[Xavier]

The family and I went to Green Dragon to get some meat and veggies tonight and I, as always, was OC'ing my XD in a Serpa. Most didn't notice, as usual, though I did get a couple wide eyes even though there weren't many, if any, tourists.

We decided to stop at Mr. Eds and get a bite to eat because the kids were "starving." As we're standing there contemplating what to order I notice an older guy look at my hip a couple of times. He then decided to approach me and actually reached out and touched my pistol and asked, "What's that about?"

Now, had I not already noticed him he probably would've gotten an elbow to the face for that move. He seemed genuinely curious, though, and not a threat so I decided to engage him in conversation rather than making a scene for his stupid move.

Anyway, the conversation went as follows, to the best of my memory with a bit of paraphrasing.

Me: Just exercising my 2nd Amendment rights.
Him: Nothin' wrong with that! So do you have a permit?
Me: Actually, in PA you don't need a license to openly carry, only to carry concealed or in a car.
Him: Oh, really? So you don't need permit to do that? Only in a car, huh?
Me: In a car or concealed, yes.
Him: So to cover that up you'd need your permit?
Me: Well I do have my License to Carry Firearms so I could conceal, I just find it much more comfortable to wear openly.

I can't remember the exact order the following bits happened so I'm just tossing them out.

Him: How many shots do you have?
Me: 18.

Him: Holy cow! So what did that cost you?
Me: About $400.
Him: Wow! So you had to get like a check, right?
Me: A background check? Yes.
Him: You need to be pretty clean to pass that, right?
Me: For the most part.

Him: What do you think the effective range is on that?
Me: If I had the time to aim I could hit (a man size target) up to about 100 yards.
Him: Really? That far?
Me: Of course, it would be difficult but it could be done.

Him: So what happens if someone comes across a "hot" gun.
Me: Well, in PA all handgun sales have to go through a licensed dealer and through the background checks we were talking about. I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine something would come back during the transfer.
Him: And that person would get arrested who is trying to buy the "hot" gun?
Me: I'd think they would get the seller, as both parties would have to be present.

Him: How fast can you draw it?
Me: Pretty fast, I practice doing just that often.

Now, as I'm writing this out it sounds pretty bad, almost like a cop "testing" me or something, haha. But I didn't get that vibe at all from this guy. It was an older gentleman, probably in his 50's and as I said above, he seemed genuinely curious.

Anyway, it was about that time that he said, "Be safe, take care," and I wished him a good evening and the family and I went to eat.

So I guess that went pretty smooth, what do you think?

[streaker69]

Geez, haven't you learnt nuttin' by being on the forums? Don't talk to nutty old men!

[csmith]

Sounds like you gave somebody a good education today.

[Emptymag]

A friend of mine once had a guy at a bus stop ask if he could touch his hair.

He said "No."

A few seconds later, he felt the guy gently touching his hair from behind.

The moral of the story is "Don't ride the bus".
That and pay closer attention to people who want to touch you!

[gnbrotz]

Me: Well, in PA all handgun sales have to go through a licensed dealer and through the background checks we were talking about. I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine something would come back during the transfer.
Him: And that person would get arrested who is trying to buy the "hot" gun?
Me: I'd think they would get the seller, as both parties would have to be present.

Incorrect.

First, "all handgun sales" (or transfers) do NOT need to go through an FFL. There are several legal ways to take possession of a handgun in PA without using an FFL.

Second, no information about the firearm is included in the background check process. The check merely verifies that the intended recipient is not legally precluded from taking possession.

Third, both parties do not need to be present when the new owner completes the transaction.

[Camper]

get a lawyer.

[gascolator]

Him: You need to be pretty clean to pass that, right?

I'd have sniffed my arm-pit and said "I am."

It was an older gentleman, probably in his 50's

Older? 50's???? <smack>

[streaker69]

It was an older gentleman, probably in his 50's

Older? 50's???? <smack>

Shouldn't you have already been to Carrousel?



I'm making a call to the Sandman.

[gascolator]

Shouldn't you have already been to Carrousel?



I'm making a call to the Sandman.

I went out for a run instead.

[Xavier]

Me: Well, in PA all handgun sales have to go through a licensed dealer and through the background checks we were talking about. I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine something would come back during the transfer.
Him: And that person would get arrested who is trying to buy the "hot" gun?
Me: I'd think they would get the seller, as both parties would have to be present.

Incorrect.

First, "all handgun sales" (or transfers) do NOT need to go through an FFL. There are several legal ways to take possession of a handgun in PA without using an FFL.

Second, no information about the firearm is included in the background check process. The check merely verifies that the intended recipient is not legally precluded from taking possession.

Third, both parties do not need to be present when the new owner completes the transaction.

Thanks for the info. As far as I was aware all sales had to go through an FFL. I know about the exception for gifting between grand/parents and children but I didn't want to get into that with the guy. Are there any other exceptions?

As far as the transfer goes, I've never actually bought a gun from another individual, only shops, so I've got next to no idea how that works. I thought both parties would need to be present, though, unless it was sold on consignment or shipped to that FFL from another FFL.

---

It was an older gentleman, probably in his 50's

Older? 50's???? <smack>

Well, I'd consider double my age old. Sorry.