Whats your "excuse"?

[ex_dsmr]

The only people that have ever noticed were people that already knew I carried every day, and it was when we were working and my shirt got caught on the grip. We were in a fraternal organization building which we were all brothers so it really wasn't a big deal.

I guess now that I am an instructor my response will be, that it is a gun, would you like me to tell you how you can legally carry one as well. Then tell them when the next class is scheduled.

I think the bigger the deal you make out of it, the worse it will be. I am in no way saying to let your method of concealment be lax. Keep the gun concealed, but in the event that someone feels or notices ect. work with them to explain how and why you carry and hopefully you will spark interest in another person an bring them to our side.

My concern about having a gun discussion with a stranger who may have just perceived it is that you never know where they are coming from. I've met a lot of people who were open to discussions about guns but there are some closet antis out there, too. My fear is that it will be one of them who asks me. There would be nothing to stop them, after our discussion, from making a 911 MWAG call. Although they probably wouldn't have physically seen it, I confirmed through our discussion that I had it. A dispatch tape with the caller saying "and he intimidated me" would not go well afterwards, I suspect. I freely admit to a bias in believing that antis are part of a Liberal mentality for whom the facts are unimportant.

This is where alot of my concern lies. There are alot of people who nearly stroke out at the mere notion that most real men carry pocket knives and *gasp* use them. Tell most people in a urban/suburban area its a gun and your gambling with your chace of a LEO encounter or being falsley accused of intimidation. Its sad that one has to feel this way about exercising their rights, but I just dont want to be treated like a criminal.

[texasjeep44]

My concern about having a gun discussion with a stranger who may have just perceived it is that you never know where they are coming from. I've met a lot of people who were open to discussions about guns but there are some closet antis out there, too. My fear is that it will be one of them who asks me. There would be nothing to stop them, after our discussion, from making a 911 MWAG call. Although they probably wouldn't have physically seen it, I confirmed through our discussion that I had it. A dispatch tape with the caller saying "and he intimidated me" would not go well afterwards, I suspect. I freely admit to a bias in believing that antis are part of a Liberal mentality for whom the facts are unimportant.

I'm a risk avoidance type. I don't frequent Oak Cliff (though I've gone there on occasion ) because I see it as a high risk environment. I view talking to absolute strangers about guns to be another risk area that I'd prefer not to venture into.

I am not suggesting you go out and start broadcasting it to the public that you carry. Nor am I suggesting that if the person is clearly paranoid and nearly soiling themselves that you stick around and try to convert them on the spot.

Total strangers aren't going to be close enough to feel it during a hug or whatever. At most they might have caught a glimps of the bottom of a holster or imprint of a grip on a shirt if I mess up too bad with concealment. Generally though folks in public are oblivious, "condition white" to what is going on around them and aren't going to see anyway.

If your doing your job concealing, the people that are going to notice are those with whom you spend time around and most likely already have some sort of relationship with.

[chasfm11]

My concern about having a gun discussion with a stranger who may have just perceived it is that you never know where they are coming from. I've met a lot of people who were open to discussions about guns but there are some closet antis out there, too. My fear is that it will be one of them who asks me. There would be nothing to stop them, after our discussion, from making a 911 MWAG call. Although they probably wouldn't have physically seen it, I confirmed through our discussion that I had it. A dispatch tape with the caller saying "and he intimidated me" would not go well afterwards, I suspect. I freely admit to a bias in believing that antis are part of a Liberal mentality for whom the facts are unimportant.

I'm a risk avoidance type. I don't frequent Oak Cliff (though I've gone there on occasion ) because I see it as a high risk environment. I view talking to absolute strangers about guns to be another risk area that I'd prefer not to venture into.

I am not suggesting you go out and start broadcasting it to the public that you carry. Nor am I suggesting that if the person is clearly paranoid and nearly soiling themselves that you stick around and try to convert them on the spot.

Total strangers aren't going to be close enough to feel it during a hug or whatever. At most they might have caught a glimps of the bottom of a holster or imprint of a grip on a shirt if I mess up too bad with concealment. Generally though folks in public are oblivious, "condition white" to what is going on around them and aren't going to see anyway.

If your doing your job concealing, the people that are going to notice are those with whom you spend time around and most likely already have some sort of relationship with.

Perhaps I'm mistaken but I thought that the premise of this thread was that an excuse was needed. To me, that means that someone has asked a question like "what is that under your shirt." Charles suggested that his church had a lot of hugging and that happens sometimes at ours, too. Our congregation is large and I don't know all of the folks who might get caught up in a session where physical contact might happen. We attend church functions besides the Sunday services. While they are not complete strangers, I certainly don't know all of the church members well enough to consider them to be close friends. I completely understand "concealed is concealed" but I also know that almost all of my shirts will print if I bend over far and enough and someone is standing at the correct angle to see it. My assumption, since others have posted suggestions is that the possibility of some sort of detection exists and that it is the subject of this discussion.

I'm frankly a little envious of those who can handle an "outed" situation gracefully. Those that know me understand that I'm rarely at a loss for words but I don't know that I would be as graceful about what I say under such a circumstance as I would like to be. For those that said they would simply tell the truth, I'd like to understand better how they do that. The plain, blunt truth may set some folks off. I fully understand that the truth can be presented in many different ways and that is what has intrigued me about the posts. I also find some reassurance in the number of posts that don't suggest the truth and even have some humorous alternatives. To me, that means others share my unwillingness to, on the spur of the moment, dive into a conversation based on the premise question. Someplace between "none of your business" and "it's a gun" is a middle ground with the right words. I just don't know what they are and will avoid admission until I do.

[Hoi Polloi]

I've been thinking about this over and over since it was first brought up. While a man, well, any man but particularly a man who is the past head of the TSRA, on the NRA board, a firearms instructor, etc, etc could very easily respond with, "My firearm" because he's surrounded by people who know he carries in advance and approve of that and has established a successful life and career in which those who don't approve can either deal or move on, or even if they don't know that they are more willing to accept that from a guy, not everyone has the circumstances to make that approach the most prudent, especially in these economic times. I don't at all begrudge those who have worked hard, taken risks, and probably sacrificed some jobs or friendships along the way to get to a place where that have that luxury; I simply recognize that not everyone is in that place.

In my own situation, if I were in that position of being publicly "made" (and I don't have a CHL), I would not identify as being a firearms owner or a 2A advocate or an ambassador for the cause or any other of these mindsets. I don't have a problem with them at all, just don't personally identify with them. For me, other things take precedence. Surrounding myself with a community of people who share those values I identify with means that many of them do not have the same views on other divergent ideas, like gun ownership. I would not want to risk those communities by placing the theory of gun carrying as a value over the experience of having a community of people I identify with in those areas I value most. I could carry either way, but saying something about it moves us out of the realm of experience and into the realm of theory. Why would I sacrifice what I have for a theoretical exercise?

I think my answer would then be something that would hopefully deflect the issue completely. "I've taken to carrying the entire purse in my pockets--you know how it is being a mom." Something like that which would be honest, but would hopefully say, even if they knew what it was, that this is a non-issue and not something I want to take a stand on. I would hope such an answer would allow someone who didn't have concerns to not develop them, or to diffuse any suspicious concerns someone had, or to establish a "we'll pretend that didn't happen" agreement of don't ask/don't tell if the person had no doubts.

I think my answer is likely to change over time and with greater reflection, but the premise of not risking what I have in unknown circumstances to the theory of concealed carry is one that I believe will be consistent with time.

[Cobra Medic]

No excuses. However, I also have no obligation to answer nosy questions.

[PappaGun]

Yes, that's a banana and I am happy to see you!

[BLG]

A while back i stopped for a haircut. That day my back was hurting so badly that I could not stand up straight . "Tina", who usually cuts my hair, noticed my discomfort and began massaging my lower back as she helped me to the chair. O.K., that felt good!. As she worked her way down to where the worst pain was she touched my XD, then rested her hand on on the weapon, then used the holster for leverage to get past the muscle to the spine where the injury is ......

Mommachatter sat there and snickered until "Tina" started to untuck my shirt to slap a capzsin patch on my back.

I had to explain that I appreciated the thought, but I couldn't let her do that. "There are other customers in the store."

MC was no help. She just rolled on the floor laughing.

[radioflyer]

If a pretty girl asks...
"I'm happy to see you :)"

If anyone else asks: It's an essential metical instrument
.....for inducing hemorrhaging

I can't think of an instance where any individual would approach someone they assume to be armed ans ask them if they are carrying. Even a fellow CHL holder would probably either not bother, or find some subtle way to suggest they need to cover up.

[Hoi Polloi]

I can't think of an instance where any individual would approach someone they assume to be armed ans ask them if they are carrying. Even a fellow CHL holder would probably either not bother, or find some subtle way to suggest they need to cover up.

Ha! I can't think of many people in mine or my husband's family who wouldn't feel completely at ease in asking and then with giving their lengthy opinion on the subject, pro or con.

[radioflyer]

I can't think of an instance where any individual would approach someone they assume to be armed ans ask them if they are carrying. Even a fellow CHL holder would probably either not bother, or find some subtle way to suggest they need to cover up.

Ha! I can't think of many people in mine or my husband's family who wouldn't feel completely at ease in asking and then with giving their lengthy opinion on the subject, pro or con.

True, but they're not likely to freak out.

[chartreuse]

I've always figured I'd just say "nothing that you need to worry about". One year in, though, I've yet to be asked.

[Excaliber]

If a pretty girl asks...
"I'm happy to see you :)"

If anyone else asks: It's an essential medical instrument
.....for inducing hemorrhaging

I can't think of an instance where any individual would approach someone they assume to be armed ans ask them if they are carrying. Even a fellow CHL holder would probably either not bother, or find some subtle way to suggest they need to cover up.

You might consider a minor variation:

"A medical device that helps keep me alive."

[2crazy2carry]

A Snickers IWB with FBI cant.

[Dekansnowman]

I read through this and see good replies but my question is simply this. If one were to answer and say they are in fact carrying a weapon, is that asking for trouble? I understand the right person would be ok but I'm asking strictly dealing on the words of the law. While doing my wally walk I felt like everyone was staring at me but I never made eye contact because I was actually running in to get a couple things and get back home. Took the Beretta because I'm still becoming used to the XD being chambered with no safety like the Beretta has. I honestly wasn't worried too much about imprinting or anything but tonight the wife said the XDM's grip slightly pokes when I bent over in this sweater I was wearing.

Just in case I'm made though, I would like to know what I could say, and what I should say.

[Oldgringo]

No excuses. However, I also have no obligation to answer nosy questions.

and I don't worry about it. I don't worry about an unintentional exposure either.