Leonard Embody (AKA "kwikrnu") suing Park Ranger

[tphillippie]

Great posts Dan. I openly carry sometimes, depends on the situation and where I'm heading, and most of the time, like you, I have found that being open, honest and polite with folks is generally the best way to handle it. My close friends know I have a permit, and they don't pay a mind to it at all, but they are close friends, and not general public. Usually I run the conversation another direction (e.g. "dag-gum liberals") and they forget all about it.

[StandingTall]

There's another lesson here too that most of us know and hopefully all of us practice. "You attract more flies with honey than vinegar". 10 years ago I was in Wal-Mart in Hendersonville getting my oil changed. I had my permit and my pistol. I wasn't about to leave the pistol in the car while unknown persons had unobserved access to it. I also happened to be aware that Wal-Mart had recended their initial policy on banning guns from their property earlier in 1999 (June if I recall). Appearantly staff and management in H'ville didn't get the memo. I watched them following me for about ten minutes "trying" (but failing) to be inconspicuous as they followed me around in the store on their radios and cell phones. I knew who they were calling. I walked out the front door and bumped into an old friend and struck up a conversation. I noticed one HPD cruiser in the parking lot already. One minute or so later, I saw another one pull in. Then they pulled up to me and were extremely nervous. When they addressed me their hands were white knuckled on their Beretta Elite II service pistols and I smiled and asked them if I could help them. They told me I was carrying illegally, I told them politely that I was not, that I had a permit. They said I wasn't allowed to carry at Wal-Mart AND that when I do carry it is supposed to be concealed. I advised them that Wal-Mart does allow carry. I was never told by anyone that day not to carry at Wal-Mart during my visit, and lastly the same old junk about it being an HCP not CWP. They asked me to prove I knew what I was talking about. I told them, politely, they could research that on their own. The told me to give them my pistol. I told them to remove it from my person, because I wasn't about to touch it as nervous as they were. They removed the pistol as I was informing them that there is one in the chamber and the safety is on, but don't touch the trigger.

Then after about ten minutes of conversation, I continued to observe that they still couldn't figure out how to unload it. I laughed and convinced them (as dangerous as I could be) to give me back my loaded weapon so I could unload it for them. Eventually it all worked out. They brought the manager out. He told me at first that I couldn't bring it back in. I told him that I was getting my oil changed and didn't have any choice, unless an officer would hold it for me while I retrieved my vehicle. Then I advised him that I would tell all my friends to do business somewhere else and I would be contacting coporate headquarters with my lawyer because he broke policy and violated my rights. I looked at the police officer that I had befriended by that point and asked him if I could have the copy of the report that HPD never uses. He gave it to me. The manager apologized, changed his mind, and waived all costs for the oil change.

A little courtesy in the face of adversity can go a long way.

Now I am a police officer. I ALWAYS try to stay current on gun laws in TN for this very reason. It's one more thing I carry with me in order to be a CIVIL servant instead of self-serving.

My father (may he rest in peace) always said "Be nice" when I left the house. He was right.

Standing Tall

[johnharris]

[David Lewis]

Radnor Lake (technically, I think it's a State Natural Area) is one of two "state parks" in Davidson County. The other one one is Bicentennial Mall State Park, just north of the Capitol, downtown. Leonard Embody had previously announced his intention to push the envelope by openly carrying there, as well. I don't know if he ever did; I think his next stunt was walking down Belle Meade Boulevard with a cap & ball revolver in his hand.

David

[lilredhunter]

I was unsure whether it was a State park or what. Yeah David the next stunt was Belle Meade. That little fiasco made him look like he was testing old gun laws. Saying "It's Illegal to carry this Navy Gun in a holster here".

[tnxdshooter]

Now old lenny is trying to get a supressor for the draco he carried at radnor lake. The sherriff denied him so he is threatening to sue him from what I am hearing.