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Dekansnowman,

As I think on it all, it seems less about WHAT you say and more about HOW you act.
I dont think that youd need to say anything, just remain calm. If you treat it like its no big deal chances are so will anyone who might notice it.
Simply re-covering, re-adjusting, or (God forbid) picking the gun up off the ground and re-holstering confidently without saying a word or with a smile and a nod would do more than any explaining. Treat it like you just dropped your wallet or car keys.

When people will start to freak out is if your acting sketchy, sneaky, nervous, making sudden movements, running off.....just generally acting like your guilty of something. Unintentional brandishing is NOT illegal, so why act like youve just commited a crime? Most people (especially in TX) arent going to say anything. IF they ask you can explain that your licensed. A good ammount of people understand CHL's and wont give it a second though.

If they start going berserk keep your calm. Again, you have done nothing wrong. If your calm and the other person is off their hinges anyone paying attention is going to think the loudmouth is the idiot, not you. Hell, someone might come to your aid and tell the tattle tale to quiet down and that its no big deal, I sure would for a fellow CHL'er.

chasfm11 wrote:

texasjeep44 wrote:The only people that have ever noticed were people that already knew I carried every day, and it was when we were working and my shirt got caught on the grip. We were in a fraternal organization building which we were all brothers so it really wasn't a big deal.

I guess now that I am an instructor my response will be, that it is a gun, would you like me to tell you how you can legally carry one as well. Then tell them when the next class is scheduled.

I think the bigger the deal you make out of it, the worse it will be. I am in no way saying to let your method of concealment be lax. Keep the gun concealed, but in the event that someone feels or notices ect. work with them to explain how and why you carry and hopefully you will spark interest in another person an bring them to our side.

My concern about having a gun discussion with a stranger who may have just perceived it is that you never know where they are coming from. I've met a lot of people who were open to discussions about guns but there are some closet antis out there, too. My fear is that it will be one of them who asks me. There would be nothing to stop them, after our discussion, from making a 911 MWAG call. Although they probably wouldn't have physically seen it, I confirmed through our discussion that I had it. A dispatch tape with the caller saying "and he intimidated me" would not go well afterwards, I suspect. I freely admit to a bias in believing that antis are part of a Liberal mentality for whom the facts are unimportant.

This is where alot of my concern lies. There are alot of people who nearly stroke out at the mere notion that most real men carry pocket knives and *gasp* use them. Tell most people in a urban/suburban area its a gun and your gambling with your chace of a LEO encounter or being falsley accused of intimidation. Its sad that one has to feel this way about exercising their rights, but I just dont want to be treated like a criminal.

Ive already begun the process of my CHL application by filing online, most of my requirements fulfilled, and with my class to be taken on the 30th.
Ive been browsing this forum and a few others with CHL discussion sections and I havent seen this topic covered much so I thought id ask.

So, the question is....whats your "excuse" for what your your CCW is in the event that your "made"?
Is it your cell phone?
Insulin pump?
Other?
Do you answer honestly and tell them its your CCW?
Or do you try the old "I didnt hear you so im going to talk about something totally different" ploy?

Im referring soley to being made by feel, not by them actually seeing a weapon. Someone bumps into you, asks about a bulge under your shirt, etc...what do YOU say?
How about those who wont/dont believe your little white lie and wont let up?