Do You Care If You're Printing While Under Normal CC

[Arkady]

I try to avoid printing, if at all possible.

I've always been of the opinion that if anyone ever finds out that I'm carrying, it should be one hell of a surprise.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I don't care much. The law says it has to be "concealed" -- not "not print"; not "remove any indication of presence".

 

[floydster]

NO !

 

[AirForceShooter]

I try to avoid it but if there's a flash of steel or a bulge as I bend over, I don't care.

AFS

 

[jtheise4]

I try to make every effort to keep my firearm completely concealed, but I don't fidget with it either. In Michigan, printing is not illegal, so I don't get overly concerned.

 

[macadore]

I've always been of the opinion that if anyone ever finds out that I'm carrying, it should be one hell of a surprise.

Well said. No one but my family ever knows I'm carrying. I'm not ashamed and do not mind discussing the issue, but I don't want negative attention from miscreants or misguided do-gooders.

 

[Deanimator]

Not really. Ohio is an open carry state, so "printing" has no legal meaning.

 

[ArmedBear]

There's one other thing I wanted to add...

I can't think of a time when I was more concerned about concealing a gun absolutely perfectly than I was about being able to get the thing out, NOW, in the unlikely event that I actually needed it.

I think carrying an auto with an empty chamber is silly. If you don't trust your gun and its design to be safe to carry loaded, DITCH IT and GET ANOTHER ONE. That's why there are certain guns I don't own and probably never will.

But isn't concealing a gun so well that you can't get the thing out without attracting attention to your actions, also silly?

The tactical advantage of surprise is lost if you can't get the gun out immediately, without any extra flailing, stripping, or other attention-getting actions.

That's another balance that needs to be struck, IMHO.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

I have been carrying for almost 3 years now and am starting to care less and less. When I first started I had just turned 21 and looked quite young. I didn't want people to think I was being illegal. My appearance has aged quite a bit over the last couple of years so it doesn't really bother me if they can tell. It is really impossible to avoid some printing around here in the summer time unless you want to be sweating everywhere you go.

 

[bhinks]

I'm from CT and the way I understand it, up here they'll hang you out to dry on disturbing the peace charges, so I'm pretty cautious.

 

[michiganfan]

No. I don't think most peole are very observant of anything.

 

[wishin]

Here in Indiana one can carry open if they have a cc permit. Does it bother me, in a word "no".

Georgia law is similar in this regard, but our license permits CC of other firearms too. And, If the grip is completely exposed and visible through normal observation, it's considered open carry.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Here in Va open carry is legal but printing or having your gun pop out from under your shirt is still CC. It need to be in some kind of exterior holster for OC.

 

[wishin]

There's one other thing I wanted to add...

I can't think of a time when I was more concerned about concealing a gun absolutely perfectly than I was about being able to get the thing out, NOW, in the unlikely event that I actually needed it.

I think carrying an auto with an empty chamber is silly. If you don't trust your gun and its design to be safe to carry loaded, DITCH IT and GET ANOTHER ONE. That's why there are certain guns I don't own and probably never will.

But isn't concealing a gun so well that you can't get the thing out without attracting attention to your actions, also silly?
The tactical advantage of surprise is lost if you can't get the gun out immediately, without any extra flailing, stripping, or other attention-getting actions.

That's another balance that needs to be struck, IMHO.

I completely agree.

 

[The Sarge]

We are more aware we are carrying than the public.....you can printing like heck and nobody notices...we just think they do.

 

[DeepSouth]

Nope. But I pocket carry 95% of the time.

 

[Straight Shooter]

No, as far as the law is concerned. As others have stated, it doesn't matter in PA.
Yes, as far as having an advantage is concerned. I want the element of surprise on my side.

We are more aware we are carrying than the public.....you can printing like heck and nobody notices...we just think they do.

Well said. I know I print, to me it's painfully obvious. However, no one has ever "made" me and my wife has commented several times that she can't tell when I'm carrying.

 

[Gunsafe]

When I first started carrying I was always worried someone would 'make me'. That worry has pretty much disappeared. Most of the time my close friends and family don't even have a clue. It dawned on me one day that if the people I'm around the most can't tell then I seriously doubt the guy at the gas station pump across from me will ever have any clue.

 

[benEzra]

Yes, it's important to me. Personal preference.

But isn't concealing a gun so well that you can't get the thing out without attracting attention to your actions, also silly?

Good concealment isn't any slower to draw from than bad concealment, if done properly (IMO). Of course, ultra-deep concealment with no cover garment would be slower (ankle holster, Smart Carry, bellyband under a shirt). But if you're carrying IWB (whether strong-side or appendix), lack of printing is more about intelligent gun/holster/belt/garment choice than about accessibility tradeoffs.

 

[Sam1911]

Sure benEzra, but you always have to face certain trade offs.

For example: what is "intelligent gun choice?"

Many here will remind us that we are responsible for every single shot we take and so, ethically, we are bound to carry the gun we are most proficient with. But that's probably not an LCR or Kel-Tec. And it's probably not a sub-compact or even compact version of a service sidearm.

Most folks don't feel they can reasonably conceal a 5" 1911 or a 6" 686, but they may very well shoot one twice as accurately (and as fast) as they can their Glock 26 or J-frame.

So, I might counter, "Screw 'intelligent' gun choice, I'll take a great deal of 'printing' over compromised accuracy & speed!"

(I'm really not quite so confrontational, but the point is valid.)

Every carrying situation is a compromise. You have to choose which set of things (accuracy, speed, concealment, comfort, draw speed, power, etc.) you care most about, which you care least about, and which set of carry equipment balances those concerns best for you.

-Sam

[EDIT: It's like we say in the construction industry: You can have it fast. You can have it good. You can have it under budget. Pick two -- you can't have all three! ]

 

[slabuda]

meh...if I show I show. like others said If I have to carry so deeply I cant get to it, whats the point?

 

[janedoedad]

Not concerned about printing. Georgia is an Open Carry state. That being said my choice of holster and attire will dictate open/concealed.

 

[MinnMooney]

In Minnesota, we have "Carry Permits", not "Concealed Carry Permits" so supposedly, it doesn't make any difference if we wear it concealed, open or partially concealed. That said, I never carry it open or even partially open as I really don't want to let any evil-doer know who to target first - or worse, try to take my weapon and use it against me.

My 2 cents worth.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

I live in Southern California, where concealed carry by ordinary citizens is extremely rare.

If someone saw my CCW gun on my hip they would in all probability think that I was an undercover cop.

Regardless, I make every effort to be as low-key as possible when I CCW.

 

[BCC]

All this talk about needing to print to have an accessible weapon is something with which I disagree.

I carry a Kahr pm9 on the belt, tucked tight against the body with a spare mag. Tough to print, easy to get to. But then, I'm 6'3' 220lbs, so maybe my mass help.