Recent trip to Arizona

[tommypotatoes]

Forum newbie here...

I got my non resident CCW license from Utah last year, in advance of a recent road trip from Illinois to Arizonaand back. I did all of my homework ahead of time, including reading a week before my trip that New Mexico had just decided not to honor the Utah license anymore.

I've got to tell you, it was a strange experience... Concealed in this state, open in this one, in the glove box for this one and locked away and unloaded in two more. I felt like I should have an attorney with me, instead of my wife. One thing I noticed most was the lack of seeing any others who were carrying openly or those that I felt could be carrying concealed. But I guess if it's really concealed, I shouldn't notice, eh?

Other than the sense of my own possible paranoia, I could only say that there was one time that I was happy that I was carrying. We were stopped at a rest stop in Arizona, just after entering the state from New Mexico, and I parked the car in what seemed to be a good spot. My wife got out first and then I got out to get our dog out of the back of our SUV. My wife called me away from the car and said for me to move the car, because the guy in the next car had tried to start up a conversation with her and it made her real nervous. I went back to the car as if to check the rear door and saw that there were actually two guys in that car, and one of them had come out of the passenger side and was leaning on the back of their car, looking like he was sizing me up. The wife was right - they looked like dirtbags...

Well, I kind of pulled back my shirt as I reached into my pocket to dig out my keys, which revealed my .44 bulldog in a OWB holster for a moment, while I took a good look into both of their faces, before I got into the car and moved it well away from that spot.

Other than that, it was a trip that was only memorable for the scenery and the fact that carrying (concealed or open) sometimes made me feel more unconfortable than I had expected... Except for that one stop.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I would be careful. Deliberately exposing a concealed firearm with the express intention of intimidating someone may be considered an illegal action. If you want the deterrent value of your firearm it's better, IMHO, to simply open carry it to begin with.

And the uncomfortable feeling of carrying the firearm will go away with time.

 

[JSDinTexas]

In TX it could go as high as 'terroristic threat' not to mention, brandishing a weapon and a slew of other things - I spoke with a LEO about holstered firearm OC while answering my front door and he said that could start the whole process, and this was in my own home.

My best advice is no eye contact, ignore, go elsewhere, and if the threat comes your way, take care of business.

 

[Midnight]

"Why no, officer. I wasn't exposing my weapon with the intent to intimidate. I was just stretching after a long road trip, and my firearm became exposed as a result."

 

[Ringo]

In TX it could go as high as 'terroristic threat' not to mention, brandishing a weapon and a slew of other things - I spoke with a LEO about holstered firearm OC while answering my front door and he said that could start the whole process, and this was in my own home.

My best advice is no eye contact, ignore, go elsewhere, and if the threat comes your way, take care of business.

He was in Arizona, exposing his weapon the way he did here is considered a courtesy under the circumstances.:biggrin:

 

[tommypotatoes]

He was in Arizona, exposing his weapon the way he did here is considered a courtesy under the circumstances.:biggrin:

I like that response... Actually, since Arizona is both a CC and OC state, I think I was covered in both cases... Perhaps I was openly carrying in the first place, since I was wearing my weapon in an OWB holster, and my shirt was only momentarily covering it.. Nevertheless, we all left the area without any incident and had a marvelous trip...

 

[JSDinTexas]

He was in Arizona, exposing his weapon the way he did here is considered a courtesy under the circumstances.:biggrin:

Yeah, if I wasn't a diehard Texan, I would be there in a heartbeat :laugh:

 

[DonSmithnotTMD]

Sometimes these things are just things. I was in a rest area once. There were four guys hanging out by a car. All four of them started walking toward the visitor center as soon as my foot hit the sidewalk. Fortunately, I saw a big iron bar by the bathroom door, so I figured I would be oK for awhile. I went toward the bathroom, they kept going straight. Just one of those tings.