"What? A gun ad featuring CCW badge"???

[David]

We just got home from the supermarket.

While there, I took a quick look at the new (April 2003) G&A Handguns magazine.

The ad on the back cover had something that really surprised me.

It featured one of Para's new handguns over a leather ID wallet.

In the wallet you can see a concealed weapon license AND...

a police-looking badge which clearly stated on it Concealed Weapons Badge.

What's going on?

With all the "cons" about carrying such badges, why would any firearm company feature such a badge in their ads?

Just my 2 cents...

I welcome your opinions...

 

[Spackler]

Probably no other reason than because it's an attractive, eye-catching prop that looks good in the photo.

 

[.45Ruger]

It's also nice because you know that gun is intended for CCW.

 

[Blackhawk]

Too bad some innocents are going to get it in their mind that carrying such badges is "okay" to their detriment.

 

[Peetmoss]

Dang I totally missed the badge until you mentioned it. Stupid add if you ask me.

 

[Blain]

What is wrong with carrying a badge? Where does it say such is illegal as long as it is not trying to impersonate a cops badge or something. What country do you think this is?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've seen small advertisements for concealed carry badges in the back pages of gun magazines. I assumed they were for law enforcement wannabes.

 

[synoptic]

"What is wrong with carrying a badge?"

I read this on a web site once and it made sense to me--It can be a tactical disadvantage for people to know you have a gun. A BG would know to focus his attention on you when taking a room hostage or commiting a robbery. You lose the element of surprise without gaining anything. The knowledge that you are carrying may escalate a situation further than it normally would have gone. It allows a BG to be more prepared when commiting a crime against you, i.e. instead of giving you a chance he may just kill you.

 

[David]

No, this is NOT an ad trying to sell a CCW badge, but, rather, this is an ad from a handgun company trying to sell their concealed carry line of firearms.

 

[DeltaElite]

I have a police badge and I ain't impressed with it.
CCW badges are even less impressive, but they often give away the mindset of the person that owns it.

 

[TIMC]

I have heard carrying a badge like that next to your holster might help in an accidental display. People won't freak out so bad. I never gave any thought to getting something like that. Just work hard on keeping my carry gun hidden.

 

[Redlg155]

To me they are a waste of money.

You won't pull the badge without pulling the weapon.

If you have to pull your weapon then you aren't worrying about showing some silly badge.

So what's the point other than potentially getting you into trouble?

Good Shooting
RED

 

[spacemanspiff]

*warning* the following post may go slightly offtopic, feel free to throw unopened boxes of ammo at this wayward poster, preferably fed hydrashoks 9mm 115 gr *warning*

displaying a badge when you are not a member of law enforcement is just asking for trouble. another TFL'er stated that having a set of handcuffs on your belt when open carrying keeps the sheeple from piddling themselves hysterically. its the same bad idea though. if someone thinks you are a LEO because of something you display on your person, then you may be called upon to provide assistance. and if you go along with the misguided assumptions you open yourself up to all kinds of liability. maybe you cant save a person in distress and their family sues you because they assumed you had the training and ability to help, but didnt.

okay, heres the real off topic drift: was watching dave chapelle on hbo last night and he was talkinga bout women being mistaken for having 'loose morals' because of how they dress. he says 'i could wear the uniform of a police officer, but that doesnt mean i am one. so for you ladies to wear hotpants and tube tops is confusing!'

okay, end OT drift.

 

[Aikibiker]

Forget tactical, get practical

I don't particularly care if they are so stupid that they give that Brady woman competition for the title, or are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I don't want one

I have enough junk on my person as it is. In my pockets and on my belt there are keys, flashlights, several knives and multi-tools, a wallet with a chain on it and a pistol and spare ammunition.

[/rant]IF I ADD ONE MORE THING TO WHAT I CARRY ON MY BODY, IT IS GOING TO BE A LIFE VEST TO KEEP ALL THE ASSORTED METAL JUNK I AM CARRYING FROM DRAGGING ME TO A WATERY GRAVE IF I SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL IN THE OCEAN![/rant]

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Heck its just a prop they used in the gun advertisement and it worked it caught a lot of peoples eyes.

 

[JPM70535]

Carrying a badge is IMO a bad idea. As has been stated here, you telegraph your status (Armed) to anyone who sees the badge. Concealed carry is just that, concealed. Your chances of being drawn into an unwanted confrontation with BGs or LEOs goes up several notches if they surmise you are armed. Better to maintain the lowest profile possible.

One other thought. Many States, cities,etc, have statutes on the books that make it a crime to display a badge that looks like their official badge. Since all the CCW badges I have seen are either Stars or Shields, you may be in violation of their laws on the matter.

 

[answerguy]

As has been stated here, you telegraph your status (Armed) to anyone who sees the badge. Concealed carry is just that, concealed.

How is it that anyone is going to see their badge? People don't wear these exposed do they? I assumed it was a wallet type badge that was sold.

 

[COHIBA]

with some of the poor machining i've seen on the Para line of recent they should show the pistol beside a dremmel tool. at least you know what your getting in to.

 

[El Tejon]

Why didn't they have a knife? Isn't that what you are required to do? If one photographs a gun, one must have a knife in the photo as well.

 

[Tamara]

Isn't that what you are required to do? If one photographs a gun, one must have a knife in the photo as well.

I'm not sure if not having the knife is a violation af any legal code or not, but it's definitely a social faux pas.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Para Ordnance seems to be appealing to the cop-wannabe folks with the add. The add seems to be a good example of how what is being marketed is often in a context to look cooler in the make believe world than it would be in real life.

No, there is nothing illegal about a concealed carry badge. Then again, there is no practical reason for having one relevant to carrying a concealed firearm. If you have a license to display when necessary, then why would you need a badge?

In the threads I have read where people want concealed weapon badges, most folks seem to be under the impression that the badge will help garner some protection against cops who might be rolling up on scene and who might confuse them with the bad guys, so the badge buys them a few seconds until things can be properly explained. In other words, they are not passing themselves off as an officer, but have the badge displayed during a crisis in hopes that the officers will mistake them for a fellow LEO. Somehow they feel that if the confusion is on the part of the officers rolling up that they are not in violation of the law for impersonating an officer since their actions are passive. Bogus.

 

[ACP]

I'm not aware of any state that issues a "badge" for a CCW permit. If there is one, let me know. The badge is there to appeal to wannabes, plain and simple. Just like the CCW "badges" in the back of some gun magazines. Try selling a cop or a judge on the fact that you have a laminated CCW, but thought the badge "looked neat" in your wallet. They're foolish, and likely illegal, IMHO. Do you have a "badge" next to your driver's license? Affixed to the front door of your home to prove you've paid off the mortgage? To show you're a mom or dad? Do you have a "badge" for your checking account ID at the bank? ***??

 

[Hal]

Para Ordnance Inc.
980 Tapscott Road
Toronto, ON
Canada, M1X 1C3.
Their address pretty much says it all. What fer does a Canadian company know about CCW anywho. I mean it's not like the people of their home Country carry anything but a hope and a prayer to get them out of danger. It figures a Company based in a Country that doesn't trust anyone to carry, unless they have a badge, would somehow think a CCW badge is required (or even desired)

 

[Don Gwinn]

What fer does a Canadian company know about CCW anywho. I mean it's not like the people of their home Country carry anything but a hope and a prayer to get them out of danger. It figures a Company based in a Country that doesn't trust anyone to carry, unless they have a badge, would somehow think a CCW badge is required (or even desired)

Maybe. Do you know where Springfield Armory, Les Baer, Rock River Arms, Heinie Sight Systems, and Oglesby and Oglesby are all based?
(Hint: I'm less than two hours away from any of them.)
How many people here carry one of those brands for CCW? Maybe you'd better not--it's not like people in their state can carry, so what could they know?



OK, now to be serious for a moment. It's just an ad, guys. Do you get all hepped up about how Coca Cola tries to make teenage boys think Penelope Cruz will go out with them if they drink Coke? Wannabes, all of them (they want to be Tom Cruise, if only for about an hour or so) but that's how ad people sell products.

 

[clem]

WHAT'S WRONG?

I'll tell you what's wrong with carrying a badge, cop or not. In the late 70s my cousin was a HAM radio operator and he had a ID card with badge that identified you as such.
Well, one day he and two of his friends got caught up in a mugging by two pieces of sxxt. As soon as they saw his badge, they shot and killed him because they thought he was a cop.

I'm a cop, and I don't carry a badge on me unless I've got my weapon with me, and then I keep it in a different pocket away from my wallet.

So you go right ahead and carry one if you want to.