Open Carry at the San Simon Rest Stop

Gun Watch ^ | 22 October, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On my way back to Yuma, I switched from concealed carry (open carry of modern handguns is illegal in Texas) to open carry.   Just past the New Mexico border, in Arizona, is the San Simon rest stop, at exit 388 on I-10.   I have been to this rest stop many times.   The Rest Area Guide is old and weatherbeaten.    There is no prohibition on the carry of arms, because of open carry activists actions at the Sacaton rest stop in 1998.   No one had a problem with me having a pistol in the rest area.  A friendly truck driver was happy to take my picture.

I noticed a number of collared doves at the rest stop.   They are an invasive species.   There is no limit on taking them in Arizona.

This one sat, unconcerned, just a few feet from my truck.

In spite of the doves, the rest area is not always a peaceful place.   This stop has special significance to me because of what happened to one of my students there.

He had driven a long ways, coming from New Mexico, and was very tired.   Open carry was the only way to legally carry in New Mexico and Arizona at the time.  He was openly carrying in a shoulder holster.

Just as he got out of the car, another vehicle abruptly stopped behind his car, blocking him in the parking space.   Two men quickly exited the vehicle, the passenger rapidly moving to flank him on the passenger side of my student's car, the driver getting out of the car and starting to move toward him.

The passenger flanking him saw the student's holstered firearm, yelled "Gun!", slammed to a halt, and ran back to the car.  The driver jumped back into the vehicle, the passenger entered with considerable rapidity, and the vehicle screeched off and away.

My student said that it happened so quickly, that he did not even realize that he was under threat until the pair started to accelerate away from him.  His fatigue had slowed his perceptions and reactions considerably.

A number of assaults and murders have happened at Arizona rest areas.   It did not happen this time.   This time the mere presence of a firearm stopped the assault cold.

Peaceful people do not block your exit and rapidly approach you from two directions.  Peaceful people do not yell "Gun!"  and retreat as fast as they can.

I firmly believe that his open carry stopped an assault that day, through tactical deterrence.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Most events involving tactical deterrence are not noticed. The attack simply does not occur.

[bicyclerepair]

My amex card:

Keltec .380 - made in FL, guar for life and don’t even know it’s in your pocket.

Just put some hollow points through it and not one jam. Beautiful little piece that I ALWAYS have in my pocket.

[Parley Baer]

North of that stop is the old Butterfield stage station up in the mountain pass. It is just in New Mexico. I have done some exploring in that area and yes “carrying”.

[Parley Baer]

To add to my post, just to the South of the rest stop below I10 is the where the old San Simon Butterfield state station was. Right next to the San Simon river. The name of the station up in the mountains was called “Stiens Peak” station. Lots of killings by the Apaches in that area.

[mad_as_he$$]

As a side, we have been killing barbed doves in droves this year.

[rellimpank]

—maybe someone on this group will have some info on what the Canadian terrorist used for a firearm—saw one clip indicating a lever-action Winchester 94 appearing “long” gun—anyone heard or seen any info?

[x1stcav]

‘An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.’

Robert Heinlein was a genius.