TexasCHLforum.com

So, today I go into a nice gun and accessory store. I've got my Kel Tech .32 in my right front pocket. I find a nice little holster I think I might like for it, problem is, there are 2 holsters that are labeled differently for this same gun. Given the kind of store it is, I'm thinking surely I can "try on" the holster.

I turn to a salesman on the floor, and ask him "hey, is there a place here I could go to see which holster fits my Kel Tech best?" while tapping my right front pocket....you know, unwritten "man-speak". He asks "do you have it on you?", I reply "yes, it's in my right front pocket....that's why I'm asking". "Are you a peace officer?" he asks. I respond "No, but I have my CHL". He says "lets go over to the counter". I walk over, and he says "give me your pistol so I can clear it". I hand it to him still in the pocket holster, muzzle down.

Here's the scary part: He pulls it out of the pocket holster, and with the gun in his hand, lays it on it's side and turns the gun so that it's pointing right at my belly. I quickly step out of the line of fire as he ejects the clip and racks the slide back to clear the round in the chamber. I chose to be quiet over the incident...and ended up buying the holster. But, I learned a lesson today.

I guess I expected something different, especially at this caliber of store. And, I'd overhead this gentleman speaking of his military experience....and he was no young buck either. But, next time, I'm buying the holster and taking it home, and if it doesn't fit, I'm taking it back. I'm sure many will criticize me for handing over a loaded weapon, but again, given the store type, and what they sold, I didn't feel it was wrong to ask.

So, don't be me.

Flame me at your discretion. But, learn from my lapse in judgment.

Oh, and I like the holster.

hmmm, I wonder which store this could be.

If I know I'm going to look for a holster I will usually unload my gun before entering.
Other than that, I do what you did as far as asking if I can use my gun to check fit, ect.

'twas not Collectors.......

chuckybrown wrote:'twas not Collectors.......

OK

The only time I've ever asked to fit a holster to a gun, it was a pocket holster for my old 642. I brought the holster in it's package up to the gun counter (Cabela's Fort Worth) and asked them if they had a 642 on display that I could stick in the holster to make sure it fit. I told them I had a 642 at home I needed a holster for; the gun was actually in my back pocket at the time.

Next time, ask them if they have a keltec you can try fitting into the holster.

To be honest, I am not sure I would ever hand my gun loaded to anyone (friends, family, others). Its my gun and I know it best, No matter how many years of service you have..

FYI.. one expection would be "at the direct request of a police officer on duty".

The Annoyed Man wrote:The only time I've ever asked to fit a holster to a gun, it was a pocket holster for my old 642. I brought the holster in it's package up to the gun counter (Cabela's Fort Worth) and asked them if they had a 642 on display that I could stick in the holster to make sure it fit. I told them I had a 642 at home I needed a holster for; the gun was actually in my back pocket at the time.

Next time, ask them if they have a keltec you can try fitting into the holster.

Good plan

rocketexas wrote:To be honest, I am not sure I would ever hand my gun loaded to anyone (friends, family, others). Its my gun and I know it best, No matter how many years of service you have..

FYI.. one expection would be "at the direct request of a police officer on duty".

I often have other CHLs at the house and I clear anything I hand to them.

I once thought about carrying a different pistol loaded, but the one I wanted a holster for I'd have unloaded ... BUT ... that's still illegal ....
I'm not handing anything to any store employee, loaded or not.... Intentionally failing to conceal is a "NO-NO"

Sec. 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun. (It makes no differentiation between loaded or unloaded)
Whether loaded or unloaded, you can't intentionally fail to conceal.

"Next time, ask them if they have a keltec you can try fitting into the holster."

Now that you've been properly chastised .... There was a point in time, (like about a year ago) that I probably would have done that too .... now we know better

And, thanks for posting the experience so more may learn

Is there a difference between a CHL and a non CHL carrying a handgun into a gun store?

driver8 wrote:Is there a difference between a CHL and a non CHL carrying a handgun into a gun store?

I think so. A CHL will/should keep his carry concealed. A non CHL should not be carrying concealed, period.
Either CHL or non CHL would probably do best if they'd carry their handgun to be repaired, or whatever, in a
pistol rug, pistol case or original box. BPS will check your cased weapon in at the front of the store. Most gun
shops would appreciate your discretion by bringing it in cased as no one wants to see a CHL or nonCHL pull a
gun from concealment..... the smaller shops and pawn shops I've been in..... well, you whip out a gun from
concealment and you're probably going to get shot..... common sense rules.

I don't think you could get charged with unconcealing at a gun store if the store had a range too. Too lazy to read up on it, but somebody else may do the leg work for me.

I always understood carrying a handgun into a gun store for repair, holster fitting, range, was allowed by the law no different than the hundreds of handguns you see going in and out of gun shows all the time. The times I have done it I always had it unloaded and zipped up in a soft case. It was at Prodefense every time to get holsters. I do have 2 holsters that I bought online and they work fine but I still prefer to try em before I buy em.

I was doing my best not to identify the store. I was at a place that sold all kinds of tactical gear, holsters, shoes, belts, holsters, etc, but did not sell weapons.

My in store question was aimed at a gentleman my age, that I discerned to be a "management" type....and based on our subsequent interactions, my assumptions were correct. That being said, my question to him was asked privately, and in the company of what I would best describe as a "proprietor of mutually admirable goods", if you get my drift.

I started this thread not to address my ineptitude in asking or revealing my CHL status, but rather to the fact that I was "swept" by someone I assumed was a knowledgeable weapons person. (I've been handling weapons since I was a child, ultimately advancing to military firearms training/marksmanship/advanced military firearms training/sniper school/bullseye/CHL training/IPSC/IDPA, etc, etc, etc. If my knowledge of the CHL laws are lacking, then....well.....)

Being in a privately held "military" type store, I was assuming it would be similar to any privately held business whereby the owner could allow/disallow the presentation of a firearm...just like in a firearm store, a la "Collector's Firearms". If handing someone I deemed to be a knowledgeable peer in firearms my weapon, in an environment one would assume the other handler was knowledgeable, then I'm guilty as charged.

Thanks for the input gentlemen...hopefully you won't make the same mistake I made.

C

Hey Chuckybrown, forgive me for being a little dense but could you elaborate a little on just what was the mistake and what happened, if you can?

chuckybrown wrote:I was doing my best not to identify the store. I was at a place that sold all kinds of tactical gear, holsters, shoes, belts, holsters, etc, but did not sell weapons.

For some of us who are new to the state, it would be a great help to go ahead and say the name so I know what idiots to expect in these sort of places.

driver8 wrote:Hey Chuckybrown, forgive me for being a little dense but could you elaborate a little on just what was the mistake and what happened, if you can?

The mistake ChuckyBrown made was handing a loaded weapon to somebody he assumed would manipulate it properly.
However, in the process of unloading the pistol, the salesman briefly pointed it at ChuckyBrown. No bueno.

Grog:

This may sound like a cop-out answer, but I would assume everybody is an idiot everywhere.
I've visited my fair share of stores around the Houston area (and elsewhere) and have observed some pretty lax behavior by individuals who ought to know better...at just about every one of them at some time or other. But who knows, maybe my standards are exceedingly high. After all, I do shoot a 1911

PQC

PS: All kidding aside, for all the wincing and cringing I've done in stores, I've never knowingly seen an employee sweep anybody with a loaded pistol. That's a new one to me...thanks for posting ChuckyBrown. Good reminder.