat down nearby. We'd seen them before, the one guy carries but isn't too good at concealment. Whatever. But that day he took his handgun out of his waistband and sat it on the table in front of him. My friend asked him to maybe put on the chair next to him instead, to put it more out of sight. (It's hard to blame my friend for that, long ago he got shot.) Anyway, I moved over to their table, introduced myself as a fellow carrier, and even pulled my jacket back to show them. All of this done by me in a casual, friendly-if-slightly-concerned way.

Long story (I could bore Stu to death here) shortish, the guy's holster had broken and he was afraid the gun would fall out of his waist when he sat down. I offered him some advice, since it was cold and he had on a coat with big front pockets. Rather than present/grab/draw the gun whenever sitting, he should use an otherwise empty front coat pocket until he could get a holster. My chat took about fifteen minutes, offering other suggestions regarding the situation, and how it was going to go badly sooner or later if he kept taking out the handgun. He sort of thanked me. About ten minutes after all this, two police cruisers circle the place and park. The officers walk in, and of course they'd been sent on a "man with a gun at McDonald's" call. My friend knows this department's members pretty well, so he scolded them about the lousy response time. Then he told them we'd done their job for them. They actually left immediately after that, not happy.

There are lot of things one could take away from this incident, but two are plenty for me to rail about this morning:

1) The carrier in question was unlicensed, and self-taught. (I asked.) If there'd been a class, he could have learned all about holsters and stuff.
2) The police response time was definitely slow. (My friend checked on that.) Preaching to the choir here maybe, but you're on your own out in this world, people, no one can be counted on to ride to the rescue.

[carmen fovozzo]

If I ever had a choice to have someone in my foxhole with me , it would be you Brian..

[Brian D.]

Thanks Carmen. Honestly though, wasn't fishing for compliments here. Just relating a kind of weird story. Maybe it's because I'm out of the house pretty much every day, more things happen around me. Wondering a little more often now, how many people are carrying that are woefully undereducated.

And, let's you and me stay out of foxholes, Fovozzo. Steve says you spent too much time in bunkers already.

[cpg]

Wondering a little more often now, how many people are carrying that are woefully undereducated.:

Something tells me we don't want to know the answer...

I hope that your constructive critisism of his actions sunk in. I really hope he feels embarrassed enough to maybe seek some training or at least talk to more folks that are willing to guide him in the right direction. You did your part, now hopefully he will do his.

[Bearable]

Wondering a little more often now, how many people are carrying that are woefully undereducated.

On another gun forum I said that when constitutional carry passed there would be many people who will start carrying, having no clue what Ohio requires of them, let a loan, the proper way to carry a gun including the proper handling of a gun.

I am totally against the state dictating to me that I take a class teaching basic gun law and proper gun handling, BUT I think it is the prudent thing to do.

[jeep45238]

Good job!

[Brian D.]

Good job!

Not that sure my advice to the young man made a dent. Unlike what Yoda said, sometimes all you can do IS try. If he stops by that McDonald's again I'll update the thread accordingly.

[jeep45238]

Good job!

Not that sure my advice to the young man made a dent. Unlike what Yoda said, sometimes all you can do IS try. If he stops by that McDonald's again I'll update the thread accordingly.

I'm sure in my younger years I dismissed plenty that I shouldn't have. You might be surprised.