Concealed Weapons Permit Badge?

[orangeninja]

Okay, so I'm in a gun store today and see a guy walk in with a girl. He is wearing a badge clipped on to his left pocket. Looks like a Dept. of Public Safety or Texas Ranger badge.

I notice that he is not wearing a gun or handcuffs or mags etc. He is talking on the cell phone the whold time and I try to edge closer to see which Department he is with. I like to try and establish as many contacts as possible. Its part of my job I guess.

As I get close enough to read it, the badge says "concealed weapons permit" on it with a texas state seal in the center. I stood thinking for a second, nope, he's not impersinating a police officer BUT he is drawing what may be unwanted attention to himself that could be trouble for he and his girlfriend, after all, though I do not doubt he had a gun somewhere, he wore none in plain view. He had a tucked in shirt and tight jeans...so I guess he would be wearing an ankle holster?

Anyways...I have read and seen these badges for sale before and listened to guys I work around and with saying that its stupid, that these guys should be arrested, that their asking for trouble by advertising that they have a nice juicy gun to steal for anyone who is willing to kill them for it etc. I got to thinking....

Is this really stupid? Albeit that I DO believe it is stupid to wear in plain view like that for just anyone walking around the neighbor hood such as this guy was....not even I will do that with a REAL police badge. Thats a dead rookie mistake unless you are one duty, have a radio and backup somewhere within the reach of a radio.

BUT these badges just may stop a cop or first responder from shooting you upon arrival to the scene of a shooting when you have your gun drawn, I know I would look twice, but to wear one like a badge of authority just seems like asking for trouble. What do you guys think of these?

In Texas its not against the law...would any of you other law enforcement types arrest someone wearing one of these?

 

[El Tejon]

Do a search here and on TFL. Should find a lot on this.

In my LEO daze we had a lot of trouble with Batmen and wannabes doing silly stuff like this. Whether they were arrested and prosecuted--it depends.

 

[orangeninja]

what is TFL?

 

[Stickjockey]

Alduro-

TFL = TheFiringLine: predecessor to TheHighRoad.

 

[P95Carry]

Overall I think ... BAD idea.

As for it perhaps helping in ''situations'' ... well, seems like you had to get real close to see what it was ... so doubt it would necessarily avert problems ... from either BG's or cops.

No .. I think, ''concealed is - as concealed does'' ..... otherwise, where permitted and if wished by the individual .. downright open carry.

 

[jsalcedo]

Lame.

CCW badges are for wannabes.

 

[Jeff White]

Alduro,
TFL is www.thefiringline.com the place that most of us here at THR came from.

This young wannabe officer had it clipped to his belt, like he was a real officer? Not smart. Don't know if I'd arrest him or not, but if he did one thing to further his little charade, insinuating conversation etc. I would. I'd definately have a talk with him. We've had the same problem with some paramedics around here. Don't know what gets into some people, I don't wear my badge on my belt unless I'm on duty.

It's also funny how the sight of a badge, any badge will relax the sheeple. Attended Calibre Press' Street Survival Seminar in downtown St. Louis several years ago. About midmorning of the first day, they announced that we were about to stampede the herd. Apparantly the sight of a couple hundred officers carrying weapons in the hotel was upsetting some of the other guests. "Make sure your weapon is well concealed, or you have your badge clipped to your belt and visible." they reminded us of that continually through the day. I guess all the signs in the lobby weren't enough to give them a clue that there were a lot of officers on the property. But let that badge be visible and the sheeple were cool with it.

Jeff

 

[VaughnT]

TFL = www.thefiringline.com arguably the finest firearms website ever developed.

As to the badges, I think they are a good idea if used as you suggest. This guy flaunting the badge, wearing it exposed like no undercover or plainclothes cop would, just goes to show his wannabe mentality. What he was wanting is exactly what you gave him: the brief thought that he was actually a cop.

Most cops wear their badge on the belt, directly ahead of the holster. This is so that if the weapon is exposed to the public by happenstance, the badge will also be exposed and panic will not ensue. People see the badge and assume that the person is a cop and that the gun is "allowed" to be there.

With a legally concealed pistol, the private citizen can use this sheeple belief to his benefit by wearing a ccw badge in a similar fashion. He's not intentionally impersonating a police officer or other state representative. He is just trying to cover all of his bases should an errant breeze lift his cover garment.

Would flashing the badge help in a post-shooting situation? I really don't know, but I don't see how it could hurt. Again, as long as the person is legally allowed to carry and does not represent himself as an LEO, it could help prevent another shooting. I do not see how flashing the badge in this instance would be any different than holding up his CCW permit, excepting only that cops are trained to respond differently to a badge because they think it might be one of their own. The CCW holder is just taking advantage of a subconscious response to better his odds of not getting shot.

As long as such badges are not illegal in your locality, and as long as the badge-holder doesn't intentionally portray himself as something he isn't, then I don't have a problem.

Then again, I'm not a cop.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Badges like that can backfire. Run into a badguy who has the drop on you and it may be buh-bye. A lot of cops keep their badges hidden (wallet) or wear it inside their pants (with the metal clip hidden by the belt).

 

[Bob F.]

I wouldn't even wear an FD badge when I was in street clothes and active in VFD. Lotta guys do. Wouldn't wear a badge on EMS uniform even! Didn't wannabe mistaken for a cop when I wasn't. Had enough attitude as a medic to project authority (or negotiate). Very pro-police, but I'm not a cop!

Had a deputy ask me a few months back:"What's with these new EMS guys? If there's anything the least bit hinky, they won't go in without LE".
Being the dinosaur I am, I said:"Ah, Charlie, it's like anything else-they don't make 'em like they used to." Guess it really is a different world these days, liability, nuts, insane justice system, etc......................

Stay safe!
Bob

 

[Orion]

Aint the point of concealed carry to conceal the fact that you're carrying?

Way bad idea. And for it helping identify you in a confrontation when the first responder shows up. All you're gonna do is piss him off when he finds out you aint what he thought you were.

Bad idea any way you look at it.

I do still carry my Lone Ranger badge tho

 

[mete]

If you want to carry concealed , carry concealed ! Those that advertise that they carry a gun put themselves at great risk with BGs .We called them 'flashers' ,because, like other types of flashers just want to call attention to themselves.

 

[orangeninja]

I wear mine only in my wallet. I bought a neck chain and a clip holder in case I ever needed them..and though I use the clip holder while on duty...I think I've only worn the chain once...due to a gun range regulation that while you were there you had to have a badge in plain view if you were drawing...we were drawing from the holster so the chain helped a lot.

In hindsight...I should have had a little heart to heart with this guy...but he probably would have just cussed me out....

Like I said...he wasn't violating any laws per se'

 

[Thumper]

Maybe he's impersonating so BG's will know he doesn't have any money.



Kidding...wannabees make me ill.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Fake badge?

Childish.

 

[Watchman]

I dont think its a good idea to wear any badge other than a real badge.

In this state, any LEO can carry concealed or open,his badge is his permit.

Unless on duty, we are encouraged to carry concealed, by law the badge must be worn within 3 inches of the gun. I dont know of any cops around here that will wear their gun in the open with a badge when off duty. They will wear concealed and have their ID and badge with them at all times.


For one, it just attracts attention.Often unwanted attention.

Wearing a CCW badge is just attracting attention. It also seems to alert people to the fact that you are carrying. Whats the point ?

Would I arrest someone for wearing it ? NO, as its not against the law. Would I give them some advise about it. Proabably. As a CCW instructor I try to discourage their use.

 

[Steve in PA]

CCW badge??? ROFL !!

 

[Josey]

SASS badges, club badges, VFD, EMS, FD and search/rescue badges are worn all the time by people. If some ninny sees a cressed out cowboy with at least two single actions wearing a Marshal badge freaks about it, tough. I used to think detectives were STUPID for carrying open with extra rounds, handuffs, radios and badges in plain sight. Plainclothes means just that. CCW badges are sold. I have had one. I don't see a problem with them. I have a bigger problem with the bounty hunter types that wear black BDUs and think they are bulletproof. Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[Bob F.]

Funny you should mention that, Josey! We had a bounty hunter around here that wore a shoulder rig in the open, had a "handicapped" plate on his car. Dunno!?!?!!?

 

[Josey]

We have a pile of wannabe deputies that join the county rescue squad. The SO Chief Deputy is the assistant squad chief and another deputy is the squad chief. The wannabes wear all the gear that Galls sells and have more lights/sirens than the real SO deputies. They buy used state cruisers and try hard to look like real deputies. A few bounty hunter types are in the squad too. It is a little funny to see a BDU tactical JBT with FIRE on his loadbearing vest.

 

[Smoke]

We don't need no steeeenking badges!

Not a good idea.


Smoke

 

[Carlos]

Only a moron would wear a Badge of Stupidity.

Pathetic.

 

[Amish_Bill]

I've been thinking about this one lately...

Taken in the context of the CCW badge being worn right next to the holster, both concealed:

Pro-
- Accidental flash less likely to panic sheeple if "something shiny" is next to gun.
- If push goes beyond shove and you are ever in a situation where LEOs might show up while you're handling your pistol it might buy you a few more seconds while the cops evaluate who to draw on first.

Con-
- One more thing to carry/hide on belt.
- Could give a LEO with an attitude an excuse to give you grief someday.

I'm not too worried about the sheeple side of this. When I carry it's either glaringly obvious or reasonably well hidden. Of course, you don't carry a spare tire for the days that everything goes exactly right either.

Aw, heck... I don't know....

 

[artherd]

I'm split on the issue.

I belive that, when worn responsibly, it may possibly help save your life.

Of course, it can also cost you your life if a BG finds it on you and decides the 'copper' must die.

In the PRK, it may come in handy to clip one behind your gun, incase you're ever 'spotted'. Heck, even tell them you're with "CCW".


I don't think it should ever be worn unconcealed (that's just ASKING for an ???-kicking, either by the populace, OR the police!

If I'm ever in a situation where I think it would come in handy, I may yell "CCW, face down on the ground!"

It would be the kind of situation that once everybody figured out what that meant, the situation would be over.

I would not be actually representing myself as a police officer at any point. If the BG belived I was, and planed out instead of stabbing my daughter, well, that's his problem.

 

[rock jock]

guys I work around and with saying that its stupid

Yes it is.

that these guys should be arrested

No, being a dork should not be against the law.

that their asking for trouble

Yep.


On a side note, I used to have a little plastic badge with a hound dog on it that came with a cop playset I got when I was six years old. I would consider that badge to have more authority and credibility than the CCW badge. In fact, if I dig it up, I may start wearing it. What a babe magnet that would be.