I said "yes," because while I can't -prove- it, I'm fair certain that was the reason I got pulled over on a felony stop a few years back. Not that the cops knew anything about a gun; someone (I suspect) saw it while in a store, knew the cops wouldn't do anything over "man with a concealed gun who is doing nothing but buying something," and made up a story that I'd just smashed car windows and stole license plates in the parking lot of the store. The officers were a bit taken aback when they found out I was carrying (although not startled; I WAS in Texas after all) and truly surprised when they found I had done nothing at all, other than buy Gatorade.
The employee that made the bogus call was NOT pleased when the cops went back after finding everything was kosher and "chided" him for making a false report. Nor was he pleased when he found out I had called his corporate offices to complain. I don't believe he works for that corporation any more as a result, which is probably the reason behind his bogus complaint to my department several days later (the kind officers informed him not only had he made a false report, but that it was against another LEO, and from which department ).
03Lightningrocks wrote:Yeah.. That is my point. It is just weird to ask someone about what they have in their pocket or even on their belt. If I saw a bulge in someone's pocket, I would not ask if it was a cell phone. I can't imagine anyone assuming that lump is a gun. With only 2% of texans having a CHL, I bet most folks don't even know they can get a CHL. Even fewer would think "gun". Even if they bumped into it. They would have no clue the hard object was a gun. There are many more things they would think of first, if they even gave it a second thought.
Are you referring perhaps to Mae West?
No, no one has ever said anything to me about my CC either.
JSThane wrote:I said "yes," because while I can't -prove- it, I'm fair certain that was the reason I got pulled over on a felony stop a few years back. Not that the cops knew anything about a gun; someone (I suspect) saw it while in a store, knew the cops wouldn't do anything over "man with a concealed gun who is doing nothing but buying something," and made up a story that I'd just smashed car windows and stole license plates in the parking lot of the store. The officers were a bit taken aback when they found out I was carrying (although not startled; I WAS in Texas after all) and truly surprised when they found I had done nothing at all, other than buy Gatorade.
The employee that made the bogus call was NOT pleased when the cops went back after finding everything was kosher and "chided" him for making a false report. Nor was he pleased when he found out I had called his corporate offices to complain. I don't believe he works for that corporation any more as a result, which is probably the reason behind his bogus complaint to my department several days later (the kind officers informed him not only had he made a false report, but that it was against another LEO, and from which department ).
That is not a yes to the question. Wondering if you were outed because someone thought you were breaking into cars is not a yes for these purposes but does help to make the point that most folks are not actually outed but are a bit paranoid about being outed when they don't know for sure that it happened.
Not only has no stranger ever asked, my wife still asks me 2-3 times a week if I have it with me. She knows me pretty darn well and can't tell when I'm carrying.
Once you find a good belt/holster combo, it's very easy to carry away. The lesson early on was- be critical of yourself in the mirror before you leave the house and then don't mess with it. Short of a 30 mph wind, there really isn't much to worry about.
If I have been spotted I have never had it brought to my attention.
To be honest I think that I have gotten rather lackadaisical in regards to worrying about bulges or other indicators that I may be carrying. I have carried concealed so long and in such blatantly "obvious" (To me) carry-methods that I no longer worry much about it. No one seems to pay any attention at all.
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Purplehood wrote:If I have been spotted I have never had it brought to my attention.
To be honest I think that I have gotten rather lackadaisical in regards to worrying about bulges or other indicators that I may be carrying. I have carried concealed so long and in such blatantly "obvious" (To me) carry-methods that I no longer worry much about it. No one seems to pay any attention at all.
When I first started carrying, I made sure that there was no hit of a bulge. Then, I was OK if there was a little bulge. Now, I wear shirts where, depending on how I'm standing, there is definitely a bulge. I just make sure that there isn't a profile of the grip.
Hugs remain a greater concern. There is much more of a chance that someone hugging me will put their arms where the gun would become obvious. I always lead with my weak side and haven't had a problem. The good news about IWB carry is that not much of the gun sticks up above the belt line so even it a hugging situation, the chances for exposure are very low. I figure that I am ever outed, a hug is going to do it. Touching the handle of a pistol is a lot different than seeing something under a shirt.
Purplehood wrote:If I have been spotted I have never had it brought to my attention.
To be honest I think that I have gotten rather lackadaisical in regards to worrying about bulges or other indicators that I may be carrying. I have carried concealed so long and in such blatantly "obvious" (To me) carry-methods that I no longer worry much about it. No one seems to pay any attention at all.
When I first started carrying, I made sure that there was no hit of a bulge. Then, I was OK if there was a little bulge. Now, I wear shirts where, depending on how I'm standing, there is definitely a bulge. I just make sure that there isn't a profile of the grip.
Hugs remain a greater concern. There is much more of a chance that someone hugging me will put their arms where the gun would become obvious. I always lead with my weak side and haven't had a problem. The good news about IWB carry is that not much of the gun sticks up above the belt line so even it a hugging situation, the chances for exposure are very low. I figure that I am ever outed, a hug is going to do it. Touching the handle of a pistol is a lot different than seeing something under a shirt.
I agree with what you posted about the hugs. I have a tendency to do the same as you and lead with my weak side when "hugging" is required. Your post made me think about another situation I tend to lead with my weak side. If I am in a crowd and trying to make my way through I not only lead the push with my weak side, I also will keep my right arm hanging over my weapon to prevent a stray hands, people squeezing in from behind or even a pick pocket away from my weapon. The State Fare Was a good example of this. That place had areas I could hardly get through the crowds. I won't be back for another twelve years... but that is a different topic.
Purplehood wrote:If I have been spotted I have never had it brought to my attention.
To be honest I think that I have gotten rather lackadaisical in regards to worrying about bulges or other indicators that I may be carrying. I have carried concealed so long and in such blatantly "obvious" (To me) carry-methods that I no longer worry much about it. No one seems to pay any attention at all.
I have gotten to the point, if someone is close enough to hug, I don't care if they feel something or realize what it is. I understand others will not feel the same.
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mojo84 wrote:I have gotten to the point, if someone is close enough to hug, I don't care if they feel something or realize what it is. I understand others will not feel the same.
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Since I don't hug strangers or casual acquaintances it isn't a problem. I'm not big on hugging anyway so a hearty handshake even with close friends and relatives is often exchanged.
Maybe a "bro hug" if I have to, but those are upper back so no big deal. Those that know me well enough to get a full on hug know my views on about everything.
"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." -- James Madison
We were a funeral this year that surfaced a lot of people, friends and family that we haven't seen for years. There was a lot of hugging. It can happen in church, too. While I too am pretty upfront (not in your face) about guns, there are some in our church who are flaming Libs and with whom I've already discussed self defense and personal protection. A casual arm around the waist, not necessarily a full bear hug, could still bump into something that wasn't meant to be bumped into. Answering the question "is that a gun?" might get very interesting.
As I've said in several other posts, my wife and I play our musical instruments in church as part of the services. I'm never unarmed there. While I'm careful not to wear anything that really would show a bump, there always is one and standing in an elevated area in front of 100s of people who you know are watching you is a lot different than simply being in a crowd of 100s of people. I don't worry at all at being spotted. The risk is far greater when someone afterwards overtly offers thanks for what we played.
Jaguar wrote:Since I don't hug strangers or casual acquaintances it isn't a problem. I'm not big on hugging anyway so a hearty handshake even with close friends and relatives is often exchanged.
Maybe a "bro hug" if I have to, but those are upper back so no big deal. Those that know me well enough to get a full on hug know my views on about everything.
Maybe I am doing something wrong, but all of my recent hugs have been "upper back" so I have had no issues with being "spotted."
I'm 6'3" and ran into an old and very dear friend whom I hadn't seen in a long time. She is 5' and maybe something with heals and she immediately gave me a hug. I had to quickly "go low" on my right before she bear hugged my pistol. This was right after I got my CHL so was still paranoid about carrying, but afterwards I realized she wouldn't have cared anyway, and neither would I if she did figure it out. One of those people who enrich your life by just being in it.
I've only been to one funeral since I got my CHL and I didn't carry due to the hugging I knew would ensue.
Last edited by Jaguar on Mon Nov 25, 2013 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." -- James Madison
).
When I first started carrying, I made sure that there was no hit of a bulge. Then, I was OK if there was a little bulge. Now, I wear shirts where, depending on how I'm standing, there is definitely a bulge. I just make sure that there isn't a profile of the grip. 
