The man at Walmart
I moved from a state with strict gun control to one with far less. Being in this new location where both concealed carry and open carry are legal I have seen multiple people open carry. I often see them at a grocery store of some sort. After arriving in this state I have already moved locations once from much closer in the center of downtown and major population area to an area further out. While in my local Walmart I again spot someone open carrying. I see a man that is dressed modestly and given the area I am in and his appearance is of a working class. He is there with his two children. He is checking out through the self checkout. I notice as he talks to one of the employees he has a pistol on his hip. Being a “gun person” of course I want to see what he has chosen as his carry pistol. I clearly see he is carrying a Springfield XD of some variety appears to be a 5 inch barrel model I guess in 9mm. I also see he has the typical Springfield branded holster and Springfield magazine pouch.
Stigma of the Springfield XD
Those that have been into guns often categorize the XD as the gun most often pushed my gun stores. Typically pushed on suspecting first time gun owners. To be honest from what I read it is often looked down upon. I do have to admit though they are often a very good value and this is what probably draws new owners in. Springfield will often run promotions that will include any of the following extra magazines, holsters, magazine pouch, or range bag. From what I read it is looked down on because of price, the grip safety, its reputation for some parts wearing out, and magazines also wearing out.
My initial thoughts on the man that carried an XD
I must admit initially I had many of the same thoughts that many of the online gun community have about people that carry an XD. Why would you carry that? On top of that use the less than stellar holster and magazine pouch that came with the gun? Why wouldn't you just spend more and get something with a better reputation like a Glock. I also have to admit I was wondering why would this man just apply for a permit so he did not have to open carry?
My thoughts on the drive home
As I drove home I pondered this person's choice in hardware and the method in which they carried it. Mostly the word WHY popped in and out of my head. About two blocks from my home I came to realize this. He, like me believed he should own and even carry a firearm for protection of himself and family. The man was clearly a blue collar worker and shopping at what is usually considered a budget store. Maybe this is what he could afford? What about the open carry? Well having some first hand knowledge about the process of getting a permit to carry concealed is not cheap either. About one hundred dollars to take the state mandated class, more than one hundred dollars for the permit fees, and the ammo cost to do the shooting qualification. The cost could be up to three hundred dollars. This person clearly had similar thoughts on firearms to my own and was doing what was within his means to exercise his legal right. I think I was suffering what many in the gun community does. Thinking because someone does not carry a certain level of firearm or carry the in a way I do that we should look at them differently than ourselves and perhaps not be as understanding. I think these judgements are what often separates the pro 2A community. We should probably realize we should look at what we have in common rather than what we do not, because in the end we want the same thing.
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