"Concealed is concealed" -- but you got caught. What happened?

[woolfam]

I thought I was "made"

Zombie-thread, but...

+1

I posted this once before.

My son, my Taurus, and I were at a local department store. We were in the shoe department. There was one other customer and a saleswoman at the cash register. As I was looking at some shoes I heard someone behind me and to my left say in a somewhat loud voice, “Do you have a gun?”

It startled me but I did not react. I was thinking, how in the world did he know? I slowly turned around to my left and saw a store employee (suit and tie and store badge) walking into the department. I did not say anything, figuring that it would be best for him to continue the conversation. He walked right past me and up to the saleswoman at the cash register.

He there retrieved “the gun” - one of those pistol-looking scanners they use to check price tags – and walked off to another department.

My son later told me that when he heard the man ask the question he thought, “Oh great, what’s my dad done now?”

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

late 70's dancing with lil airweight in pants pocket it ripped through bottom of pocket clunk clunk on dance floor i picked it up switched pockets glad it was dark

 

[Pilgrim]

I once was 'made' by a granddaughter who proudly announced in school, "My grandpa carries a gun."

Her teacher got all upset and reported it to the principal. Principal told her, "Relax. Grandpa is a retired deputy sheriff."

Pilgrim

 

[Nio]

Just last week I had a very weird experience. I carry in my own office building, and will sometimes wander around without my jacket - and nobody cares. When I go out to clients, though, I stay concealed because I never know how a client might react. I went out to one client - a small office of four ladies and two guys. I was crawling around under a desk trying to install a new unit when my shirt rode up without my notice.

One of the ladies walks in and says, "Oh! You carry a gun?"

"Uh... Yeah."

So she hollers out to the other ladies, "Hey! He's got a gun!"

Someone says something, and the boss comes out. "Who's got a gun?"

She points at me, "He does."

And this is where it goes weird. The ladies all get their guns out of their holster purses and show them to me. They had really good safe handling too. They all have their permits and all go practice together regularly.

I asked the boss if he carried too and he said, "Nah. The girls will protect me."

I wish all my clients were like that...

Nio

 

[geojap]

I've never told anyone that I CCW and have a CHL, except for my girlfriend of over a year who lives with me. I've never been outed and I've never had a conversation with anyone about CCW in person after my CHL class (only on forums).

 

[Airman193SOS]

I've never been made, but when I first started carrying I was at a restaurant in Philadelphia and I hadn't worked out the proper positioning for my IWB holster. Needless to say, it was an uncomfortable half-hour of pleasantries with my Glock 27 jammed against my thigh and twisting my belt until I could politely excuse myself to adjust.

Now I carry it IWB on my right hip and (especially with my Clipdraw-equipped SP101) it hides quite nicely, even with my 5-year-old boy unintentionally doing everything he can to expose my piece.

You live, you learn, you adjust.

 

[rrruuunnn]

some of these stories are great and funny.

i was going inside my restaurant. i forgot that i had my gun unconcealed mexican style since i had just returned from an alarm going off at my home.

 

[rrruuunnn]

i used clipdraw to carry my revolver inside walgreens. i think people noticed. and an old guy doesn't seem to like me in his store anymore. he didn't say thank you and gave me a stern look on another day.

i am 37 yo. i own a chain of restaurants. recently we got robbed at gun point inside the kitchen. and i got my tires slashed with a guy running towards my driver's window. i have plenty reason to have CHL. i don't like when someone acts like i'm a criminal because i carry. bet that old man that works graveyard shift is packing too. maybe, he thinks he better because he wears his free masonry ring.

 

[TonyB]

If someone does "make" you and asks if that'sa gun?....unless they're LEO,tell them to mind thier own business......unless you're pointing it at them,why should they care?if it's a cop,show your permit if in a state that requires one,and move on.
I was made once by an aunt who put her hand on my waiste duing a family photo....she just patted it and smiled.
Now I pocket carry,and haven't been made that I know of.

 

[bones42]

When I first started dating my wife she was a bit uncomfortable with me carrying every day. I was on the road every day and my work took me to homes and businesses in some unforgiving areas.

She gradually warmed up to it and now it seems to be a comfort to her. Her family grew up hunting and shooting and they don't think anything of it.

I had the opposite problem for a little while. We would be in what I would call a "pay extra attention" situation. (i.e. leaving the midnight movie show in the city with dark parking lot, etc.) and someone in our group would point out the dark parking lot. My wife or her sister would louldy announce "Don't worry, he is carrying a gun!" Heads would turn, other people walking out would immediately move away from us and I would immediately turn bright red with embarassment. This only happened once or twice. We had a great chat about how important it is to not broadcast it and all has been happy ever since.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

came out of the closet.....

ok not like that!

not "made" but the other day my brothers, their wives, my dad and myself are sitting at Dads' table bsing. Dad is 86 and a WWII vet, my older bros are twins 58 and both served during the late 60's.

Anyhow one of my brothers says he's ready to trade in all his old hunting rifles and maybe get a pistol for HD, maybe even get a carry permit. His wife said "Why in the hell would you need that?" I spoke right up and said maybe a pistol isn't the very best choice for HD but as far as the carry permit I can get him set up with the right classes and the right people. You could'a heard a pin drop, he looked me up and down real close. I wsa in jeans and a T shirt and not carrying at that moment. He said "Do you...?" I winked and said "Take the courses, it's an eye opener." I don't think his wife spoke to me again all evening. I may just be truely evil now.

 

[crebralfix]

Recently, I was told (due to an OC day) I couldn't carry at someone's house. Since I neither appreciate such "rules", nor associate those who create them, I skipped the event.

Furthermore, I will make it clear WHY I am not associating with them. If they do not trust me with my weapons, why should I trust them with theirs? If they do the old "well, it will put murderous thoughts in your brain" argument, I'll tell them they have revealed their own insecurities to me and shouldn't be around kitchen knives. Obviously, such a person is going to try to stab me with a butter knife at first provocation. Either way, they're morons who are not concerned with my well being.

 

[crebralfix]

On a more positive note, the last family reunion was interesting. I got bored and mentioned "wouldn't it be cool go go shooting". An uncle quietly walks away (unnoticed by all) and rolls up with a minivan filled with all sorts of goodies. About 30 guys trekked up the road to one of the fields for a bit of plinking.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

??????? moment

When I first saw this

I found her 3" M60 at the same time she found my Commander

I got very confused and started laughing. The thoughts that went through my head were, in order:

1) Is this guy trying to tell me someone can conceal an M60?
2) Woulnd't the recoil on a 3" barrel .308 be horrendous, especially full auto?
3) That's a hell of a lot to pay for a CCW gun just to cut it down that much
4) Would the gas system even function with the barrel cut that short?
5) How would you ever holster that?
6) At least you woulnd't need reloads... I hope.
7) Oh wait.... I see what he means

 

[SSN Vet]

never been made....at least if I was, I didn't know about it.

 

[MinnMooney]

I've been carrying for 2 years and have never had anyone say that they figured that I was carrying. I carry ALL the time - not just in the winter or when it's convenient or when I'd rather just be wearing shorts or swim trunks.

My bet would be that I've been "caught" but that they said nothiing.

 

[Pax Jordana]

At church, there is a fine couple who came over from South Africa with their kids about a decade ago. Mom's a fine old gal, cooks like a pro, with three beautiful daughters.

I was a lad of 21 who had found a beautiful bianchi J-Frame OWB holster in the $5 cop-surplus box at my local range/shop. One sunday morning, super mom gives me a hug that transitions to the arm around the waist, and ends up with her palm over the cylinder of my gun. She winks at me, says "peace be with you" and moves on.

Then again, they're avid shooters themselves.

Since that point, I carry almost exclusively IWB at 1 o'clock - Like the smartcarry, unless somebody has reason to grope around that region, they won't catch it.

Then once, on south street, saturday night, I was out with my brother and sister-in-law. She knows we're both licensed. Well, bro and I want to go see the lights over the river, SIL says "really we shouldn't, that's dangerous, homeless people hang out down there". Bro smiles and says "I've got 8 rounds of .45 that say if we walk in there we're walking back out untouched" and I (at this point it is prudent to note I'm the younger of us two) had to scoff - "8 rounds of .45? Shoot, son, I brought 35 rounds of 9mm!"

Thus continued the pissing match, but SIL's fears were soothed and the river really was beautiful that night (very clear).

 

[MinnMooney]

Everyone seems to expect to get "caught" while getting hugged. This is really one of the easiest things to eliminate!
When I see a hug coming, I quickly drop my right arm down and lift my left arm so the ONLY way I can get a hug is by them raising their left arm so it is no where near my holster.

I've never been felt during a hug. Darn....

Works every time.

 

[mlandman]

My son was visiting earlier this month. We were going to find some backpacking gear and on the way the driver's rear tire delaminated. While I was working on changing it, he said "What's that, Pop?" pointing to the lump of my M&P9c worn IWB. I said that is my sidearm, and finished the tire change. Later when we got home he wanted to see it. I dropped the mag and locked the slide back and handed it to him.

He is 26 and did a stint in Kirkuk at the start of the war with the 4th ID, so it was no big deal.

 

[Average Joe]

If I get caught with my smart carry, I just tell them I have two guns.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

A guy climbed into my 1970 Chevelle station wagon uninvited at a stop light in Louisville, KY, a long time ago. He saw the .45 auto I held in my left hand, apologized, said I should lock my car doors, and got out, locking the door behind him. I've taken his words to heart.

I got stopped by an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman who didn't want to talk to me until I was all the way back to his car. I'm sitting next to him, hand him my driver's license and CHL, and tell him under the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act I have to tell him that I'm legally armed. He asks me if I'm carrying right then while continuing to write the ticket he's getting ready to give me. When I answer in the affirmative, he asks, "What are you carrying?" I told him, "A S&W Model 13 in a Bucheimer pancake holster." All he said was, "Good choice." I still got the ticket.

My younger sister started giving me grief about carrying when her husband told her to be quiet. When she asked him why, he pulled his suit coat out to reveal his SiG P220. She shut up.

Mom gave me a shocked look when one of her hugs revealed the revolver on my belt and told me, "I wish you wouldn't carry a gun." I made nice noises but didn't stop carrying. When one of her neighbors got murdered, she called my brother and me and asked us to take turns staying with her and to bring our guns. We told her we couldn't bring all of our guns, but we'd bring enough to get by. She hasn't said a word about our guns or carrying since.

ECS

 

[Skirmisher]

Wow, lots of interesting stories. I was "made" only once. I was a guest speaker at a rally at the Capitol of our state, an outdoor affair. I was to speak about my self defense experience. I was greeted by one of the ladies who was in charge of the program with a hug. Her reaction was one of surprise, then a big smile. Never said a word about the gun.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

To be honest, I'm not all that concerned about being "made". I dress comfortably and carry comfortably. If my CCW prints or even shows, I don't really care, unless the situation specifically calls for more discretion. If it's really concealed, I don't care either. I just don't put a whole lot of effort into finding ways to be extra concealed. I live in a state where open carry is legal, and I also have a CPL. I think I'm covered. I'm a pretty clean cut guy, being in the army, and I dress at least semi nice; khaki pants, polos, button downs, etc. I don't look like a gangbanger or some goth punk, and so far I have yet to cause a scene.

 

[cambeul41]

Two times, maybe . . .

1) I cannot carry in the classroom, but I am another of those not too concerned about being made, so I usually leave my holster and double mag pouch on my belt covered by an untucked polo shirt. A student, a retired MP, stayed after class to ask, “Mr. C, are you carrying a gun?” I saw that he was looking at the mag pouch side, so I pulled out the cell phone which I had in one of the pockets. He apologized profusely until I told him the rest of the truth.

2) I was preparing my lawnmower for use when, I assume, my shirt rode up enough for the lower half of the holster to show. Just then a sheriff’s deputy drove by. He stopped in front of the neighbor’s house, but did not get out. When I started to cut the grass, he drove off. My guess is that he spotted the holster and was watching to see whether my next actions were that of a homeowner or a lawnmower thief.

 

[Randall]

I had a security guard tell me I was printing, I said thanks and he left.I had a magazine fall out of my pocket at a restaurant and a waitress walking by pointed it out to me.