Is "concealed means concealed" a lark?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MrFreeze

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2003
Messages
149
Location
Tampa, FL
So many times I hear "concealed means concealed" that I begin to wonder if it's a statement that's based more on
  • a belief in the 2nd amendment
  • bravado
  • honest desire to protect oneself
Does anyone consider that things outside of your control can actually happen in life. What happens when you're carrying your concealed weapon in an area where it's not allowed and for some unknown reason you are searched or your MO becomes evident. Maybe because a police officer is having a bad day and you are the recipient of a shakedown, maybe it's one of ten thousand other reasons...regardless, you are found with your weapon. Then what? Too much arm-chair QB'ing has got me fired up :)

I guess all I'm asking is this...do you really and truly think through the options and consequences of "concealed means concealed," or is it a knee-jerk reaction to being forbidden from doing something?

Comments?

Travis
 
Many times when this addage comes up it's in reference to a place where concealed carry is not illegal, but rather against the rules. In such cases, the risk isn't so big; being made means being leaving when asked with no further consequences.

I can't provide more information on other cases; for the most part I just avoid places where carry is illegal, and take the risk of temporary disarmament to obey the law.

I think the answer to your question is a combination of all three, depending on the person in question. When I carry against rules it's for the sole purpose of personal protection, largely justified by the second amendment. Bravado has never entered my mind.
 
Last edited:
I often hear this with 'stay away from the metal detectors', in that they are meaning that stores that have a handwritten sign prohibiting firearms should be ignored. I've never really heard it in context of somewhere where you are going to get some serious problems if found out about, like an airport clean area.
 
example:

With a PA CCW i can legally carry on my college campus, but if i get made i'll likely be suspended for multiple semesters or expelled completely. My solution? Don't let them know i'm carrying (that and be on good terms with enough campus cops that even if i was made it probably would probably be ignored.)

If i have to shoot in self defence and get made that way, simply finish my degree somewhere else. Besides, in this town if i shot someone in self defence i'd probably want to disappear to avoid retaliation from his homies.
 
"you are found with your weapon. Then what?"

Then you get to enrich the legal community. Freedom isn't free but some people can afford to excercise their rights more than others.

I've made my contribution to their retirement fund over this issue in the past. Now I'm on the installment plan buying their permits.

I wouldn't call it a lark. It's a life style decision.
 
Good points so far, everyone. A few things I thought about while reading the posts:

Many of the "concealed means concealed" posts that I've read are referring to a situation where it would actually be illegal to carry, not just "against the rules" of a store or your place of employment, e.g. California. Given that, very few people would be brave enough (read: dumb enough) to try that out where there is a metal detector, such as an airport, but most store asset scanners won't detect your pistol or large knife.

Looking back on my post, I suppose that I didn't expect anyone to post, "Yes, I carry my pistol at my place of work, which happens to be XXXX in Oakland, CA, even though I'm not allowed to do so." Nor do I really think that carrying a weapon when it's against the rules is a bad idea; mainly, I think many people jump on the bandwagon without giving enough thought to the consequences. But hey...what's new? :neener:

Ryder,

Interesting point in regards to essentially buying freedom. I guess this is a product of our misshappen legal system.

Travis
 
"...most store asset scanners won't detect your pistol or large knife."

Can anyone name even ONE store asset scanner that would be capable of detecting a pistol or a knife?

The anti-shoplifting devices are not metal detectors. They are looking for security tags that have not been inactivated, and they will not detect your pistol, nor your knife, nor your cell phone, nor your keys.

"Concealed means concealed."
 
The anti-shoplifting devices are not metal detectors.
Click to expand...
Agreed, Sistema. I was actually referring to this from another post:
I often hear this with 'stay away from the metal detectors', in that they are meaning that stores that have a handwritten sign prohibiting firearms should be ignored.
Click to expand...
Maybe I misinterpreted the statement, but I took it to mean that stores which have Posted signs could determine that you were carrying by their "metal detectors"...when in actually they aren't metal detectors, but asset tag scanners only.

Travis
 
As the first reply said, most of the time when I've heard the term "concealed means concealed" it refers to the practice of carrying where a rule - NOT a law - would be broken. And this can vary GREATLY from state to state.

Other times, the term is used to emphasize that one should be discrete when carrying a concealed weapon. If you're out with friends, unless they're shooting buddies too (you DO choose your shooting buddies carefully, right?) there's absolutely NO good reason to let them know you're armed.

A small minority of the time, it may mean carrying where prohibited by law. In that case, there are all sorts of other questions . . . do you REALLY need to be there at all? What's the downside if you need a weapon, and don't have it? How likely are you to be searched by a cop? A person has to weigh the consequences of breaking the law very carefully . . .
 
A small minority of the time, it may mean carrying where prohibited by law. In that case, there are all sorts of other questions . . . do you REALLY need to be there at all? What's the downside if you need a weapon, and don't have it? How likely are you to be searched by a cop? A person has to weigh the consequences of breaking the law very carefully . . .
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly, Hank, but it seems as though I wasn't so clear :D

Travis
 
I always thought it was meant for situations like we have here in Florida. You can get a permit to carry a concealed weapon, but in order to be legal, the weapon must stay concealed. If the weapon is visible, it's not legal...
 
I'm only 18, so I can't conceal, but I live in Tampa, and in my neighborhood, it is pretty bad past dark sometimes. I don't keep it in my truck like I am allowed to most of the time, because my girlfriend goes to USF, and I am not allowed to have it there, although my chances of being caught are pretty much none. But, if I want to walk to Burger King, at 9:30 at night, I conceal, even though I could throw a rock and hit Burger King. I don't need to be that close and need it. Once again, the chances of getting caught are slim to none, and being in a court room beats a body bag.
 
Someone who's 18 should be prepared to be searched by cops at anytime, without reason other than being young and out after dark. The real world is not like TV, you don't have as many rights as you think. And if you get caught it might be a felony and you won't be able to own guns anymore. Either move out of that bad neighborhood or get a large dog...preferably both :)


As for "against the rules" vs "illegal", I think many states say it's illegal if there's a sign saying it's against the rules.
 
Someone who's 18 should be prepared to be searched by cops at anytime, without reason other than being young and out after dark.
Click to expand...

Um, maybe if you're under 18 and there's a curfew in that town, but last i looked being 18 makes you an adult. Cop in that situation can go suck a lemon.
 
Posted

Locally only a couple of places post, mall at one time but changed after manager was arrested for stealing money from merchants association. The other the local hospital.

The hospital is made secure by security people armed with :cool: radios.

In our state, the result of being spotted [in a posted business] can only be a request to leave. If you comply, no foul.

The decision about when and where to carry is a personal one, and I will only make that decision for me. :)

Avoiding metal detectors should be selfevident for those carrying :uhoh: if it is not, your problem. :confused:
 
In PA if they have a metal detector and will not allow you to pass with a weapon, they better have a place to check your weapon.
 
iiibdsiil,

Don't quote me on this, but I believe you're allowed to have the firearm in your vehicle at a state university in Florida.

Travis
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top