Posted: 4/7/2009 4:41:51 PM EDT
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I am going to be making a short trip to TN this summer to be a groomsman in my Brother-in Law's wedding and was thinking it would be fun fun to open carry while there. I have my CHL in TX, but am unclear on the open carry/comcealed carry rules in TN.
Can I open carry in a church for the wedding? |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all.  I'm not religious, nor am I opposed to open carry. It's something I do often. There are some instances when concealed is more appropriate, I'd say inside a church is one of them. |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. Were I in your shoes... I would Concealed carry and conveniently forget to tell the bitch wife to be. That is all. |
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As already noted, unless the church is posted according to TN law, you're good to go, open or concealed carry.
However, I would recommend against doing so for multiple reasons: consideration for the bride, a sense of decorum, surprise factor if you really need your gun, etc. I have no problems with your carrying at church or at a wedding. I've carried by choice at several weddings, and been requested to do so at more than one (yeah, those were fun...fortunately the troublesom ex never showed up!) IMO, needless open carry simply causes problems. I view the way our laws are written as a protection against a charge of brandishing, at the least. In some jurisdictions, where concealed carry is mandated, if your covering garment blows open in the wind, or catches on something, or any number of things that can cause your weapon to be "flashed" or otherwise revealed, you can be charged with "brandishing". Not so in TN; you're good to go, concealed or open, and it really doesn't matter (as long as you're carrying legally) if your weapon is seen. You may cause yourself unnecessary problems carrying openly just because you can. Discretion is the better part of valor, and I much prefer being discreet. Just my two cents...YMMV 
David |
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Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.
A wedding is a horrible place to open carry. It is suppossed to be about the couple being married (even though the bride thinks that it is all about her "special day"  ). You show up open carrying, eyes will be on you instead.
It's about tact in this case. |
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Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should. A wedding is a horrible place to open carry. It is suppossed to be about the couple being married (even though the bride thinks that it is all about her "special day" ). You show up open carrying, eyes will be on you instead.
It's about tact in this case. I was not going to say anything..............but now that it's been brought up. Legal or not, I cannot ever see when open carry would be desireable. You lose the element of surprise, which is your best friend. Why would you want to bring undue attention to yourself, especially at a wedding? This is assumption only: If a situation should arrise that you actually would need your weapon, you will be the first target when it is seen easily on your person. If I am way off someone please enlighten me. Been wrong before, will be again. Terry |
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Unless you (1)Keep your back to a wall the whole time!(2)Have spiderman-like reflexes! or (3)Have eyes in the back of your head! open carry is never really a good idea! My .02
course, you could just use it to kidnap the groom and save him the trouble! 
He'll thank you eventually! 
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Hey look at my gun I'm cool...
are you more interested in getting laid @ said wedding or honoring the people getting married? Not to be an ass but this is not your day, if you must carry (personally I must carry everyday, where ever I go), then do so in a shoulder holster, IWB, something, please don't strap your six shooter to your hip. You have then become the attention whore you're trying to be by open carrying. If your BIL calls and asks you to open carry, maybe its a cowboy theme, who knows...? Then it would be appropriate, otherwise just deal with her wishes. |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. You can't just not fill us in ...well...
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Quoted: Quoted: I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. I'm not religious, nor am I opposed to open carry. It's something I do often. There are some instances when concealed is more appropriate, I'd say inside a church is one of them. I agree. Let me guess 22-23 years old? |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. I'm not religious, nor am I opposed to open carry. It's something I do often. There are some instances when concealed is more appropriate, I'd say inside a church is one of them. I agree. Let me guess 22-23 years old? +1 |
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Hey look at my gun I'm cool... are you more interested in getting laid @ said wedding or honoring the people getting married? Not to be an ass but this is not your day, if you must carry (personally I must carry everyday, where ever I go), then do so in a shoulder holster, IWB, something, please don't strap your six shooter to your hip. You have then become the attention whore you're trying to be by open carrying. If your BIL calls and asks you to open carry, maybe its a cowboy theme, who knows...? Then it would be appropriate, otherwise just deal with her wishes. Wasn't going to say anything, but you hit my feelings on this. Also, who goes to a wedding and doesn't drink. (regardless if it is open bar or not)? Open carry mixed with wedding reception, =s alot of explaining later on. |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. I'm not religious, nor am I opposed to open carry. It's something I do often. There are some instances when concealed is more appropriate, I'd say inside a church is one of them. I agree. Let me guess 22-23 years old? Woah, I take offence to that.  I'm pretty sure it's because he's from TX.
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| I guess Ill pipe in and throw another 2 cents in the fountain. I myself wouldnt open carry considering the environment of today. It wasnt that long ago someone walked into an east Tenn church and started blowing people away. To me it would be better to keep it out of sight. Im sure once the drinking starts there will be many that will want to shoot it. If its hidden then you wont be bothered by drunks. |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. I'm not religious, nor am I opposed to open carry. It's something I do often. There are some instances when concealed is more appropriate, I'd say inside a church is one of them. I agree. Let me guess 22-23 years old? Woah, I take offence to that. I'm pretty sure it's because he's from TX.
I am 30ish and on my second marriage. My wife had me by the balls in the first marriage (married at 18) until I decided my balls hurt and I divorced her (at 23). Since then, I have been much more in control of my life and have a great wife that does not try and walk all over me. I have experience in this area, and frankly, he is pussy whipped just like a lot of guys are. Get some balls and find a woman who like you for you, not one that tries to control you. |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. You can't just not fill us in ...well...
Soooo... how did u save everyones' lives??? C'mon man, you cant throw a teaser like that out there n not follow up... |
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I just called the BIL and his new bride-to-be has him by the balls and told him I am not allowed to be open carrying at the wedding. Never mind the fact that I saved all four of our lives with my pistol in 2007 when I was there. He should eject now. That is all. You can't just not fill us in ...well...
Soooo... how did u save everyones' lives??? C'mon man, you cant throw a teaser like that out there n not follow up... Fine... February 2007: Flight from SAT to Nashville, TN Arrive and meet them at the airport and then get on interstate highway to Knoxville where they live. Dumb bitch (DB) is driving, BIL in the front passenger seat, me and wife in back seat. We are in a shitty Ford Focus or something and I left my CHL in the suit case, in the locked box, in the trunk (not accessible from back seat) About an hour into the drive we get cut off on the HWY by some dummy driving a van and BIL decides it is a good idea to throw up his hands in displeasure. Guy in van flips us off, so BIL and DB decide to flip double birds at him. We forget about it until about 10 mins later. There is lots of traffic on the highway and also construction in the median area. Some cars are going slow, including van guy, so we decide to pass. Van guy cuts us off. Van guy slows way down on purpose, so now the right lane is moving faster. We try to get in the right lane and van guy stays in front of us blocking our route. After about five minutes of this, we zoom past van guy and start driving in the left lane and pass slow traffic. Van guy recklessly cuts others off and gets on our ass. This contines for about 7 minutes. Van guy somehow gets ahead of us and as he passes his makes it a point to show us that he is putting leather gloves on his hands. Then he gets in front of us again and hits breaks. Keep in mind this is a busy road with construction and stopping is not a possibility. After approximately 30 minutes, I am wishing I had my pistol accessible. We call 911 and report reckless driving of the van guy and are assured the HWY Patrol will pul him over. Another 10 miles later van guy is slowing down so much we are almost stopping on the interstate nad any attempt to pass him will cause him to cut us off. He is motioning for us to pull over. DB gets scared and calls 911 again and is crying on the phone to the dispatcher. I continue to see HWY Patrol cars passing the other way. They can not assist because of road construction. After a few more minutes, I get on the phone with the dispatcher and tell them, "Get the cops here now. I have a concealed handgun license, am carrying, and am getting nervous. You do not want to clean up a mess I will make on your HWY." Dispatch arranges an exit for us to take and promises that police will be waiting when we exit. Van guy is behind us and starts to pass us as we get near the exit. We exit at predetermined exit through quick maneuvering. Van guy misses exit and freaks out. He cuts across construction area to exit with us. Traffic at exit is backed up at a red light. I see cop at intersection going from our right to left. DB was instructed to turn right at intersection by dispatcher, but panics and turns left. Left turn takes us on an overpass and leads down a country road. I am yelling at her to stop at a gas station on the right so I can get my gun. She keeps going. I tell her not to go down the country road or we will all die. She is panicing and goes down the country road. Van guy still behind us. We travel about .25 mile and go around a corner in the road. Van guy is not visible. DB stops the car. I jump out of the car, but my leg gets stuck in the seat belt (two door model car). I am trying to get my bag out of the back of the trunk but my foot is stuck. BIL help me get unstuck and I get the bag out. Just then Van guy rounds the curve! I am freaking out, grab my lock box and fumble with the lock.
I instruct BIL to grab me a loaded magazine, located in another area of the bag. I finally get the Glock our as he tosses me a mag. Van guy is pulling up slowly and rolls down his window. I catch the mag, insert it in the pistol, rack the slide, and hold at the low ready. Van guy must have seen my luggage all over the road and me standing between the car and him, using the car as cover. I tell him in a stern voice that he is to leave the area immediately or he will not be happy. Wife and BIL are behind be taking cover, DB is still in the car crying. I am staring him down, ready to aim and fire at the twitch of his hands. He mouths off something inaudible, turns around and drives toward the interstate. All of us were scared shitless, as situation had lasted over an hour. After he is out of sight we pack up all the stuff on the road, I collect all my magazines and get back in the car. I am now more comfortable with my G23 and 6 loaded mags. We drive back to the interstate and as we approach the gas station she passed we decide to ark and wait for the cops. Cps are every where. There must have been 15 cars and a helicopter. I am pissed now because the dispatcher did not take me seriously until I told her I had a gun. The van guy in no where in sight. All 15 cops pull into the gas station and start talking to us. I keep telling the cops that the van guy must be close and they need to find him asap! The police just ask us a bunch of questions and tell us everything is OK now.
I never found out what happened to the van guy, but I am sure he would have harmed us if I did not have my pistol with me that day. Now that I typed all this I might as well put it in GD for the masses to read. |
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I am sure that I will regret posting a reply to this, but I can't help myself.
First of all, I find it interesting that anyone would want to open carry at a wedding. The only reason that I can think of is to call attention to oneself, which goes against the point of going armed, as well as distracting attention from the wedding couple. I have always thought that a wedding was for the bride and groom, especially the bride. Isn't it supposed to be "her day?" Second, it bothers me to hear anyone repeatedly referred to with a cheap slur, especially a woman. I don't know anything about the BIL's fiancee and maybe she is what she is repeatedly called, but she is someone's daughter, is about to be married, and (I think) she deserves at least common courtesy. Finally, I can't see exactly what the death threat was. After all it was four against one, and the van driver hadn't exhibited anything more deadly than leather gloves. Of course I wasn't there and don't know how I would have reacted, but I carry with the hope that I don't have to draw; I don't think I would have found it necessary in the situation described. |
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I am sure that I will regret posting a reply to this, but I can't help myself. First of all, I find it interesting that anyone would want to open carry at a wedding. The only reason that I can think of is to call attention to oneself, which goes against the point of going armed, as well as distracting attention from the wedding couple. I have always thought that a wedding was for the bride and groom, especially the bride. Isn't it supposed to be "her day?" Second, it bothers me to hear anyone repeatedly referred to with a cheap slur, especially a woman. I don't know anything about the BIL's fiancee and maybe she is what she is repeatedly called, but she is someone's daughter, is about to be married, and (I think) she deserves at least common courtesy. Finally, I can't see exactly what the death threat was. After all it was four against one, and the van driver hadn't exhibited anything more deadly than leather gloves. Of course I wasn't there and don't know how I would have reacted, but I carry with the hope that I don't have to draw; I don't think I would have found it necessary in the situation described. If you read the story you may notice that I said I held the pistol at the low ready. With the cover of the vehicle between me and the van guy, I never brandished the weapon. |