I stopped at a gas station in Parchment, Michigan today to buy a cold drink. While entering the store an individual started to yell something at me in a rude tone. So, I turned to addess the gentleman who spoke to me and this is how the convesation went...The individual says "Hey, are you a cop"...I say "No". So now Im thinking Im going to get a bunch of questions about Open Carry. To my suprise he says " Your gun handle is showing". I respond to say "I know, I am Oc'ing". He says, "I am a LEO" and you have got to cover that up". I respond by saying "I dont have to cover it up because Open Carry is legal in Michigan". He says "Do you have a permit to Open Carry that thing like that?" I say, "I dont need a permit to carry like this." His response was "Someone might call 911 if you go in there like that." I say, "Someone might" and then I turn and enter the store. I can see out the window while standing in line that he has started to talk on his cell phone to someone so I assume that he has called LE. I exit the store and enter my vehicle to see a LEO sitting across the street from me. I then start to drive down the road and sure enough he pulls me over. He approaches my vehicle and says "Hi, My name is......" I then say "Hi, My name is.....and I have a CPL and I also have my firearm on me , just so you are aware". "O.K." he says, I then give him my CPL and DL and then I say to him "That was pretty rude of that officer to do that to me". He says "What happened back there?" I tell him how I was confronted by the Officer and how he harrased me about my gun. I then look in my side mirror and see the off duty LEO is pulling up behind us and stopping in the street. I then say "That's him right there, Is he harassing me?" The LEO then says "No Sir, He is not harassing you." So I then say, "O.K. can you then please explain to him that OC'ing is legal and that I have not commited a crime. The LEO says, "Yes sir, I can do that for you." The LEO then explains to the off duty LEO that I am legal and I have not commited a crime. The off duty LEO then speeds off in his mini van never to be seen again, LOL. The LEO then runs my DL and CPL. Afterwards he comes back to my vehichle and says " I dont need your registration or proof of insurance sir." He then said to me "Sir, It is your Constitutional Right to keep and bear arms and that if i went into Scooter D's with a loaded shotgun and sat it on the table and ordered breakfast that there would be nothing that LE could do because it also is Open Carry. He then Stated to me "That The Supreme Court would back me up on it too". He then says "Im sorry about this sir." We then converse for a moment and then we go our seperate ways. I must say that the LEO that pulled me over was very proffesional and polite. I am pleased with this encounter, and pleased to see he supports the Constitution. I must say "Congratulations to Parchment" for a job well done. I must admit, I did not know we can Open Carry Shotguns/Rifles because when I see information concerning Open Carry it always concerns a pistol. I will have to check this information to verify it is correct before I go down to Scooter D's.
