Unintentionally funny news graphic

Keep in mind the background of the author- he was a robbery detective. So his experience was in looking for criminals carrying guns in the role of an armed robber.

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Okay, but keep in mind the purported utility of the graphic. It isn't about spotting armed robbers, none of which are depicted in the graphics. As noted above, all it shows mostly really are people who either aren't carrying properly or are just noobs.

The one shoulder holster tell is pretty good, only so few people wear shoulder holsters.

It Works

Back in the 90's this detective came to my department. My Capt. had him ride with me and we went to several hot spots in the city looking for people with guns. During the eight hour tour he was able to spot several people that were carrying concealed weapons. At that time my state did not have a ccw permit. The guy seemed to know his stuff.

tickfarm said:

Back in the 90's this detective came to my department. My Capt. had him ride with me and we went to several hot spots in the city looking for people with guns. During the eight hour tour he was able to spot several people that were carrying concealed weapons. At that time my state did not have a ccw permit. The guy seemed to know his stuff.

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So you went over and frisked them and they were actually carrying?

"I removed the clip from my Spyderco and dunked it in Plastidip, that liquid-rubber stuff that's used for coating tool handles. It actually worked. The clip is still visible, but far less noticeable than before. And if I brush against the side of my car, it's less likely to scratch the paint. Win-win."

THIS is really smart. I'm gonna do this!

Lame. It assumes bad guys don't use good holsters. The dumb ones don't. The good ones do. Also, I want the guy to be able to spot a LCP, P3AT, P32, or NAA Guardian in a pocket holster from 5 feet away!

I carry in my right front pocket and my right knee is arthritic. Guess that would make my gait double asymmetrical.

A few of the lessons in the info graphic do hold water. For example the arm length favoring the side with the firearm and the quick adjusting. These were methods I learned on the fly when spotting hidden weapons of all sorts when I was deployed. One specific time I was working at a base entry point, saw several local men approaching from a distance where one of them fumbled with something about appendix level. When I searched him I found a Tokarev.

Now here I like to test myself to see who is carrying. Not for any reason, maybe it is to keep the skill sharp. With a good holster you won't have a shifting firearm that you have to quick adjust or fumble with. Now the big tellers are bulges from the grip that poke out a shirt.

I do most of those with my wallet.

I don't agree with that poster in at least one regard. My experience with revolvers carried in the belt is that the barrel end tends to slide down and forward, not the grip end. That is opposite with a semi auto.

I had a lot experience with people with guns as bouncer then as cop (34 years), and security consultant after that.

Yes HOOfan_1 that's what we did. His expertise was sufficient for probable cause to make the stop. Other issues also weighed in

A few other ways to tell...

*When he gets out of his vehicle you see he's got an NRA decal in the window.

*Fanny pack.

*Smells like Kydex.

*Gots a tattoo of Ted Nugent on his arm.

*The tattoo on the small of her back, just above the belt line, and visible, reads "Glock 'em Down!"

*Tries very hard to walk like John Wayne.

*Wears a canvas and mesh vest with about 50 pockets everywhere he goes.

*Wears a Viet Nam era BDU jacket everywhere he goes.

*Has a tattoo of Justin Bieber and Charlton Heston on her forehead and words that read: "So What! What Ya gonna do about it!"

*She wears a really tight T shirt that reads "While you're staring at this I've already drawn on you!"

*She carries a clutch in the shape of a 1911, cocked and locked.

I'm drawing the pictures now but it may take awhile, so don't wait.

tipoc

I used to work in a furniture store in a bad neighbor hood in Houston, Texas and we used to have police officers work security part time.

One day an older Hispanic male was walking in front of our store and he had to adjust the way he was carrying a snub nose revolver in his pant waist and our security officer saw him and arrested him. ( Pre CHL days in Texas and this dude probably wouldn't have qualified for one any way ).

You could not see the old revolver ( a piece of crap RG ) but you could tell by the way he grabbed at his waist he had something there. I saw it as well.

I have heard that bad guys never carry with a holster so they can ditch their roscoe easier if they have to, so the tips in this pdf really applies primarily to spotting bad guys carrying sans holster.

So always use a holster even for pocket carry. I strongly suspect that when a LEO detects someone carrying and its with a holster they know the carrier is a good guy and will leave them alone. Perhaps some LEO can comment on this.

tickfarm said:

Yes HOOfan_1 that's what we did. His expertise was sufficient for probable cause to make the stop. Other issues also weighed in

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New York?

I read this years ago.

Yes, there are some goofs in it... but there are also a lot of truth kernels.

I made it a consious effort to NOT do any of those things. Now I conceal my gun much better. Who says the cops aren't your friend?

I have heard that bad guys never carry with a holster so they can ditch their roscoe easier if they have to, so the tips in this pdf really applies primarily to spotting bad guys carrying sans holster.

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The only problem there is that more and more bad guys are using holsters.

When I carry my wife can't tell, and we've been married 42 years, so if she can't pick up on it I must be doing it mostly right. LOL

Rent-a-Cop in an E R in a neighboring State spotted my S O G Tanto in my back pocket from several feet away. He "borrowed" it and let me go about my biz. What he didn't see was the Taurus TP738 that I'd forgotten was in my front pocket. That was an oh $*** moment.

Cops don't need any particular reason to stop someone other than general suspicion. Being the sensitive lads that they are they are suspicious of about everyone.

The only real value of the chart is that if an officer is called on to explain why they stopped and frisked a person, he or she, can just point to the appropriate picture and say "that one, that's why I stopped him!" Like those menus with pictures of the food on them. But of course only after the stop and frisk has turned up something, a screwdriver for instance. That is about the only actual value of the chart.

Folks don't carry these charts in their pocket. They are not used for training, unless it's some type of remedial course.

When a cop wants to stop a fella they roll up and them and see what happens. Do they run? There ya go.

If a cop stares or follows a person for a bit they are looking to see what they do. If they act nervous or self conscious well that's "suspicious behavior" and a good reason for a stop.

The reason is already there...either they look out of place (a lone man staring into the schoolyard) or they fit a pattern (a youth in loose clothing and a hoody in a jewelry store etc. The bulk of the things in the chart are simply too common taken alone to mean much.

tipoc

lathedog

I also liked the 1930's hard boiled detective, smoking a camel while thinkin' 'bout dames.

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This one made me lol.

Hahaha... good one.

It's a good graphic that is worth reading.

No, it isn't the be all end all of things to look for in spotting somebody who is armed. But there is good stuff in there.

What, you don't want to notice things that indicate an armed robbery or other crime with a firearm/pistol might be imminent?

I agree. IME, where I have lived (Georgia and elsewhere), a whole HELL of a lot more guys carry a pocket knife than are even licensed to carry a gun, let alone who actually do carry even semi regularly. And of course a fair number carry a gun but don't have a visible pocket knife clip...some of the precisely because they don't want people to coincidentally become suspicious of thea firearm due to the presence of the knife.

That said, I am almost always carrying a firearm...and a knife with a visible pocket clip.

It was tongue-in-cheek guys, this isn't ST&T.