Open Carried to Kindergarten Program

[slykly1]

My wife and I had just had our 3rd boy last Wednesday. So with mom and baby resting up in the hospital I got to go to my boys kindergarten program.

I am so used to open carrying and knew that I could carry into his elementary school I forgot that I was even carrying and was not nervous about it at all. I sat with my 2 year old in a row with that had a few empty seats. The mother at the end of our row took her younger child and moved to the row behind me. I didn't think about it at the time but I wonder now if it was because of the "tool" that was on my right side. We were sitting in the right hand section so the left side of seating probably had no idea that I was carrying.

The program was fun and hilarious with a lot of funny songs. After it was over I made my way to the back of the room to help my kids get a cookie, drink, and collect coat and backpack to head home. It was crowded and tight space caused a few kids to bump their heads into my sidearm. I felt a little bad about that but they didn't even notice what they had hit.

After leaving my youngest was distraught about a batman toy he had left in his chair. So we went back in and found the toy. Heading toward the crowed door again someone was trying to say something to me but since he was to my side and it was noisy I didn't hear him the 1st time. After his 2nd attempt to get my attention I realized he was trying to talk to me. He said "I am sure glad to see someone carrying." I felt for a brief second that he was pro carry and was actually giving me a complement. Then he quickly and jokingly added "You never know when a kindergartner is going to draw down on us." I still don't know if he was trying to mock me or just making a little joke.

I replied "I was never concerned about that" and kept moving out the door of the classroom to the hallway. I was talking to my wife afterward telling her the story and I wished I would have stepped off to the side and continued the conversation. I would have stated that "I carry where ever my family is" or "I know this is not the wild west but at least back then you scheduled a gunfight and someone counted down for you to draw on each other, today is a lot worse and you never know where or when it will happen."

Hind sight is always 20/20.

So I think it was a neutral experience and didn't feel nervous or rattled at any point while carrying on school grounds. I am sure a lot of mothers gave me a 2nd glance if they even noticed I was carrying.

[brainoncapitalist]

Great story! Thanks for sharing. I love hearing stories of uneventful open carry experiences, especially in 'controversial' places like elementary schools.

[IchBin]

Then he quickly and jokingly added "You never know when a kindergartner is going to draw down on us." I still don't know if he was trying to mock me or just making a little joke.

You should have told him that it's a good thing there are also fire extinguishers around to put out the fire from the gun fight too...