Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Maybe I have just been fortunate in my encounters or who my neighbors are.

OC around the house is really no different than any other time or place - except that your comfort should be heightened by it being on "your terms" or turf. If someone wants to be snarky or argumentative, you bid them adieu and go inside or tell them to mind their own business.

The only way to "shake off the jitters" is to get out and do something and hopefully have a positive (or "non") experience. Every time you do it your confidence should go up. I still get a little nervous when I enter an establishment which I have never visited before with my wife and say a little prayer that the staff and/or management recognizes I am a law-abiding citizen and as a patron of their establishment there is very little incentive for them to deny me service based on my exercise of the 2nd Amendment.

I have been approached by law enforcement. I have never been disarmed. I have only twice (maybe three times?) been asked specifically about my firearm. I have never been told to "keep my hands where I can see them" or similar commands. I have performed on stages in my rock band in a couple of venues in Norfolk with law enforcement present while open carrying and never confronted.

I am also very defensive about people questioning the motivation for OC and if my responses came off as confrontational (and they kinda were) then I apologize. Ironically, I have had to defend OC against more pro-gun people than anti in my life.

It seemed to me that you asked for opinions and then got upset when you got one that you didn't like. I hope you will continue to OC at your leisure and discover that it is not the ballyhoo it is made out to be and that people who gripe about "bad" encounters are one of two things:

1) antagonists
2) exceptions

The antagonists go out and instigate encounters and really have only themselves to blame. The rest are like any other situation - wrong place, wrong time, officer having a bad day, etc.

There are good cops and bad cops, just like there are good people and bad people. The secret is to be prepared to meet either one and arm yourself with the tools to deal accordingly with each.

Best of luck and have a good day.

Thank you.

It is sad that you have been given a hard time for OC from pro-gun people. We ought not to eat our own.

In theory I think OC is the more wise and honest way to carry. My problem is me, I do not feel that I am knowledgable and confident enough yet to OC. Perhaps as I do more reading, and preparation (obtaining a voice recording ap for the iPod just in case) thinking up responses to the grumpiest. I will feel more ready to venture out. Baby steps perhaps, today the house, tomorrow the yard, etc. Thanks for all your help.

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When I started to OC, I really expected to have a conversation with every other person that I met.

The only hassle I've really gotten has been from my sisters. 3 of my 4 sisters (one of which CCs all the time) say I look silly. That's it.

Other than that, I've been asked "Why?" by the guy at the gas station and my boss.

For the most part, it seems like nobody notices that it's even there.

As for OCing around your house, well, it's YOUR house, and it's surrounded by YOUR yard. In my opinion, that's the one place on the planet where you have the most right to comfort.

I would imagine that your neighbors know you, especially if you are as friendly and pleasant as you have previously stated. And, if that's the case, they probably won't feel threatened if they see you with a gun strapped to your hip. OCing around people that you know is good practice for OCing around strangers.