[B_Scott]

I work out at a gym 3 days a week before work. At first I was concerned about other guys in the locker room seeing me strap on a gun. I came up with a good, IMO, solution:
When getting dressed I always just nonchalantly put on my smartcary with glock. I do not pause or look around. I just act like it is perfectly normal and that everyone should be doing it, because that is how I feel.
If more people did this then when small gun bills came up in the legislature the liberal argument of "this won't affect good people, because good people don't need or have guns" won't work.
We should all strive to get others to see guns as perfectly normal.
What do ya'll think?

[280PLUS]

in connecticut, if someone sees my gun and feels anxious about it and the police show up, "depending on the mood of the officer" he/she can take my wepon and suspend my license.

plus i'm not crazy about locking my gun in a gym locker cause ours get broken into,

i lock and hide my unloaded gun in my car and keep the ammo in my pants pocket in my locked locker.

i figure if i'm gonna get it during my walk through the lot to and from the building for that one short period of time that i'm ever unarmed, i musta did something to tick God off and he's/she's gonna get me one way or another anyhow...

:rolleyes:

[trevman11]

Well I currently don't hold a CCW (PRK), so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. However, I think you've got half the solution down pretty good which is to not draw attention to yourself. I would think though that is there was a way to conceal the firearm in a way that people didn't notice it, that would be better. I guess I think of people's reactions on a scale. The goal being to minimize the reaction. Seeing someone strapping on a hogleg in a very conspicuous manner looking around and acting very nervous would probably elevate people's reactions to the high end of the scale. Seeing someone put on a gun like its just part of his daily routine would elevate people's awareness to some extent, but probably not alarming. Not seeing someone strap on a gun obviously would have no effect. So the bottom line to this rant is that if you want to ensure people react at a low level, then concealed actions are the way to go. HOWEVER, the other side of me thinks that if the public can get more exposed to private, responsible CCW holders than it can only help to maybe shed some of the dogma about guns - maybe, after they get over the hump. Its a pretty interesting question though. **** I have a hard enough time keeping my coworkers from flipping out when I tell them I'm into shooting sports. Safe Shooting dude!!

Trev

[Redlg155]

I'd suggest that you go to the bathroom stall to strap on your carry weapon. Not all of the patrons of the gym will understand why you have a concealed carry weapon and that you are legal to carry. You can bet that these folks will complain to the management, possibly banning you from carrying your weapon inside of their gym, or worse, having the police called on you.

Sure, you can find a new gym, but why go through that inconvenience when it is unecessary and doesn't prove a point?

Also understand that letting other folks know you have a weapon can be a security risk. Theives also work out at gyms and will definitely break into a locker.

"Flashing" in any form is not recommended in a mens locker room. :D

Good Shooting
Red

[B_Scott]

The gym that I work out at is located in the Central Business District. I work out at 6:00 AM, so all 7 (if that) people in there are businessmen. I highly doubt that my locker will be broken into.
Anyway, I get a different locker each time so the thief would have to see me come in, see what locker I went to and then break into it.
I guess this brings up another question-
What is a good way to show the public that CCW holders do exist and we are all over?

[Redlg155]

Anyway, I get a different locker each time so the thief would have to see me come in, see what locker I went to and then break into it.

Not really. They just have to know what your lock looks like. :D

I learned a while back to trust no one except yourself.

What is a good way to show the public that CCW holders do exist and we are all over?

I don't know about what qualifications you must have in order to recieve a permit, but here in Fl one of the best ways is to get certified as a Concealed Carry Permit instructor. Then offer your classes as inexpensive as possible so that more people can afford to take the class.

Good Shooting
Red

[Dave P]

Scott, I think you have the right idea: keep it low key and act like you have every right to do what you are doing (you do!). If you get some funny looks, ignore them. If you get comments, blow it off somehow. Isn't it LA where the repeat rapist is? (did ya ever hear of a parallel rapist?)

[Byron Quick]

I carry a 1911 IWB. When I go to a gym I simply walk up to a locker and remove my belt. I then place my holstered gun in the locker. No one has ever seen me do so. Reverse the process after I put my vest on when getting dressed. Takes about 2 seconds.

[10-Ring]

I too don't like leaving a firearm in a gym locker. Not secure enough even for just the hour or so that I'd be there. I've see far too much theft go on to feel that those lockers are secure.
I'd leave the gun secured in the trunk of my car.

[280PLUS]

seeing how most crimes are random opportunistic acts i'd say youre rolling the dice when you put your gun, loaded, in a gym locker and leave it. i don't care what time it is or who's there.

your taking an equal chance if it's in your trunk.

but i figure if the ammo and gun are separated in this situation, and the car is stolen, it gives a little time for officers to hopefully track down the car and gun before mr. bg finds it and gets some ammo at the local gun shop.

just mho

:)

lol,,,sometimes i go to the gym before i go to the range. so i lock the guns in the car and take the ammo in inside my gym bag.

i love the looks i get when 400 or 500 rounds of various ammos rattle around in there.
"gee, i wonder why that guy's gymbag rattles when he moves it around?"

if only they knew...:evil:

[B_Scott]

I'd rather take the chance that it gets stolen than take the chance that I get DEAD.
I go NOWHERE without my gun. It is not an option of me to leave it in the car.

[shermacman]

Join a different gym. :neener: I was amazed at the people, both men and women, who are members of my local gym and the Braintree gun club. Good source of conversation in between lifts!

[Mark D]

When carrying concealed, my gun is NEVER seen by another person. As far as the world is concerned I'm just like every other disarmed peasant. Put your gun on in a stall. Use relationships and conversation to change peoples minds about gun owners and concealed carry, not show and tell.

Regardless of your intent, you are "flashing" your piece in a public place. Not a good idea.

[4 eyed six shooter]

Flashin your gun in the locker room huh? Be very very careful, you could get busted and have to register as a gun offender. They might make you put up a sign in your front yard, what would the neighbors think? :evil: :D :neener:

[280PLUS]

i'd rather be dead than have someone else killed with a gun that was stolen from me due to my carelessness/negligence...

:eek:

[spacemanspiff]

i was nervous about locker room flashing as well. then i realized that i can put the IWB holster on my hip in 2 seconds. turn my strong side towards the wall and insert.
of course, i also choose an area of the locker room that has the least potential spectators.

[samualt]

I usually carry mine in my bag and take it with me station to station. I carry towels and water also so no one thinks anything of it. And, I'm armed even while working out. :D

I usually don't bother holstering. The bag is fine and makes it accessible to me.

[444]

I personally wouldn't leave a loaded gun in a gym locker, but other than that, I don't have a problem with what you are doing. I wouldn't advertise it, or make any kind of a show of it. I would make some attempt to not have people see it like choosing a locker away from other people if possible, but I wouldn't think twice about putting it on my belt; but I would do it as quickly and with as little fanfare as possible.
When I went to a gym (before I got fat and lazy) I did what samualt does. When I pulled up in the parking lot, I slipped it out of my holster and into my gym bag which I carried with me while I worked out. I had some water, a towel, something to read on the stairmaster, maybe a walkman, my cell phone, and my gun in the bag. All of which I might need.

[TheeBadOne]

It's uncomfortable and in the way at times but I carry my Glock 27 or Kahr MK9 in a small fanny pack. The lockers at my gym are a joke, I don't trust them to stop anyone but the honest folks (which the gym is full of). There's never been a locker broken into in 3 yrs that I'm aware of, but the nature of the wooden lockers is flimsy. It would take more than any size of screw driver (perhaps bare hands as well) to pry/bust one open. I started with locking my gun in my vehicle, then decided a fanny pack, while a bit of a pain, solved all my problems. It felt funny wearing it the first few times, but when asked I say I had my wallet/cell phone stolen at my last gym. Nobody gives it a second thought after that.

[Bainx]

TheeBadOne...
Yours is the most believable cover.

[WonderNine]

You need a smaller gun for situations like that. Something that fits in your pocket. 9mm or .357 will do.

Then you don't have to worry about taking it off or putting it back on.

[Double Naught Spy]

If by permit where concealed actually means concealed, my guess is that most concealed carry permits do not allow for lockerroom flashing of firearms. A public lockerroom is just that, public. Granted, you may be isolated from the opposite sex, but not from the same sex. Whether you flash out in the parkinglot or public lockerroom, it still means your gun is not concealed and that may violate your permit.

[Meow]

Concealed carry, concealed all the time

[Erik]

It is a bad idea to flash a concealed pistol under any circumstances. Period.

As for businessmen, you'd be surprised how many aren't as conservative as you apparently believe them to be.

[TheMariner]

I don't know how your state is but where I live, open carry is legal so "flashing" doesn't mean crap... Up till maybe 7 years ago or so, high schoolers during rifle season would drive to school with gun racks and rifles and nobody cared. Most people still think of weapons as a non-issue around the town.

[matsaleh]

What is a good way to show the public that CCW holders do exist and we are all over?

This is an important question, and I believe it is the duty of RKBA advocates in general, and CCW holders in particular, to answer and implement the answer on a personal level.

For my part, I spend most of my time at the office. Many at the office are liberal. Many are libertarian. Some are conservative. We are all friends, even when we disagree on politics. We also have a very casual culture that is open to philisophical discussion and rational debate.

This makes it easy for me to find opportunities to advocate RKBA, and to drop subtle hints about my interest in guns, the process of obtaining my CHL (processing now - TX takes a while), and my intent to carry.

I have already cultivated a reputation for being professional, level-headed, respectable, and most important, ethical. Now, adding in the fact that I intend to carry a handgun shows RKBA skeptics that someone who is not a "whacko gun nut" should give them a reason to check their prejudices.

I deliberately avoid inflammatory "gun nut" speech such as "kill am all, let God sort em out", and the like. On the other hand, I do not hesitate to quote libertarian thinkers and our founding fathers on the topic, preferably using names that are familiar. In this way, I hope to educate with logic those who react emotionally to things they don't understand.

[RustyHammer]

(I'd not worry about it until someone complains, unless there is a business policy against it .... specifically in your contract with them.)

One option may be to get dress and put on holster (leave gun in gym bag) until you're out to your car (in stall, behind locker door, etc) then just slip it into the holster. Most people are probably not going to even notice unless the see the weapon itself. (i.e. it's a cell phone case, PDA pouch, etc.)

Bottom-line ... you're not doing anything illegal unless it's against policy.

Rusty

P.S. Ever stop to think that maybe it's the "other" shooter they're looking at? In which case, it IS time to change gyms! ha.ha :uhoh: :uhoh: :uhoh:

[dairycreek]

means concealed - bottom line. I have actually witnessed a CHL carrier turned over to the police for inadvertently flashing his weapon. A lady called the cops when she saw the guy's gun as he reached upward for a toy on a higher shelf. His jacked creeped up and "there it was". Cops came, checked out his CHL (it was okay), wrote him a ticket, and took his weapon. Had to go to court to get it back.

I work out several times a week in a gym and do all my gun handling in a closed in "john" so nobody ever sees the weapon - period. Concealed means concealed. Good shooting;)

[QuarterBoreGunner]

California is like Oregon:
concealed means concealed - bottom line
I try to be very careful about printing or otherwise flashing- I live in San Francisco and if the general public (here at least) saw a man with a gun under his shirt or jacket and no badge; the LAST thing they're going to think is 'CCW holder'- they're going to think CRIMINIAL!!!! CALL THE COPS!!

Slightly OT- The worst situation I've had is at the movie theatre, and having to, uhm, “relieve” myself if you know what I mean. Sorry ladies but it’s a fact of life. All the stalls were in use so I had to use the wall mounted urinal. And there was a line, so I have to juggle a relatively heavy G30 in a IWB holster, under a jacket, do my, ah, business, and then tuck shirt zip pants and all that with out the guy in the line behind me figuring out what’s going on.

The one time I wished I had a shoulder rig.

Not fun.