OC'd at Petes Coney II in Clarkston with the infamous Stainless1911 to meet with his local representative. We have been discussing possible changes to MCL 750.227 to allow vehicle carry and presented our argument to the local representative he has worked with a few times before, Eileen Kowall. Nice lady, she seemed interested in our position and in the points that we made regarding being able to carry a firearm in a vehicle without a CPL.
Stainless was sitting strong side out and a woman came up and said "I see youre carrying in the open" which he replied "yes I am" then it got weird, she said "do you think youre being funny?" he asked what she meant and explained OC is legal. She responded with "oh yes I know, I'm all for carry, my husband carries concealed and is a member of the NRA, I was just saying that its in the open" I tried to give her an MOC tri-fold but she wasnt interested. She sounded supportive but boy did she start the conversation off weird.
We also spoke with another woman that was there to speak with Rep. Kowall while she was away from the table, she didnt understand why someone would need to carry a gun into a store or a restaurant and she stated she had a fear of guns which was only increased after receiving some firearm training. She said its because she realized the ability someone has to take a life. I explained it is a huge responsibility, she stated she was weary about other people carrying because she doesnt know what the state requires for someone to qualify to buy a gun and she is afraid that some nut will end up with one. Stainless mentioned that for the same reason she is afraid of some nut getting a gun is the same reason we carry. Which seemed to make her stop and think.
I also explained several situations where in these locations (stores and restaurants) people have been killed, beaten, stabbed, robbed, mugged, all these places where someone thought "this could never happen here" and I told her thats exactly where I want a gun. In the end I think between Stainless and I talking to her she kind of opened her mind a little more, I'm sure we left her with a lot to think about from the gun carriers side of the table. Its a lot different for someone who is talking to individuals who are armed and carry regularly say they carry for the same reasons she is afraid of people with guns. She however was very polite and pleasant to talk to and she didnt seem scared or get up and run from the table.
The restaurant we were in was very busy but we had absolutely no problems. Stainless and I were standing outside chatting for a while after speaking to Rep. Kowall, while doing so a kid that works at the restaurant was walking the trash out and asked if we were LEO to which I replied "nope just exercising our rights" the kid just replied with "cool" and a very approving look.
It was a good day.
To be honest Stainless seems like a pretty stand up guy and I had good time chatting with him.
