Carry and Tell Poll

[twoclones]

This statement from another thread made me wonder how others feel about letting friends know that you carry concealed.

Really, people who don't like you can cause you endless problems if they know you carry concealed. Don't tell your neighbors, don't tell your friends(unless you have to because you're carrying at their house and you're required to by law), and don't tell anybody who doesn't really, really, really need to know.

It seems to me that one way to reduce the vilification of gun owners is for "mild mannered" gun owners to come out of the closet and demonstrate that not all gun owners are anarchists and criminals.

Example:
At a dinner for a local singles group one woman was very shocked to learn that I even owned a gun and more upset when I told her I had a permit to carry. "I'd never date a man who carried a gun" she said. So while I had an audience I decided to take advantage of it. I told them that having a concealed carry permit was proof that a person had no felony or domestic abuse convictions and that the state and local police trusted them to be armed. On the other hand, any one without a concealed carry permit just might be legally unable to get one because of a criminal record...

The Gay community went from being persecuted to having hit television shows by saying "We're here and we're queer." Why shouldn't the CCW community be saying "We're here and we have proof we are not criminals."

 

[misANTHrope]

Generally, I don't volunteer the info to people, but neither do I deny it if asked.

 

[PTK]

Generally, I don't volunteer the info to people, but neither do I deny it if asked.

Same here. I've found many, many, MANY shooting buddies with this policy.

 

[fspitzdorf]

Aside from the fiance, family, boss (who likes that I carry) and close friends (who also carry) I don't publicize it.

Most of the time she doesn't even know that I'm carrying until I either remove it and place it in the center counsel while driving or remove it when I get home.

 

[Biker]

My very close friends find out anyway and they're all shooters.

Biker

 

[Mainsail]

I don't tell anyone, but I only carry concealed about 10% of the time. Open carry tells everyone!

 

[ronwill]

Those that know me also know that I carry. I'm not ashamed of it and the only way they can truly cause problems is if you do something not entirely legal.

 

[romma]

I tell some people. People I am close to know. I like people to know about their rights. Here in CT, you might be suprised about the number of people that have absolutely zero knowledge that it is legal to carry a handgun..

 

[elrod]

I tell some people.

Or, show them your CCW badge!

 

[B00SS]

I share the sentiment of the OP. But only with my close friends. My close friends know that I carry and also know that it is due to my lack of a criminal record that I am allowed to carry. They know that those who carry legally in the state of Texas also have to know the laws regarding the use of deadly force.

 

[NG VI]

Some people in my life find out, often because they are longtime friends and I am trying to get them to buy their own guns, and I figure the best way to get them to purchase one is to show them my sweet new pistol that I got a great deal on, and let them know exactly where they can get the exact same thing or advertise something I think they may want, like the Russian Makarov I told my friend who has always had an interest in all things Soviet about, or the CZ 40B I tell everyone and their dog about (I've already got mine, and they are the best deal going on new pistols).

Very few members of my family know I carry though, because they have a strong tilt towards the idea that if you don't have any weapons you will never need them. Actually that no one will ever need a weapon and that the people who do have them are just perpetuating the circle of violence. Told my grandmother about the time a character showed up on my doorstep at eleven at night (he had been at the front apartments door almost two hours earlier knocking, then left after twenty apparently unsuccesful minutes) and I stated that luckily I had my CZ with me when I answered the door and she was clearly shocked that I would consider that an appropriate state of dress for answering the door.

I reminded her that the house next door has quite a few drunks and drug users/sellers, and occasionally it sounds like they are using our parking lot for transactions. And the guy (who was surprisingly polite and left as soon as I told him the guys he was looking for didn't live their) was very obviously some kind of cocaine or opiate user looking for more.

 

[Treo]

If you tell one person everyone will eventually know. My nieghbor across the street knows, one CSP trooper knows, the El Paso County sheriff knows. and that's about it.

I made the mistake of telling a friend in church once the next week in the middle of a conversation out of no where he says " Toms got a gun"

I never made that mistake again

 

[Tacbandit]

I feel like it's on a "need to know" basis...If I feel you need to know, I'll tell
you...If you don't know...I obviously didn't feel the need to tell you. Not a lot of people know I carry, and those that do are largely made up of other permit
holders, and gun owners..."less is best"....

 

[JesseL]

I often open carry, so when I conceal it's probably no big secret to anyone who's been paying attention.

 

[RobNDenver]

Most of my friends know that I am carrying. I am a retired cop and so are most of them. I don't tell people that I know casually that I carry a gun, or that I even own one.

 

[possum]

my friends and family know. that is about it.

 

[Flyboy]

Frankly, I think it's important that we tell people.

Carrying a firearm is nothing to be ashamed of; if anything, it should be a point of pride. We choose to take responsibility for ourselves. "...I waive immunity and claim my right -- I go armed."

More importantly, though, is that we have the opportunity to act as emissaries to the non-carrying public: an ambassador, if you will, from the normal, responsible, well-protected public to the normal, responsible, unarmed public that says "we be of one blood, ye and I."

By being open with our choice, we can demonstrate through personal interaction that we're just normal people. We're not crazy, not bloodthirsty, we don't have that evil glint in our eyes. We all know that the plural of "anecdote" is not "data," but we often lose the culture war by failing to exploit the fact that most people take anecdotes--personal experience--far more seriously than data.

We need to stop that.

I'm not suggesting introducing yourself as "Mike, and there's a gun on my hip," but if the topic should naturally arise (and there are plenty of opportunities for it to arise, should you ever discuss the news), use it. If somebody mentions a recent murder/rape/mugging, casually comment "I wonder why he didn't defend himself." When your counterpart says he was unarmed, act genuinely surprised, as though you think it's perfectly normal to carry a tool of defense.

By openly carrying concealed, I've made numerous friends, and I've taken several to the range for their first time--one of them a girl who watched her mother murdered when she was five. In fact, she asked me to take her to the range. She didn't get into shooting (I'm not a miracle worker), but she accepted it as reasonable and responsible, and though she's not interested in owning a gun, she at least doesn't think it should be restricted.

You have the opportunity to counter propaganda in a very effective, personal way. Don't waste it.

 

[Kind of Blued]

The only people that know are the people that I feel I could hand my backup gun to if we were together and something went reaaally badly.

 

[freakshow10mm]

I carry both openly and concealed and couldn't care less who knows I carry.

 

[KC0QGL]

I OC around most of my friends & family and CC in public 90% of the time.

 

[762 shooter]

No one should know.

What would be the benefit?????

When they find out they should be saying,
" Man, am I glad you had that thing!! "

 

[6_gunner]

I never tell anyone that I'm carrying. My close friends know that I'm always armed as long as I'm awake, dressed, and not at work. There's no need to tell them. Why would I want anyone other than my close friends to know that I'm armed? I don't want any jokers that I barely know asking if they can see my gun.

However, its no secret that I own guns. I talk about going to the shooting range, and discuss my collection if the subject arises. If we want people to stop fearing gun owners, then its silly to hide the fact that we are ones.

If we go around bragging about our carry pieces, then we reinforce the idea that guns are macho toys. However, if we are secretive about the fact that we own guns, then people will never learn to accept us. We should treat the gun ownership as just another normal aspect of our lives: no need to go around talking about it all the time, but no need to hide it.

 

[FireArmFan]

I don't go running around shouting to random people about it, but it's no secret to friends and family. If someone asks or I get into a gun related conversation I wont hide the fact that I carry.

 

[strat81]

I don't go running around shouting to random people about it, but it's no secret to friends and family. If someone asks or I get into a gun related conversation I wont hide the fact that I carry.

Agreed.

I'm more upfront up CCW than I am about how many and what types of guns I know. Those questions usually get "I dunno, a few I guess."

 

[Soybomb]

No one should know.

What would be the benefit?????

You might teach someone that concealed carry isn't just for cops and criminals, regular guys carry guns to protect themselves and their families.

I'm a concealed carry evangelist, I'm not shy about telling people about it.