Pre-School meet and greet.

[kloutier]

Our son is going to pre-school in a few days and in a few hours we have a meet and greet. I have my permit just trying to decide if I should open carry. Most other places I would carry no question even if there where signs saying other wise. But I guess I am just a bit nervous to carry in a school even though its legal for me to do so.

[NavyLCDR]

I would conceal the gun at the preschool.

If you felt that the deterrent value of the firearm was vitally important at the preschool, would you leave your child there everyday with no protection?

[Cotillion]

Yeah don't oc at schools, even pre.

[Ed Hurtley]

What is your goal for carrying? If it's self-defense, then if you honestly feel the need to open carry there, you probably shouldn't be leaving your kid there.

If it's "intimidation", are you honestly the kind of person who wants to intimidate your kid's teacher?

Finally, where do you live? Is open carry very common there? If so, go ahead! If you live somewhere that open carrying will get the police called on you, you probably shouldn't. These are people you're leaving your kid with. I wouldn't want to freak them out on the first day. (Who knows, they might just choose to refuse to allow your child in to their program - I hope you have alternate daytime plans available if that is the case.)

Is open carry more important than common courtesy? I would love it if open carry were accepted everywhere, but it's not. Until it is, show self-restraint when warranted. (Then again, I'd also accept a complete ban on all guns, if the government could *PROVE* that *ALL* guns are gone, from *EVERYONE*, including the police. Which, of course, isn't going to happen.)

[Sig1911]

I would not open carry in this situation. Your actions are too easily misunderstood and may cause unnecessary controversy for you and your child.

[kloutier]

I carry 80% for defense 20% for public awareness. Its kinda funny to me that you had Defense and intimidate like that was the only reason to carry. If you carry a side arm to be intimidating then I think you should rethink why you carry Ed Hurtley.

[olsparky]

I see no benefit to OC in this situation. I do see several possible negatives.

-Will your actions cause other parents to remove their children?
-Will the pre-school decline your child admittance?
-Is there a firearm policy for the pre-school, or may your actions cause one to be created?

Just because we have the right does not mean it is always wise to exercise it.

[NavyLCDR]

I would sacrifice the 20% public awareness in this case. If you want to know about any preschool firearms policies/attitudes, ask them what instruction they provide in the area of firearms safety.

[Ed Hurtley]

Around here, people who open carry tend to do so solely for intimidation factor. Hence I have a bit of a prejudice against people who open carry here. The fact that you stated "I would carry no question even if there where signs saying other wise." made you come across as one of those types.

If it were more common, I would fully agree with the 20% education factor. I just know that here it would just bring down negative attention. Where I went to college (rural Northern Arizona,) where open carry was much more common, I would have open carried.

[BC1]

Our son is going to pre-school in a few days and in a few hours we have a meet and greet. I have my permit just trying to decide if I should open carry. Most other places I would carry no question even if there where signs saying other wise. But I guess I am just a bit nervous to carry in a school even though its legal for me to do so.

You may find you and your child are dismissed from the school. A private preschool has no requirement to allow your child to attend. C'mon, this is where you guys lose my support. You know this will scare people. In some states a private pre-school is governed by state education law and qualifies as a school. Just leave the damn thing in the car.