What's the dumbest mistake you've ever made while carrying concealed?

[Zaydok Allen]

Any mistake you'd qualify as silly, stupid, idiotic, dumb, negligent, or goofy counts. Set pride aside and confess.

Yesterday was my worst. I got off of work at 3:00, ran home, fed the cat, tossed my SA XDs in its hybrid holster and tucked it in my waistband, picked up my friend, and headed off for the city an hour's drive away.

We got dinner, went grocery shopping and drove home. I dropped off my friend and unloaded my groceries. Then I decided to disarm myself for the evening and relax. I pulled my little monster from its holster, and thought it felt a tad light. As my stomach began to contort in a ball of shame and self loathing, I looked at the loaded chamber indicator, and it was sitting flat. Nothing. I dropped the magazine, and nothing. I walked around all afternoon and evening with an empty gun. :banghead:

I had cleaned and oiled it after I shot it last week, and never reloaded it...... Normally I leave it loaded and just put it on and take it off. Oops!!!

 

[Sam1911]

Probably various accidental oversights of the details of laws in other states. PA is pretty liberal about where you may lawfully be armed. Other states seem to go out of their way to come up with unexpected "no-nos".

I always print out the pages from handgunlaw.us and study them when traveling, but it can be hard to keep track.

I can distinctly recall sitting with family in pizza restaurant in a state who's laws had not yet been improved, and having the idle thought hit me, "Wait...does this place serve alcohol? Oh...uh, oh nuts, I think that's on the do-not list! ... Hmmm... what now?"

And another time arriving very late at night at my hotel in a different state, and after checking in noticing that the hotel was actually on the campus of a university -- which made it off-limits by that state's laws. :banghead:

Just stupid crap like that.

 

[IBEWBULL]

Could be worse.

Short trip to town.

Forgetting to take my gun and holster.

I did have my speed strip and six rounds of .38 LSWCHP 158s

 

[beeenbag]

When I first started carrying I was always nervous about being "made". I hadn't had a lot of experience carrying so I hadn't became familiar with the folding metal chairs with the open back on the bottom. I was at a birthday party and sit down with my glock 19 iwb, when I stood up the grip of the gun picked the chair up with me, then released it to crash very loudly on the concrete floor. In my mind the music stopped, the kids stopped playing and everyone's eyes were focused on me and my right hip. I'm sure it wasn't that dramatic to all of the unsuspecting patrons there but in my mind it was. Lesson learned though.

 

[MedWheeler]

First occasion: was out walking my then-infant daughter in a stroller about my neighborhood, and had strapped on my Bersa Thunder 380. I had been in the habit back then of keeping the gun in a compartment in my easy chair with the magazine removed, but a round in the chamber (gun has a mag-disconnect.)

While out and about, a large dog ran up to its property line as we passed, barking aggressively and baring teeth. As I backed us away, with the stroller behind me, I discreetly slipped the pistol out and held it at low-ready. We made our distance; the dog declined to pursue, and I re-holstered. Once back at home, I was shocked to discover the magazine was missing, and feared I'd lost it somewhere along the walk. But, it was still in the chair's drink compartment. If that dog had become a serious threat, not only would I have had only one round, I would not have been able to fire it!

 

[MedWheeler]

Second occasion: same daughter, nearly a year later. I had taken her to her swim lesson, held at a gym's indoor pool. I set up our stuff poolside, then picked her up to carry her to the changing room before the lesson. I was in the habit of leaving as much behind first, and this included my cover garment (parents joined their children in the pool at this early stage, so I would be getting in swim shorts as well.) Normally, I had been respecting the facility's "no weapons" policy, but had recently stopped doing so. So, I was walking along the pool center, with several other people (mostly retirees) about, with my trusty blaster openly-displayed on my hip. I quickly realized my error, shifted my daughter's body to cover it as best I could, and returned to the bench for my shirt.

Nothing was ever mentioned; if I had even been "made", I was probably taken for an off-duty LEO.

 

[WestKentucky]

My first week legally carrying concealed I had a bad case of the runs so at hobby lobby I ran to the restroom and dropped trou. Gun was IWB in an uncle mikes and it of course bounced across the floor into the next stall which was not occupied...so I pull pants up about halfway and do the dance around to the next stall. As I turn to go into the second stall I see the cleaning cart roll in and I push hard to get in the stall. To no avail. It was a handicrapper so the door opens out. So the cleaning lady is laughing her head off as she's apologizing and backing out after watching me flail the stall door pants around knees big whit butt flapping in the breeze. I get in the stall and do my business, retrieve my runaway revolver and get up to leave. I hear giggling outside the door as I'm washing my hands. I know it's her, and I start praying she hasn't found my wife (girlfriend at this point) to tell this story to. So out I go on the walk of shame.... Door swings open and I see across the hall the men's room being cleaned by a guy, and this poor girl trying hard not to burst into tears and laughter at the same time. Apparently in my rush I made a slight error in choosing restrooms because the one I was in had a stick figure in a dress on the door. I am surprised I was not left at the store that day single and embarrassed.

 

[srtolly]

I was working on something in my garage last summer and one of my dogs got out. It was hot in the garage so I had my cover shirt off and I carry owb (easier that way for a fat guy). I thought nothing of it since open carry is legal but we have a bunch of kids in the neighborhood an I got a mess of looks from parents as I chased my dog. The kids just asked a lot of questions. LEOs patrol a lot more now. Must be looking for the fat guy with a gun chasing his dog for a good laugh.

With 25 neighborhood kids around I feel better about more patrols. We're just crazy grandparents anyway.

 

[reddrumtoo]

Before cc was legal I had a s&w 19 round butt in an owb holster w/ jacket for cover , I was doing some late grocery shopping . I had my young grandson w/ me & was carrying him . Just before we got to the check-out I noticed his foot had kicked the jacket back exposing my gun . If anyone noticed [ how could they not ?] they must have thought I was off-duty LEO . No one ever said a word or gave a second look that I could tell.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

LOL! WestKentucky, that is a good one!

 

[smalls]

I was at work when a friend had a pretty serious (but non life threatening) injury, and I rushed him to the hospital. In my haste I forgot that hospitals are a no carry zone, and I was not concealing very well. A male nurse came over and pointed out that my gun was noticeable, but luckily he was pretty understanding of the situation, and police weren't called. Apparently this happens a lot.

 

[TennJed]

It is funny that this thread was started. I thought about making a thread about this experience. Tonight while out eating my 3 year old son was in the booth beside me. He was hugging me and climbing on me and my shirt rode up and he ask very loudly.

"Daddy why did you bring your gun"

It took me a second and in my older years I am not as quick with my comebacks and he immediately says again

"DADDY WHY DID YOU BRING YOUR GUN"

Well needless to say it is time to explain to me children why daddy carries his gun to resturants

 

[Sam1911]

Not my mistake, exactly, but my then 6 year old daughter "made" me one day in front of family and a bunch of other Cabela's shoppers. She was, as usual, being hyperactive, fast, and a bit clumsy. She came flying down a row between some clothes racks and smashed fore-head first into the butt of my 1911! Made a cantaloupe "THUNK" that I swear everyone in the store turned around to figure out "what was THAT?" She burst into tears and fell on the floor holding her head! Left a big white DENT right in the middle of her forehead.

 

[RossGellar]

I always try to carry whenever I can, so I thought nothing if going to get fitted for my tux for my buddies upcoming wedding. The suit shop guy measures all my sizes then throws his arms around my waist to measure my waist. He asked me to raise my arms it guess to make it less awkward, but as I did, I realized he might be surprised by the Glock in my iwb holster. As I raised my arms, I said, "I have my gun on, so the measurement might be a little big. Don't worry, it's legal."

He kind of hesitated for a split second, but shrugged and kept measuring. In hindsight, I would have maybe left it in the truck, but maybe not.

 

[MedWheeler]

reddrumtoo, in your opening line, did you mean to type "Before oc was legal.."?

Before cc was legal I had a s&w 19 round butt in an owb holster w/ jacket for cover

 

[Wil Terry]

I walked into the barber shop on a friday afternoon, it was full of mommas and kids, one open seat, took off my Ranch coat, hung it on the peg, and hung my Stetson on top of that. THEN...THEN I remembered I was wearing a full westen rig, TOM3P shuck, 2 1/4" belt, and a SAA 4 3/4" 44SPL. It got really quiet in there !!! I walked past everyone, sat down, and picked up an OUTDOOR LIFE magazine. Folks were REALLY quiet and courteous after that, even the head barber who was a rather mouthy blowhard dimbulb who liked to insult people.

 

[PointOneSeven]

I had a .380 jump out of a cheap holster when I got out of my car. Found it laying out in the open on my seat when I got back from shopping.

 

[Bexar]

Knew a guy that since there had been several robberies of gun stores and pawn shops in the extended area around his store holster up at his store wearing it such that it could easily be seen. Several days later he decided to walk several stores down to the liquor store on the corner of the strip center to get a quick snack for his diabetes. When he got back one of his employees pointed at his pistol and mentioned the walk and his going into the liquor store armed. A felony in Texas. You can do it now, concealed, if you're licensed but this was pre-CHL days.

Anyway...my buddy said he said a quick epitaph went back behind the counter and took the holster and pistol off.

Not a CHL story but it fit the mistakes part.

 

[Legionnaire]

Epithet?

Edit: Or Expletive?

Good story all the same.

 

[ADRskew]

Well not so much a CC mistake but when I got my first sidearm I was home carrying in a black hawk level 2 retention holster. After a full day of what not, chasing kids and chores I went to go sit down on the couch. As I flopped onto the couch the barrel caught on the arm rest driving the grip into my hip leaving a lovely bruise and a nice lesson in situationally awareness.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I finished shooting at the range and holstered my unloaded gun while I cleaned up my gear without first putting in a new mag of carry ammo.

I discovered the next morning when I went to clean my gun that I was carrying cocked and locked, unchambered and unloaded, which is what, Condition 666?

I endeavor not ever to repeat such an error. I went about 4 places after going to the range, confident in what I was carrying in condition 1, and wrongfully so.

 

[earplug]

Short pocket carry

Some pockets are too shallow to carry my J frame. Always find out after the fact at movie's, getting out of cars and once with bib overalls when I bent over to help a lady pick up some dropped items.
Deep pockets are better. And make sure you have a belt loop that helps support the weight in the pocket.

 

[Doc7]

Not my mistake, exactly, but my then 6 year old daughter "made" me one day in front of family and a bunch of other Cabela's shoppers. She was, as usual, being hyperactive, fast, and a bit clumsy. She came flying down a row between some clothes racks and smashed fore-head first into the butt of my 1911! Made a cantaloupe "THUNK" that I swear everyone in the store turned around to figure out "what was THAT?" She burst into tears and fell on the floor holding her head! Left a big white DENT right in the middle of her forehead.

Sam1911,

I remember you posting this on another thread within the last 2 years I think. As someone who plans on having children soon, this incident of yours is something that I think about FREQUENTLY (along with the oft-posted situation where relatives are "huggy"). Glad that you re-posted it now that I am on the forum more and have a screenname to put it to.

 

[Sam1911]

Hey, what can I say? She lived, and I explained things away with a "nutty kid" roll of the eyes.

And now she's starting into IDPA with me, six years later! Must have made quite an impression!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Several years ago I ran into a convenience store with out my jacket on and my 38 on my hip. I was dressed office casual and with my crew cut I guess they thought I was a Detective etc. I got back in with my snacks and drinks and drove on to Ark and never got stopped.