What do you do, a question about behavior

[Tommy C]

I wouldn't be worried at all.

[SGTKane]

The reason I posted this poll, is that I recently had the opportunity to contrast this experience. I "ruck" a lot. My knees are bad, can't handle the running (they swell like a mofo after a mile), but I can hike loaded for bear without too much of an issue.

Doing it CA, even when I wasn't carrying I always had the police show up. Someone always called and reported me as a transient, said that I was armed, or that I was exhibiting dangerous and suspicious behavior. It didn't bother me, I always figured the cops were just doing their job and in one case I actually felt bad for the officers because they walked in a mile along some railroad tracks (I was hiking between Union Mine and Pondo on the trail that runs next to the tracks). They were always professional, always asked for ID, asked to look in my bad and then only slightly hassled me when I wouldn't let them look in it.

I've been in NH for almost a year now, and every weekend I go hiking. Here I also open carry (I have my CCW here, but don't have an easy access way of carrying concealed), and I have never had anyone stop or say anything to be about it, until a couple of weeks ago.

I was slogging up this hill when a NH Sheriff's car rolled up behind me. I stopped, he got out, asked if I was a vet and then asked if I was ok. I told him I was, gave him my name, and he got in his car and drove off. And this stop irritated the crap out of me.

It made me realize, just how broken California is. What I would have considered normal of CA, is not what I consider normal now. I remember when I first moved out here how...not alarmed or concerned but some measure of the two I was when I saw a woman in walmart take her jacket off and reveal a Kimber in a shoulder holster. My worry wasn't that she was going to draw down and start blasting people, but that I didn't know what training she had to use that weapon in a public place ($5 and two weeks of waiting will get you your CCW here, no classes, no finger prints, no sn pistol registration, etc).

Its like the bullet button thing. I know that a bullet button in an abomination to all things firearm related, and yet I still installed one, *****ed about it, and used it. It was normal. When I saw people at the range (public, open, and private) dropping mags with the press of a button, I wondered if they were breaking the law, law enforcement, or how they got an exemption.

That was normal. And it shouldn't be.

Oh and because it irritated me enough to ask, I contacted the Sheriff's department and asked them why they dispatched someone to check on me, when it was pretty obviously an open carry situtation. They responded a week later and told me I could FOI it and get the callers contact info, but they responded because the person who called it said I was obviously a vet, in a remote area, with a hand gun, and they were concnered I might be there to do myself harm. Which is an entirely different rant.

[VegasND]

Been there done that and will return within the next few years.

It would be proper to wave and spend some time visiting with the neighbor.

Let's say you are living in a remote but populated area and one day you see a man in camouflage pants, dark jacket, ball cap, large camouflaged frame backpack, and a pistol on his hip hiking up the road.

[kcjr1125]

I live in SD and area would matter in my decision. If I saw that in La Mesa I would probably be a little concerned because it would seem out of place but not call cops. I would maybe strike up a convo and feel for a vibe. If this was santee or lakeside on the other hand I would tip the hat and say good day to you sir.

[CBR_rider]

Long as he is just minding his own business I really don't care.

[mage]

No option for a drone strike?

...but really, MYOB.

[BakoJ]

Hey Sarge. I didn't feel like quoting your follow up post but you make some excellent points.

As to the reasoning for the stop, someone was looking out for you. While you have every right to feel offended by the RPs reason to call and the response of the LEO, it was simply a kind deed, a human looking out for a fellow human. I see how it must be irritating to think that because you're an open carrying vet, you may want to do yourself harm. My own experience has been that since I started working with vets lately, I've know a few who I've been genuinely concerned about. I don't feel like they'd ever hurt anyone but themselves. Nevertheless, I feel I have a responsibility to help my fellow American, especially ones who sacrifice so much for our country.

Now, if I see you rucking in my neck of the woods, I'd wave. Hell, I'd probably offer you a chair in the garage and a beer. I have no problem at all with open carry. It should be law.

As far as normal between California and everywhere else, this state is the most backwards, ****ed up state in the nation. Except for NY. And Illinois. Nothing is "normal" here.