Why does printing matter?

The Exile said:

As a college student I don't really have a lot of chances to carry so I've never really pursued it yet, but a lot of people tend to stress the problem of printing. What's the issue exactly?

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The issue is entirely in their minds. Non-gun people will not notice, nor care. They are too wrapped-up in their phones to know what goes-on around them.

When you carry a firearm you become a target. Many people would love to have your firearm. Like money, it’s never a good idea to flash it around lest somebody takes it from you.

Great points have been made here. If you are carrying concealed , then keep it concealed - makes good sense.

I would like to repeat a point made by IGGY - if you blow your cover by printing and a snowflake freaks out and calls the cops , a "scene" may well result. Who knows what happens then? Possible confiscation as a result of exaggerated account from snowflake(s) , in the interest of keeping the peace? Who knows? Why risk it?

We carry concealed in order to be prepared for defense from a deadly threat , God forbid. Not to show off. Concealed is concealed , at least it should be.

Tactically I am opposed to open carry. However, one thing I like about open carry law is the printing and oops moments. Printing in an open carry state? No problem legally. Reach for something or move in a way your cover garment rides up over your firearm? No problem in a state where open carry is legal.

Sorry, no disrespect intended to anyone who's posted in this thread, but some of the comments seem to indicate that quite a few here think that people actually notice "printing" of otherwise concealed handguns. My experience has been that the only people that notice are those that are looking for people carrying. And folks, that doesn't include your average criminal.

Posts saying stuff like this:

Shimitup said:

In prisons (institutes of higher education for the criminal element) I imagine printing is one of the things the inmates would discuss.

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are just wrong. Unless you're talking about professional bank robbers doing takeover style armed bank robberies, they don't care so much. Your basic criminal is trying to score money for his dope fix.

HB said:

If your gun is printing and you are in line at a gas station, its a fairly easy grab for the ex con or teenager behind you

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And while we have a handful of instances nationwide where this has been documented, it is truly uncommon.

If citizens notice, and you're legal -- who cares?

This, to me, is the one topic in the gun culture that people tend to way, way overthink. Only on the internet do we give the average citizen credit for such astute powers of observation.

The Exile said:

Don't cops have some kind of holster that is hard for people to use if you're not wearing them?

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Do you mean, have some kind of holster that's hard for someone to draw the handgun out of? Yes, most law enforcement officers use at least Level 2, usually Level 3 holsters.

Kevin Rohrer said:

The issue is entirely in their minds. Non-gun people will not notice, nor care. They are too wrapped-up in their phones to know what goes-on around them.

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Well said. I personally believe the worry over printing is very overblown. I went the worry route at one time too. I was carrying a Glock 23 and decided I needed something smaller so bought an LCP. I spent a lot of time checking out my printing in the mirror with the G23 and finally had the epiphany that no one is going to notice it unless they are looking for it and know exactly what to look for. And the chances of someone that dedicated to spotting a concealed weapon finding me specifically and actually noticing my gun are slim to none. I have since moved on to an even bigger gun in the Glock 19X, and still no one has ever said they have noticed. I do take measures to not bend over in ways that expose the gun and I have found ways to bend that do not tighten my shirt over a gun and show parts of it. But still, in this day and age where people aren't the smartest and most all either looking at a phone or thinking about looking at a phone, you realize that there is very little chance of it becoming an issue.

In my opinion, a much bigger issue is a concealed carrier telegraphing that they have a gun. This is usually done when they get out of their vehicle and unknowingly feel for their gun and/or adjust their holster.

My only issue with open carry are with those who do so where it's inappropriate. If I'm at the range, or at a firearm friendly setting/area, I don't care if I print. I might even open carry. When I'm somewhere were open carry will cause trouble, bring unwanted attention, scare people, will disrupt business, or it's just inappropriate, I'll conceal carry out of respect for customers, the business owner and employees, etc. Other than that, I like to have the element of surprise and not being a target. Printing to the point where someone can tell you're carrying a gun just defeats the purpose of conceal carry.

There's also the assumption that people never notice printing or open carry just because no one said anything. In my experience, most people, even those who do not like guns, will not say anything even if they do notice or care.

Chances are good that you will think you’re printing way more than you are or will be detected by the public. I’ve been carrying legally for 16 years now. I’m an enthusiast and I look for others carrying as kind of a mindless time-waster when driving miss Daisy to the stores and such. In that time, I’ve noted maybe 2 or 3 people carrying via printing. One guy was way too obvious....NRA hat, NRA shirt that was 2 sizes too small covering what looked like a G17 grip.. If I were a betting man, I’d say that he and his buddies probably were having their post-range/training Big Mac. Their discussion was entirely guns. Nothing wrong with any of that, but my point is that people shouldn’t overthink printing in states where open carry is perfectly fine.

Toml said:

Snake Guns.

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I see mostly Glocks, some 1911s. Revolvers and even a woman open carrying an lcp.

I cant believe nobody has posted the cliche "nobody notices or cares" yet; I expected it with this many replies already.
Nobody notices. That is an assumption, nobody said anything if they did notice is accurate.
Nobody cares. Another assumption. "Care" is not really accurate anyway, potential positive vs negative outcome for pointing out sloppy concealment to a stranger.

CDW4ME said:

I cant believe nobody has posted the cliche "nobody notices or cares" yet; I expected it with this many replies already.
Nobody notices. That is an assumption, nobody said anything if they did notice is accurate.
Nobody cares. Another assumption. "Care" is not really accurate anyway, potential positive vs negative outcome for pointing out sloppy concealment to a stranger.

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See post #26
I'm guessing you didn't notice or care that someone already posted it.

The Exile said:

Don't cops have some kind of holster that is hard for people to use if you're not wearing them?

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Yes, typically have multiple actions required to draw.

Old Dog said:

And while we have a handful of instances nationwide where this has been documented, it is truly uncommon.

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So are justified homicides in public by lawful ccw holders.

I don’t think you give gangbangers enough credit. Most of them have been carrying, using, looking for, and more willing to use a weapon than your average person that took a ccw course. There is a reason cops wear level 3 holsters and so much time is spent training to keep people from taking your duty pistol.

I’m not saying your gun has to be invisible but its probably best not to have a Beretta 92 butt hump in a Serpa Holster with a white t shirt hanging over it

It depends on where you live. In most areas it is really an irrelevancy. Over the last half century or so it seems the majority of people do not even see openly carried handguns.

I look at it like playing cards, sure when it’s all over everyone will know what I have but there is an advantage to not letting them know before hand. Same reason I am all for having the right to open carry even if I don’t in public for the above reason.

The Exile said:

As a college student I don't really have a lot of chances to carry so I've never really pursued it yet, but a lot of people tend to stress the problem of printing. What's the issue exactly?

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It's tacky for starters.

It can land you in hot water legally if in a jurisdiction that cares about that sort of thing.

Lastly: concealed means concealed

Regarding the Police or rather the fear of the Police by some members of THR.

Open Carry in Kansas has been legal for several years so a LEO should know what the law is. If a Officer makes contact with me because I am legally open carrying he/she will know the law after he/she gets done talking to me.

This may sound like threat or Internet bravo. It isn’t. I will not be bullied and I will not to tolerate professionals who are ignorant. I expect, no demand, that a LEO know local and State laws. If they don’t or are unsure then I expect them to call a more experienced officer and learn what the law is.

Everyone lives in different parts of the country, different areas of the same state, and have different laws and cultures which is shaping everyone's opinion. In my area of the country, open carry is not common even though it's legal. There's a time and place for everything. It's just not very appropriate at most venues in my area...

In the day and age of idiots shooting places up, I personally try to be considerate of others. I still get to be armed when I carry concealed, I'm not causing a disruption, I don't have to risk being swatted, asked to leave an establishment, possibly being robbed, I'm not bringing any attention to myself, and I'm not making anyone else uncomfortable. Everyone is happy...

If you live in an area where open carry is common and you're generally not going to be targeted or singled out because everyone OC's, then I don't see an issue with it.

jmr40 said:

It may, or may not be an issue. Every situation is different. MOST people just aren't observant enough for it to matter in most situations. And the ones who did notice would just think it was a cell phone. But in some situations I DO NOT want anyone to have a clue that I'm armed.

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I sit and watch people all day at my job. I was taught by my Dad, a cop, and can tell the difference between a cell phone and a CCW. Sometimes I can tell whether a 1911-type gun (rare these days) or a Glock-type (common). The better carriers I can tell are carrying some sort of gun, but not which. The best, of course, I never see.

sparkyv said:

I agree. Not one time have I been outed, I'm just not overly concerned about it as if it's not even there. I wonder how many times a guy has outed himself by being overly concerned and drawing attention to themselves?

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The rookie self pat-down.

The Exile said:

I mean I thought it just meant anything like that, like even having it in a holster and you're just wearing a t shirt and in theory you could see if you were paying attention that someone has a gun; people talk like if that happens officer o'Hare is gonna billyclub you upside the head and slap cuffs on you for open carrying or something.

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Minnesota has open carry with a carry permit, for the exact reasons herrwalther mentions. If you reach for the Toilet Paper that isn't there on the top shelf and Mr. Smith (and Wesson) plays peek-a-boo with the world, you are legally covered.

The Exile said:

Don't cops have some kind of holster that is hard for people to use if you're not wearing them?

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Yes, most do, but they are not concealable.

Just saw this conversation take place at the LGS with a guy buying his first ever firearm. The internet told him to buy the smallest gun he could find that he could manipulate easily as that would be the most concealable. Obviously it made sense to him, because he looked at every sub-compact still available. The owner looked at me and says "see that guy? He's carrying a full size 1911 in a Desantis IWB holster under his untucked work shirt." The guy says "really? How can you tell? Is he printing or something?" "No...hes a regular and he bought it from me a couple months ago"