Open carry at Whole Foods

[wireless]

A little while ago I went to Whole Foods around noon. This is the one on Lincolin in Venice. Lots of people are there, and it is liberal paradise filled with yoga people and vegans

As I was leaving there was a guy sitting in one of the high table/chairs right behind the check out line. He had a tucked in shirt, slacks, and semi dress shoes. The interesting thing was that he was Black so not your typical white, stereotypical cop. Also, his pants were grey and did not blend with his black firearm.


On his waste band he was openly carrying his sidearm. It was facing the check out line and all the people so it was very visible. I saw it right away. I sat at one of the booths so I could get a view and ate my lunch. I would say ten people out of the nearly one hundred people I saw pass him looked at his firearm. No one was scarred. No one was pointing. Employees weren't asking him to leave. The security guard (who openly carries himself) was by the check out exit where the plants. Even though he was far away, he didn't seem to notice at all.

I'm going to assume he was a police officer, but he did not have a badge that was visible. It's interesting because most people didn't even notice. It just goes to show you how consumed people are with their own lives to even notice someone open carrying. Now if it was someone like me, covered in tattoos, 23, tshirt+shorts, people would go crazy.

[mikenewgun87]

One way to confirm hes a cop...he had a glock 23....we know all cops carry .40...every single one of them...


Why didnt you just go up to him and talk to him? Makes it sound like you an attention to detail paying crazy stalker whos profiling everyone...

[MisplacedTexan]

Perhaps an off duty security guard for the store????? Did the slacks match the on duty one? (I don't shop Whole foods so I don't know their "uniform")
If it was an off duty employee (contractor - security) - that the checkers know - they wouldn't of course be concerned?
Gotta be a reason he had it open - even if not identifiable in uniform.

[wireless]

One way to confirm hes a cop...he had a glock 23....we know all cops carry .40...every single one of them...


Why didnt you just go up to him and talk to him? Makes it sound like you an attention to detail paying crazy stalker whos profiling everyone...

I was more interested in seeing people's reactions and then he left before I could say anything.

He definitely was not a guard. His clothes did not match any of their colors, and they have grey uniforms if I believe. He struck me as a homicide detective or maybe robbery unit, or sex crimes.

[teg33]

Or it could be me, lol.. Nah I'm not black

[greg36f]

A little while ago I went to Whole Foods around noon. This is the one on Lincolin in Venice. Lots of people are there, and it is liberal paradise filled with yoga people and vegans

As I was leaving there was a guy sitting in one of the high table/chairs right behind the check out line. He had a tucked in shirt, slacks, and semi dress shoes. The interesting thing was that he was Black so not your typical white, stereotypical cop. Also, his pants were grey and did not blend with his black firearm.


On his waste band he was openly carrying his sidearm. It was facing the check out line and all the people so it was very visible. I saw it right away. I sat at one of the booths so I could get a view and ate my lunch. I would say ten people out of the nearly one hundred people I saw pass him looked at his firearm. No one was scarred. No one was pointing. Employees weren't asking him to leave. The security guard (who openly carries himself) was by the check out exit where the plants. Even though he was far away, he didn't seem to notice at all.

I'm going to assume he was a police officer, but he did not have a badge that was visible. It's interesting because most people didn't even notice. It just goes to show you how consumed people are with their own lives to even notice someone open carrying. Now if it was someone like me, covered in tattoos, 23, tshirt+shorts, people would go crazy.

People simply don't pay attention to their surroundings. We have been on top of the food chain for so long that we simply don't feel the need to be aware I guess.

The good thing about this is that it makes it easy for you or I to avoid becoming a victim by simply "paying attention and being aware"!!

As soon as the bad guy sees you paying attention, he normally moves on to easier prey.

Just the other day, I was standing on a curb on a busy road near a stop sign. I was wearing a Tac vest and carrying a MP-5. just standing there on the curb no more than a few feet from cars going by at about 5 MPH because they had to slow for the stop. So close that I could look down into each and every passing car.

I began to keep track and out of about 30 cars, only two even noticed me. It was not the "don't make eye contact thing either", I can easily spot that.

Teach your wife and daughters to LOOK AROUND! Be aware! It could save their lives.

[omgwtfbbq]

As I was leaving there was a guy sitting in one of the high table/chairs right behind the check out line. He had a tucked in shirt, slacks, and semi dress shoes. The interesting thing was that he was Black so not your typical white, stereotypical cop. Also, his pants were grey and did not blend with his black firearm.

You're making a lot of assumptions about how LEOs dress that are pretty off-base. I'm not even going to touch the racial comment.

Based on your descriptions it's highly likely he is an LEO either coming or going to court, or one with an assignment that does not require him to wear a uniform (Detective, Parole Agent, Probation Officer etc.). Not really sure what the color of his pants clashing with his gun has to do with anything other than perhaps your personal fashion sense.

As far as not having a badge in plain view. it's probable he had a wallet badge on him.

[wireless]

You're making a lot of assumptions about how LEOs dress that are pretty off-base.

Right, which is why I have posted this thread seeking more insight.

I'm not even going to touch the racial comment.

Really, that's prejudice? To notice the color of his skin and tell you he didn't fit the sterotype of white male peace officer. Ha, please. If he was a woman would that make me sexist? I did not make any derogatory comments or insinuate anything negative.

Not really sure what the color of his pants clashing with his gun has to do with anything other than perhaps your personal fashion sense. Most did not. If it was black it would blend with his pants more, especially when someone is walking by leaving the grocery store.

The gun was clearly exposed. It did not blend in with his pants so I found it very noticeable.

[greg36f]

You're making a lot of assumptions about how LEOs dress that are pretty off-base. I'm not even going to touch the racial comment.

Based on your descriptions it's highly likely he is an LEO either coming or going to court, or one with an assignment that does not require him to wear a uniform (Detective, Parole Agent, Probation Officer etc.). Not really sure what the color of his pants clashing with his gun has to do with anything other than perhaps your personal fashion sense.

As far as not having a badge in plain view. it's probable he had a wallet badge on him.

It's possible that he was a LEO, but if so; it's pretty a pretty weak showing.

No ID (Badge) and no cover?

Not real smart and probably against most agency's policy.

[wireless]

It could have been on the other side of his belt facing the wall, but I couldn't see it from the angle he was sitting.

[greg36f]

It could have been on the other side of his belt facing the wall, but I couldn't see it from the angle he was sitting.

True

[Full Clip]

I have shopped there in Venice many times.
There are always at least two semi-uniformed armed guards within the store and another in the parking lot.
Who knew rich hippies were so dangerous?
But seriously, there are a lotta sketchy, twitchy characters at that store, and have you seen the price of their meat and produce? Criminal!

[kengotit]

here we go

[philobeddoe]

Always armed security inside and outside that location.

The 'rich hippies' are blissfully unaware of their environment,
but probably conditioned already to open carry by the security there.

There's a skid row behind that Whole Foods, and another at Rose & Hampton,
lots of tweakers, crackheads and Shoreliners
running around that part of town.

[wireless]

You can't eat outside without some homeless person trying to get money out of you for throwing your finished lunch.