I headed over from UT to Grand Junction this morning, to meet PF member, Taadski, at the local USPSA match. Ahead of schedule, I stopped into Starbucks for a breakfast sandwich and latte, and to check on the latest on PF, on my iPad.
I got my stuff, and took a seat, back to the wall, across from the main counter, about center of the location. A few minutes later, I saw some green 5.11 pants headed in, looked up and saw a brown, military style sweater, earth tone hat, a Glock 17/22 sized pistol in a non-retention paddle style holster worn just ahead of the hip, no extra magazine, and no visible LE identification. I couldn't remember CO's law on open carry, the Starbucks policy, but was intently interested in what was happening. Guy went to the counter and ordered a coffee, back to me. I could have taken his pistol without much effort. After ordering, he moved down the counter to wait for his coffee, arms folded, and generally looked in condition "white."
This was interesting after my FOF exercises at Gunsite a week ago. I decided if he was going to rob the place, I would let him, since I wouldn't want an employee or customer getting injured over some of Starbucks' money. I also decided if he started trying to harm individuals, I would act without any verbal requests. After continuing to wait, head down and arms folded, he got his coffee and left.
I just can not fathom what would cause someone to open carry in a Starbucks, in a thickly settled place like Grand Junction, with a pistol in a non-retention holster. By contrast, I won't even wear a garment with a gun name on it, off the range or outside my home. If he were a bad guy, he made himself into a target. If he was a good guy, he made himself a target. Not sure anyone else noticed his Glock, but if they did, surely was not a positive impression for gun owners.