VA Convience Store Employees Afraid of Open Carry Guns

[Jdon90]

Hey I live in a mid-size city in the heart of VA "Lynchburg". If you have not heard of it it is famous for Liberty University, the largest private christian universitiy. I work at a convience store called Sheetz, we always have to wear headsets to stay communicated wherever we are. So here is the point, Everytime someone has an open carry firearm "which is completly legal in VA." People flip out! I tell everyone its completley fine thats normal and those are going to be the people saving us if a robbery, theft, or hold-up occurs. I am personally proud to be a firearm carrier and although I don't have a very good handgun (hi-point) I carry it most places. It is the people that you don't see carrying guns that you should worry about. I am pretty sure there are some or alot of "typos" in here. So just don't be an ass!
Thank you and share your thoughts,
Joey

 

[jameshd]

...I don't have a very good handgun (hi-point) I carry it most places...

Just because the Hi-Point is not expensive doesn't mean it's not very good. I've been carrying one (concealed) for a few years now and have never had any problems with it, once I had broken it in with a couple boxes of ammo. And don't worry about typos; they give others something to be peeved about.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Hey I live in a mid-size city in the heart of VA "Lynchburg". If you have not heard of it it is famous for Liberty University, the largest private christian universitiy. I work at a convience store called Sheetz, we always have to wear headsets to stay communicated wherever we are. So here is the point, Everytime someone has an open carry firearm "which is completly legal in VA." People flip out! I tell everyone its completley fine thats normal and those are going to be the people saving us if a robbery, theft, or hold-up occurs. I am personally proud to be a firearm carrier and although I don't have a very good handgun (hi-point) I carry it most places. It is the people that you don't see carrying guns that you should worry about. I am pretty sure there are some or alot of "typos" in here. So just don't be an ass!
Thank you and share your thoughts,
Joey

What do you mean when you say "you tell everyone"? are you referring to other employees, or customers? I am frequently in various Sheetz
stores here in PA and I've never had a problem. It is my understanding that Sheetz does not have a policy that prohibits lawful carry.

If it is fellow employees who are 'flipping out' have you talked about this at a weekly meeting?

 

[SCTom]

I don't open carry and probably never will...but 99% or the time I'm carrying, legally. Am I someone you need to worry about? Poor word selection there pal.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Do they flip out scared call 911? Or is more like teenage high school rumor mill, "hey hey did you see the guy with the gun? ?" Flip out?

Sent from my HTCONE using USA Carry mobile app

 

[Curmudgeon]

I don't open carry and probably never will...but 99% or the time I'm carrying, legally. Am I someone you need to worry about? Poor word selection there pal.

Who are you asking? It helps to quote the post to which you are responding/replying.

 

[SCTom]

Who are you asking? It helps to quote the post to which you are responding/replying.


sorry, I mistakenly assumed you read the initial post. that better?

 

[Jdon90]

Just because the Hi-Point is not expensive doesn't mean it's not very good. I've been carrying one (concealed) for a few years now and have never had any problems with it, once I had broken it in with a couple boxes of ammo. And don't worry about typos; they give others something to be peeved about.

The thing about my hi-point .45 is when I got a new mag for it, it started jamming. I keep it under my pillow at night, just in case. Another thing is sometimes the magazine comes out of the gun if I have not picked it up in a while. It is a durable gun, and if you run out of ammo you can just throw it at someone and at least knock them unconcious. Also about the peeved off thing, you are absolutley right. "If you are not pissing someone off, you're doing something wrong."

 

[Jdon90]

What do you mean when you say "you tell everyone"? are you referring to other employees, or customers? I am frequently in various Sheetz
stores here in PA and I've never had a problem. It is my understanding that Sheetz does not have a policy that prohibits lawful carry.

If it is fellow employees who are 'flipping out' have you talked about this at a weekly meeting?

It is not really something to talk about in our meetings, which are actually every month. Yes Sheetz does not prohibit lawful carry guns in our store, or most places in VA. I am fairly certain that you cannot take one in a bank or courtroom, but most other places you can. People are people so when you have someone who dosnt like/prefer guns what do you think will happen.

 

[Jdon90]

I don't open carry and probably never will...but 99% or the time I'm carrying, legally. Am I someone you need to worry about? Poor word selection there pal.

Maybe you didn't see the part where it says, "don't be an ass." Also I really don't know you could be drunk or on some hardcore drugs or something. I don't believe that would happen but with the way the economy is right now I think anything is possible. "Expect the unexpected."

 

[Curmudgeon]

It is not really something to talk about in our meetings, which are actually every month. Yes Sheetz does not prohibit lawful carry guns in our store, or most places in VA. I am fairly certain that you cannot take one in a bank or courtroom, but most other places you can. People are people so when you have someone who dosnt like/prefer guns what do you think will happen.

As far as your meetings are concerned, you still have not specified whether those who are flipping out are employees or customers. Obviously employee's reactions can be addressed in meetings. Customers, not so much. That's why I asked.

In my five years of open carry I have never once had anyone "flipping out" because they don't like or prefer guns, yet in your OP you state that this happens "every time"? Considering the many reports of open carry being well-received throughout Virginia for years now I'm thinking you may be exaggerating just a bit? What do you think?

As far as what I think will happen when I encounter people who don't like or prefer guns, I do not alter my day or my activities, or method of carry, on an irrational hypothetical that may or may not occur. My experience shows that a negative encounter is extremely unlikely, and I have had literally hundreds of very positive experiences and encounters. I am prepared for someone to "flip out", and I'm still waiting.

During most of my 48 years in Maryland all I heard was the liberal anti-gun rhetoric about "you can't do that, people will blah, blah, blah", you name it. People will flip out, people won't like it, my God what if a child saw it, the streets will run red with the blood of the innocent.... all ridiculous. So, in order to establish the truth for myself, I started open carrying when I moved to Pennsylvania. And I discovered: no one flips out, no one doesn't like it (that I can tell), when children see it they point and smile (especially when I wink and smile back), and the streets do not run red with the blood of the innocent. Instead, I have helped to educate hundreds and I have demonstrated that the anti-gun rhetoric is a pack of agenda-driven lies. I have had the most wonderful and supportive conversations with "people", various employees, and many law enforcement officers. So I "expect" that to continue to be the norm. At least here in PA.

Maybe one day Virginia folks will calm down and acclimate themselves to the sight of liberty. :wink:
One can hope.

 

[Chris Rakes]

thanks for you post JDON, i don't really know why these guys are picking on you. you said people on the headsets, why would the customers be on the headsets. must be some old farts with nothing else to do

i have actually stopped in that Sheetz store, of course open carrying

people in VA are probably more used to seeing people OC then any other state. the OP was just relating how some things goes on in the background

BTW, it is totally legal to carry in a bank in VA

 

[localgirl]

I would suggest you just raise your eyebrows and look at them like they just said the dumbest thing ever.

Or, say "Huh, maybe you should call the cops." Just so you could sit back and enjoy the show. But I have a pretty twisted sense of humor.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I would suggest you just raise your eyebrows and look at them like they just said the dumbest thing ever.

Or, say "Huh, maybe you should call the cops." Just so you could sit back and enjoy the show. But I have a pretty twisted sense of humor.

Link Removed


I think we're supposed to hand them our cell phone when we do that, but I'm not crazy about handing my cell over
to someone I already think is crazy. I may offer to dial the number for them though! :biggrin:

 

[wolf_fire]

Well jimminy crickets and heaven's thunder. I had no idea you'd have to worry about little ole me since I normally carry concealed. I must be one of the bad guys except when I uncover my firearm, then POOF I'm a good guy again.

I agreed with everything you said in your post up to:

It is the people that you don't see carrying guns that you should worry about.

I certainly hope you meant that "It's the people that you don't see carrying guns that are doing it illegally that you should be worried about."

 

[Jdon90]

As far as your meetings are concerned, you still have not specified whether those who are flipping out are employees or customers. Obviously employee's reactions can be addressed in meetings. Customers, not so much. That's why I asked.

In my five years of open carry I have never once had anyone "flipping out" because they don't like or prefer guns, yet in your OP you state that this happens "every time"? Considering the many reports of open carry being well-received throughout Virginia for years now I'm thinking you may be exaggerating just a bit? What do you think?

As far as what I think will happen when I encounter people who don't like or prefer guns, I do not alter my day or my activities, or method of carry, on an irrational hypothetical that may or may not occur. My experience shows that a negative encounter is extremely unlikely, and I have had literally hundreds of very positive experiences and encounters. I am prepared for someone to "flip out", and I'm still waiting.

During most of my 48 years in Maryland all I heard was the liberal anti-gun rhetoric about "you can't do that, people will blah, blah, blah", you name it. People will flip out, people won't like it, my God what if a child saw it, the streets will run red with the blood of the innocent.... all ridiculous. So, in order to establish the truth for myself, I started open carrying when I moved to Pennsylvania. And I discovered: no one flips out, no one doesn't like it (that I can tell), when children see it they point and smile (especially when I wink and smile back), and the streets do not run red with the blood of the innocent. Instead, I have helped to educate hundreds and I have demonstrated that the anti-gun rhetoric is a pack of agenda-driven lies. I have had the most wonderful and supportive conversations with "people", various employees, and many law enforcement officers. So I "expect" that to continue to be the norm. At least here in PA.

Maybe one day Virginia folks will calm down and acclimate themselves to the sight of liberty. :wink:
One can hope.

Dude that was really good what you said. By "flipping out" I mean they just won't shut up about it.Also I definatley ment the employees. I love the fact that you educate people around you about guns and I think its really cool. About the liberals, me and my roomate seen some "hipster" or whatever you call it near our neighborhood. We said we should cut down their trees so they had a reason to leave. LOL

 

[Jdon90]

thanks for you post JDON, i don't really know why these guys are picking on you. you said people on the headsets, why would the customers be on the headsets. must be some old farts with nothing else to do

i have actually stopped in that Sheetz store, of course open carrying

people in VA are probably more used to seeing people OC then any other state. the OP was just relating how some things goes on in the background

BTW, it is totally legal to carry in a bank in VA

Really didn't know that about the banks. My old bank had a sign posted that had restricted pictures (the ones with the slashed out circle) of hats, sunglasses, and guns. This is when you go through the drive-thru, although I did not see one inside when I went. Also the customers are not on the headsets, we just have them to communicate if there is any rif-raf going on.
Thanks

 

[Jdon90]

Well jimminy crickets and heaven's thunder. I had no idea you'd have to worry about little ole me since I normally carry concealed. I must be one of the bad guys except when I uncover my firearm, then POOF I'm a good guy again.

I agreed with everything you said in your post up to:

I certainly hope you meant that "It's the people that you don't see carrying guns that are doing it illegally that you should be worried about."

Totally agree with you. I really don't want to be like the liberal media so thank you for clarifying that for me.

 

[wolf_fire]

Totally agree with you. I really don't want to be like the liberal media so thank you for clarifying that for me.

NO problem. :smile:

And I noticed you answered everyone in your thread. I respect that.

 

[Chris Rakes]

Well jimminy crickets and heaven's thunder. I had no idea you'd have to worry about little ole me since I normally carry concealed. I must be one of the bad guys except when I uncover my firearm, then POOF I'm a good guy again.

I agreed with everything you said in your post up to:

I certainly hope you meant that "It's the people that you don't see carrying guns that are doing it illegally that you should be worried about."

actually i always say it's the ones you can't see that you have to worry about. it's not all BG that conceal, but it is all BGS conceal :yes4: