Why conceal if you're going to announce it to the world?

[mljdeckard]

I see this two ways.

Anyone who has known me for more than one day knows I am a gun guy and I carry. It seems so pointless to try to hide it at this point.

HOWEVER, I recently got dropped from full-time military orders and had to get a job-job for the first time since 2006. Part of my day involves riding the public transit to and from work. I am not worried about the safety of my workplace, but I am more worried about my safety going TO AND FROM work. I have a locker at work, so I use it. as I am leaving the bus, I put my fanny pack (usually invisible under the front of my shirt hanging over it) into a pouch on the back of my backpack, enter the building, put my lunch in the cooler, and put the backpack into my locker. When the day is over, I reverse the process.

There is no law preventing me from doing this. I suspect that the full HR manual of my workplace contains language prohibiting weapons on-property. (Even though state law says I can have one in my vehicle.) However, I was not required to read or acknowledge such a policy. No one ever required me to read the employee handbook. Therefore, I have no problem locking it up and then going on my way at the end of the day. HOWEVER, if ANYONE at my work had a reason to even WONDER if I carry at work, I would be scrutinized, people would start to watch my actions, and wonder what is in my locker. So I shut up. These guys don't know me that well, and there is no reason to start whispering to them "I would carry here if I thought I could get away with it." As long as I am just like every other guy at work, no one will wonder.

 

[Atbat82]

I don't think there are any hard or fast rules about, but in general I conceal so that people don't know and so that I don't draw any unwanted attention. Obviously there are times when it comes up and I've never lied about having a gun on me.

But in general I've found that people who know me know that I carry anytime I'm allowed to (which is most of the time). And for people who don't know, it's none of their business. I got made once (at the tailor of all places..totally forgot I had it on) and my tailor was quick to let me know that he was wearing an ankle holster with a PPK. (And this in CT of all places!)

 

[herrwalther]

Many people know I have a concealed carry license but there is only one person besides me who knows when I am actually armed, and she doesn't tell anyone.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Can you elaborate?

The two times that stick out in my mind were the lady who showed up on a site I was working at walked in, sat down and stated “Well I got my concealed carry permit.” out of the blue and the guy that was training me for work on another site that didn’t wait 5 minutes before saying words to the effect of “No one better mess with me, I’ve got my permit.”

I think the lady had just got her permit in the mail or something but it was still quite an odd conversation opener

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I want to be clear I’m not talking about telling a friend in the context of a firearms related discussion, I’m talking about unnecessarily disclosing the information as in the case of the guy that asks the security guard (at the mall?) if it’s OK for him to carry there or the guy that won’t enter a friend’s home with out telling him he’s armed.

I’m not embarrassed that I carry a gun and I don’t try to be secret squirrel about it but I don’t use my permit as an ID and I don’t use the fact that I have one as a conversation starter

 

[Iron Sight]

If I told you it wouldn't be concealed.

 

[huntsman]

I'm not a sharer so I'm not going to fess up about CC in public, I might smirk a bit but like Sargent Schultz I know nothing

 

[coloradokevin]

If I told you it wouldn't be concealed.

Actually, if you told me it wouldn't be secret, but it would still be concealed. I guess that's the point of focus to be found in a lot of these threads, and maybe JohnBiltz said it best on the previous page when he differentiated from being concealed (discrete) and top secret.

I think it's fine to talk about guns, and the more WE all do so, the less "fringe" they'll appear to everyone else. Odds are STRONGLY in favor of the idea that the person I'm discussing my gun with is NOT the person I'm carrying my gun to protect against. I like to think that I have at least some ability to judge a person's character! Should an active shooter walk into the building while I'm in the middle of discussing my CCW with someone else, the element of surprise still remains for me (provided I haven't pulled it out and unloaded it). Discretion in these discussions is key, but I honestly don't think I'd be concerned if anyone in this thread saw me in public and knew I was carrying. The idea of concealed carry (for me) is like this: I want to have my weapon available if I need it, but I want to blend in with the crowd like everyone else right up until that time presents itself.

I almost always answer honestly when a friend asks if I'm carrying, or for my opinion on the subject, because I only stand to gain from the discussion. There is one time I can think of when I didn't answer honestly about carrying a firearm, and this was in a conversation with a girl who's one of my best friends. I went to a party for this long-time friend of mine, who absolutely knows about my profession, my interests, and my gun collection (better than most people). The party was at a public venue, and she was already pretty tipsy when I got there, and she tends to be of the "louder" variety when she's getting her swill on... She gave me a hug as I walked in the door, and immediately made my CCW piece. She then innocently enough loudly blurted out: "You carrying your gun tonight?" I pulled out my cellphone and said something like: "no, not tonight... that was just my phone today". She wouldn't have cared either way, but I felt no need to draw attention or announce such things to anyone who might have been standing nearby at the time. Should she have been more discrete? Yeah, probably. But, friends sometimes annoy friends without intending to do any harm!

 

[Twiki357]

Concealed means concealed. I’ve only been asked a couple of times if I was carrying. My standard response is: “Why? Do you think I need a gun around here? That’s usually the end of the inquiry.

 

[Inebriated]

Why put so much thought into what other people do?

In regards to post 29: Some states require notification upon entry of another person's dwelling. And asking a security guard if carry is allowed is in no way an admittance to having a gun, nor is it a bad idea in states where GFZ's have no requirements in regards to how the store notifies its patrons.

 

[Warp]

Actually, if you told me it wouldn't be secret, but it would still be concealed. I guess that's the point of focus to be found in a lot of these threads, and maybe JohnBiltz said it best on the previous page when he differentiated from being concealed (discrete) and top secret.

I think it's fine to talk about guns, and the more WE all do so, the less "fringe" they'll appear to everyone else. Odds are STRONGLY in favor of the idea that the person I'm discussing my gun with is NOT the person I'm carrying my gun to protect against. I like to think that I have at least some ability to judge a person's character! Should an active shooter walk into the building while I'm in the middle of discussing my CCW with someone else, the element of surprise still remains for me (provided I haven't pulled it out and unloaded it). Discretion in these discussions is key, but I honestly don't think I'd be concerned if anyone in this thread saw me in public and knew I was carrying. The idea of concealed carry (for me) is like this: I want to have my weapon available if I need it, but I want to blend in with the crowd like everyone else right up until that time presents itself.

I almost always answer honestly when a friend asks if I'm carrying, or for my opinion on the subject, because I only stand to gain from the discussion. There is one time I can think of when I didn't answer honestly about carrying a firearm, and this was in a conversation with a girl who's one of my best friends. I went to a party for this long-time friend of mine, who absolutely knows about my profession, my interests, and my gun collection (better than most people). The party was at a public venue, and she was already pretty tipsy when I got there, and she tends to be of the "louder" variety when she's getting her swill on... She gave me a hug as I walked in the door, and immediately made my CCW piece. She then innocently enough loudly blurted out: "You carrying your gun tonight?" I pulled out my cellphone and said something like: "no, not tonight... that was just my phone today". She wouldn't have cared either way, but I felt no need to draw attention or announce such things to anyone who might have been standing nearby at the time. Should she have been more discrete? Yeah, probably. But, friends sometimes annoy friends without intending to do any harm!

Good post.

 

[shep854]

Even when talking guns with friends, I rarely say anything about actually being armed. As one poster mentioned, I consider it along the lines of what underwear I might be wearing--rarely appropriate. It's kind of like OC; I don't like to give the impression I carry my ego in a holster.

More than once, if guns were being discussed, I've walked out to my car, unloaded the gun, then carried it back to the group, as if I had been keeping it in my car.

 

[Thermactor]

I recommend a sheepdog badge.

 

[r1derbike]

I've never had an unknown person start a carry or sidearm discussion out of the blue with me.

Plenty of discussions with friends or people I've worked with for years, who are also into firearms.

Guess there was just no reason to be asked by a stranger? Want to keep it that way. Means I'm doing my job staying legal in public.

 

[CajunBass]

What I don't understand is why some people are so ashamed of carrying a gun that they won't admit it to anyone.

While I'm not likely to ask if it's ok, I'm not ashamed to talk about it to most anybody who seems the least bit interested.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

What I don't understand is why some people are so ashamed of carrying a gun that they won't admit it to anyone.

No one is talking about not admitting to anyone that you have a gun, we’re talking about not announcing it to random strangers.

 

[beatledog7]

Having a concealed carry permit does not make one an undercover LEO or a spy, yet some people seem to want to treat it that way. Maybe they hear the James Bond theme or music from their favorite TV police shows each time they get dressed.

There is apparently a school of thought that says the more secretive and hush-hush we are about carrying, and the more we bad mouth the OC guys, the more respectable position we hold among those who do not like guns.

I beg to differ. If we really believe in RKBA, then why should feel compelled to sneak around? I'm not saying we should wear those stupid badges and sashes or that we should tell the guy next to us in the elevator that we have a gun, but neither should we feel a need to pretend that we're all some sort of Secret Squirrels.

 

[shep854]

However you carry and whomever you talk to, separate your ego from your gun! It's a tool, not a crutch.

 

[22-rimfire]

Announcing that you conceal carry a weapon is much like outside carry. In both cases, I think it's done to bring attention to themselves or make some sort of political point, but mostly because they still aren't comfortable carrying themselves yet.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have worked with people in the past that felt the need to display their permits, if not their firearms, to me within minutes of meeting me and again I have to ask why?

That's weird. It's one thing if it comes up in conversation. It's another if you go around telling people intentionally.

CC is supposed to be concealed. Not advertised carry

 

[Trunk Monkey]

However you carry and whomever you talk to, separate your ego from your gun! It's a tool, not a crutch.

Best post of the day

 

[Orange90]

There is alot of ambiguity to this subject. I recommend only discussing it with people who are either A. taking a CC class B. have taken a CC class or C. anyone that needs to know. I've been carrying for 2 years and my grandmother just happened to bump me in such a way that my in the waistband holster knocked her elbow. She was shocked that I felt the need to carry in her house. I told her i had been carrying in her house for 2 years! Made her mad. Now I know to ask. I find it polite more than required. I discuss CC with my welding classmates and some of them have their CC permits. It appears that some people are too open and that's their prerogative, me? I talk about it to encourage others to carry. I never tell strangers that I carry, just that it sounds like a good idea with all of the break ins and muggings running about. Just my 2 cents though

 

[buck460XVR]

or the guy that won’t enter a friend’s home with out telling him he’s armed.

All my "real" friends already know I'm armed, and they are too. No one needs to say anything. Kinda what "friends" are all about. There's a big difference between a friend and an acquaintance. I have yet to experience those folks that flaunt their permit in front of the whole world. Must be I hang out with the wrong type of folks.........

 

[sugerwater]

I don't talk about it with wait never mind, I never ca, I mean well forget it.

 

[Warp]

There is alot of ambiguity to this subject. I recommend only discussing it with people who are either A. taking a CC class B. have taken a CC class or C. anyone that needs to know. I've been carrying for 2 years and my grandmother just happened to bump me in such a way that my in the waistband holster knocked her elbow. She was shocked that I felt the need to carry in her house. I told her i had been carrying in her house for 2 years! Made her mad. Now I know to ask. I find it polite more than required. I discuss CC with my welding classmates and some of them have their CC permits. It appears that some people are too open and that's their prerogative, me? I talk about it to encourage others to carry. I never tell strangers that I carry, just that it sounds like a good idea with all of the break ins and muggings running about. Just my 2 cents though

Many states do not require a class in order to carry.