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Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 9:24 pm
by MommaBear
Ok. Weird question. (I would ask in the Ladies board but it's very quiet over there.) It's common practice for women to come out of a public restroom stall and stand in front of the mirror and adjust their clothing, check their hair and makeup, etc. If I reveal my IWB holstered gun while standing in front of the mirror in the restroom (while straightening my clothes) have I broken concealment? (Assuming there is another woman in the restroom also?)
Since open carry is legal, I usually don't even think about it. However, I work at Texas A&M, and starting next Monday I'm carrying at work (Yeah!) And as we all know, campus carry is concealed only.
Do I need to be more careful? Or am I ok, since it's in the restroom?
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 9:45 pm
by SewTexas
I'd be very careful. I'd probably be ok with showing the holster clip, but not the gun itself. My holster holds my gun pretty low, so very little of my grip shows above my waistband.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 3:00 am
by mojo84
SewTexas wrote:I'd be very careful. I'd probably be ok with showing the holster clip, but not the gun itself. My holster holds my gun pretty low, so very little of my grip shows above my waistband.
Which holster do you use?
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:18 am
by Beiruty
If you have 1 single person room or a nursing room, use it.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:56 am
by RPBrown
Normal situations would say its not an intentional display, however, being at A & M and campus carry so new when it happens, I would be very careful. We dont want the "I told you so crowd" to come out.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:04 am
by Lynyrd
I have not read the rules for A&M, but it would surprise me if they made an exception for restrooms. I would be very, very careful about not exposing anything other than my belt clips(s). You don't want some liberal nut job to cause you grief because they saw your gun.
I have to conceal at work, or lose the privilege. There is nothing in our policy manual that makes an exception for restrooms, and its the one place where I am most likely to make a mistake and show something.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:42 am
by Glockster
Lynyrd wrote:I have not read the rules for A&M, but it would surprise me if they made an exception for restrooms. I would be very, very careful about not exposing anything other than my belt clips(s). You don't want some liberal nut job to cause you grief because they saw your gun.
I have to conceal at work, or lose the privilege. There is nothing in our policy manual that makes an exception for restrooms, and its the one place where I am most likely to make a mistake and show something.
Of course the antis are laying in wait, so there is nothing to prevent them from seeing even a portion of a holster and turning it into a MWAG/WWAG call. And then we have a "I didn't expose my gun" vs. well then how did they know you have one kinda situation.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:43 am
by MommaBear
There are no single stall bathrooms in my building, unfortunately. I guess I'll just have to be more deliberate about adjusting in the stall.
Thanks for the insight!
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 9:08 am
by JMod45
MommaBear wrote:Ok. Weird question. (I would ask in the Ladies board but it's very quiet over there.) It's common practice for women to come out of a public restroom stall and stand in front of the mirror and adjust their clothing, check their hair and makeup, etc. If I reveal my IWB holstered gun while standing in front of the mirror in the restroom (while straightening my clothes) have I broken concealment? (Assuming there is another woman in the restroom also?)
Since open carry is legal, I usually don't even think about it. However, I work at Texas A&M, and starting next Monday I'm carrying at work (Yeah!) And as we all know, campus carry is concealed only.
Do I need to be more careful? Or am I ok, since it's in the restroom?
I asked Lieutenant Baron with the TAMU UPD about accidental exposure during one of the presentations. He basically told me that as long as it isn't being waved around carelessly, then it wouldn't be an issue. Here is the text in the penal code I have been looking at.
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 displays the handgun in plain view of another person in a public place. It is an exception to the application of this subsection that the handgun was partially or wholly visible but was carried in a shoulder or belt holster by the license holder.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 437 (H.B. 910), Sec. 47
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a partially or wholly visible handgun, regardless of whether the handgun is holstered, on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally displays the handgun in plain view of another person:
(1) on the premises of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education; or
(2) on any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education.
I quoted a bit more than needed probably, but I highlighted the important part.
The only thing you may have to worry about is a "man with a gun" call. or I guess in this case, "woman with a gun"
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:16 pm
by SewTexas
mojo84 wrote:SewTexas wrote:I'd be very careful. I'd probably be ok with showing the holster clip, but not the gun itself. My holster holds my gun pretty low, so very little of my grip shows above my waistband.
Which holster do you use?
I use a Kusiak Leather. I carry an LCP. I like that it carries it really low, I have a short torso, I don't need a holster that puts the grip up in my ....um, chest, I don't even like it poking my ribs.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:53 pm
by mojo84
Thanks for the feedback. I have been looking for a small holster for my Colt Mustang that will clip to my belt and that rides real low so very little of the gun shows.
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 8:29 am
by TexasCajun
I don't think that much would need to change post-campus carry. When I go into a restroom stall, I usually make all of my adjustments while still in the stall then do a quick check in the mirror before I leave the restroom. I'm guessing that the same could hold true for women?
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 11:46 am
by oljames3
TexasCajun wrote:I don't think that much would need to change post-campus carry. When I go into a restroom stall, I usually make all of my adjustments while still in the stall then do a quick check in the mirror before I leave the restroom. I'm guessing that the same could hold true for women?
Are you married?
Re: Adjusting clothing in public bathroom mirror
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 12:07 pm
by mr1337
Public restrooms are public. I believe there was a FL case on a revealed firearm in a public restroom and the court found that there was no expectation of privacy because anyone could just walk in and see.