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We were a funeral this year that surfaced a lot of people, friends and family that we haven't seen for years. There was a lot of hugging. It can happen in church, too. While I too am pretty upfront (not in your face) about guns, there are some in our church who are flaming Libs and with whom I've already discussed self defense and personal protection. A casual arm around the waist, not necessarily a full bear hug, could still bump into something that wasn't meant to be bumped into. Answering the question "is that a gun?" might get very interesting.

As I've said in several other posts, my wife and I play our musical instruments in church as part of the services. I'm never unarmed there. While I'm careful not to wear anything that really would show a bump, there always is one and standing in an elevated area in front of 100s of people who you know are watching you is a lot different than simply being in a crowd of 100s of people. I don't worry at all at being spotted. The risk is far greater when someone afterwards overtly offers thanks for what we played.

Purplehood wrote:If I have been spotted I have never had it brought to my attention.

To be honest I think that I have gotten rather lackadaisical in regards to worrying about bulges or other indicators that I may be carrying. I have carried concealed so long and in such blatantly "obvious" (To me) carry-methods that I no longer worry much about it. No one seems to pay any attention at all.

When I first started carrying, I made sure that there was no hit of a bulge. Then, I was OK if there was a little bulge. Now, I wear shirts where, depending on how I'm standing, there is definitely a bulge. I just make sure that there isn't a profile of the grip.

Hugs remain a greater concern. There is much more of a chance that someone hugging me will put their arms where the gun would become obvious. I always lead with my weak side and haven't had a problem. The good news about IWB carry is that not much of the gun sticks up above the belt line so even it a hugging situation, the chances for exposure are very low. I figure that I am ever outed, a hug is going to do it. Touching the handle of a pistol is a lot different than seeing something under a shirt.