How Many Know That You Carry? What Do You Say?

[simpleguy]

My immediate family..........they all know. A couple don't feel comfortable around firearms, but then again have never used firearms. But all in all......they respect my right to carry. And you'd never know, concealed means concealed.

 

[Colin Doyle]

A few friends and coworkers know. Family members do not. Yet.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

I'm a tech-geek. People always assume any odd bulges or shapes under my clothes have something to do with gadgets (and they are right, just not always the kind of gadget they imagine).

I have a line I use for some people when they notice a bulge.

"It is my PDA."

I neglect to say that PDA stands for Personal Defense Accessory.

But I let some people know that I carry. I understand the super secret types, but I think publishing the fact that we carry guns and it is nothing out of the ordinary as far as we are concerned helps people who are not familiar with them to accept them a little more easily. But when people ask why, the best answer I have is,

"In case I need to shoot someone."

I stole this sentence from my daughter, who was five at the time, explaining to the four year old why Daddy was taking his gun with him.

It is the blunt truth, and I have a reputation for being, ahhh, direct. But it is guaranteed to start a conversation, because the other person has to ask why I would want to shoot someone. Of course, I don't want to, but starting off with a long list of rights, possible scenarios, etc, almost always guarantees brain fade and attention lapse on the part of the other person. When it comes out like above, it does wonders for keeping the other person's attention. Then I can talk about the long list of rights and possible scenarios. And a lot of times it works out very well.

 

[silverking]

My immediate family members know I carry. Not the aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews-yada -yada-yada. A few friends know and a couple have asked why I feel it necessary to carry. My first answer is simply-"because I can't take the big dog everywhere I go". If they persist in having a better answer, I tell them "because the second amendmant says I can".

 

[Pistol Toter]

My immeadiate family and only a couple of friends know that I carry a gun. There maybe a few who suspect, but they have never been told or at least by me; and frankly it's none of their business. Those people who truly KNOW me and those are few, have never ask me why I do. They already know. I am a difficult individual to get to know. Most that meet me never learn to like me, as I'm a very private man. My decissions are only shared with a few. My suggestion is to only share that particular decission with those, that NEED TO KNOW. If those people truly know you, they won't ask.

 

[XDKingslayer]

I love the "Why do you carry a gun?" question.

I'm tired of it. I'm sick of being asked that and them making that scrunched up face like I just farted in their direction. It makes me angry. I simply reply "If I have to explain to you why I prefer to carry a gun, then my explanation isn't going to register in your brain, just like the state of the world hasn't registered in your brain. Any person with a little common sense, intelligence and awareness wouldn't have to ask that question."

Sound like an a-hole answer? You bet!

 

[John4me05]

The less that know the better... Its like if you walk into a convienience store thats being robbed and the clerk knows you carry they will blurt out "get your gun and shoot him" or something to that effect.. That will turn the robbers attention to you and knowing you have a gun will in all likelyhood get you killed... A few people know i carry... But they also know that i know what to do in any situation... Wether i keep my cool and let it deescalate itself or wether i dive for cover and draw... Its my gun.. its my decision.. Its my life... I do with it what I deem necessary...

As to why... Clint Smith says it best when checkign a weapon to be sure its unloaded or loaded.... BECAUSE I CAN!!!

 

[reppondj]

Only family and a few close friends, the friends are only because they carry as well. Other than that its no ones business.

 

[tkarter]

Everyone on the Internet just like the rest of you that carry do.

tk

 

[mavracer]

most everyone I know, knows I have my CCW poeple assume what they want I don't advertize weather or not I am carrying.when asked I usually use one of these three either a whole cop is too heavy,when seconds count police are just minutes away or a gun is like an ambulance you may not need one often but when you do you need it right now.

 

[FranklyTodd]

My wife - she's not 100% on board but doesn't break my.... chops about it.

Nobody else that I know by name... I suppose a few people at the gun shop I frequent, and a couple strangers I've chatted with at the range (oh yeah, and my CCW classmates... and the Sheriff.... and now everyone on THR and GlockTalk), but I don't count them.

BTW I was with a group of friends a few weeks ago (used loosely - included friends OF friends), and this idiot pulls out his CCW card and passes it around. Everyone was like "Are you carrying, are you carrying?!?" He was like nah... Of course I had my permit and .357 with me. 1% of me wanted to say something, but I just looked at it as they passed it around as if I'd never heard of such a thing...

 

[mjrodney]

My bride knows I frequently carry, but she never knows when, unless she specifically asks.

And she is the only one who knows enough, TO ask.

And after all these years of carrying without incident, I'm sure she no longer thinks about it.

She just feels....well......safer.

And that's good enough reason for me.

 

[CPLofMARINES]

My close friends and In-laws know I have a CCW, but my Wife only
knows whether or not I am actually carrying. My kids don't even know, for
obvious reasons. Sometimes my oldest Son will see me cleaning my carry
pistol after a trip to the range and ask, "Daddy where did you get that gun,"
Ohhhh, I've had it awhile.


Semper Fi !

 

[glockman19]

I can count them on one hand.

 

[arflattop]

No one knows but my wife and possibly a LEO friend. We've never discussed it, but I've asked him some questions about his method of carry. I use a pocket holster so I haven't run into any embarrassing moments that some have described previously.

 

[Geronimo45]

Four folks. Reason's remained "in case I need it."

 

[TimboKhan]

Quite a few people, really. Family, most of my buddies, my friend that lives down the hall. I do not fall into the camp that requires ninja-like stealth and code-word security in order to carry a concealed weapon. I don't advertise it to the masses and would prefer that it not be noticed, but I don't particularly care if someone see's me carrying concealed either.

 

[coyotehitman]

Everyone I am friends with knows I carry. Each also has a spot where I store my gun and keys when I visit. A reason? I do not owe anyone a reason. I do not ask for their opinion, so they know I don't want to hear it. I hope other folks do not try to "justify" carrying.

 

[bikerdoc]

my wife, who also carries, a few really close friends, who also carry. no one at work, no one has ever asked me why, cause they dont know -maybe the long hair, beard, scowl and perpetual bad attitude, and the fact i dont travel in "thoose circles' has something to do with it.

 

[Deputy25]

My wife knows. My kids know. My co-workers know. No need for anyone else to know.

 

[Snubster]

The only person who knows for sure that I do indeed carry everyday is my gf.

I'll be honest, no one that knows has actually asked me why (maybe they just know me well enough). But, that doesn't stop me from going on and on about my belief in taking responsibility for personal safety, how I believe people who don't do so have no dignity, how mass school shootings could be thwarted by allowing ccw on school grounds, and on and on and on...

i know that isn't what you had in mind about "exact" words, but i don't tend to give witty quips and i don't really remember verbatim what i've said.

I am a "white-collar" worker working in a non-profit school and I hang with a wide variety of people of different ages and socio-economic backgrounds.

 

[CajunBass]

Probably half the people I know. I really don't know or care. What do I tell them? I don't know. No one's ever asked or seemed to think there was anything odd about it.

 

[Smokewagon45]

My wife knows and a young couple that I helped with their CHL. If anyone should ask if I carry, I just tell them I'm scared of guns.

 

[jaholder1971]

Quite a few of my friends and family know I'm licensed. They all know that I've helped lobby for CCW off and on the last 15 years for it so for me not to get it was ridiculous.

Do I tell folks when I am? H@ll no!

 

[markmc753]

wife, kids, my dogs, a few friends... If asked I usually answer with, "the same reason you wear a seat belt"