Fact or Urban (CCW) Legend ?

[longtooth]

I think you can add Longtooth to the Vest of the month club.

I thought that was the "brushpopper with the sleeves cut off" club...

I think Mom has made me 4 right now. One more is on the sewing table but told me today it was the backburner of the table. She is making our Piano player his first.

[govnor]

I "make" people every day. I am interested in guns, I notice things gun related.
98% of the population wouldn't notice if you had six arms and two heads. If the gun is concealed then it's just that. CONCEALED. Don't sweat the wardrobe.

I have been wearing Hawaiian shirts or similar type shirts buttoned up with a t-shirt for years now. Nobody has ever asked me if I was carrying and now that I do carry, I dress the same way and I don't think twice about it.

That being said I was at a movie last week with the future Mrs. SSG and chuckled to myslef when a guy walked by me in the concession area wearing his 5.11 vest.

As long as you aren't wearing your SIG polo or your Glock pit crew shirt you should be alright.

I wonder if my T-shirt that has an AR-15 on it and says "thin the heard" would give me away...

[T3hK1w1]

More often than not, you will not see anything that will tell you without doubt that someone is carrying. What you will see is the people (like me) that are constantly scanning their surroundings. Look for the guys, or gals, jockeying for the table in the restaurant that faces the door, and has easy access to alternate exits. People that keep a wall on one side of them.....even at the urinal. If you are rubbing shoulders with 2-3 people in a large crowd because all of you want that spot in the corner right by the fire exit...these are your fellow "gun toters" regardless of their wardrobe.

If you are the type of person that subconsciously evaluates your exposure to threats in any public space..... just look around.....you will easily spot the people doing the same thing. You will easily be able to tell because you make EYE CONTACT. The rest of the people will be the Sheeple going about their day....looking at the ground....oblivious to what is going on around them.

That is SO true! I work in a store the mall, and on lunch break when I am out &about in the mall I make it a habit to scan my environment. Every once in a while, a person will catch my eye in such a manner. Kinda an appraising look. It's usually someone mid-30's or older, and usually male. And I have been given "the nod" such as you describe once or twice

[NcongruNt]

IMHO, nothing screams "Carrying a Concealed Weapon" louder than a vest . . .

Several people have met me wearing a vest. I wear them all the time in cooler weather. (I'm not fashion conscious.)

Jbirds, Ncongruent, Llwatson?

- Jim

I think I remember looking Jim over to see if he was carrying when we hung out. If he was, he hid it well. He may have been wearing a vest, but it certainly didn't seem out of place if he was. I know plenty of folks who wear vests who don't carry.

I used to wear vests all the time, long before I had my CHL. I tend to carry around a lot of stuff, and vest pockets are nice. I used to do a lot of photography work, and have a specific vest I carried for those purposes. I tend to wear long pants all year round, and generally some sort of button-up shirt over the top - nearly always since I've been carrying. I haven't carried with a vest yet, but it is something I have considered. I don't think it would be in any way conspicuous, as this is the way I have dressed for years. I've tamed my styles a little bit in the past few years, but here's a picture of me in May of 2005 (2 years before I got my CHL and started carrying) wearing the above-mentioned photography vest. At this point in my life, I had never even touched a handgun, let alone carried one. Does my outfit shout "carrying a concealed weapon"?



I think my biggest point is that if you're wearing something as a cover garment, don't make it look that way. Put forth enough effort so that it is part of what you are wearing, instead of something you've simply added to your normal clothes.

[calvinbr]

I spent 10 hours 1 day trying to figure out where El Gato is packing.

No luck there, either. And he doesn't have a lot of padding.

- Jim

Seamus,

I feel the same way. I spent 10 hours in his class and I could not figure out where he was CC. I never did ask and never did find out.


Calvin

[G.C.Montgomery]

....I've tamed my styles a little bit in the past few years, but here's a picture of me in May of 2005 (2 years before I got my CHL and started carrying) wearing the above-mentioned photography vest. At this point in my life, I had never even touched a handgun, let alone carried one. Does my outfit shout "carrying a concealed weapon"?

You're not going to like it but yes, I'd have suspected you carried AT LEAST one handgun, if not more, several knives and I might even have wondered if I could find some illegal drugs on your person. Why? I have a friend who works narcotics for an agency in another city. The wardrobe and haircut in the photo perfectly matches the way he dresses when working undercover, particularly when posing as a buyer/seller of crystal meth in certain neighborhoods. It also matches the wardrobe and haircut of known criminals in certain east Houston neighborhoods.

But, that's me. I grew up the son of a cop in east Houston. I'd learned how to spot the dealers on the street and their customers in my neighborhood by the time I hit third-grade. I'm sure that if I grabbed Suzie Homemaker or Johnny Nobody from the suburbs and asked them if it looked like you were carrying a gun or contraband they might say "No." Everyone has different prior experiences and knowledge that influence the way they see the world.

[Crossfire]

I think Mom has made me 4 right now. One more is on the sewing table but told me today it was the backburner of the table. She is making our Piano player his first.

Go Mom! Gotta take good care of the musicians!

[seamusTX]

Responding to Ncongruent and G.C. Montgomery, I've seen photos of drug dealers to the gentry who looked and dressed like insurance salesmen. I saw a woman who looked like the leader of the ladies' Bible study group, who blew over 0.3 on a Breathalyzer.

OTOH, I've met bikers who would scare the pants off you on first sight, who collect toys for kids in the hospital and ride honor guard for deceased soldiers.

I just don't judge people by the way they dress or their tattoos or hair.

- Jim

[Diode]

I think you can add Longtooth to the Vest of the month club.

I thought that was the "brushpopper with the sleeves cut off" club...

I think Mom has made me 4 right now. One more is on the sewing table but told me today it was the backburner of the table. She is making our Piano player his first.

Mom's are wonderful, so are your vest.

[NcongruNt]

....I've tamed my styles a little bit in the past few years, but here's a picture of me in May of 2005 (2 years before I got my CHL and started carrying) wearing the above-mentioned photography vest. At this point in my life, I had never even touched a handgun, let alone carried one. Does my outfit shout "carrying a concealed weapon"?

You're not going to like it but yes, I'd have suspected you carried AT LEAST one handgun, if not more, several knives and I might even have wondered if I could find some illegal drugs on your person. Why? I have a friend who works narcotics for an agency in another city. The wardrobe and haircut in the photo perfectly matches the way he dresses when working undercover, particularly when posing as a buyer/seller of crystal meth in certain neighborhoods. It also matches the wardrobe and haircut of known criminals in certain east Houston neighborhoods.

But, that's me. I grew up the son of a cop in east Houston. I'd learned how to spot the dealers on the street and their customers in my neighborhood by the time I hit third-grade. I'm sure that if I grabbed Suzie Homemaker or Johnny Nobody from the suburbs and asked them if it looked like you were carrying a gun or contraband they might say "No." Everyone has different prior experiences and knowledge that influence the way they see the world.

Interesting, considering the fact that I've never been in possession of, let alone used any kind of illegal drug, and at that point was not carrying a knife or gun.

I guess I look like a drug dealer? I've never been detained or questioned in relation to such matters. Perhaps a simple picture doesn't really accurately convey the way most people perceive me in person. I've asked several LEOs (around the time this picture was taken, actually) what kind of vibe they got off of me. They always answered that they do not perceive me to be criminal, and to be an honest person. They seemed to pick this up from my demeanor and eyes.

Nowadays, I'm told I sometimes look like I'm in some sort of mafia - especially when I wear an outfit like this:



I believe I was wearing that same outfit when I met seamusTX and El Gato in Galveston. What were your impressions when you met me?

[Venus Pax]

We're also seeing pictures; we're not able to watch behaviors in them.
I learn so much just by watching the way a person behaves. Often, that's the give-away.

[govnor]

Responding to Ncongruent and G.C. Montgomery, I've seen photos of drug dealers to the gentry who looked and dressed like insurance salesmen. I saw a woman who looked like the leader of the ladies' Bible study group, who blew over 0.3 on a Breathalyzer.

OTOH, I've met bikers who would scare the pants off you on first sight, who collect toys for kids in the hospital and ride honor guard for deceased soldiers.

I just don't judge people by the way they dress or their tattoos or hair.

- Jim

Yeah, that's the way I think for the most part. If someone looks like trouble...then ACTS like trouble, that would be the sign that they're up to no good. I think it comes down to how someone acts more than anything.

In that picture, I wouldn't necessarily think Ncon was carrying a gun. I might think he was carrying a joint or two around though. Or I might not after meeting him. Some of the biggest stoners I've ever known look like clean cut all American people that you'd see on a commercial. You'd never suspect they were up to something like that.

[G.C.Montgomery]

Interesting, considering the fact that I've never been in possession of, let alone used any kind of illegal drug, and at that point was not carrying a knife or gun.

I guess I look like a drug dealer? I've never been detained or questioned in relation to such matters. Perhaps a simple picture doesn't really accurately convey the way most people perceive me in person. I've asked several LEOs (around the time this picture was taken, actually) what kind of vibe they got off of me. They always answered that they do not perceive me to be criminal, and to be an honest person. They seemed to pick this up from my demeanor and eyes.

Nowadays, I'm told I sometimes look like I'm in some sort of mafia - especially when I wear an outfit like this:

I believe I was wearing that same outfit when I met seamusTX and El Gato in Galveston. What were your impressions when you met me?

To clarify, you asked if I thought it LOOKED like you might be carrying a gun. The answer again is yes, it does as well as all the other things I said. I'm not making an attempt to judge or insult your character and I'm sorry if it came across that way...It's just MY perception of the first photo, nothing more.

As mentioned by Seamus, there is no behavior to observe along with the picture so all I can comment on is the appearance of the photo. You could have been dressed in a suit and I could have also said you look like a preacher. I get that most of the time when I wear a suit on the east side of town. But then other times, I've had LEO's ask what agency I worked for if I talk to them for a couple minutes...Something about my demeanor apparently says cop even though I haven't gone down that road yet.

Since we're comparing photos...Take a look at this one and tell me if it says gun? I ask because I'm wearing three knives and two guns in this photo. It probably helps to say I'm the 300lb gorilla on the right.

[ScubaSigGuy]

I don't know about everyone else but the fancy earplugs scream shooter to me so you must be carrying.




Oh and the high visibility tinted shades as well!

[G.C.Montgomery]

I don't know about everyone else but the fancy earplugs scream shooter to me so you must be carrying.




Oh and the high visibility tinted shades as well!

Yeah, I suppose the earplugs were a dead giveaway but noone ever seems to hear gunshots over the roar of an NHRA Top Fueler or Funny Car when the throttles are open.