I visited my local shop recently and had a similar encounter to one some time ago. I was speaking with a patron, when he took out his wallet to give me a business card. I noticed a badge tucked neatly into the wallet window, and inquired if he was a local deputy/LEO. Needless to say, he was not, and the badge was a CCW badge, one that he was quite proud to show me.

My earlier experience with a CCW badge was similar, and I was left with the exact same sentiment. It appeared to me on both occasions to be a very bad idea to have any type of badge that could be mistaken for impersonating a LEO. Neither of these individuals flaunted their badges, nor impressed me as anything but law abiding gun owners. Still, the whole badge idea did not sit well with me. I've had a CCW license for over two decades and feel no need to promote it (or myself) beyond what it is.

Does anyone here carry a CCW badge who might be able to explain its purpose? Has any forum LEO ever run up against CCW badge and mistaken it for something else? I'm simply interested in hearing the thinking behind a CCW badge.

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I'm with the banned ...

Here's the deal IMHO. Anyone that carries a non govt badge runs the risk of being accused, right or wrong, of law enforcement impersonation. Yeah they're legal but you open yourself up for potential hassle at the least. We (LEOs) generally presume one to be a 'goober' if he carries that badge. Just my 2 cents.

Stupid idea and good way to get locked up for impersonating an LEO. Only for mall ninjas.

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Dick

I also do not like the idea, been around guys carrying a badge that could be interrupted to make someone believe they are in some way a LEO. Back-in-the-day we called it walkin the dog, its putting on a front.

WHY?

Exactly.............

I see no up side, and many down sides, ranging from looking like a fool, to needing a defense attorney.... I would say there are better ways to waste money.

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always trust your cape...

I would agree with all of the above. After nearly 40 years, and a now retired LEO, these clowns with phony badges, honorary cop badges from their buddies the local sheriff or police chief make you want to gag. Same goes with city council persons and all of those other totally non LEO's that think a badge makes them somebody special.

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fun meter pegged

I also think a CCW Badge is a bad idea, and a silly one at that.

I can only wonder how having one of these badges would play into what a prosecuter might think if someone was involved in an "incident" who was carrying one. Would they possibly read into it that you may not have become involved if you didn't think you had some sort of "authority" and felt it your duty to do whatever it was you did.

A person having one makes even me wonder about their motive(s) on why they feel the need for such a thing.

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Ogy

I've seen people around here wear them around their neck. Kinda defeats the purpose of concealed carry when you're sporting a badge that screams "Hey I'm packin!"

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sticks-n-stones&hollowpoints

Yea...but you LEO's already got your badges!!!
I floated the idea ( with a very strraight face mind you) a few years back of re naming the Public Defender's office the "Justice Department" because after all-we seek justice.
I liked the idea of answering the phone "Justice Department".I looked up ordering badges that looked just like the Louisiana State Police badges only instead of saying State Police they would say 16th JDC Justice Deaprtment. ( I razz the ADA's all the time about their "ADA" Badges that they get to flast the po po if they get pulled over. I always wanted to know why they needed a badge to go with a picture id that says they are ADA's and carry the full force of THE LAW.) There's a web site you can go to an make mock ups of the badges to see how they look and then print them out on paper. I left some lying around in the coffee room for the judges and ADA's to see....
Well!!!
You'd a thought I had ravished the Virgin Mary Apparently the dark side is not allowed to have badges I told the Judge that I thought that since the Judges and the DA's get badges we ought to get them too-kind of an "equal protection" argument. I had a blast for about a week-but I made my point.
Badges for anything other than LEO's or firemen are worn by goobers.

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Forum consigliere

I think it is just bad form. Kind of like non-SEALs wearing the SEAL budwieser pin on a ballcap, or non SWAT wearing a SWAT t-shirt, or a Walmart employee wearing anything with the Amercan flag on it.

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- Change it back -

There is not any good reason for having a CCW badge. NONE.

That said, there are many people that carry badges other than LEO. City bus drivers, Electrical inspectors, Fire Marshals, Process Servers, Private Investigators, Private Security and etc. These people are not representing law enforcement and not being charged with doing so. If one is out stopping vehicles or shaking down people on the streets, then that is impersonating LEO.

A badge can get you shot and a badge can prevent you from getting shot. It all depends on who is holding the gun and their concerns. If a CCW holder has shot someone and is over their body holding a gun, they best have something else that will cause a LEO to hold fire. If they are in a bank being robbed and a badge is shown, it can get them killed.

If one is carrying concealed, then there is no need for a badge.

The CCW badges were the idea of someone to make a fast dollar off the wave of popularity of concealed carry.

I personally don't care one way or the other...A badge without the other credentials don't mean squat.

One agency I work with required two identifications cards to be used together.

What with me not being an elitist and all...Hell fire, Boy Scouts have badges!

Unless someone that is not a swore officer of the Law and they announce that they are a LEO, ain't no big thing.

Two many folks worry 'bout the things that ain't their business...Why shucks, it takes all my waken hours just to tend my own.

After 30 sumthin years of service to the courts, I don't sweat the small stuff.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Back when a friend of mine who is a Sgt with the local sheriff's department and I were doing a part time security job one guy bought one of those CCW badges. Here in NY the only type of badge that is legal for security and that type of work can only be a perfect square, not badge shaped or star shaped. This kid whips out this CCW badge which looks something like a NYPD badge. My buddy tells him to lose it. The guy asks my friend who he thinks he is and my friend whips out HIS badge and tells the kid if he doesn't toss it he would be getting arrested for criminal impersonation. Needless to say the kid ditched it and I have told lots of people who think about buying one of those dumb things that the cop that sees them with it might not be in the mood to give out a warning.

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Vaya con Dios

Good point Dave. Unless they are one of the "Goobers" who are wearing
it in plain sight like on a chain around there necks, why sweat it? I too try to mind my own business and not make further rules for others.
If some "goober" gets in trouble with it, so be it. It's on him not me.
Like oldman said, bus drivers, firemen, P.I.'s and others have badges so why get your drawers all up in a wad about it. Just my nickels worth.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

The last part of ogilvy's post hits at the center of my concern; what is the motive and expectation of an individual who carries/displays one of these toys? What psychological baggage has drawn this person to think right past everything that has been posted? These people need watching in my view. I see something like this as a neon warning sign. Flapjack.

Zsa Zsa Gabor had an honorary Cook County deputy sheriff's badge. Don't be like Zsa Zsa.

This issue has come up on the forum before and I commented on it then. I'm going to be blunt here, getting a CCW badge is stupid...downright and inexcusably stupid.
When I carry, I don't want ANYONE to know I am and I do not want to advertise that fact. People who buy and carry such trinkets as these draw particular contempt from me and probably shouldn't even have a CCW as IMHO their carrying this makes me suspect what purpose they are carrying a CCW for in the first place ( i.e. masculinity issues and related mental disorders).

A fool and his money are soon parted...that applies to this issue. If you want to waste your money, give it to me and I'll be glad to waste it for you.

Sorry for the rant, but in the course of my duties I have had one too many jackass pull on of these on me and try to act like something they are not.

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The Last Standing Knight

While I think the CCW badge is stupid, I think it a bit harsh to make it against the law to carry one. But it is New York, go figure...

If your State doesn't require a permit why would you need one??? If it does why not just show your permit??? Pretty simple............

Where's the like button?

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!

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Misty

On the forums yes it always seems to 100% against. But I see these being advertised a lot. It has to be more then just a few people that are buying them or else the money wouldn't be spent to produce them or on the advertising!!

CCW badges... just another way to get peoples money...
They are nonsense imo...

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Jorge

With you big time on this!!!

Yes and there are a number of folks reproducing who Shouldn’t be.

Beat me to it...that was the first thing I thought of! Might as well get a hat that says "FBI" and a shirt that says "SWAT"...that should be enough to scare anybody away and keep you safe.

CCW badge = wanna be.

I was thinking that if this thread runs long enough, I'll see an ad at the top so I know where to buy one.

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Insert short witty words here

Here ya go....no need to wait. The NRA one isn't really an Official badge, but the Cheaper than Dirt ones look pretty good. Wonder if they are strong enough to stop a bullet?? Check out the nifty holster.....

http://www.nrastore.com/nrastore/Pro...=GI+22582&ct=e

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/TAC109-1.html

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/TRW530-1.html

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/TRW532-1.html

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Apologies if I incited a %#@& storm.

BTW: I'd love to see someone flip this badge out some time:

http://www.replicabadges.com/item/10...2211_badge.htm

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I'm with the banned ...

I too have commented on this before. But I have to ask, what purpose do they serve? Why would a normal person look at one of those and say "boy I need one of those for blank"? What is the reason one would buy one of these?

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

When I'm off duty I just carry this one.

I quit carrying a badge when I left LE. No CCW badge for me. I think people that carry them are very ill informed at best. I say that because I know a few people that carry them just because the guy that taught their CCW class told them it was a good idea.

I have led a sheltered life. Never heard of one before tonight. somewhere I did once see a badge that said offical U.S. taxpayer.

we had a commonwealth attorney that carried a badge ..never came across anyone with a ccw badge

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Same here Feral, This is the first i've heard of these things.
Like i said before, if some guy wants to wear one and gets
shot because of it, so be it. Thinning of the herd so to speak.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

I bet Napoleon had one...

You mean Boney Part?

At least that made more sense than a CCW badge

Probably got her into the express lane in Divorce or Traffic Court...

Frequent Flyer Badge?

Oh man, I don't think much of the CCW badges, but where can I get one of these. This is really great!!!

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

They have them on Ebarf.

Google "Stinkin' Badge" and a couple of places show up that sell them.

They are funny.

CCW badges are right up there with filing notches on your piece, both foolish moves! Nick

Maybe I should wear this when I carry while riding my ex-Police Harley, yeah?

I keep saying I'm going to get me a CCW badge just to use as a prop for my gun pictures, but I never do.

That "Stinking Badge" is even better.

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John 3:16 .

We have been beating this same mule on the PA Firearm Owners Assn. discussion form for a while. Everybody agrees the CCW/Weapons Permit badges are about the dumbest thing someone carrying a gun could ever have.

Thanks to steamloco and the folks at the PA forum for this enlightening video. I'm not sure which was more informative ... the explanation and rationale for carrying the CCW badge, the finger-on-trigger instruction, the quick draw technique, or the magical spinning Glock maneuver. The entire video should be watched to appreciate it to the fullest.

Concealable carry gun,Glock 21 sf, Taurus pt-92, bersa 380. part 3 - YouTube

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I'm with the banned ...

me too and me neither, feral. Guess I just need to get out more.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked