We arrived at Escanaba airport at 12:30 and they kindly picked us all up and drove us the 5 minutes or so to the park where the event was taking place.
One of the passengers on the Seneca was Rick Ector, a notable Detroit Gun Rights Activist:
His first flight on a General Aviation aircraft. A most excellent passenger and a real nice guy. He enjoyed the ride.
A few local political candidates attended, and it was a large turnout with a very nice bunch of folks. 7 of us flew up from the lower peninsula to join the event.
Lots of families, kids, and dogs were present and it was a very nice time indeed. Lots of good conversation, food, hospitality and good-natured ribbing of us Trolls (Trolls because were live in the lower Peninsula - under the bridge as it were to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan).
Most people present were open carrying and did so without any issues.
Since Escanaba is Michigan's first line of defense from Wisconsin, this is a good thing.
Holsters were quite diverse and ranged the gamut from Safariland ALS and similar with excellent retention, which make a lot of sense when open carrying, to some decent kydex, to some leather with retention straps, to Serpas, to Fobus, to nylon floppies on a floppy belt, all the way to a shoulder holster that did not even cover the trigger on the firearm that was in it.
There's a lot of diverse options for holsters out there.
A very nice and hospitable event. Then we said our goodbyes and headed to the airport.
Arriving back to the airport, we then had a fun experience.
As we headed into the airport via the General Aviation entrance and GA pilot's lounge, an airport worker saw the fellows who were open carrying and stated that firearms were illegal in the airport.
He was politely told this was not true. He then said he'd call the Sheriff, which he did.
As we were pre-flighting the planes, a Sheriff Sargent pulled up to the airport and then came out on the tarmac with the airport worker. He had a discussion with him and then chatted with us.
The Sargent was a nice fellow and pointed out to the airport worker that he was wrong and all of this was perfectly legal, which it was. We had a nice chat, everyone shook hands and the Sargent then left and went about his business and we then took off.
It was a great visit to the Upper Peninsula and the first one I've done since going up there with Murph a long time ago. Now that I can fly and have use of a plane to get there, future trips will be in store.
1 comment:
Good folks, and yes Rick is a character!
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