Got into a confrontation at the Sportsmans Warehouse in Loveland today...

[JohnnyEgo]

So before I begin this story, I should acknowledge up front that I brought this on myself through a poor choice of cover garments. Acknowledging this fact rationally does not, however, make me any less irrate.

My 3 year old was getting house crazy this morning, so I took him on a ride with me to get him out of the house and give my wife some alone time. We went to the Fort Collins Mall where he played in the cesspit / indoor play area for about an hour. Then we went to Jensens to pick up a bottle of MPro7, and Starbucks just because we both love Starbucks. On the way back, my boy said he didn't want to go home. So we went into Sportsmans Warehouse to pick up some cleaning patches and look at the (literally) 'stuffed animals'.

After doing the in-the-cart / out-of-the-cart / on-Daddy's-Shoulders / under-the-cart / back-in-the-cart olympics with my son, we wandered over to the gun counter. They had a Ruger Bearcat Shopkeeper out that I wanted to take a look at. I engaged in a short conversation with the gun counter guy about the various size models of the Bearcat. An older (50s/60s) guy wandered up next to us, and the counter guy asked how he could help. The 'customer' asked if all guns were supposed to be checked at the front. The counter guy asked if customer guy had a gun to check, at which point the customer guy pointed to me. I looked to my side, and sure enough, my coat had ridden up and part of the grip of my 1911 was exposed.

I apologized to the customer for exposing my firearm, and slid my jacket back over it. The customer then asked the counter guy what he was going to do about this. Now I was irritated. I asked customer guy if he was offended or concerned about the fact that I had a firearm. He wouldn't look me directly in the eye. He just kept stating that everyone has to check their guns at the front of the store. Now there was a small crowd of customers around. I asked the customer if he felt I should leave the store. Again, he just kept looking at the counter guy and saying that everyone should have to follow the rules.

The counter guy looked pretty uncomfortable. He turned to me and said that it was true they had the rule. I advised that I would leave the store. He said that I didn't have to leave, I just needed to check the firearm. I thanked him for his time and advised him that I would leave anyways. So I collected my toddler and headed to the front of the store, while he kicked and screamed about not getting to see the animals.

In the moment, all I could think of was 'wearing a gun, need to be polite'. Decided that wasn't the time to argue about store policy, individual rights, or whether my individual right trumped that of the property owners. I'd been publicly outed as violating the store policy, we'd already made enough of a scene, and I had my toddler with me. So I didn't raise my voice, didn't scream/swear/show out. I simply left.

I thought about this a lot on the way home. I knew the store policy when I entered. I had not realized that my gun was exposed, and I made a poor choice of cover garment for lots of bending, lifting, and moving screaming toddlers about. So I'll be the first to admit I have been robbed of the righteous part of my indignation. However, in this situation, the customer had several options. He could have politely pointed out that my firearm was exposed. He could have said nothing. Or he could have waited until I had left the vicinity to advise the counter guy that I was violating store policy. Instead, he chose to call attention to my error in a way so that it was public and I knew he did it. And I think that is what makes him a dick.

[Jumpstart]

"And I think that is what makes him a dick." This.

[newracer]

I thought their policy was to check any firearm that was going to be serviced and CCW did not need to be checked.

[brutal]

"And I think that is what makes him a dick." This.

Ditto this

I thought their policy was to check any firearm that was going to be serviced and CCW did not need to be checked.

Ditto this. Every sign I've sen in any "sportman's" outdoor store has been related to weapons to be serviced or otherwise needing to be unholstered. Concealed means concealed.

And I'll add again, the other guy was a complete dick and I would have called him a dick to his face before I left the store.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Dont worry too much about that asshole.. he is probably still butthurted about standing in line for hours to register his guns in MA -- while the braves resist!

I never checked my guns anywhere.. Either I left them in my vehicle or carry concealed.

[TriggerHappy]

I give this rant a 2/10. Guy sounds like a D-bag. There's always a couple out there. Good job not telling him to pound sand..

[blacklabel]

I thought their policy was to check any firearm that was going to be serviced and CCW did not need to be checked.

That was my impression as well. I sure as hell don't check in my concealed handgun when I walk through their doors.

[JohnnyEgo]

I'm inexperienced at ranting. I am normally a very low conflict sort of guy, and don't often find myself in rant-worthy exchanges. I'll try to do better next time, god forbid.

[kidicarus13]

The customer was an ass. You should have exited stage left without comment although I would've said something to the customer also. You'll be more careful with cover garments in the future. Life goes on.

[Great-Kazoo]

I'm inexperienced at ranting. I am normally a very low conflict sort of guy, and don't often find myself in rant-worthy exchanges. I'll try to do better next time, god forbid.

you sure as shit better.