How to spot a ccw holder?

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Fanny Packs and Clip-on Pocketknives are not reliable indicators of concealed pistol carry. I always have my knife clipped to my pocket, and I usually have a small belly-bag on, yet I do not carry a concealed pistol. My belly-bag is just large enough to conceal my J-frame .38 special, but I use it to carry a second pair of eyeglasses, eyeglass cleaner solution and medication.

I was once asked by a police officer to open my belly-bag, when I was entering a racetrack grandstand area, where handguns are prohibited. He saw my eyeglasses and let me enter. I am sure he suspected I had a gun in the bag, and that is why he wanted me to open it.

If you assume that a fanny-pack or belly-bag is being used to conceal a gun, it could cause you to overlook a gun hidden in a different location on that persons body. It could also divert your attention away from another person that is a real threat.

I have considered getting one of the vests that have multiple pockets (safari or photog type) and getting the stuff I usually carry on my belt (PDA and Cell Phone) and in the belly-bag off of my waist; that would not mean I was carrying a concealed gun anymore than I do now.



What is the concern about identifying other people that are carrying concealed guns? Do you suspect anyone that you do not know, of being a criminal, if you think they have a gun? Do you suspect that they are CPL holders? What is the point? If you see someone performing a criminal act with a gun, then you need to be concerned, otherwise why waste the time and energy to constantly look for a concealed gun. Most people planning to use a gun to commit a crime in the immediate time frame will have it in their hand (and the hand may be concealed); those that are minding their own business and carrying out normal activities in a normal manner, are not a threat, so why try to detect their hidden gun?
 
I also think one of those pocketknives with the clip for the end of the pocket gives the impression of gun owner, at least. Not sure about CCW though.
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Hey, I resemble that remark. :D
 
Guy wearing a vest is a good giveaway.

(Unless it's leather, and goes with matching pants, studded neckband, and hat. Then it may just indicate . . . uhhh . . . an alternative lifestyle.)
 
Good thread. I too try to find people CCW but it is hard indeed. Heck, even hard to pick up on people that you know are CCW. No one and I mean no one would ever guess by wife has a G-19 in her purse. Women are the tuffest for this reason.

My hair cut guy made me once, and I consider him to be the only one to do so honestly. Others can make you if they already know its there. Once after a dinner with guy buddies one asked me in the parking lot if I was CCW, because they didn't see one and it wasn't like me to not have a gun. I had a full sized 1911 on my person at the time. I asked everyone else to "find the gun" well after a few wrong guesses someone got it, but the wrong guesses show just how hard it is to find a well placed firearm.

Moral of story is that if you can't see the gun when you KNOW its there, then how in the heck are the dumb sheep going to find it?
 
People who get into brief verbal judo with the friends as to who "gets the window seat" (facing the exit) based on who "has the right of way" (bigger caliber)
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This I have to share. Back in the late 70s, a friend of mine who didn't/doesn't carry was insistent on sitting with a good view of the door and a clear path to an alternative exit. It had something to do with having spent time in "NorthWest Pakistan," I suspect. I found a new Greek restaurant in Solana Beach that I liked very much and invited him to lunch one day. Now, visualize this: A man who wants to sit facing the door, with his back to the wall. A "rainroad-flat" restauurant, with an entrance at each end, 5 seats at the bar and 3 tables along the wall. The choices were: face the front entrance, with your back to the rear entrance, OR face the rear entrance, with your back to the front entrance, OR, sit at the bar, with an entrance both left and right of you and your back to some of the clientelle.

He dithered and I laughed, for quite awhile. :evil: The food was good, though.

Pops
 
Somebody who's always looking around, scanning everytihng is a pretty good indication. Maybe they're not packing that instant, but that is somebody who's aware of what is going on around them. Not many people in this world do that today. Mostly it's a cop or somebody carrying that does. People these days don't pay attention at all. I swear you could get away carrying open here in CT as long as you were dressed either in tactical blue pants/tight t-shirt or a dress shirt and dress pants. People here would just assume you were police.
 
It's easy. Go into a crowded place. Then shout, as loud as you can: "Oh no, that person is carrying a GUN!"

Then watch for all the people who hurridly grab their shirt, pull down their jacket, look at their ankle, pat their pocket, etc. :)
 
I WANT people to know I am packing. I could care less if a passer-by or cop knows I am packing. There is less of a chance of a would-be criminal acting up if they think there is someone packing nearby. I personally prefer open carry, but I have been told that open carry tends to "make people nervous". :confused: But I don't go out of my way to let folks know, if they notice, they notice.
 
I agree with whrilwind on this one, those bdu vests are the best tell tale of packing (also ex ops guys). I think they hide the best, but in south FL, I only get to wear it maybe one day in February, lol. The last one I bought I think I've worn a total of two weeks in the past four years!

No offense to the southern boys (I are one), but if you have a mullet your packing. (or at least have an arkansas toothpick strapped to your leg)

Another way to tell is look around the place when you first enter, anyone sizing you up is probably packing.

Any establishment open past 6PM -> assume all emploees are packing.

Anyone with more than 3 gold teeth is packing.

Anyone driving a late 80s muscle car (Camaro, Z, 5.0, vette, etc) is probably packing.

Anyone on THR is probably packing

Anyone over the age of 20 wearing camo is probably packing (except those camo bikini's because where would you hide it, but I bet there is a gun in the car!)

If they are wearing, have a bumper sticker, or are flying the confederate flag, their packing!

I like the pick their pocket thing (read their drivers license)...one things for sure, you'll find out if their packing, and might find out first hand.

The pocket knife this is good too, I also resemble that!

Lastly, this is more for ex military/police, look for the best vantage point in any place (restaurant,starbucks,etc) and see whos sitting there. When you walk in, if they look at you without really looking at you, they're packing.

I just thought of this too - anyone wearing a trenchcoat in florida is packing more than a handgun.
 
Trying to tell who is CCW is mis-guided...

When I'm out and about I try to figure out who is likely to be a bad guy, not who is carrying ccw. I don't care who is ccw.
 
I don't buy into the clothing accessories mentality to spotting gun carriers. I know too many folks who dress in manners that folks here would think meant they were carrying when they were not, for example, fanny packs. Things like fanny packs and vests give reason for a closer look, but are not necessarily an identifier.

However, if I was going to go with identifiers, I would look for folks in Il. with ICARRY t-shirts, people with NRA shirts, or other gun related shirts like COLT, Beretta, Sig, Glock, etc.

Folks who are only looking at vests, fanny packs, emblems, Royal Robbins gear, etc. are potentially defacto missing critical parts of the picture around them by out of hand assuming said folks are carrying guns. If you think they are carrying a gun, what else could they be carrying...assuming they are not good guys?
 
Sunday Morning I'm gonna try this...

It's easy. Go into a crowded place. Then shout, as loud as you can: "Oh no, that person is carrying a GUN!"

Then watch for all the people who hurridly grab their shirt, pull down their jacket, look at their ankle, pat their pocket, etc.
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in church :evil:
 
I just went to a working guys bar for weds night all you can eat fish fry, yummmmmmm I was looking, 11 guys walked past me, 8 had clip on knives, I think two were carrying, the rest reasonably sure they just had the knives....


The signs here are probably different than anywhere else, here a vest may be a sign, but most of them are harley vests or carhart (not tonight too hot) but a vest here is a clothing article. A manbag or fanny pack means metro sexual or WORSE. A brief case carried in after hours is carrying. camp shirt, fishing shirt, hawaiian, depends on his size, either belly camo or carry cover. sometimes both.:rolleyes: I watch them stand up, its hard to stand and not double check the piece. If the hand hits the hip or pulls only oneside down, carrying. The man lightly but firmly grabbing his companions arm to steer her away from the seat he needs to sit in, carrying.


And the all time give aways, the guy who gets up from a booth and leaves the gun showing until his wife pulls his shirt down, or the your taking an leak at the urinal and when he opens his pants in the stall you hear the clank.
 
Uh, yell gun in a crowd?:what: You're kidding, right? I can visualize an ND. That would not be a good idea in the Washington, DC area or Northern Virginia area. There would be at least one of the many LEOs and bad boys who might react carelessly. Besides, there are enough firefights that erupt in those areas.:)
 
Uh, yell gun in a crowd? You're kidding, right?
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Yeah. :scrutiny:

If that doen't work, try "fire"!

Come on, sarcastic wit! Try it some time.

If I yelled that in church, the only person who would be noticed would be me. It would be like shouting , "Hey! That is Jesus up there on the cross!"
 
Fat middle aged white guy, wearing dockers, loafers, and nicely pressed short sleeved dress shirt driving a pickup truck or 4WD SUV that looks like it is used as intended.

If they're female, young, non-caucasian, or wear piercings-tshirt-jeans then hell I dunno, but you might be surprised.
 
Some tells I notice.

Vests are big. Especially on folks who don't fit with the image. Jackets that don't come off even when the dude is drowning in sweat.Noticeable scanning of a crowd. Someone sitting with their back to a wall, looking around the room every time someone changes position. Here's a biggie. A lot of the copos around here carry, but none of them know how to conceal. They all wear light colored shirts one size too small to pull off a full size pistol. Big bulge on the hip rather than behind it.

It's a moot point, though. I don't mind walking into a room where everyone has a gun. I just don't want to walk into a room where I'm the only one without one.
 
And my favorite... The guy who just started carrying who keeps pulling his pants up, that isn't between 11-22 years old.
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So you're telling me that when I turn 23 next May, my .40 will magically quit tugging at my side?;)
 
Don't see too many fanny packs...

anymore. I guess the word got around that they scream "gun". I use a man-purse. Usually because I wear gym shorts and tshirt when it is warm out. It is big enough to carry my wallet in an outside pocket. As I am a very good powerlifter, I don't get any flack about it except for my lady friend that runs the Vietnamese eatery I go to. She always asks me if I have my gun in my purse today. I always reply of course. Vests stand out around here because the outside temp is around 100 every day in the summer. I always have my second gun in my pocket and my wife is also armed. We have planned out what we will do if approached by a bad guy. I always look for the possible bad guys, I don't worry about the CHLs. I have formal security training so I can scan a venue without seeming to.....chris3
 
Ops Officer, yes, I'm totally serious. :rolleyes:

(I was being SARCASTIC).

I'm a CCW instructor. I enjoy trying to spot people who are carrying. It is fun, but I don't take it serious, and mostly I do it so that I can give advice to my students on how to avoid stupid mistakes.

That said, Utah ain't NoVa. CCW is common here, and is not seen as a big deal. Open carry not so much, but some people open carry constantly, and in the vast majority of the state, nobody bats an eye.
 
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