My holstered gun scared a Boston media wuss

[Bruce for NH State Rep]

Funny story.

I was helping out at Fred Thomson's NH campaign headquarters "Grand Opening" last Monday, which was held following his signing his paperwork in Concord to get on the ballot.

Seeing as I was going to meet Senator Thompson and his wife, I decided I would wear the .45, instead of pocketing the POS .25.

You know, "special occasion" and all.

So, I'm there at the campaign office in Manchester getting the place ready for Thompson to show up, and I'm doing some last minute work on the large signs I had put up out front.

Now, if you've ever tried using a power drill above your head while carrying in a holster under a sport coat on a windy day, you know that at some point, your sidearm will become quite visible.

So, I'm working on the sign, with my jacket flipping up in the wind, when one of the reporters there sees my scary gun and confronts on the the folks in charge of the campaign.

GFW reporter: Hey, [name redacted], is that guy working with you a police officer?

FDT Staffer: Um...no.

GFW reporter: But, he has a gun!

FDT Staffer: Um...so?

GFW reporter: It's sticking out!

FDT staffer: Um...yeah?

The staffer told me of this conversation on the phone that night. She thinks it was a Boston Globe reporter. Sadly, they didn't run the story about Fred Thompson supporters packing heat.

You can't buy that kind of good publicity.

 

[RKG]

Not to start a big discussion, but going armed when circulating in proximity to presidential candidates may not be the most prudent thing in the world to do. The dude you don't want to freak out isn't some reported, but a Secret Service guy. Could make for a long and uncomfortable evening.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Could make for a long and uncomfortable evening.

When I took the original ATF traning on NICS, one thing they menitoned was that the US Secret Service provides the NICS center with a list of persons the secret service has deemed a threat to the president and are to be summarily denied. Although the NRA has been squawking about the lack of due process for the proposed law that would allow the govt to declare someone a terroristic threat and add them to a NICS Prohibited list, the provision for the secret service to do this, even though not explicitly authorized by statute, has been in place from "day 1".

If you're spotted legally carrying in the vicinity of a candidate under SS protection, it would not be unreasonable to expect that you name will go on a list you really don't want to be on. ("Honey, there's a black Lincoln parked in front of the house again - is one of the candidates in town?")

 

[SnakeEye]

Not to start a big discussion, but going armed when circulating in proximity to presidential candidates may not be the most prudent thing in the world to do. The dude you don't want to freak out isn't some reported, but a Secret Service guy. Could make for a long and uncomfortable evening.

The last gun show I attended in Manchester had a presidential convention in the same hotel, on the same day and the same time. There were approximately 150+ armed, concealed carry citizens including myself and friends well within shooting distance to presidential hopefulls the entire day.

 

[Jose]

You think that's bad?

I show up to my local club's ISPC match last Saturday. I get asked to get my gear on. I pull up my sweatshirt and say, it's been on all day. So I get asked by the match director if I am a cop. I said no.

 

[Bruce for NH State Rep]

I don't think there was anyone there who wasn't aware of the fact that I was carrying. No problems. Got plenty of up close and personal time with them, got my pic taken with Fred and with Jeri.

Jeri even complimented my jacket - said it really brought out my eyes. Don't tell Fred.

Maybe I'll post that portion of the video too.

 

[jkelly]

You think that's bad?
I show up to my local club's ISPC match last Saturday. I get asked to get my gear on. I pull up my sweatshirt and say, it's been on all day. So I get asked by the match director if I am a cop. I said no.---jose

I don't get it, what's bad about a MD at a local USPSA match asking someone if they're a LEO?


jkelly

 

[Len-2A Training]

If the presidential candidates don't want to be near citizens lawfully carrying firearms then they can stay the hell out of New Hampshire. They're in OUR state and they can adhere to our laws and culture.

If that's not good enough for them then they can hit the road and go down to MA or some other socialist paradise.

Jim, I understand your sentiment, but the USSS don't have a sense of humor and look upon any armed individual near a candidate with massive suspicion . . . which is understandable.

That said, when Mayor (NYC) Koch spoke during his Presidential Campaign at a local synagogue I consciously decided to CCW. I chatted with one of our officers on the detail, nobody questioned me and nobody but I knew that I was carrying. It was many years ago and I don't recall if USSS was there or not (I assume so, now that I reflect back).

 

[dwarven1]

Jim, I understand your sentiment, but the USSS don't have a sense of humor and look upon any armed individual near a candidate with massive suspicion . . . which is understandable.

Given the run of asshats holding the highest office in our country for the last 20 years or so (when did Reagan step down again?), it's understandable. Frankly, I'm not sure that I'd miss any of the recent ones if they went away.

 

[Jose]

I don't get it, what's bad about a MD at a local USPSA match asking someone if they're a LEO?


jkelly

What's wrong is that apparently "guy carrying a concealed gun = off duty cop" is what first came to this match director's mind.

A shooter should know better.

 

[RKG]

You think that's bad?

I show up to my local club's ISPC match last Saturday. I get asked to get my gear on. I pull up my sweatshirt and say, it's been on all day. So I get asked by the match director if I am a cop. I said no.

I get asked this question every once in a while. My usual response is to look the questioner in the eye with Look No. 1 and say, "You mean 'police officer?'" And then walk away.

 

[Len-2A Training]

There are FUDDs in all areas of the shooting sports.

I used to get the most crap from pistol bullseye shooters who couldn't understand why anyone would carry a handgun!

 

[KMaurer]

On another list somebody was discussing a shoot at which the they decided to make things a little more realistic. When you checked in they asked you to show anything you were carrying at that moment. You were then only allowed to run the course with whatever gun and magazines you had on your person. No gun was an automatic DQ. No spare mags tended to really slow you down.

Ken

 

[Supermoto]

You think that's bad?

I show up to my local club's ISPC match last Saturday. I get asked to get my gear on. I pull up my sweatshirt and say, it's been on all day. So I get asked by the match director if I am a cop. I said no.

Maybe it was the MD's subtle way to inquire why you had a loaded gun, when the match are run with a cold range.

 

[Jose]

Maybe it was the MD's subtle way to inquire why you had a loaded gun, when the match are run with a cold range.

This gun club has no rule against carrying loaded, concealed weapons. I drove in that way and I walked in that way. When I got there I asked where the "safe area" was. There I relieved my mags from their hollow points, reloaded them with ball, and re-holstered and empty pistol.

 

[Supermoto]

This gun club has no rule against carrying loaded, concealed weapons. I drove in that way and I walked in that way. When I got there I asked where the "safe area" was. There I relieved my mags from their hollow points, reloaded them with ball, and re-holstered and empty pistol.

But USPSA (IPSC) runs a cold range and USPSA rules say no ammo in the safe area. You should have been DQed.

 

[Jose]

But USPSA (IPSC) runs a cold range and USPSA rules say no ammo in the safe area. You should have been DQed.

Whatever..........

 

[Supermoto]

Whatever..........

The safety rules are there for a reason. Thinking you are above them or that they don't apply to you, is arrogant and dangerous . Have some respect for your fellow shooters and follow the rules

 

[Rob Boudrie]

But USPSA (IPSC) runs a cold range and USPSA rules say no ammo in the safe area. You should have been DQed.

The USPSA rules that go into effect on 1/1/2008 provide that a competitor who arrives wearing a loaded gun who proceeds directly to a match official upon arrival for the purposes of clearing the gun shall not be disqualified. Guess who got that rule added

One nice thing about USPSA safety rules is that they are universal. Unlike the safety rules at some gun shows, you won't find an official at a USPSA match has declared that he "is also working event security and is thus not subject to the cold range rules." One set of rules for everyone, with no "special people" or "passes".

But USPSA (IPSC) runs a cold range and USPSA rules say no ammo in the safe area.

The "safe area" rules require no loadedfirearms ot handling of ammo. It is possible for a match to provide a "carry gun unloading area", generally near the entrance, for this purpose - but a USPSA match would never use the term "Safe area" to refer to such a location. A misunderstanding on this terminology difference could you get you DQ'ed.

 

[Jose]

The safety rules are there for a reason. Thinking you are above them or that they don't apply to you, is arrogant and dangerous . Have some respect for your fellow shooters and follow the rules

Maybe I'm just used to being treated like an adult at training events and shoots that use hot ranges.

Perhaps I will just stay away from IPSC and shoot the cowboy steel my way: reloading and reholstering when done engaging instead of opening and showing clear. After all, that's what I would do in case I needed a gun for real.

 

[Supermoto]

Maybe I'm just used to being treated like an adult at training events and shoots that use hot ranges.

Perhaps I will just stay away from IPSC and shoot the cowboy steel my way: reloading and reholstering when done engaging instead of opening and showing clear. After all, that's what I would do in case I needed a gun for real.

or perhaps Airsoft

 

[Jose]

or perhaps Airsoft

Spare me your idiotic comments. I don't really give a shit about gaming your sport. My handguns are defensive weapons and I prefer to always handle them they way I would when I need them for real.

 

[Admin]

enough

 

[dwarven1]

The safety rules are there for a reason. Thinking you are above them or that they don't apply to you, is arrogant and dangerous . Have some respect for your fellow shooters and follow the rules

You actually drive to the range, with NO loaded carry piece, with who knows how many thousands of dollars of guns and ammo safely neutered in your trunk?

My, what optimism.

 

[Len-2A Training]

You actually drive to the range, with NO loaded carry piece, with who knows how many thousands of dollars of guns and ammo safely neutered in your trunk?

My, what optimism.

Ross,

Almost 100% of the people who shot at my former clubs were like this. They looked aghast at anyone who carried a gun. And I'm not talking about any matches that forbid loaded guns, so there were no range rules to consider.

There was even some comments passed when a person sitting near me at a MF&G meeting noticed that the president was CCW'g. The comment had me aghast so that I asked Fred if there was any kind of rule against it (nope) . . . I know that there were a number of people at that meeting that were CCW'g and I don't want to be part of any club that prohibits that!

That's why I call them FUDDs!

 

[bostonasphalt2]

Spare me your idiotic comments. I don't really give a shit about gaming your sport. My handguns are defensive weapons and I prefer to always handle them they way I would when I need them for real.

wait a bloody second, WHO is making "idiotic comments"?? *sigh* unbelievable, you know that?

 

[jhrosier]

You actually drive to the range, with NO loaded carry piece, with who knows how many thousands of dollars of guns and ammo safely neutered in your trunk?

My, what optimism.

+1

I had to unload in my car at a couple of IDPA matches with cold ranges.
Darned inconvenient.
It is problematic to handle a firearm safely inside a motor vehicle, particulary if it involves armed front and back seat passengers.

Jack

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Perhaps I will just stay away from IPSC and shoot the cowboy steel my way: reloading and reholstering when done engaging instead of opening and showing clear. After all, that's what I would do in case I needed a gun for real.

You're obviously a far more grizzled veteran of the mean streets, and live a much more tactical lifestyle that the various police officers, federal agents and air marshalls who shoot USPSA/IPSC matches and are actually able to follow the match rules.

 

[jamz]

At my range, they specifically state in the briefing that if you are carrying your competition gun, find a RO who will bring you to the firing line and clear the weapon at that point. No big deal.

I love my range.

 

[JAMMIN]

I have a lot of hang ups about my old club, but for one thing the owner was very clear about was that anyone who worked at the range carried open at the range. Most of the guys had 1911's and a few HK's and all were always openly cocked and locked. I had said in an earlier post that due to the fact the range is open to the public and unlicensed people can come in and rent guns, they had a couple situations in 2 of there 3 different locations that they have set up shop at where someone rented a gun and blew there heads off. How do you know under those circumstances some asshat ain't gonna want to take someone with them? If you are ALLOWED to carry a gun in the environment you are in you should carry a gun.