This has been bugging me.

[Wyldk2]

Well, it think i'm right on this but want the advice of my fellow HCP holders.

I work for a local company and one of my co-workers works part-time at Wal-mart( when off from the first job). I was in there at night shopping, and apparently part of my pistol was showing as i checked out( he was acting as a greeter, saw the gun). He knows i carry and have a permit. The only place i will not carry(even if it is legal) is work. I leave the gun locked up in the suv. Mind you, i don't carry where it is illegal to do so and won't carry where posted.

Now, i was in work the very next day and he tells me i ought to not carry into wal-mart( even though it is allowed). I figure, either i need a smaller pistol or a better concealment holster. But before when i have carried, even if someone caught a glimpse of part of the pistol i have never had a problem, never been called the cops on, and never been asked to leave.

Just wondering if i should just ignore his advice or heed it and leave the gun in the car when in wal-mart? But anything can happen during that walk from the store to the truck, can happen so fast those cameras they have everywhere can't do a darn thing to prevent something from happening.

Sorry for the book, Thanks in advance.

[Guest President Fernatt]

Just smile at him and nod...then completely disregard. If you are still concerned about his opinion and potentially being called out again in the future, just get a better holster for concealed carry. I wouldn't downsize though unless you have a massive pistol or extra cash to just toss away on a more compact gun. I say ignore your co-worker and do your thing.

(although, if he secretly has it out for you, he may tell his management at walmart that you were acting suspicious and he saw a gun... which may lead to them asking you to leave or maybe even calling police) Just try not to see him if you go to walmart next time.

[VERO1]

Personally, I would wait until break time at work and then slap the dog snot out of him for being stupid! I am however, a cranky S.O.B., with a low tolerance for stupidness! Is he perhaps jealous of you and your permit?

[Caster]

Honestly, I'd HAVE to tell him that he is certainly entitled to his opinion, and likewise he is more than welcome to kiss the cheek of his choice; on my butt. I would also have to tell him that while appreciate his point of view and input, that I would like him to kindly keep nose out of my business.

[jtmaze]

I would just avoid the conflict and not worry about his opinion. I generally OC in Walmart under an untucked shirt.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Ignore him and avoid him at work. Never know if he could be two faced and tell your boss you have a gun on company premises which would constitute a vehicle search.

I'd stay away from him.

[Guest jackdm3]

"Working Friendship"/

[Wyldk2]

Personally, I would wait until break time at work and then slap the dog snot out of him for being stupid! I am however, a cranky S.O.B., with a low tolerance for stupidness! Is he perhaps jealous of you and your permit?

Oh, i'd like to do that for other reasons( slap the dog snot out of him). But that would probably get me fired or make an enemy out of him. Normally, we get along fine, it was just this one incident where he made his suggestion. Which I am going to ignore and try to get a better conealment holster soon. I carry a Glock 23 in a Fobus paddle holster(concealed of course) and now that the weather has been getting a bit cooler, I'll probably not have to worry about the shirt exposing part of my gun since having to wear a jacket of some sort. But still, I'll probably be getting a better holster for when it warms back up.

The co-worker is 49 and kinda opinionated, but he is welcome to his opinion. Not that I'll believe everything he says.

I try not to see him when i go( he's usually working the checkouts) I prefer the self check-outs, but after a certian time they are shut down.

I asked my boss at work if i could have a weapon on premises, he told me as long as i leave it in the car when at work i would be fine. It stays in the suv when i am on the clock. ( I am not the only one at my job with a permit or a pistol in the vehicle).

Figured as much, thought I would see what everyone else thought before i did anything. Thanks for the back-up.

Edited October 24, 2011 by Wyldk2

[Guest bkelm18]

Ignore him. It is completely legal to carry there unless posted.

[TGO David]

1. Bone up on your understanding of the law in TN so that the opinion of morons doesn't bother you.

2. Carry where legally allowed.

3. Profit.

[daddyo]

My sister says she's uncomfortable with me carrying at family gatherings. She is one of those who hasn't thought it through, and somehow thinks that private homes (hers in particular) are somehow immune to a break-in because she lives in a gated community and has a false sense of security.

I carry on my ankle when I go to her house (to avoid being made) and she is none the wiser.

Your friend doesn't set Walmart policy, and my understanding is that they are just fine with concealed carry by citizens with permits to do so.

[Lumber_Jack]

Early on in my carrying, my wife would ask "are you taking your gun (insert destination)?" I would reply "well yeah" as if she were the odd one for asking. Now she doesn't ask anymore.

If mentioned again I would politely remind him that what I did off the clock was not the business of him or my employer, as I am acting with the laws of TN.

[Will Carry]

You may not need a pistol IN Walmart but the parking lot is a different matter. I always carry in Walmart. Everybody carries in wally World.

[Guest Broomhead]

Instead of completely ignoring him, just ignore his advice. I would bring it up in a quiet conversation on break/lunch. Something to the effect of, "Hey, the other day you mentioned that I shouldn't carry my gun here when I'm on my own time. Why do you think/feel I shouldn't?" He could simply be ignorant of the law and think that since Wal-Mart sells alcohol that you can't, or that Wal-Mart doesn't allow it. Don't be belligerent, let your emotions get the better of you, or just walk all over him in the conversation. Let him talk and listen to what he says, then reply with facts and direct verbiage from the TCA. Do some research beforehand and write it down if you don't think you can remember it. You may open his eyes some.

Or, he could just be a belligerent, opinionated guy that is scared that your gun is going to jump out of your holster and start shooting everyone. You never know.

[daddyo]

Fact is, no one knows when or where they will need their firearm.

Trouble doesn't make an appointment.

[JayC]

I wish somebody in my family would ask me not to carry.... that would be the perfect excuse for never going over there I have the exact opposite problem, I get hassled by my family if I don't have both of my carry guns with me

My sister says she's uncomfortable with me carrying at family gatherings. She is one of those who hasn't thought it through, and somehow thinks that private homes (hers in particular) are somehow immune to a break-in because she lives in a gated community and has a false sense of security.

I carry on my ankle when I go to her house (to avoid being made) and she is none the wiser.

Your friend doesn't set Walmart policy, and my understanding is that they are just fine with concealed carry by citizens with permits to do so.

[Mike.357]

Nod and smile and carry on

[TMF]

Even at the Walmarts in quiet little Clarksville we've had regular violent crimes to include murder, attempted kidnappings (armed), armed robbery and so on. I was actually in one when a gang fight broke out at the Exit 4 Walmart. My wife and I fled to the other side of the store because I figured the bullets would start flying soon. If I couldn't carry at Walmart I wouldn't go.

[Guest WyattEarp]

Oh, i'd like to do that for other reasons( slap the dog snot out of him). But that would probably get me fired or make an enemy out of him. Normally, we get along fine, it was just this one incident where he made his suggestion. Which I am going to ignore and try to get a better conealment holster soon. I carry a Glock 23 in a Fobus paddle holster(concealed of course) and now that the weather has been getting a bit cooler, I'll probably not have to worry about the shirt exposing part of my gun since having to wear a jacket of some sort. But still, I'll probably be getting a better holster for when it warms back up.

The co-worker is 49 and kinda opinionated, but he is welcome to his opinion. Not that I'll believe everything he says.

I try not to see him when i go( he's usually working the checkouts) I prefer the self check-outs, but after a certian time they are shut down.

I asked my boss at work if i could have a weapon on premises, he told me as long as i leave it in the car when at work i would be fine. It stays in the suv when i am on the clock. ( I am not the only one at my job with a permit or a pistol in the vehicle).

Figured as much, thought I would see what everyone else thought before i did anything. Thanks for the back-up.

if your boss is fine with you leaving it in your vehicle while on the clock and you're not violating company policy, then I'd tell the friend to remove his nose from your business and worry about himself.

My mother hates the fact I now have my permit and handgun, but like I tell her, it's my choice, it's my right to own a firearm, and I'm excercising the privilege to carry here in the state of Tennessee. I asked her if she'd rather me not bring it in the house when I come to visit and she said she didn't mind, but she just doesn't like guns. I just asked her this "How much more would you dislike to get a phone call one night saying I was carjacked and shot/killed, and someone's asking you to come identify my body?" That gave her something to think about.

At least now she knows I can defend myself and protect my own life, and those of others in the event it is necessary.

[Caster]

I just asked her this "How much more would you dislike to get a phone call one night saying I was carjacked and shot/killed, and someone's asking you to come identify my body?" That gave her something to think about.

That's just mean man! To get her mind dwelling on something like that.

It's the absolute gospel mind you and I agree 150%, but good mothers worry and you just made it worse:)

[MphsTiger1981]

my brother and I had a very similar conversation this weekend while at my son's wedding reception in the in-law's back yard. he has been on the job for two different agencies for well over 20 years now. he said he didn't get the young guys who carry all the time off duty. I just smiled, smoked my cigar, and nodded...all the while my S&W 642 was sitting nicely tucked away in the Galco Ankle Glove...

[dralarms]

I carry everywhere I go. My mom hates guns. Guess it comes from an abusive husband pulling one on you enough times and you get to hate them. On my last trip she asked me what the thing hanging off my holster was. It was my thumb release but she is coming around.

[Guest ArmaDeFuego]

Its legal to carry in Wal-Mart but you never know when one of the managers will wig out & tell you to cover it or leave. I usually semi-OC in Walmart. I carry in an OWB holster with my shirt kind of pulled down over it, so it would be easily recognizable to anyone looking that I was carrying, but its not really showing. Just a giant bulge.

Usually when I get to the register & have a cartload full of junk, thats when I pull my shirt out & go full OC. I figure a manager wouldnt ask me to leave at that point because I am about to check out & am gonna make a giant purchase. Plus if I leave then they have to take all the time to restock all the crap in my cart. I always OC to & from my car in the parking lot. Wal-Mart parking lots can be dangerous places.

Honestly though it doesnt seem to be a big deal at the Wal-Mart I go to. I usually shop at one in KY to avoid state sales tax, & its legal to OC there even without a permit, & usually about half the time I'm in there I will spot 1 or 2 other people OCing.

[Guest JeremyD901]

Out here in millington,TN about 3 years ago a female friend of mine was forced in her car at gun point. The man made her drive about 15 miles away raped her robbed her and stole her car. This is all bad but what makes it worse was it was 4pm still daylight and very busy. I'd say carry it if u can.

[Titansfan]

I carry on Wal-Mart quite often and concealed. I carry a Glock 17; used to in a paddle holster. Leaving Wal-Mart once in Huntingdon, TN, the employee at the door was giving me the eye. She anticipated the shop-lifting buzzer to go off. Guess she thought I was stealing. Anyway, I just kept walking.

As for your friend, I work with liberals and gun-grabbers. I make it a point to avoid the political conversations, which would led me calling them Communists and inform them that 'worker's paradise' is just a 90-mile float away form Key West, FL.