How embarassing...

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Avenger

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I got made by a police officer today, but not in a bad manner. He's usually in the corner store when I go through on the way home from work. We've talked a few times, he was one of the first Columbus PD officers to be issued the new .40 M&P when the department switched over, and I asked him what he thought of it at the time. I've seen him often enough that he knows I have my CHL, but oddly enough, I've never been carrying at any of the times I've spoken with him before. Today, I went in, nodded hello, and he turns so nobody else but me can see his front, points to my holster, makes the hand motion to indicate a pistol (thumb and index finger) and winks. I give him a sheepish grin, tell him I am indeed CHL'd (and I used the acronym, keep the eavesdroppers out of it). I asked if he wanted to see my CHL and ID, but he waves me off with a "You're good, don't worry about it.", pays for his coffee, and goes off on his patrol.
The only thing that bothers me is how the heck he could have even seen ANYTHING. I was wearing a heavy coat over a hoodie, with an IWB holster and my hands in the coat pockets. There is no way that the pistol was printing through that many thick layers of cloth. I'm curious to find out what he twigged from, he knew right away that today I was carrying, and as far as I can tell, he never so much as glanced at my waist.
 
Are you still at the point where you put on way too many layers when carrying? That's a pretty sure giveaway.

If you were wearing all those layers in south Cali. I'd probably assume you were carrying too. :p:neener:
 
If he is from Columbus Ohio it was DAMN cold and windy today and I'd hardly consider him over dressed!
 
My bet... you tugged at your coat when you got out of the car or before you walked in.

I think 'the tug' is the easiest way to make someone.
 
Anyone that talks to a cop willingly is a good guy. Good guys talking about guns probably have one. Not all that hard to figure out.
 
Sometimes your body language, dress, adjusting, tugging, etc. change when carrying and most cops (who are gun guys) and other CHL holders pick those up on their 'ccw radar'. Don't need to see it to know it's there.

Or you walked too close to the door-frame when entering and made that embarrassing loud "CLACK" as it smacked the doorway :neener:
 
Well, if he's seen you alot without your weapon on you, seeing you with a weapon tends to be an obvious change. Either that or you ate a whole hell of a lot of turkey since he last saw you.. your outline changes.
 
well to be honest if you dont wear it that often when you do put on extra weight your automatically going to change the way you walk. It will give you a slight limp and a different length of stride. Thats one of the main ways i can spot ccw's. Not to mention if you gave him a sheepish type grin, that means that you were most likely more standoffish and quieter than normal. Thats one of the MANY reasons that i carry 24/7, for me its like a second penis that hangs off to the side. I know thats a crude way of saying it... but its the truth. I think about it about as much, i never adjust it unless its by taking a long stride.

Once you carry ccw you NEVER touch your weapon in public, i dont care how uncomfortable it is... move to an area where no-one is around. The only thing more dangerous than not having your weapon is an armed perp knowing you have it.

just trying to help my friend ^_^
 
Well, if he's seen you alot without your weapon on you, seeing you with a weapon tends to be an obvious change.
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Ding. That's a fairly big concern of mine about starting to carry... it's a change and people *always* ask why when there are changes.

Not to derail the conversation too much, but... anyone have any tips for "smoothing" the transition so that people don't notice a big change all at once when you switch from no-carry to carry?

E.g. I bought a belt before I moved to Texas and have been trying to actually wear it most of the time so it seems normal to see me with a belt. I've never liked tucking shirts and I'm also so/so on t-shirts so "untucked button casual" has been my standard dress for a good long time but I've noticed that most of my shirts aren't quite long enough (or my torso is too long) for good concealment . . . but I couldn't use a fanny pack holster around anyone who has known me any length of time without drawing major attention to myself.
 
Why's that?
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What if someone who has a knife and is paranoid is wandering the streets? (much more common than you might think)

what if the cops are looking for someone who just shot someone?
(that could definately cause some problems)

what if your in somewhere and the place is being robbed?
(the bad guys could notice it and shoot you first)
(if you want to stay out of it since its just money... and someone else notices it and tries to be a hero... you could all die)

What if you just so happen to wear the wrong color shirt in an area thats under conflict?
(gang member notices gun + color of shirt = you dead)

the list could go on for hours with so many %.5 chance situations that it equals up to enough that you DONT want others to know you carry.
 
sarg

yesit'sloaded, I just retired from a major university and really don't believe that any one should carry on campus, especially in dorms.. I realize you are levelheaded but really a lot of these students are Not. It's not really the place for it. I,m not against carring but even the maint. department are not to carry. As a matter of fact, it was not permitted by our contract and could mean termination of our contract.
 
DoubleTapDrew
Or you walked too close to the door-frame when entering and made that embarrassing loud "CLACK" as it smacked the doorway
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I'll admit to this one myself. Along with standing up at a dinner with a chair hooked on my gun. DOH :eek:
I have not been carrying that long or all the time but it just turns into an extension of you body. Thats why things like this happen.
 
Pft. That's not embarrassing. I answered a spare magazine in line at 7/11. My phone rang, I answered. But I answered the wrong thing.

My phone now rides in a different location.

I guess on the bright side, I've never tried to shove my phone into the mag-well.
 
"I was wearing a heavy coat over a hoodie, with an IWB holster and my hands in the coat pockets."

With your hands in your coat pockets, you may have been pushing your hands slightly forward and down and drooping your shoulders slightly (a natural tendency if it's cold). This would cause the coat to tighten around your buttocks and waist area, possibly cause the butt of the gun to "print". Of course, no one but a person who is trained to look for this type thing would even notice.

As far as someone figuring out that I'm carrying, I doubt that it happens very often, but even if it does, so what? As long as it's concealed from view, I'm in compliance with the law. I think that those people who think that the bad guys are going around scoping out the place and looking for anyone who is "printing" so they can take them out first has a very active imagination. More than likely, if the bad guys DO see someone printing, they are going to wait until he leaves to avoid the possibility of having to deal with an armed opponent. Why try to hold up a place and possibly risk being shot when it's much easier (and safer for them) to just wait until the armed guy leaves?
 
because most criminals that risk their lives / years in jail... arent exactly the most intelligent people... arent exactly known for reasonable thinking... and are usually in a bit of a hurry. yes its an off chance... but still a chance.
 
yesit'sloaded, I just retired from a major university and really don't believe that any one should carry on campus, especially in dorms.. I realize you are levelheaded but really a lot of these students are Not. It's not really the place for it. I,m not against carring but even the maint. department are not to carry. As a matter of fact, it was not permitted by our contract and could mean termination of our contract.
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I'm not trying to threadjack, but rather to respond to a comment directed at me. You sir, are the kind of close minded individual that got those people at Virginia Tech killed. To come on a gun board and to allege that you believe in the right to own guns and then also believe in rendering people defenseless in their moment of need is a travesty. The blood of everyone killed at a school shooting is proof that gun control doesn't work, how much more would you have spilled? How many more students raped, robbed, and murdered would it take to convince you otherwise. I hope to God that you never are in such a situation as Virginia Tech, but if you are remember as you cower in fear of your life waiting to be killed that you fought against the very people who might have saved you.
 
The big problem isn't Bad People seeing your gun and targeting you. It isn't cops seeing something suspicious and testing their theory. It's Good and Righteous people, holly rollers, who know that only bad people have guns, spotting you and taking heroic action. Running to the bathroom and calling 911 to report someone with a gun in the coffee shop or even just loudly exclaiming, "you have a gun!" It's a whole bunch of people who had nothing against you up to the moment they realized you have a power they don't want you to have.
 
"It's a whole bunch of people who had nothing against you up to the moment they realized you have a power they don't want you to have."

And they can do WHAT about it? Scream "You have a gun?" So what? Call a cop? So what? If a cop shows up and you're still there, show him your I.D. and license be on your way.
 
That depends, doesn't it? If you are at a store you frequent (like this story) they may get you kicked out with a "never return." If you are with coworkers or others you'd rather not knew about your carrying they can cause inconvenient information release. If they are really heroes they might try to disarm you for public safety. There are a bunch of nutty people around and you shouldn't trust them to do sensible things.
 
There are a bunch of nutty people around and you shouldn't trust them to do sensible things.
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When dealing with antis who claim that carrying will result in shootouts over trivial disagreements, we call this "projection."

Would you try to go John Wayne if you saw someone printing? Why would you assume anyone else would?

Yeah, there are some nutjobs out there, but it's helpful to realize that nutjobs of that level are an almost negligible number. Sure, it's a possibility, but just how likely? I'm sure I've printed in hundreds, if not thousands of social situations, and not one person has gone crazy on me.
 
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