Why is Walmart Considered the Concealed Carry Rite of Passage? - Page 2

Glenn E. Meyer · July 9, 2012, 09:44 AM

Actually, my first walk was in Oregon at Clackamas Town Center (a mall). Wore a fanny pack and decided it was ridiculous. It has now been in the box of useless gun junk for all these years.

Bought ammo at Wally's the other day. Glock and gear under a floppy old shirt.

KMAX · July 9, 2012, 11:02 AM

Fanny packs don't work for everybody. Not for me anyway. Thought about a laptop bag, but nahh. Do have a side pack that I carry sometimes, but usually just carry the J-frame or LCP.

priell3 · July 9, 2012, 12:22 PM

I always open carry at Walmart as I do most places.

Dwight55 · July 9, 2012, 02:19 PM

I think when I did mine, . . . it was just where I was at the time, . . . didn't really give it any thought.

But Wally World was the first place, . . . thats an el facto.

A couple of days later in an auto parts store in Morehead, Ky, . . . I knew without a doubt that every eye in the place could see my full size 1911 hanging on my side, . . . but if they did, . . . no one said anything

May God bless,
Dwight

Mr. James · July 11, 2012, 12:13 PM

I've done the Wally Walk many times, carrying openly. Very few even notice I'm armed. Tom Servo is right! Those fat-wagons are deadly!

Gunplummer · July 11, 2012, 01:40 PM

Years ago before it was easy to get a carry permit I accidentally walked into a doughnut shop with a handgun strapped on. It was snowing hard and I had been out checking traps all morning and simply forgot I had it strapped on. Nobody said a word. I did not realize it until I went to take my coat of later. Maybe if it was just stuck in my belt instead of a holster it would have looked more menacing, I don't know.

Glenn E. Meyer · July 11, 2012, 06:05 PM

In the boonies of TX, we were eating a local dive. One friend took out his concealed gun for some reason and put it on the table. No one said a word. He flinched and put it away as we pointed this out to him.

I wouldn't do that eating a poached salmon and grilled Italian vegetables at a table in Whole Foods.

Justice06RR · July 11, 2012, 07:40 PM

Quote:

I suggest a Whole Foods walk for the more sophisticated.

I actually would suggest a Target instead

. That is where more of the preppy crowd go, at least in my area.

With that said, I didn't do the Wally Walk but went to Target instead when I first started carrying a few years back.

pmeisel · July 12, 2012, 04:03 AM

I have to say, lifetime, I'm 0-for-Target.

And I've only been in Whole Foods once. I was trying to buy beer.

rickyrick · July 12, 2012, 04:50 AM

I think people were doing Wally walks long before the phrase was coined. At some point every one realized that everyone did it.

Walmart is e every where and probably familiar to most people. I don't think many people would try it out in a business they have never been. Hate Walmart or not, it is the corner stone of many towns now and going to Walmart is necessity now. Odds are very high that the first place needed to go in public is Walmart.

Besides some gun owners, on a fluke, were given a sense of humor and it's funny.

psyfly · July 12, 2012, 11:01 AM

Well, I was concealed carrying before there was a Wal Mart (Yeah, I am that old), so I missed out on that one (although I've done it pretty regularly since they showed up).

I'm curious to know; has Wal Mart ever commented (officially or unofficially) on the idea that they are part of a gun-owner's rite of passage?

I did an interweb search, but came up empty.

Anybody out there know?

Will

ScottRiqui · July 12, 2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

I'm curious to know; has Wal Mart ever commented (officially or unofficially) on the idea that they are part of a gun-owner's rite of passage?

I did an interweb search, but came up empty.

I've never seen/heard the "Wally Walk" referenced outside of gun-specific web forums. Unless it goes more "mainstream", I wouldn't expect WM to say anything about it. And unless the Wally Walk shows up in a movie or TV show, or someone is either killed or saved by someone doing a WW, I don't think the story will spread much.

aarondhgraham · July 12, 2012, 11:12 AM

I have three friends who recently obtained their CWL,,,
The Wal Mart Walk was a required ritual,,,
I went along to take pictures.

Aarond

.

hogdogs · July 12, 2012, 11:23 AM

I just submitted, for approval, a thread on the walmart "private" forums asking if any others are aware of this phenomenon...

Brent

Mr. James · July 12, 2012, 12:17 PM

Oh, this should be good, hogdogs!

aarondhgraham, you made my day with that map - I'd seen it before but couldn't remember the details.

aarondhgraham · July 12, 2012, 12:26 PM

Happy to help out a persons day.

Aarond

.

hermannr · July 12, 2012, 01:30 PM

I think the reason everyone carries in Wal-Mart is it is common knowledge Wal-Mart respects local and state law. I OC exclusively in the summer, only cover when I need to wear a coat because it's cold...never had a word said to me in Wal-Mart, but then this Wal-Mart only opened 8 years ago.

Same goes for Starbucks and OC. It is known that OC is perfectly accepable in a Starbucks, and a lot of people that normally would not go to a place like a Starbucks, patronize it just because they follow state and local law.

It's 40+ miles to the nearest Wal-Mart for us, but it is where some things that are not commonly available in very small towns, are available. Have I OC'd in Wal-Mart...sure, but then I was OCing long before Wal-Mart existed.

Glenn E. Meyer · July 12, 2012, 03:05 PM

Gun folks in Starbucks? Horrors - next thing they will go to Whole Foods or wear a Glock to the sushi bar.

In Oregon, an indoor range had a coffee bar but I think it folded. Too bad.

You could get a latte and watch the shooters.

aarondhgraham · July 12, 2012, 03:54 PM

If you are ever up OK City way,,,
Go to H&H Gun Range.

The 4U Café: Home to World-Famous Onion Burgers
You aim. We please.

It's a Heart Attack on a Bun,,,
But they taste great.

Aarond

.

July 9, 2012, 09:44 AM	#26
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Actually, my first walk was in Oregon at Clackamas Town Center (a mall). Wore a fanny pack and decided it was ridiculous. It has now been in the box of useless gun junk for all these years. Bought ammo at Wally's the other day. Glock and gear under a floppy old shirt. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

July 9, 2012, 11:02 AM	#27
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	Fanny Pack Fanny packs don't work for everybody. Not for me anyway. Thought about a laptop bag, but nahh. Do have a side pack that I carry sometimes, but usually just carry the J-frame or LCP. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

July 9, 2012, 12:22 PM	#28
priell3 Member Join Date: July 9, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 50	I always open carry at Walmart as I do most places. __________________ MikeP PA Zombie Response Team

July 9, 2012, 02:19 PM	#29
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	I think when I did mine, . . . it was just where I was at the time, . . . didn't really give it any thought. But Wally World was the first place, . . . thats an el facto. A couple of days later in an auto parts store in Morehead, Ky, . . . I knew without a doubt that every eye in the place could see my full size 1911 hanging on my side, . . . but if they did, . . . no one said anything May God bless, Dwight __________________ www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!

July 11, 2012, 12:13 PM	#30
Mr. James Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: The Old Dominion Posts: 1,521	I've done the Wally Walk many times, carrying openly. Very few even notice I'm armed. Tom Servo is right! Those fat-wagons are deadly! __________________ "...A humble and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Ps. li "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." —Frederic Bastiat

July 11, 2012, 01:40 PM	#31
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Years ago before it was easy to get a carry permit I accidentally walked into a doughnut shop with a handgun strapped on. It was snowing hard and I had been out checking traps all morning and simply forgot I had it strapped on. Nobody said a word. I did not realize it until I went to take my coat of later. Maybe if it was just stuck in my belt instead of a holster it would have looked more menacing, I don't know.

July 11, 2012, 06:05 PM	#32
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	In the boonies of TX, we were eating a local dive. One friend took out his concealed gun for some reason and put it on the table. No one said a word. He flinched and put it away as we pointed this out to him. I wouldn't do that eating a poached salmon and grilled Italian vegetables at a table in Whole Foods. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

July 12, 2012, 04:03 AM	#34
pmeisel Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2008 Location: WV Posts: 271	I have to say, lifetime, I'm 0-for-Target. And I've only been in Whole Foods once. I was trying to buy beer. __________________ Paul

July 12, 2012, 04:50 AM	#35
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I think people were doing Wally walks long before the phrase was coined. At some point every one realized that everyone did it. Walmart is e every where and probably familiar to most people. I don't think many people would try it out in a business they have never been. Hate Walmart or not, it is the corner stone of many towns now and going to Walmart is necessity now. Odds are very high that the first place needed to go in public is Walmart. Besides some gun owners, on a fluke, were given a sense of humor and it's funny. __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

July 12, 2012, 11:01 AM	#36
psyfly Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 932	Well, I was concealed carrying before there was a Wal Mart (Yeah, I am that old), so I missed out on that one (although I've done it pretty regularly since they showed up). I'm curious to know; has Wal Mart ever commented (officially or unofficially) on the idea that they are part of a gun-owner's rite of passage? I did an interweb search, but came up empty. Anybody out there know? Will __________________ Show me the data

July 12, 2012, 11:12 AM	#38
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Here is an "official" map of he walk,,, I have three friends who recently obtained their CWL,,, The Wal Mart Walk was a required ritual,,, I went along to take pictures. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

July 12, 2012, 11:23 AM	#39
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I just submitted, for approval, a thread on the walmart "private" forums asking if any others are aware of this phenomenon... Brent

July 12, 2012, 12:17 PM	#40
Mr. James Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: The Old Dominion Posts: 1,521	Oh, this should be good, hogdogs! aarondhgraham, you made my day with that map - I'd seen it before but couldn't remember the details. __________________ "...A humble and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Ps. li "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." —Frederic Bastiat

July 12, 2012, 12:26 PM	#41
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello Mr. James,,, Happy to help out a persons day. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

July 12, 2012, 01:30 PM	#42
hermannr Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Posts: 730	I think the reason everyone carries in Wal-Mart is it is common knowledge Wal-Mart respects local and state law. I OC exclusively in the summer, only cover when I need to wear a coat because it's cold...never had a word said to me in Wal-Mart, but then this Wal-Mart only opened 8 years ago. Same goes for Starbucks and OC. It is known that OC is perfectly accepable in a Starbucks, and a lot of people that normally would not go to a place like a Starbucks, patronize it just because they follow state and local law. It's 40+ miles to the nearest Wal-Mart for us, but it is where some things that are not commonly available in very small towns, are available. Have I OC'd in Wal-Mart...sure, but then I was OCing long before Wal-Mart existed.

July 12, 2012, 03:05 PM	#43
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Gun folks in Starbucks? Horrors - next thing they will go to Whole Foods or wear a Glock to the sushi bar. In Oregon, an indoor range had a coffee bar but I think it folded. Too bad. You could get a latte and watch the shooters. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

July 12, 2012, 03:54 PM	#44
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello Glenn,,, If you are ever up OK City way,,, Go to H&H Gun Range. The 4U Café: Home to World-Famous Onion Burgers You aim. We please. It's a Heart Attack on a Bun,,, But they taste great. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)