I walked up to a checkout line at the Wal-Mart, and was pleased to see another open carrier ahead of me. I asked if I could take his picture, and he was pleasant and accommodating. I heard him joking with the checkout lady. It was obvious that he was a regular customer. It looks like a real working outfit to me, not one worn just for style . . .

He agreed to have another picture taken in the entrance, to show the pistol a bit more clearly. We talked for a bit about the few locations that still ban guns in Yuma. He is carrying an Israeli made Jerico pistol in 9mm. The Jerico is a clone of the world famous CZ-75. The pistol is made in Israel and has a good reputation.

I did not catch the open carrier’s name, but he said that he carried a .45 on duty with the Sheriff’s Posse. He picked up the holster at a gun show, and did not have a brand for it. He carried a spare mag in a leather mag carrier on the left side. His whole outfit practically shouted “Every Day Carry.” I doubt that there are many places that he goes unarmed. How great is that?

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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67 COMMENTS

  1. I didn’t know open carrying elevated one to celebrity status. If you’re ever in Mesa you can come take my pic while I’m at Fry’s or Home Depot or…… hell anywhere really, since I’ll be OCing.

    • LOL, I was open carrying while I was in Phoenix… well mainly Peoria, AZ. Around the 75th and Cactus area. Went in to the Fry’s there to pick up things quite a few times over the three weeks I was there. Saw one other person open carry what looked like a lcp or lc9 in a nylon holster. I carry a S&W M&P40 in a BlackHawk SERPA holster.

      • Most interesting pistol I’ve seen openly carried was an FN Five Seven.Took me a minute to identify.Saw that in Tempe.

  3. Was expecting a Colt peacemaker rather than a CZ clone. But good for him to keep things original. OC, CC take your pick, I like both and sometimes carry both ways at the same time.

        • Au contraire.

          Depends on the .45.

          If you are talking the mil-spec as with some of the Colts I used in the Army, I might be able to agree. However I have a couple of Springfield mil-spec’s and a couple of Marine Corps Operator 1911’s that are on an equal par with my CZ’s for reliability, the only difference being caliber, mag size and some operational characteristics.

          Those 1911 MCO’s are at LEAST as competent, and reliable, as my CZ’s, and I love me the CZ’s I own. My go-to carry weapon is the P-01 for reasons of size and utility, reliability and accuracy.

          I also from time to time will wear one of my stainless Springfield mil-spec 1911’s just for a change of pace. Though not as accurate at distance as the 1911 MCO’s or the CZ’s, the mil-specs are equally as competent for a close quarters defensive use – which is what it is intended for and for which it will most likely be needed – and equally as reliable as my CZ’s.

        • I hear this a fair amount actually (only with different guns depending on whom), and when I try the specified gun (or talk to someone who has) they fail, quite miserably sometimes. However, I’ll caveat that by saying in many cases it’s a range rental. I’ll counter-caveat that by stating that sometimes the guy behind the counter is adamant that the gun has in fact been cleaned recently, or in some cases he was the last person to shoot it and it was flawless for him… OK, dude, you’ve removed the gun’s only possible excuse, and I found it to be a piece of shit.

          But my general observations are: 1) I’ve shot far more rounds out of my 75s than I’ve *seen* shot through 1911s, either by myself or by others. 2) I’ve seen/experienced far more 1911 feed ramp failures than I’ve had trouble with my CZ-75s (even without removing the difficulties I had with a certain underloaded brand of ammo–Federal Champiosquib in the aluminum case, I’m looking at you–in my full size). Which leads me to conclude that 3) “a 1911” (which is what the guy I replied to said) in general will be less reliable than a CZ even if specific ones might be as good.

          I suspect even a good brand has its lemons. And in many cases range rentals simply aren’t properly cared for–they needn’t be cleaned every time they’re shot but ought to be after a hundred rounds or so. And I’ve seen ones that were NEVER lubed–I think I’ve managed to raise my local range’s consciousness on this issue somewhat, by condemning the owner’s favorite gun brand loudly because his rental had just failed on me. That might have lost him a sale, but he’s less likely to rent out dirty/unlubed guns and lose even more sales that way.

  7. I just use a belt pouch to avoid all the grief from the leftist lunatics, and also the potential summary execution by the government jackboots.

  9. A man with descriminating taste in open carry! One of my favorite choices is my Baby Desert Eagle Compact, .40SW, all steel, produced by IMI. Was given to me as a gift some years ago by a friend in the IDF. Good read!

  10. I go to school in Phoenix now and my roommates said they saw an open carrier in Walmart. We are all californians so this was exciting!

  12. Didn’t the Jews bring down the walls of Jerico through their faith? Naming a weapon after an enemies fallen city seems a little strange.

  15. My son often will open carry. One night in a Steakhouse in Rapid City SD a liberal couple confronted him while we were eating. We had a mini-debate with that couple who was being very insulting. We, of course had to keep total cool because when you are carrying, it’s what you need to do. The owner witnessed the situation and in the end, he bought us our meal. The last thing the lady of the couple said to my son was “you carry open because you have a little sized penis.” Then they left. Now the encounter was annoying but on the other hand, we learned a lot on how to handle such a situation the next time. Next time, we plan on turning on our phones immediately to video record the situation. Then we will ask them to leave, and that what we consider them doing is disturbing the peace. If they don’t leave then, we will call the cops in and press charges. Even though I told them they had no right to disturb our meal when we were totally legal, they would not leave. Next time we will only ask once and then make the call. If any of you have any thoughts or suggestions on this, please reply. Thanks.

    • That was no lady. Unfortunately, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than the Mongol hordes. We don’t have the luxury of being assholes, we’re the ones who must de-escalate.

      • Bingo!
        I’m of the old book that dictates all women are ladies. Unless they prove otherwise.
        She proved otherwise.

    • @Ed: Ironic that the lady that was harassing you was acting like a Nazi and breaking the law by bothering you but she thinks she has the right to do that and that you are in the wrong for doing something that is legal in that area. Odd how some Liberals think that behavior like that is OK even when they are being rude. Self righteous Bitch is really what she sounds like. When she made the small penis comment you should have said “come on into the bathroom and you can check it out if you like”. She was probably too ugly for you to really want to do that but it would be funny to see what her response would have been.

      • I think a better reply would have been “…and you MUST wear a seatbelt because you are compensating for small boobs”.

    • I think your plan is a good one. Politely ask them to leave you alone to enjoy your meal and if they refuse…contact the owner/manager. A call to the cops could be in order, but it MIGHT be best coming from the owner/manager of the establishment if they refuse to leave you alone.

      • That’s a good idea. I can see asking the manager to call the police is a better idea and if he refuses, call ourselves if the problem won’t resolve. We could tell that most around us were supportive of how we were handling it. When we left, we got plenty of smiles and nods. However, I will not put up with these arrogant types ruining our meal again. Next time, if I go through the motions of calling the cops, I will press it all the way through with charges all the way to court.

  16. You can’t carry in the Phoenix (Ahwatukee) Sprout’s, but you can in Frys. My FNS9 takes a motorcycle ride to North Scottsdale every day and we shop at Bashas’ and AJs for lunch 🙂

    • Guns don’t take motorcycle rides, people take guns with them on motorcycle rides. 🙂

      Or we could have the beginnings of a “passively constructed guns on bikes story” series here (even though it’s not passive construction).

  17. My stepfather is a plumbing salesman for a tristate area and recently I traveled with him to a small town in Missouri. I knew Missouri was an open carry state but I concealed anyway, I didn’t want any drama not being a resident. I was suprised at the number of open carriers. Being from Arkansas where it’s really town by town issue I rarely carry open even though they don’t care in my jurisdiction. I called my PD and the officer I talked to said they allowed it BUT he wouldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t catch hell after all the phone calls. I was pretty impressed by those Missourian open carriers.

    • ” I called my PD and the officer I talked to said they allowed it BUT he wouldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t catch hell after all the phone calls.”

      Police don’t ALLOW behaviors. They enforce laws.

      What is the actual LAW?

      Does Arkansas have State Pre-emption? If so, what is the State Law?

      If not, what is the local law?

      This is one reason why one should not go to cops for legal advice…what the cops “allow” is completely irrelevant.

      Armed with what the law actually IS in your area, what you choose to do with that information is up to you.

  18. A lot of stories I read are about the pluses and minuses between open and concealed carry. Apart from the tactical advantages of concealed carry I think one of the positives of open carrying is that it acclimates people towards gun carrying being a common thing. There is a win factor involved in that.

  19. Many parts of the US the general public is no longer desensitized to seeing someone with a firearm in public, cops included. AZ is a place were many people are not traumatized by the Constitution and the basics of being an American citizen.

  20. Looks great-none of that in Illinois. There would be blood in the street. Like every day a mile away in Indiana-oh wait it’s the other day around…

  21. Which Walmart? After being in all of them in Yuma, I don’t blame him! The one on S. Pacific is a dump. The one on 32nd is nice

    • But you have to go to the one off Platte in Colorado Springs to truly have gone to the Mos Eisley Wal Mart.

      • Yeah….No thanks. That Walmart is quite enough. It happens to be directly in front of the Bark Park. That’s the Yuma dog park. So I have been in the area and at that Wally World quite a few times. Must say I like it better here in Spokane though. Nothing like having a river flow right through the area.

        That area is high agriculture. It’s stones throw from the Mexican border.

      • I think the Mos Eisley WalMart is off the beaten path. Lots of open carry seen there though.

        • The last time I went–with backup, both of us OC (I was visiting him and it’s his nearest Wal Mart)–we saw two other open carriers. Maybe the place will clean up a bit.

          • Yep, back up is definitely needed. I usually hang with Boba though so I’m fairly comfortable there.

  22. IWI Jericho, good choice. I generally don’t want to bother people (like celebrities) to ask them to pose for a photo, but I’ll have no reservations if I see a certain man with a pith helmet in Arizona.

  23. I like the man’s style but I’m biased because that’s how I dress everyday. My son bought me a work hat for Father’s day. He chose to replace my cowboy hat from a few years back because, “I’m tired of watching you go around these days in those supplier branded ball caps, Dad.” Ruger Vaquero .45 in a custom Tom Threepersons holster on one side and a spare 1911 magazine (speed loader) @ 7 o’clock in a custom leather horizontal magazine carrier. There’s a heavy D-clip on a belt loop at 6 o’clock for mending fences, holding gate chains together, etc in a pinch. All of it it held in place with a Beltman horsehide belt.

  24. Visit my parents is AZ every year. Lots of open carry all over the place. In the grocery (Safeway?) store I see a lot.

  25. I live in Honolulu. The police would have gunned him down on sight if he did that here, with news stories claiming the heroic police prevented a domestic terrorist from shooting up a market full of nuns and infants. Then the police, prosecutors and judiciary go back to business as usual, protecting meth and child trafficking rings. Remember, if you want brown kids that scream and cry in english, go to Hula’s- Hawaii’s oldest gay bar that caters to the oppressed child lovers of the pacific rim!

  26. I’ve got a question for y’all and it has nothing to do about guns.

    Jeans inside out outside of boots? I’ve always kept my jeans on the outside of my boots to stop shit from falling in, I’d prefer to wash muddy muddy jeans than to get mud and God knows what else into my boots. But this guy has his jeans tucked in, and like Dean said this guy looks like he’s dressed that way for practical work reasons.

    Now I’m just curious if I’ve been doing things wrong for most of my life.

      • Forget the tarantulas, those damned scorpians can climb up on the inside of your jeans and do some painful damage real quick.

    • If your occupation involves walking in ankle-deep mud, manure and various other substances that you wife won’t appreciate on laundry day, you tuck ’em in.

  27. That man has the distinct look in his eyes of, “I ain’t goin’a fight ya. I’m gunna kill you and finish my chores.” Whatever one fantasizes he does for a living, a man that dress like that in public knows it looks silly and don’t care. His job is probably a hell of a lot more mundane and soul shatteringly boring than most of us might be able to deal with. At least up to those very infrequent points where it apparently gets decidedly exciting for a few seconds and then, and I’m guessing here, he re-holsters that Jericho, tips his hat to shield his eyes from the glare of the sun and grabs a shovel just as a hawk screeches in the background.

    • “Whatever one fantasizes he does for a living, a man that dress like that in public knows it looks silly”

      “It looks silly” is an OPINION. It’s a very specific, narrow-minded solipsist opinion that says more about the person stating it than the man dressing how he wishes.

      Why do people care so much how others dress? It’s very strange.

    • I’m glad your job is so fulfilling. Personally, variety is key. I hate a job consisting of “second verse, same as the first.”

      But let’s be honest, as Mark Twain wrote in Tom Sawyer, “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.”

      So it all comes down to your job sucks so bad someone is willing to pay YOU to do it instead of doing it themselves.

      • In many cases, there is simply much more to do than anyone person can manage. The best jobs are like that. People are hired to help get the job done.

        I found as I developed more skills, I had way more important things that needed to get done, than I had time to do them.

        • Thanks for your writing Dean, and all your dedication over the years to CCW movement.
          Its a real pleasure to see your name in print, and read your stories here.

        • I don’t disagree with you Dean. I’m keenly aware of the idea that there is more to do than one can accomplish.

          My comments were snarkily directed at meccastriesand above who wrote about the open carrier’s possible daily work being mundane and soul-shattering. I agree the man looks like he works outside with his hands. His look says self reliance to me. I bet what he does each day can be seen and touched, and he feels pride in a hard day’s work and a job well done. I bet his job is more fulfilling to him than many. The person who loves their job is lucky indeed.

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