They sure are taking their time to issue the opinion. I don't think I've ever seen it take so long for any opinion to issue. Roughly seven months so far. Taking this long leads me to believe that there might be some act of sophistry taking place to excuse a clear and direct attack of an Inalienable Right. I'm of the opinion that anyone not lawfully barred from possessing firearms may carry concealed or open without having to first seek the permission of a city, county, state, or any other individual or body to exercise said Right.
Someone else mentioned not debating leo on a sidewalk, etc. in an earlier post. I was approached for the very first time in some five years of open carry and at least four years of open carry in this particular establishment. There can be no doubt that I have been observed by this establishment's security people on camera open carrying while engaging in the business for which I was in that establishment.
The above said, who I believe was the head cashier (not even the store manager) and someone claiming to be an off-duty Satsuma, Alabama police officer (who, by the way, flashed his credentials so fast that I didn't even see them), said that they had gotten a complaint from someone who was 'askeered' when she (undoubtedly, or he I suppose) saw my beautiful .45 auto carried openly exposed between the unzipped sweatshirt I was wearing at the time. Normally, I'm dressed casually but wasn't feeling well and needed some food and didn't feel like taking a shower or changing clothes. Had I been dressed as I normally am the idiot complainant likely wouldn't have thought twice about it.
Before anything was said I politely stopped them both and turned on the recording app of my phone. Then after it was recording, right off the bat I told them both that Alabama is an open carry state and that I'm sure the officer knew this fact. He agreed with the open carry statement regarding Alabama and went on to mention that I was in a private business upon which I agreed and understood that I could be asked to leave. I told them both that I had been open carrying for at least some five years and four of those in that particular business. Additionally, I said that there could be no doubt that over the years their security people had observed me under their roof on many an occasion carrying openly and going about my routine in an orderly and lawful fashion.
He and I verbally sparred calmly and politely for a couple of minutes, he being dressed in jeans and white t-shirt and looking a bit worse for wear than I, but realizing that wasn't a good tack I made mention of the fact of my age, my previous service, and my profession, and that I wasn't there to cause anyone any problems including either of them. I asked both of them if there was any observable behavior that I was engaged in that concerned them other than merely carrying a firearm and they more or less evaded the question since my behavior was low key, quiet, and lawful.
During our brief debate he told me that the open carry law stated that if someone complained that I had to cover to conceal the firearm. I told him that would be a problem for me since I don't possess a CWP and that I was too old for any legal problems. I do have a gun safe securely attached to the inside of my car and when traveling it meets the letter and spirit of the augmented legislation that went into effect August 1 (I believe that's the date).
Neither of them asked me to leave by the way and I believe after talking with me realized I wasn't some raving lunatic about to go on a shooting spree. After all, I had been there some 30 minutes already and had several items in the basket including groceries having made my way from the back all the way up to near the registers by that time. Hardly the M.O. for a mass shooter now is it?
I did check myself at one point since I have a tendency to get pissed off when I feel the exercise of my Rights are being questioned or violated and in the past would raise my voice with pressured speech but age is mellowing me in that department and wisdom took over. That was when I gave them a brief background of myself (never gave them my name or any ID, they never asked) professional credentials and explained that normally I'm not dressed so frumpy but that I wasn't feeling well and needed a few grocery items. I told them both that in fact I was just about to wrap up my shopping, check out, and leave. They seemed satisfied after talking with me and since I normally spend a lot of money in that store the store rep didn't make a production out of it. I think she was letting this off duty (store security maybe? not sure) Satsuma officer take the lead.
Anyway, that was the first encounter I've ever had while open carrying. The off duty officer was not an ******* and didn't cop a hostile attitude with me which I am grateful for as I didn't need it at that particular time. He was reasonable as I see it and although likely would have preferred that I weren't open carrying knew that what we discussed on the law was correct.
Maybe I should have put this in its own thread, but wanted to relate my opinion on their taking their time to release an opinion in this case and of my own recent and first encounter in open carrying.