Total Concealment

[danpate]

I am new to CHL. I just received my license a few days ago. I am beginning to learn that not only am I required to conceal my handgun, but it is in my best interest to conceal that I even have a CHL. That means concealing it from family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and just about everyone. I don't even let most of my neighbors know I'm a gun owner. The only people I can really talk about it with are other CHL holders and a very select few gun enthusiasts I know. Many people instantly think that if you carry a gun you are either a criminal or a psycho (or both).

I guess I am fortunate to have a legitimate need to carry a gun in the eyes of the general public. I am a small business owner and am at my shop alone quite often, even in the middle of the night when I've been called by the alarm system (It also means I'm not going to get fired for having a weapon at work). Most people would agree I'd be crazy not to carry a gun. I can always use that reason when someone says "Why the hell do you think you need to carry a gun?". Then when they ask me if I am carrying at the present time I lie to them and say "no". I am required by law to conceal my weapon. If I told them I had one it would no longer be concealed would it?

I would like to hear other CHL holder's perspective on this, and if they have had any negative reaction from people when it was revealed that you had a CHL.

I am also learning that being a CHL holder and carrying a gun is a different lifestyle. My first day of concealed carrying was interesting. I'm sure it will get easier and more natural over time.

[bdickens]

If someone asks you "Why the heck do you think you need to carry a gun," ask them if they've read the newspaper lately and their daily littany of Muggings, Carjackings, Home invasions, Robberies and Rapes.

A good line to use when some nosy individual asks you is you're carrying a gun is "what color are your underwear."

[Excaliber]

I guess I am fortunate to have a legitimate need to carry a gun in the eyes of the general public. I am a small business owner and am at my shop alone quite often, even in the middle of the night when I've been called by the alarm system (It also means I'm not going to get fired for having a weapon at work). Most people would agree I'd be crazy not to carry a gun. I can always use that reason when someone says "Why the heck do you think you need to carry a gun?". Then when they ask me if I am carrying at the present time I lie to them and say "no". I am required by law to conceal my weapon. If I told them I had one it would no longer be concealed would it?

I would like to hear other CHL holder's perspective on this, and if they have had any negative reaction from people when it was revealed that you had a CHL.

There are lots of good answers to the question of why you carry. Here's a short sampling you can use for your amusement and the consternation of your questioners:

1. Because a cop is too heavy.
2. In view of the crime rate here, the more logical question might be: "Why the heck do you think you don't need to carry a gun?"
3. Because my family depends on me, and I can't predict when or where a criminal might try to take me from them or them from me. I don't plan to let that happen.

There are lots of similarly good answers to the "Are you carrying now?" question. Here are just a couple:

1. That's a very personal question in the category of asking a detailed question about my sexual preferences. You and I aren't sufficiently intimate to justify sharing that information.
2. Part of my personal defensive strategy is to never answer that question for anyone but a law enforcement officer acting in his official capacity. If you're in that category, may I see your badge and ID before I reply?

I'm sure the creative members of this forum can give you lots more to work with, but these should get you started.

[boomerang]

My previous boss knew I had a CHL and he didn't care if I carried. I even went to holiday parties at his house and he never asked me to leave my gun at home.

I work for a larger company now and I don't think anyone knows I carry. There's no official policy on weapons and the building isn't posted, but I think it's better to be discreet. Lots of people at work are shooters and we talk about guns and hunting so there are probably other people with a CHL at work but I follow the "don't ask, don't tell" school of thought.

[bryang]

Congratulations on receiving you CHL and welcome to the forum.

One of the first things I learned when I joined this forum was to NEVER tell anyone you have a CHL, much less, tell them you are carrying. And I am thankful that I learned it here rather than the hard way. I have carried everywhere I go and also at home everyday, and never once has anyone suspected a thing, nor have I been asked.

-geo

[seamusTX]

Here is a short list of things that are not talked about among strangers:

• the brand of underwear that you wear
• how much you earn
• what your investments are worth
• how much you owe, if any

You might add religious and political affiliation, legal problems, medical problems, marital problems, and other such sensitive matters that are no one's business.

I just add carry status to that list.

I applaud the people who are willing to proselytize for the RKBA. I do that to the extent of discussing generalities. I have never tried to convince someone to get a CHL, but I would if I saw the proper conversational opening.

I am not willing to create a breech of the peace or risk my job by introducing the topic.

Congratulations on your plastic. You will find as time goes by that you think less about it in daily life.

I owe forum member Liberty for the underwear analogy. No one should see it without a good reason. It's no one's business.

- Jim

[Liberty]

Here is a short list of things that are not talked about among strangers:

• the brand of underwear that you wear
• how much you earn
• what your investments are worth
• how much you owe, if any

You might add religious and political affiliation, legal problems, medical problems, marital problems, and other such sensitive matters that are no one's business.

I just add carry status to that list.

I applaud the people who are willing to proselytize for the RKBA. I do that to the extent of discussing generalities. I have never tried to convince someone to get a CHL, but I would if I saw the proper conversational opening.

I am not willing to create a breech of the peace or risk my job by introducing the topic.

Congratulations on your plastic. You will find as time goes by that you think less about it in daily life.

I owe forum member Liberty for the underwear analogy. No one should see it without a good reason. It's no one's business.

- Jim

I ripped the analogy from Venus and have used it to answer the question of whether or not I am carrying. and describes quite well the personal decision of what/whether we are wearing. My response to those on why I own handguns or or would want to carry is usually. "because I can." My reasons for carrying are actually more about a philosophical belief system than a perceived need for my safety. Most of those I work with would assume I don't carry at work. They know I am rapid about the right to do so. A co-worker told me this week he will be taking his CHL class while off for Christmas vacation. I like to think my proselytizing has something to do with it.

[seamusTX]

My reasons for carrying are actually more about a philosophical belief system than a perceived need for my safety.

Same here. I frequently mention that the odds of the typical CHL holder (middle-class, middle-aged, white male) needing to draw are a bit less than a scratch-off lottery win.

- Jim

[mr.72]

I can totally relate to this idea of keeping it from everyone. It is much harder to accomplish than I figured it would be. It depends on how you interact with people, and the number of people with whom you interact.

I figure that there are about 10-20 people who know I am carrying all the time (including my immediate family), and probably 100 more who suspect, most of whom I don't even know personally. You cannot control what other people do. My wife advertised to some people that I don't really know very well that I carry all the time, and the cat was out of the bag. I couldn't very well keep my wife from knowing but I can't keep her from talking either. You married guys might know what I am talking about. The security team at church knows that I carry, two of those guys went to the CHL class with me. Some other people who I know and who have been extremely helpful in my recent pursuit of armament are also quite vocal about CHL and I figure that just being seen talking to these people in public probably advertises to anyone else who knows them that I am probably carrying, if they don't just tell everyone. I don't know. I was worried about it at first, but now, not so much.

Most of the people who would think you are a nut if they knew you were carrying will not likely every suspect or guess you might be carrying, even if some other people around you know it. You could probably wear an Oleg Volk t-shirt every day of the week and they wouldn't figure it out. Many people who do carry themselves will probably figure out you are carrying with little effort, and those people are not very likely to let on with other people, so you probably don't have to worry about them either.

Here's an example. We were having Thanksgiving dinner at my house with my family over. My parents don't know I carry, but they probably suspect it. My brother doesn't know. My brother-in-law does, and he also carries, and I'm sure he was carrying that day. We had maybe 20-25 family members at the house all hanging around talking about stuff after dinner and my brother-in-law and I were talking about my recent .22LR purchase, and then he mentioned his new CCW gun, and I mentioned my recent CCW gun and holster purchase, and then I proceeded to actually show him my own gun right off of my hip in front of God and everyone. NOBODY noticed.

[Excaliber]

Here's an example. We were having Thanksgiving dinner at my house with my family over. My parents don't know I carry, but they probably suspect it. My brother doesn't know. My brother-in-law does, and he also carries, and I'm sure he was carrying that day. We had maybe 20-25 family members at the house all hanging around talking about stuff after dinner and my brother-in-law and I were talking about my recent .22LR purchase, and then he mentioned his new CCW gun, and I mentioned my recent CCW gun and holster purchase, and then I proceeded to actually show him my own gun right off of my hip in front of God and everyone. NOBODY noticed.

This is not unusual.

People do not consciously register everything they're looking at. They form internal "models" or shorthand perceptions that fit certain situations and allow them to use their brain processing power for other things. Unless something calls particular attention to something new or unless someone is specifically looking for new things or differences from the past, the chances are excellent they will miss something like an exposed weapon in the short term.

[seamusTX]

I agree.

There's a scene in the movie ET where the alien and the mother are in the kitchen, and she totally ignores him. It's a funny scene, but it contains some truth.

People tend to miss what they are not looking for, and they tend to think they see what they expect, even if it is not there. A year or so ago, a man smuggled a live monkey onto an airplane and changed planes a couple of times before someone finally noticed it sitting on his shoulder.

This characteristic is something that modern, civilized humans picked up at some point. Animals are different. They are very aware of the reality that is in front of them. It is difficult to fool or sneak past a dog, and I've seen similar awareness in horses.

- Jim

[Morgan]

Try this test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GEEvvTiiQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bart]

I saw the monkey but where was the airplane?

[Excaliber]

Try this test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GEEvvTiiQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great illustration of how easy it is to miss the obvious when you're looking for something else!!

Thanks, Morgan.

[CainA]

I think I need to go to the eye doctor, I didn't see that. In fact, I rewound it to make sure it actually did happen after the "did you see..." text came up. That's a trip.

-Cain