Fact or Urban (CCW) Legend ?

[Drifter]

I posted this on another forum and got a lot of interesting and rapid responses, so thought I'd post it here for a more local set of opinions.
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OK, I just gotta ask.

I keep reading posts on this and other forums that certain methods of CC "Scream Gun!"

Probably at the top of the list are fanny packs, followed in no special order by:

vests,
Hawaiian shirts or other patterned shirts worn unbuttoned over a t-shirt or buttoned but untucked, with or without a t-shirt
"daytimer" type cases
and a maybe few others that escape my memory right now.

My question is: Have you personally, or do you actually know anyone personally, who has ever been "made" or actually ID'ed when carrying using any of these methods? (Simply seeing a fanny pack ain't good enuf - sorry -- I carry my digital camera or my camcorder in fanny pack when I take one of them along - not my gun.)

Or, do we forum readers/posters just "know" these methods "scream gun" and thus have created our own version of an Urban Legend?

[HighVelocity]

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.

[PhilR.]

Funny you post this today -- I "made" a client this afternoon. He was wearing an unusually thick belt, and he was surprised when I brought up the subject. I've made two others this year. One was a retiree wearing a black fanny pack that seemed rather weighty, and one was printing. As these clients are very familiar with me, they had no problem with me asking what type of weapon they carried, and we had a good conversation about the general subject.

I would not ask a new client about this, even if I did make them.

PhilR.

[ScubaSigGuy]

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.

[Skiprr]

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.

So...you're saying I should rethink having the extra head surgically removed?

I don't "make" people daily, because a lot of days are straight to work (which is 30.06 posted) and straight home. But it's absolutely something I'm attuned to. I think it's also just plain smart situational awareness.

And I guess the middle-aged guy in a Hawaiian shirt who prints a bit in the wind, or the woman who's wearing a heavy-looking fanny pack on her right hip don't "scream" anything to me. If anything, it's harder for me to "read" carry if I find myself in a environment full of saggy britches and hip-hop bling and sideways ballcaps and layered shirts two sizes too big.

I do agree, though, that good, honest, CHL discretion would preclude the summer wear of a heavy 5.11 Tactical, NRA-branded vest, 5.11 BDUs with internal kneepads, a Bianchi extra-thick duty belt, Beretta combat boots with visible boot knife, and a "Glock Shooting Sports" cap...

[seamusTX]

I don't know for a fact that I've ever "made" anyone, except on one occasion. It was a guy in a cheap suit who might have been a detective or mobster. He bent over to pick up a coin, and a cartridge fell out from somewhere.

I see people with bulges around their waist all the time. If I look closely enough, they turn out to be phones or other electronic devices.

I've even tried with people I knew were carrying (off-duty LEOs). Yeah, they have bulges, but which one is the pistol?

- Jim

[Liberty]

I don't know for a fact that I've ever "made" anyone, except on one occasion. It was a guy in a cheap suit who might have been a detective or mobster. He bent over to pick up a coin, and a cartridge fell out from somewhere.

I see people with bulges around their waist all the time. If I look closely enough, they turn out to be phones or other electronic devices.

I've even tried with people I knew were carrying (off-duty LEOs). Yeah, they have bulges, but which one is the pistol?

- Jim

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

[seamusTX]

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

[stevie_d_64]

The Texas CHL Forum PSC Day has had a "fashion show"...I missed it as I was having soooooooo much fun at the "Texas Stars", but I heard it was very interesting...And educational...

[Venus Pax]

I check people out and try to see if/where they are packing.
Most of the time, I can't tell. I now take more notice of men in Hawaiian shirts, but that's only since joining the board. I'm not threatened by them at all, as I know they're probably CHLers if they've got one at all.

There's a lady at church that has made up a new game of "where's she hiding the gun today?" She checks out my waist and how my purse hangs, then whispers in my ear if she figures it out. It sorta gives me a chuckle. She & her dh just applied for CHLs, but only have one gun between them. (I think she & I are due a little trip to a gun show.)

[Diode]

I must be terrible at making people, I have yet to notice. In fact one weekend I went to Canton with my wife (Worlds biggest garage sale) and was bored to tears so I decided to make it a point to try to find someone packing. I never did.

[extremist]

My question is: Have you personally, or do you actually know anyone personally, who has ever been "made" or actually ID'ed when carrying using any of these methods?

Yes, at the Alamo of all places. Several years ago. Approached by an "officer" (looked more like security than an actual SA Police officer. At the time, they certainly did NOT have a valid 30.06 sign (that's why I was carrying). Only a small bronze plaque that had a lame message about no firearms allowed.

Anyway, he approached me and asked if I was a police officer. I said no and he asked if I was carrying and if I had a CHL. At the time I didn't push asking for his TCLOS card. I said I did and he asked for ID. I showed him both, then he informed me that no concealed carry was allowed and instructed me to leave and put it in my vehicle if I wanted to come back. Fortunately, we had almost completed the tour and I went right out the exit.

Haven't been back to the Alamo since. And I haven't carried in a Fanny pack since.

However I do love Hawaiian shirts

Regards,
James

[MoJo]

I really think the majority of people wander around with their heads in the sand all the time and wouldn't notice if someone was walking down the street with an RPG on their shoulder. I've quit worrying about being made by the general public. Now other aware CHLs, cops and BGs is another story but, even in those groups a large percentage are unaware most of the time.

Just my 2% of a buck.

[Humanphibian]

I believe I may have listed the above mentioned items as things that "Scream" gun to me in a previous thread. And they do.....but like I said, I look for things like that.

You ask: Have I ever "made" anyone,...probably but I'm not gonna approach and ask. I have exchanged a couple of "understanding" glances and head nods with several persons that I believed to be carrying, but my interpretation of the exchange may not be accurate.

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.


BTW.....I WONT be the guy in a Photographer's vest in the 100 degree heat

[KBCraig]

Yes, at the Alamo of all places. Several years ago. Approached by an "officer" (looked more like security than an actual SA Police officer. At the time, they certainly did NOT have a valid 30.06 sign (that's why I was carrying). Only a small bronze plaque that had a lame message about no firearms allowed.

Anyway, he approached me and asked if I was a police officer. I said no and he asked if I was carrying and if I had a CHL. At the time I didn't push asking for his TCLOS card. I said I did and he asked for ID.

LOL... did you post that on tx.guns at the time? I recall reading a report just like that. I believe the "Alamo Rangers" were profiling middle aged white guys wearing fanny packs, and giving them "verbal notice".

Thankfully, such "notice" is now invalid at the Alamo. Now if we could just deal with the prohibition on Bowie knives...