What would you say / How would you respond....

If you were in a store, market, or anywhere for that matter and someone happened to see your "print", and said "Hey buddy, is that a gun?"

Who knows, it might be a kid, a woman who hates guns, a nervous security geek at walmart, etc. What would you say?

I've had it happen and I said it was an insulin pump.

I would say, "No, that's my leatherman." :D

When I'm at work and not carrying, I usually do have my leatherman strapped to my belt. It actually prints MORE than my IWB 1911 and no one has ever asked me about it.

In a year and a half of carrying concealed, no one (not even close friends or my parents!) has been able to tell I'm carrying unless I make it known to them. A good concealment holster and a reasonble cover shirt make it nearly impossible to tell.

Insulin pump! I'll have to remember that one.

Now, I can understand the owner or manager of a store asking about you bringing a gun into his establishment.

Depends. But generally, the truth is the best answer IMHO. There's nothing to be ashamed of and a few things to be proud of.:D

"No, that's my colostomy pump. Would you like to hold it?"

In most states, if not all that allow you to carry concealed, stating that you have a concealed weapon is brandishing just as if you took it out to show it.

I would perhaps ask them to mind their own business.

If by chance someone does notice my gun because I printed and asks me "Is that a gun?" I think I would say - "Yes it is, and I have a license to carry it."

In most states, if not all that allow you to carry concealed, stating that you have a concealed weapon is brandishing just as if you took it out to show it.
Not quite that simple, and I don't think there's a blanket rule. Every state has its own laws, and some of the laws can be pretty quirky.

In Washington, there is no law against telling people you are carrying, and AFAIK, no law which defines 'concealed' vs. 'not concealed.'

Open carry isn't illegal here, even -- but you may not openly carry a gun "in a place or manner that warrants alarm." That would pretty well be everywhere, given modern social dynamics. Nevertheless, open carry itself is not prohibited, nor is it illegal to carry a concealed gun which prints, nor is it illegal to tell people of your armed status.

Under certain circumstances, telling folks you are armed may be stupid. But it is not illegal in this state.

pax

Oh, gosh! A gun? Don't those terrible things go around killing over 8,000 small children a day?

"Yes it is, and I have a license to carry it."
Good response.
Next thing I'd do would be to get a good holster.

BamBam

"yes, it is."

We have no such troublesome laws here, and don't have to worry too much about printing.

In fact we don't even have the concept of "brandishing". There is a law against "criminal threatening", but that's not specificly about weapons and only applies if something is done "with the purpose of coercing, terrorizing or causing fear".

TearsOfRage has it, and I don't worry at all about the whole printing bit.

After all, given the number who have a CCW and use it in my neck of the woods, they'd probably only want to know the weapon type and caliber!

Don't those terrible things go around killing over 8,000 small children a day?No silly. They kill 8,000 little teeny babies a day. Duh! :p

How about the Vinnie Barbarino answer:

"What?" .... "Where? ...."Who?" ...."What?" ...."Huh?"


...with a real vacant look in your eyes (my natural state, anyway, I am told:D)?????

"Well, yes. Of course it is. Why aren't you carrying? Its your civic duty you know." ;)

:)
depends "how" they ask.
:mad: if defensive/offensive; then the answer is "none of your bizness."
:) if inquisitive (like the may want to compare notes on ccw); then "why do you ask?"

I agree. Best response: "Why do you ask?"

I just pretend not to speak English.

"Semmi-bah-boo-femmi-semmi?"

"HABAB-SIDDI-IDDI!!"

carrying IWB at 3:00, with a proper cover garment, it shouldnt "print" at all. the only part of the firearm that sticks out is the last inch or two of the butt.
no one pays much attention anyways. when i'm at the gym i remove the holster in view of others in the lockerroom. its visible for maybe a full second, but it could be a cellphone or a pager. noones noticed it yet.

in the unlikely event that i am 'made' and asked about it, i would probably answer 'yes it is a gun', and leave it at that.

How one responds is all about how one is asked.

Someone previously recommended, "Why do you ask?" if the question was posed in a defensive manner, and I agree. That turns the original asker into the subject of the conversation, which might just end it right there. If not, be straightforward and honest. It may be the first time that person has encountered an armed citizen, and it's important to give them a good impression. People tend to generalize, and a favorable encounter might help them realize that not all gun-owners are criminals.

Also, I'd generally avoid the word, "gun." A lot of people will focus on it when they hear it, I'd rather have them listening to me.

The nice think about carrying here in the enlightened workers paradise of california, even if I printed REALLY bad, the last thing anyone (well ok most people) would think is 'gun'. They're gonna think 'cell phone' or 'palm pilot' or some other 'lectronic gadget.

Strangely enough I HAVE had people question me on my I'm carrying a knife (Spyderco Civilian).

If you want to have some fun, when someone asks that question, just reply (in a Saddam Hussein accent): "Yes, of course - I want to be ready for Jihad at any time!"

:evil: :p :D

(Of course, you might not want to do this in the presence of many THR members... :D )

"Hey buddy, is that a gun?"No. I'm just happy to see YOU!


Then I'd blow them a kiss. :rolleyes:

In most states, if not all that allow you to carry concealed, stating that you have a concealed weapon is brandishing just as if you took it out to show it.

Actually, that's not so. Here in Georgia, you can have the gun in your hand and it's not "brandishing." At least not in any legal sense. It is against the law to point a gun at someone without legally justified cause.http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/gacode/16-11-102.html

A search of the Georgia Code for brandish, brandishing, and brandished returned no hits. It's a word that is not present in any Georgia statute.

Also, if I chose to do so, I could legally tell everyone I meet,"Hey, I'm carrying a legally concealed weapon!" And I CAN take it out to show it. It'd be stupid. It wouldn't be illegal.

Just because it's so in your state...DOES NOT mean it's the same in every state or even most states.