Got a call from Consumer Affairs...

[pullnshoot25]

...from the complaint filed about my illegal detainment at NCF in Escondido. The guy was pulling the usual "why would you carry a gun?" and then trying to quote CCW law (incorrectly) and telling me that the guards acted upon reasonable doubt or some crap like that. I told him that they can be doubtful however much they want, they still don't have the power to detain unless it is under the Merchant Law and that is only about shoplifting. I said they didn't ask me to leave and instead held me against my will.

He seems to be murky on firearms law so I am sending the Sacramento PD memo and the CA Open Carry Flier to him to clarify a few things with his technical supervisors.

Freaking people, man...

[45DAVID1]

I bet your name is on some terror watch list somewhere and you will someday be nabbed at an airport and locked up in some secret FEMA CAMP never to be heard from again.

[kurac]

I bet your name is on some terror watch list somewhere and you will someday be nabbed at an airport and locked up in some secret FEMA CAMP never to be heard from again.

naw, they'll just send him to GITMO

[Warhawk014]

mall ninja's, they think they know everything.

[Ironchef]

Yep, sounds like you might be slipping into the mold of "the town gun-nut." Better enlist others and get some OC meet-n-greets on record somewhere so they don't single you out.

This seems like a potentially common negative outcome for OCers who have been pinched at least once. Imagine if they made a new city/county ordinance/law just for you.

[GuyW]

You should never be amazed at the incompetence and ignorance of some government bureaucrats and low-level functionaries....
.

[bruss01]

I really don't understand these OC people. Hear me out.

So you say you are open carrying in order to promote awareness of the legality of unloaded open carry. So why FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE don't you have a bunch of business cards printed up that say something like:

KNOW THE LAW! YOU COULD BE SUED!
Don't let it happen to you or your business!

Open carrying of an unloaded handgun is PERFECTLY LEGAL in California under sections (yada yada code citation) of the California public code. Someone who is legally carrying an unloaded firearm in accordance with the law can SUE if they are subsequently detained or subject to unwarranted police harrassment due to actions of a business owner or employees thereof. Help educate your fellow Californians about LEGAL OPEN CARRY - pass this card along!

(small print phone numbers and or web sites where they can verify for themselves that this is in fact totally legal).

When you walk into a business with your legal OC on your hip, with a big happy face go right up to the clerk and say, "Excuse me, where are the canned tomatoes?" or other question appropriate to the venue, hand them the card, and then proceed back towards where the clerk told you the canned tomatoes are. Come back up to the counter with your can of tomatoes, pay for your merchandise and as you're leaving grin and say "So did you look at that card I handed you? Pretty interesting stuff, hey? Man it feels great to live in a free country, doesn't it?" Then leave without further ado. If at any time you are approached and asked to leave, say "I'm sorry you don't want my business... is it because of my LEGAL unloaded open carry?" When they confirm say "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll go now and I won't be back, with or without my LEGALLY carried handgun."

BTW I wouldn't recommend trying this in a bank even if you think it IS perfectly legal.

Now, the above may not suit everyone and every situation, but it is an example of trying to be pro-active in preventing trouble instead of just "standing around" in a manner that you can reasonably predict will provoke a reaction and then complaining about the reaction.

[Bowser]

I really don't understand these OC people. Hear me out.

So you say you are open carrying in order to promote awareness of the legality of unloaded open carry. So why FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE don't you have a bunch of business cards printed up that say something like:

KNOW THE LAW! YOU COULD BE SUED!
Don't let it happen to you or your business!

Open carrying of an unloaded handgun is PERFECTLY LEGAL in California under sections (yada yada code citation) of the California public code. Someone who is legally carrying an unloaded firearm in accordance with the law can SUE if they are subsequently detained or subject to unwarranted police harrassment due to actions of a business owner or employees thereof. Help educate your fellow Californians about LEGAL OPEN CARRY - pass this card along!

(small print phone numbers and or web sites where they can verify for themselves that this is in fact totally legal).

When you walk into a business with your legal OC on your hip, with a big happy face go right up to the clerk and say, "Excuse me, where are the canned tomatoes?" or other question appropriate to the venue, hand them the card, and then proceed back towards where the clerk told you the canned tomatoes are. Come back up to the counter with your can of tomatoes, pay for your merchandise and as you're leaving grin and say "So did you look at that card I handed you? Pretty interesting stuff, hey? Man it feels great to live in a free country, doesn't it?" Then leave without further ado. If at any time you are approached and asked to leave, say "I'm sorry you don't want my business... is it because of my LEGAL unloaded open carry?" When they confirm say "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll go now and I won't be back, with or without my LEGALLY carried handgun."

BTW I wouldn't recommend trying this in a bank even if you think it IS perfectly legal.

Now, the above may not suit everyone and every situation, but it is an example of trying to be pro-active in preventing trouble instead of just "standing around" in a manner that you can reasonably predict will provoke a reaction and then complaining about the reaction.

Like this?

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

NCF= North county fair mall?

ive had them give me grief for a pocket knife before.

[pullnshoot25]

I really don't understand these OC people. Hear me out.

So you say you are open carrying in order to promote awareness of the legality of unloaded open carry. So why FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE don't you have a bunch of business cards printed up that say something like:

KNOW THE LAW! YOU COULD BE SUED!
Don't let it happen to you or your business!

Open carrying of an unloaded handgun is PERFECTLY LEGAL in California under sections (yada yada code citation) of the California public code. Someone who is legally carrying an unloaded firearm in accordance with the law can SUE if they are subsequently detained or subject to unwarranted police harrassment due to actions of a business owner or employees thereof. Help educate your fellow Californians about LEGAL OPEN CARRY - pass this card along!

(small print phone numbers and or web sites where they can verify for themselves that this is in fact totally legal).

When you walk into a business with your legal OC on your hip, with a big happy face go right up to the clerk and say, "Excuse me, where are the canned tomatoes?" or other question appropriate to the venue, hand them the card, and then proceed back towards where the clerk told you the canned tomatoes are. Come back up to the counter with your can of tomatoes, pay for your merchandise and as you're leaving grin and say "So did you look at that card I handed you? Pretty interesting stuff, hey? Man it feels great to live in a free country, doesn't it?" Then leave without further ado. If at any time you are approached and asked to leave, say "I'm sorry you don't want my business... is it because of my LEGAL unloaded open carry?" When they confirm say "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll go now and I won't be back, with or without my LEGALLY carried handgun."

BTW I wouldn't recommend trying this in a bank even if you think it IS perfectly legal.

Now, the above may not suit everyone and every situation, but it is an example of trying to be pro-active in preventing trouble instead of just "standing around" in a manner that you can reasonably predict will provoke a reaction and then complaining about the reaction.

I have been asked to take my gun out of a store before (Costco) and I complied, but these guards illegally detained me without asking me.

I have carried into 4 banks thus far without any issues. My brother Sam has me beat I think on that and he also successfully did Costco and UTC.

Feel free to check out my blog, it is in my sig line.

Yes, NCF=North County Fair.

FUDGE!

[pullnshoot25]

I bet your name is on some terror watch list somewhere and you will someday be nabbed at an airport and locked up in some secret FEMA CAMP never to be heard from again.

The guy did mention that the guards probably didn't know whether or not I was a terrorist and I told him that terrorists don't go to malls packing an exposed .44mag revolver nor buy safety shoes for work. I also told him that I am entirely too blonde to be even remotely considered a terrorist.

Another thing that ticks me off is that I sent these guys my blog post as evidence/story fodder and they refuse to check it out since it is a state computer and there is a scare of viruses. I am going to fax him a copy of the blog post now.

Such a joke.

[45DAVID1]

I also told him that I am entirely too blonde to be even remotely considered a terrorist.

Timothy McVeigh (sp) was a blonde homegrown terrorist if I recall correctly. Hair color also has nothing to do with someones intentions. I know your intentions in your eyes have nothing to do with anything illegal but other peoples perception of you in and outside your community may be different.

[hoffmang]

I'm going to post this in a thread of its own, but you may want to obtain this ruling and forward it over:

http://volokh.com/posts/1228842974.shtml

-Gene

[Theseus]

If you want sometime I will come down and OC at the mall with you. . haha!

I will probably get divorced for it...but heck. . .which is more important...rights or a wife?

[CSACANNONEER]

I bet your name is on some terror watch list somewhere and you will someday be nabbed at an airport and locked up in some secret FEMA CAMP never to be heard from again.

If you win a free, all expense paid vacation, say "hi" to SAS!