Not real concerned about concealed carriers, I encounter them all the time (whether I know they are carrying or not....mostly not) when I am off-rez here in my state. Never been a problem.

If my activities take my past them, I will say a polite hello, maybe even stop to inquire about them and their purpose.

"On a scale of one to ten, with ten being worse, how much does it hurt to be an ignorant jackass?"

Seriously...

Why?

While grabbing as much merchandise as I can hold. I might even have to run into a couple of other stores to warn employees- and pick up a couple of other items.

..."like" button here.

There's plenty of shit to get worked up about, people going about their business carrying guns is not one of them.

Even as a chairborne USAF, I know that they are clear and easy targets for attackers who would be bright enough to plan for that. Beyond that, I might say hi to them. Charlie Hedbo had a uniformed Paris cop as "security" at the front door. I would see the same flaw here.

After putting his arms/hands up to protect himself?

from what I understand, the PPD isn't armed like the national police.

and keeping a low profile. Out of sight, out of mind. If you are obvious, terrorists would add that into planning. On the other hand, they would be in a better than a single unarmed policeman.

to the public. I doubt these guys are offering permanent and plainclothes protection to military people, this kind of public action helps push the military and politicians to start allowing the soldiers to defend themselves.

by the AK47s. Here's one on duty--


https://www.news-journal.com/news/2015/jul/21/local-men-voluntarily-guard-longview-military-recr/

This is the kind of yahoo we're talking about--

LANCASTER, Ohio — An armed civilian accidentally fired a shot from an AR-15 rifle into the pavement outside a military recruiting center in Ohio on Thursday but no one was hurt, police said.

The incident occurred days after armed citizens started showing up at military recruiting centers around the country to act as guards following last week's killing of four Marines and a sailor in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/23/shot-fired-accidentally--ohio-military-recruiting-station/30584267/

targets that fight back.

armed targets, and the terrorists prefer the unarmed.

The willingness of Americans to help is helping to prod the military into action.

"The general tapped to be the next Army chief of staff said Tuesday that if legal issues could be resolved, he believes it would be appropriate, in some cases, to arm soldiers at recruiting stations."

"Four Marines and a sailor were killed Thursday in Chattanooga, Tennessee, by a gunman who authorities identified as Kuwait-born Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24.
Abdulazeez unleashed a barrage of fire at a recruiting center in Chattanooga, then drove several miles away to a Navy and Marine reserve center, where he shot and killed the Marines and wounded the sailor, who later died. Abdulazeez was shot to death by police>

The entire situation, as someone once said, "neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

Why should I be concerned? Looks like everybody is acting well within the law, at least in my state. Other states, that might be a whole other story...

Last edited Tue May 10, 2016, 02:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Avoiding any chance of being caught in the cross fire if they should meet up with whomever they expected.

Then talk about guns.

...handguns only.

No show-and-tell.

dim wits trying to intimidate people to make themselves feel tough. You asked.

Go on about my business.


I'm not sure I even know anybody, personally, that would do any different.

...handguns only.

Even eat and PAY for my meals.

as quickly as possible.

and go about my business. Whatever their intentions. They have weapons, are probably of the over-confident variety of people that always assumes they know exactly what a gun will do, the kind of people who have guns fall out of their pants, or go off when they are cleaning them, or "playfully" point it at others, taunting them that it "can't possibly go off". They probably have friends who likewise have guns, and maybe they are having personal grievances against some of them, maybe one of them will show up, maybe someone is sleeping with someone else's spouse and things are about to come to a head.
There are all sorts of complicated situations that are never improved with the presence of weapons, so I'd give them a wide berth, go about my business and come back when they've gone.

..of M - F, 8 am - 4 pm, rotated not to have anyone there for more than 2 or 3 days/week.

After one month, nothing else happened in the news, so they 'stood down.'

No negative incidents reported, military and local police were very positive in their appreciation.

that time, but the premise that there are incorruptible gun owners who will always be of sound reasoning and in control is not one I subscribe to.
Even cops, retired cops, military men, and the best trained in firearms use have drug and alcohol issues, marital problems, bankruptcy, custody battles, and the every day erosion of well-being. Exhibits A and B.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/03/pennsylvania_turnpike_killing.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/eulalio-tordil-maryland-shooting-suspect-shows-no-remorse-police-say/

Then watch the newspapers to see which one of them eventually shot his own ass.

ETA: I'd also review in my mind what would happen if a handful of armed black men in hoodies came to help them out. Or perhaps a handful of guys in turbans with guns.

If it's your typical OCer's than there's nothing to worry about.


Like any situation observe the individuals, do a threat assessment and move on. Something you should be doing on a regular basis anyway...

First, why would I give credence to any casual conversation I might overhear in a store? They are strangers to me, and their idle chatter is no more valid than any other gossip or hearsay as I might encounter throughout the day.

If I see a crowd of armed men showing off around a public venue, my impression is that they're about to commit a violent crime, I'd call 911 and let the cops decide what to do. if I see a soldier come out and shake hands, I would think his bravado was misplaced even if he might be attempting defuse the armed mob and calm them down before they start shooting.

Afterward, I would think those armed men were incredibly immature, thoughtless and irresponsible and they had no regard for other people or public safety. I'd probably light up social media with rants about some harebrained jerks who were grandstanding with guns and getting off on scaring people. Their foolish showboating might appear to be nothing more than egotistical performance art, but it only terrorizes the customers who came to shop but instead found an armed gang of vigilantes blocking the sidewalk.

To anyone who see them, they are just a bunch of armed strangers whose motives, background, training and skillset, is unknown, why would anyone trust them? If a bad guy approached them, what are they going to to? Do they all start shooting at once, firing into shoppers, the crowded parking lot and the busy street beyond, and shooting up the stores across the street? Who knows!

No, the whole premise is a disaster waiting to happen. You portray the gun exhibitionists as cops, as if the public would know that, or that excuses their reckless behavior, but cops have done some spectacularly ugly and stupid things under the cover of authority so there is no saving grace in that modifier. They demonstrated no regard for the peace of mind or safety of people who might have gotten in the way if their vanity gun project went awry.

"Cops? No they are not cops. Ex-cops, maybe. Ex-military.... civilians.... just helping out..."

The only information you have at that moment is hearsay.

I see what you're trying to do, but it's weak sauce, yeah?

How does an unsuspecting shopper know whether an armed man was once a cop, is a cop, maybe a cop wannabe, or some unfortunate ex-military person in the grips of an acute mental health crisis, from some common thug up to no good?

How would the casual observer recognize than a strange man with a gun is "just helping out"? How can anyone risk making such a foolish mistake in judgement that quite literally puts their well being in the hands of some nameless gunman with an unknown agenda?

Make of the situation what you will.

And also try see if they know specifics.

That will very likely what, if anything, I do in the future.