CCW-How have you responded to being "made"?

it amazed me how many people had NO IDEA my fanny pack was a holster. to me, it's a big "HERE'S MY GUN" flag. only ONE person ever commented on it -

i had finished up an armed security detail. i tossed the duty belt in the car and threw the fanny pack on over the security uniform, walked in to pay for gas. a guy in line strikes up a conversation, then asks, "that' fanny pack is your holster, right? wuchoo carrying" i said "an SP101 in 357" he said "cool, nice gun" and the clerk was just speachless as he handed me my change with an open mouth LOL

btw - VERY RARELY do i ever wear somthing quite as dorky as a fanny pack.

The only time I was ever "made" while carrying concealed, that I know of, was at a men's warehouse. Lady was measureing me for a tux. As she reached around to take a measurement, she hit the Commander on my side. She said, "What in the world? Oh, a pistol. We'll allow for that." I told her "Don't worry about it. I can't carry the gun where I'll be wearing the tux. Different state. Hold on." I took the holster and gun off, layed it on the counter. She finished what she was doing, and I put the holster back on my belt and pulled my sweat-shirt back over it.

I've had maybe a half-dozen people ask about it when open carrying. Never a "why" or "what for" type question. Mostly "what kind" and "Do I need a permit to do that" questions. One fellow did point out that Commander was cocked. I told him it was supposed to be. He replied "I didn't know that" and went back to pumping his gas.

Years ago, long before concealed carry was allowed for us common subjects, I was working as a security guard (armed) at a grocery store. I was working with an undercover police detective who roamed the store while I manned the cameras. One evening there was a knock on the guard house door. I opened the door to find a classic "little old lady" standing there. She held her finger up to her lips in the "shhhh" motion, and pointed to the detective. You could clearly see the BHP in the SMB holster under his sweater. She wispered..."That man has a gun." I wispered back, "That man is a policeman." She nodded knowingly...."I see." And went on with her shopping.

I carry a PF-9, so unless someone digs around in my right pocket it will remain unseen.

CajunBass, you're blessed to be in an OC state. If I did what you did in the tux shop I would be in sing sing. What a funny mix the south is.

It depends who has "made me". As far as I know I have only been made by a friend or relative that has hugged me or something.

My brother felt my gun one time after saying good bye and giving me a hug. He did try to touch it but I wouldn't let him until I had him stand back, unloaded the weapon and locked the slide back.

If a stranger made me I would tell them it was a pager, walkie talkie or some other B.S.

Its' none of their business.

Since the purpose of CCW is concealment I try not to attract notice. No one has called me on it yet while I still had it concealed. But since it can happen I think about what to tell people.

It depends on attitude. For 'challenges' I have a couple exit lines ready. I'll start with 'because I can' & see if I can just get away with that. I have a bit of an advantage if they continue to push because then I’ll tell them The Job and that should calm them down. The're exit lines, he may be looking for a confrontation, so say it & exit.

Another, more gentle & humorous response, that I dragged out (for a co-worker who certainly should have known I carried) when asked if I was expecting a war was, 'You never know, and I'd hate to be caught short.' He only saw it because I had my jacket off changing before work.

If they seem willing to learn, I’m willing to help educate them why it can be a good idea to have a little insurance on the belt in case they get attacked & can’t get away.

shortly after my divorce, I was broke and had to move into an apartment with two female roommates.

We all have our crosses to bear...

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And I thought John Ritter had passed away . . .

"The only time I was ever "made" while carrying concealed, that I know of, was at a men's warehouse. Lady was measureing me for a tux. As she reached around to take a measurement, she hit the Commander on my side. She said, "What in the world? Oh, a pistol. We'll allow for that." "

Now that is a funny story. I've been made a few times. Sometimes its been the side/hug that got me. So far no one has said anything, but they've sneaked up on me and ambushed me with the side hug and got a hand full of 1911.

I did have a customer very casually ask me what I was carrying. We bumped into each other and the weapon was discovered. It led to a discussion on firearms.

I had my hair dresser guy notice it, but he's a very unique individual. He was also cool about it.

It has been my plan to use the response if asked about it in an unfriendly way that the bulge is a "life saving medical device" and I am not comfortable discussing it.

Not aware that I have ever been made since 1995.

Dannix said:

I figure looking professional and confident will go a long way.

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Oh, you have no idea how far you can go if you just look professional and act like you know what you are doing.
I suspect that many of the "I've never been made*" statements are actually "nobody ever said anything about it" for the above reason.

*(unless those are people carrying NAA minis in Smartcarry holsters, or some other super-deep concealment setup)

Either way, doesn't matter. In Utah we aren't required to conceal anyway.

A month ago I was in a rural area of the state for the deer hunt. I was in a convenience store to get some snacks way early, and as I was walking through the store I heard a guy who obviously wasn't trying to be heard say; "I hope he has a permit for that." (I was open-carrying my 1911 on my hip.) I assume he wasn't a local, because no one in rural Utah looks twoce if someone is carrying a gun. I saw no need to point out to him that yes I have a permit, and one is not required to have a permit to open carry in Utah.

A few months ago I was at a family reunion, held at a public park behind my sister's house, and two of my aunts/uncles were attending. My dad had recently told me that all of them had decided to get carry permits. I was carrying in a fanny pack, and one of my aunts asked me if I was carrying. I told her pretty much any time I am legally allowed to carry, I do. (Not much of a secret in my family.) We then had a conversation about what gun to pick and how to carry. My family has made fun of me when people post pics of me on facebook and I have the fannypack on, they say I look like a Disneyland tourist. A few say it makes it obvious that I am carrying. I tell them, "It's obvious to other gun people, and I don't care if they know."

My uncle was "made" one day at while we were at WalMart. He was reaching for something on a top shelf. He just politely explained that he had permit, even showed it to the lady and that was that. Ive never had seen anyone really freak out about it. My own mother is a crazy liberal anti-gun lady (there is one in every family), even she seems to be pretty okay with me carrying since I have my permit. I usually just do not bring it up and she never knows anyway.

as far as I know, I have never been made while carrying concealed, but, as Colorado is a state where you can carry openly, I have done this a few times.

To be honest, I cannot even remember anyone even doing a double take if they saw it. I honestly don't think the majority of people would notice if I walked down the street naked with a cowboy gun belt, twin Colts and a cowboy hat on.

The only time I had someone notice was at a 7-11 when I walked out, I saw the counter person pointing at me and talking to her partner. I was carrying a chromed HK P7 openly. Maybe they just appreciated German engineering.

I honestly don't think the majority of people would notice if I walked down the street naked with a cowboy gun belt, twin Colts and a cowboy hat on.

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LOL thats the truth, its the few observant ones that we need a ready answer for.

I think a polite answer no matter how the person is reacting to you carring a gun is the way to go.

A rude person with a gun is just going to make them feel more strongly that people should not be walking around armed.

I feel a logical response along the lines of protecting self and family is the best angle for a response. Most people can get behind those ideas even if they don't like guns.

I have never been made so far. Shoot last winter I walked into a store with my Sigma on my hip and I had left the jacket in the car because I had got hot. No one said a word. I walked in went to the RR and bought my snacks. As we pulled out of the parking lot to get back on the interstate my wife said you just went in that store with your pistol showing. :>)

Out here, carrying, open or "concealed", jsut seems somehow normal. Everybody does it. God I love Arizona. Really haven't been "made" yet but I don't see any issue. Probably just ask "Where's your's?"

I went to a store once and forgot that I was actually wearing a shirt holster that day and was getting measured for a suit coat and the lady knew it was a gun and just allowed me to pull it out and sit it down while she took my measurements. She never said a word and I almost bought a jacket just because she was so cool about it.

Friend holding speedloader, looking surprised:

Me: "That's my speedloader."
"For your gun?"
"Yeah. Of course. That's ammunition."
"You don't have a gun on you..."
"Oh. Ok. You're right, if somebody attacks me I'm just gonna throw ammo at them."

As I left Target the security officer asked me to open my coat, because he saw a bulge and thought I was trying to steal something.

I said "sure call the sheriff's department and have a deputy come down"

He said "What, why?"

I replied "I only want a deputy to ask me to remove my firearm from my person, as I am liceansed to carry a concealed weapon."

I showed him my concealed liceanse and he let me leave, but followed me out of the store.

Deltaboy said:

I have never been made so far. Shoot last winter I walked into a store with my Sigma on my hip and I had left the jacket in the car because I had got hot. No one said a word. I walked in went to the RR and bought my snacks. As we pulled out of the parking lot to get back on the interstate my wife said you just went in that store with your pistol showing. :>)

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I've talked to several people here who were very surprised to learn that OC was illegal in TX. My guess is that at least one of them noticed, but either assume OC was legal, or thought that you were a cop.

"It's my colostomy bag! Wanna take closer look!"

I have only been carrying for a few months since I escaped to PA. I have only been made once carrying a Glock26 in OWB holster. I was dumping recyclables at the drop off point and a guy pulled up. As I was walking back to my truck and he was walking up to the bins he kept looking hard at my belt. I stared at him till he looked at my eyes and then I gave him a nod of the head and he just nodded back and seemed satisfied. He ignore me and my gun while I finished up and I did not cover up because I figured I'm legal so why worry.

Never have been. If I were:
- Simple reply: Because I legally can and choose to.
- If pressured further: Because I believe it's better to have a gun and not need it than need it and not have it.
- If pressured further still: Because I believe when seconds count the police are just minutes away.
- If pressured even further still: I've answered your question three times, three different ways. So, we'll have to just agree to disagree.

A lot of the public have not had much exposure to firearms. They only feel safe if they see a cop with a gun. I don't/can't carry but I think I would just say; "Shhhhhhh, I'm undercover". Just hope it's not a cop asking, I wouldn't want to lie to a cop.

Thanx, Russ

Once at church after getting hugged. "I've been working out."

Oh and I never open carry off-duty, but one time I was for some reason and was at my bank. I look pretty young, but was wearing a nice shirt and slacks. The manager walked up to me, stared at the G22 on my Serpa paddle, took her a second before noticing my badge sitting next to it and said, "oh ok, I was about to ask you to leave!"