Was This Poor Concealment or Open Carry

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72IH

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Was at the mall today with the family and passed by a guy and his girlfriend or maybe sister. I look down as he walks by and notice something black sticking out below his shirt. It looked like a Fobus or plastic type of holster similar to the one that comes with the XDs. I can catch a peek at the end and I see it is indeed filled with a pistol. It was kinda flopping around like a paddle holster does. His pants rode a little low but not gantsa style. Maybe he didn't know it was exposed. The thing was sticking out a good 3" below the shirt with the grip being the only thing covered.

So I keep my distance and keep a close eye on him and his behavior. Seemed kinda normal, just poor taste in packing. This mall has a "no weapons" policy. In Oregon you are supposed to respect these signs on building entrances, as they are private property. Although I am carrying it is concealed not flopping around like a dead cat on a string.

What would you have done? I don't want to squeal on someone who has the right to carry concealed. Not going to approach and tell him to cover up as it makes the rest of us look nutty. If I did approach I run the chance he is a nut job looking for trouble. He is also well within his rights if he was exercising his right to open carry. Is open supposed to be open and no part of the gun concealed.? The last thing I want to do is stir up trouble with a person who has done nothing wrong. On the other hand, I didn't want some guy causing trouble for my family. Just tried to keep between him and the family with them close to a way out.
 
I want to say that I'd politely mention it but I just can't think of any positive way to approach the subject.

I feel bad about not possibly helping a fellow CC'r out and I certainly wouldn't report it, but I just can't see myself approaching an armed stranger to correct his method of carry.
 
"Say, buddy, no offense, but I think you're printing. Thought you should know"

"Say, buddy, no offense, but I think your fly is open. Thought you should know"
 
"Say, buddy, no offense, but I think your fly is open. Thought you should know"

This is the same route I was taking. Maybe get his attention so you can tell him without the female hearing in case she doesn't know. No sense in creating a domestic/family issue either.
 
I'd say it was definitely a case of poor concealment.

I'd probably do nothing but if given the chance maybe I'd use a hand gesture to indicate he was showing. All depends on the detailed circumstances. I wouldn't go out of my way to interrupt him. Most people probably wouldn't even notice it anyway or know what it was.

Some of the comments about being concerned for your family and wondering if he is a nut job are a little concerning coming from someone who is exercising the same right in the same place. If we are not comfortable with people carrying how can we expect others to be? Now if there was any behavior or mannerisms displayed to perk your interest that is different (gun showing or not).
 
What would you have done?
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Nothing.

I am always suspicious of these threads where a supposed gun owner gets excited, in a bad way, because they saw someone carrying a gun. It's LEGAL! I carry and I hope you do as well.
 
I dont know. Ive caught a few myself over the years and gave these folks a wide berth. I dont know them from adam and dont understand if they are a nutcase, LEO or Citizen. So I dont do anything and get away.

I used to be part of a club that did and have people who are conceal carry. Those folks generally did a good job keeping everything shipshape and big mouths shut. No worries for anyone in the building.

Someone in that mall will see that dead fish flopping (Just learned about it recently) and scream OMGhesgotagun!!!

Nothing like a stampede to spice things up near the food court these days. I dont go to malls anymore for that reason.
 
I used to live in an area in the northwest where a lot of the people around town open carried. I go to the point where seeing guns on peoples hips doesnt really bother me. If someone has one stuffed into the waistband that is when I would get nervous because then even if they are legally carrying they obviously dont understand safety too well.

In short I dont really care if I see a gun or not. I dont act any different. As long as it doesnt seem like anything hinky is going on.
 
If I did approach I run the chance he is a nut job looking for trouble
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:scrutiny:
About the same chance of him thinking your a nut job...Hmmm, Iv'e never thought of someone else legall carrying (though not in your example) as a potential nutjob.

Like others have said, just let it go, or kindly point out that he is exposed.
 
after observing him and having a ok feeling about him a simple comment to the effect of '.....that an XD?' or 'your printing' and than i would let him get ahead of me just as a because. he would figure out what i ment by what i said or he aint worth saving from himself. its a posted area and his decision to not obay but if caught the news could run with the story and put all who carry in a bad light.
 
If I see big saggy,baggies packed with jersey hoodies all over or even worse... very large, LONG trench coats... Hells Bells Im gone. Specially if temps in the mall is 76 degrees and 100 outside.
 
I guess I see this from a slightly different perspective. I'm not a big open-carry guy as I do understand the practicalities of the issue, but I also live in a pretty low-pressure area when it comes to guns and CCW.

When the weather is nice and I don't need lots of layers, I often don't bother to go for "deep" concealment. My carry holsters all do a pretty decent job of keeping my full-sized carry guns tucked in snugly, and I feel reasonably well concealed in just a t-shirt or light pull-over. That's enough to make the gun "disappear" to 90% of society, and those who will notice the bottom couple of inches of the holster peeking out of my shirt-tail, or the form of the gun butt printing under my shirt, are generally the folks who know the laws and are probably carrying, themselves.

I often remove my cover garment when driving, as well, and will put it back on in a parking lot before entering a store. Never had anyone notice...or say anything at least.

So, for me, a very basic level of concealment is adequate. I wouldn't take offense if a fellow gun nut wanted to inform me that I was showing, but I wouldn't go out of my way to hide it, beyond a tug of the shirt tail or whatever.

My intent is to have the gun with me and concealment is simply a way to ease that task by avoiding hassle. Depending on where I'm going, keeping totally hidden is often not important enough for me to bother with another layer or picking an IWB over OWB holster, if it means I'll be too warm or otherwise uncomfortable. If I get called on it someday, that's fine. The worst that can happen is I'm asked to leave a store or whatever. No big deal.

If I'm going to an amusement park or museum where I really don't want to risk being asked to leave until I've finished my visit -- or I'm out with non-gun-folks and don't want my sidearm to distract from the purpose of the visit -- I'll conceal a little deeper. But a 5" 1911 just disappears on my frame, so that's no big deal.

-Sam
 
This mall has a "no weapons" policy. In Oregon you are supposed to respect these signs on building entrances, as they are private property. Although I am carrying it is concealed not flopping around like a dead cat on a string.
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Pardon me if I seem a little abrasive. I don't mean to be offensive, but sometimes my writing comes off that way.

So, you tout the mall's no weapons policy, point out the other guys poor mode of carry, and in the same sentence, admit to ignoring the same policy you bash the sloppy carrier of?

Then, as a CCW holder, you "keep your distance from him and keep an eye on his behavior?"

Comes off as a fairly "limousine liberal-ish". I guess you, as a CCW'er, are an outstanding citizen and above mall policy because you carry correctly. Anyone else who does not meet your carry standards is worthy of distance and having an eye kept on.

The idea of giving the complete stranger the benefit of the doubt, calmly approaching him and saying, "Hey friend, I thought I'd point out that your weapon is showing." is seen as a chance of "stirring up trouble" and "causing trouble for your family"?

Had your weapon become exposed, how would YOU like to be treated?

Kindly informed, or "kept an eye on for your behavior"?

I, personally, would thankfully accept option one and completely resent option two.

It's bad enough having the general public concerned and unsure of how to react to instances of outed firearms. Now we're getting it from each other.

Not that I would have lowered my guard completely. I would have taken the safe route and pointed my family in a safe direction while I approached him alone and aware of his actions. But I would have at least kindly informed my fellow armed citizen that his weapon was getting fresh air.
 
It was kinda flopping around like a paddle holster does.
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Not if they are worn properly on a good gunbelt. If yours doesn't stay put, you need to ditch your wallmart belt and upgrade.

If intentionally OC'ing the grips would likely have been visible.
 
Well I guess I reacted the same as you did Superlite. Moved away to keep my family safe. If you did not then you don't have "situational awareness". Which is the biggest component to personal safety. Avoidance is number one. Don't confront any one for anything. If I knew the guy then fine. All I know he could have be Charlie Manson. Option two may seem rude to you but it will keep you alive.
It is not illegal to CCW where it is posted. It is illegal to open carry where it is posted. If the owner or representative of the establishment tells you to leave you must. They won't trespass you just ask you to leave. I would not risk leaving my gun in the car, we have too many break ins in the mall parking lot.
Concealed means just that. If it is concealed nobody will scream GUN.
Poor concealment causes non gun types to panic and scream that we need more laws. Responsible carry causes fewer liberals to panic.
If you are not looking at others and if they have a gun in these places then you will be a victim. Does that mean I think other don't have the same rights as I? No, It means that I refuse to be taken advantage of. Do you go into the gas 'n' go with you head down oblivious to who is around you?
Look, he has the same rights as I do so I did not feel the need to call 911 or yell GUN. Had he acted out and I ignored him where would that put me. So I can't say that keeping an eye on him was bad. Having said that, I think he was honestly just a gun nut. But I am not going to approach anyone unless I know them.
Yeah I know it sounds harsh and judgmental.
 
What, are you just wanting to be a snitch? I can't believe the number of people who would completely avoid him.

Why not be friendly? Most gun people like to talk about their guns, just like any other hobby. Just a friendly question about his holster or caliber choice might strike up a nice conversation and would also let him know it was showing in case he didn't want it to.
 
If what he was doing was illegal I might possibly give him the heads-up. If it was legal I'd mind my own business.

Is open carry legal? Is carrying in a posted mall legal? If so, I'd just ignore him. If not I'd probably start by saying something like "Hey dude, I don't want you to get into any trouble, you might want to make sure that your firearm is totally concealed".
 
I guess I feel completely different about it. The more people around me that are armed the better in my mind. An armed society is a polite society.
 
I am disgusted by the number of people agreeing with this guy for doing nothing and treating the other guy like a threat just b/c he has a gun. If the gun makes him evil then you are also evil since you also had a gun. you are both in the wrong anyways by ignoring the malls "Criminal Friendly Zone" policy, which means you are both breaking the law.

I would have gone up and quietly and politely informed him that he was showing and also informed him of the no gun policy of the mall in case he didn't know. Avoiding "trouble" give me a break, you were stereotyping gun owners as dangerous people. Go have a long look in the mirror at some point.
 
Now I am new to guns and still learning the laws, but I was under the impression that your not allowed an in between. Either the gun is fully showing open carried, or fully hidden ccw.
 
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