Flat out asked "are you carrying now?"

[Old TexMex]

I just look around and ask "Why...are you expecting trouble?" The subject has changed both times I've been obliged to use that.

However...
If they reply with the countersign:" If I was expecting trouble, I'd have brought my rifle." Then I know I'm in good company. But I still never fess up.

 

[tluxtele]

Can y'all tell me why y'all are so secretive? I get that it's your business and you're carrying concealed for an advantage. But I don't know why you won't tell friends. There's a group of us at church that love guns, have permits, and will gladly talk to each other about it. Thankfully one of those guys talked with me a bit when I was trying to figure out if I wanted to. I think if everyone would have been super secretive I wouldn't have known enough to know I wanted to get mine.

It just seems my immediate circle of friends has a much different culture than y'all. It's amazing to read almost universally from y'all that you don't tell and that universally at my church that we will tell. Don't get me wrong, we don't advertise to the whole church. There are many that have no clue. And that's great. But if one of them asked me I don't see myself lying to them.

So, why are y'all so adamant about not telling ANYONE?

 

[pumpgun]

i generally don't discuss guns with non-gun people because most of them that would engage you in that type of conversation are looking for an argument.

 

[Smoke]

Can y'all tell me why y'all are so secretive? I get that it's your business and you're carrying concealed for an advantage. But I don't know why you won't tell friends. There's a group of us at church that love guns, have permits, and will gladly talk to each other about it. Thankfully one of those guys talked with me a bit when I was trying to figure out if I wanted to. I think if everyone would have been super secretive I wouldn't have known enough to know I wanted to get mine.

It just seems my immediate circle of friends has a much different culture than y'all. It's amazing to read almost universally from y'all that you don't tell and that universally at my church that we will tell. Don't get me wrong, we don't advertise to the whole church. There are many that have no clue. And that's great. But if one of them asked me I don't see myself lying to them.

So, why are y'all so adamant about not telling ANYONE?

In the context of this thread we aren't talking about our friends we're talking about random strangers. Surely I don't need to explain why outing yourself to a stranger is unwise.

As for friends I mentioned up thread that I've had some really bad experiences that were directly related to telling a "friend" who really wasn't a gun guy who then proceeded to share my business with a bunch of people I don't know.

If I can keep that kind of hassle out of my life by simply keeping my mouth shut I'm all for it.

The church I'm in now has something close to 5000 members and I'd bet that 4950 of them don't even know my name let alone whether or not I carry a gun.

I tell people that have a need to know which right now includes the members of our church security team and the pastoral staff of the church.

People get stupid when they know you're armed, one of my first threads here was about another member of the church ministry team that kept trying to out me because he didn't know any better. Anther friend of mine told me he had the same problem with a guy that works with him in the church café.

Again, the easiest way I know of to limit my exposure to Yo Yos like that is to keep my mouth shut.

 

[shouldazagged]

It just seems my immediate circle of friends has a much different culture than y'all...So, why are y'all so adamant about not telling ANYONE?

Immediate circle of friends who are gun people and like to compare notes? Trusted friends? Fine, and in any case it's up to you. Handle it your way.

I live in a seniors' apartment complex with a majority of the tenants old women up to age 88. I don't know if they are gun fanciers or not, but I doubt it. I'd rather not upset them if they are skittish about firearms, and they're nosy and gossipy.

Off the grounds it's simply nobody's business that I carry. One or two friends and relatives know, and don't bother asking if I'm packing. They know the answer already. No one I'm not really close to, and certainly no stranger, needs to know. I'll evade the question or lie without compunction.

I'm too old and tired to debate why I go armed, which often seems to be the reason people ask; and I don't need "My God, that old man has a gun!" attention.

My choice. You're welcome to whatever you feel works for you.

 

[Kilibreaux]

Except for the "hesitation" you responded correctly. Remember, just because you have a permit to CC doesn't mean you've been anointed by King George himself, it means you're most likely operating along the ragged and precarious edge of law, and the interpretation of law by others who may not be so enamored of your views and choices.
Had you admitted to carrying a firearm the dweeb could have let out a girly-shriek and ran away claiming your making him aware of your armed status made him fearful which means shortly thereafter the bulls would have arrived to possibly take you into custody for disturbing the peace, perhaps even an assault charge, confiscate your gun, and initiate steps to have your CC permit rescinded.

I am personally NOT a proponent of CC permits and not because I don't believe in CC, but because the modern "permit" is nothing but another "Mother May I" regulatory tracking and sorting device that CAN and WILL be used against you depending upon local law enforcement, local DA, or even Federal dweebsters attitude of the moment. Anyone remember George Zimmerman? Yeah, he walked, but only after tonnes of cash, years of uncertainty, mountains of political pressure, and they will NEVER stop monitoring him until they finally "get him." The media will see to that you can be sure.

So when the conversation turns to carrying...or who is carrying what, where, plan in advance to LIE with a straight face and a clear conscience because you don't "owe" him or anyone "the truth" just so they can use it against you...it's like handing your enemy a sword then baring your neck...they MIGHT NOT slice your head off, but do you want to take that chance.

Since you choose to carry "under color of law" with a "Mother May I" permit, you are obligate to respond truthfully to an officer of the law when asked, whereas the dude you were talking too could have been standing there carrying ILLEGALLY and could LIE if questioned by LE, and unless they have probable cause...again let us look to George Zimmerman to see a situation where an entire house full of people stated they SAW him with a gun, but since he did not have if openly displayed upon LEO arrival they had no probable cause to search his vehicle. Sure, were he a less-notorious figure the cops MIGHT have conducted an illegal search of the vehicle figuring that like most often happens it wouldn't receive judicial notice, but with old Georgie they KNEW everything they did would be on camera and the LAST thing they wanted was to be caught on cam pulling their zippers back up!

 

[vito]

We don't even have concealed carry yet in Illinois (we sort of do, but no one, to my knowledge, has yet actually received a license to date) and an acquaintance who knows that I shoot asked me if I was carrying. I used the answer suggested earlier in this thread "why would you ask that?" and changed the subject.

 

[jimmyj]

"Are You "Carrying"?
Only when I am dating your wife and sister.

 

[blujax01]

I've said it before, the most polite way of informing someone that they are asking too personal a question is to say:

"I usually am except when I'm not. But I have been known to lie about it."

Nonsensical? Sure. But it gets the point across.

 

[Neumann]

My answer is always "no," without emphasis nor embellishment. If it an idle question, you will be taken literally. Otherwise it may be heard as "yes, but I'm not talking." If asked for totally nefarious purposes (e.g., a hoodlum looking for weakness) it is heard as a definite "Yes! It's time to move on." Body language and poise speak louder than words to dispel the "prey animal" response.

 

[baccusboy]

I have been asked by friends if I was carrying (while we were discussing gun-related news on TV) and my response was to look at them like they were an idiot, laugh at them and immediately ask, "Do I look like I am carrying a gun?!" while I lift my arms up.

They get all embarrassed and say something like, "Oh, no... I was just curious if you carried it or not."

This all takes place while my 1911SC Rounded-Butt Commander is strapped IWB into a pair of cargo shorts with a Button-down shirt. The Milt Sparks Nexus does one heck of a job of making that thing disappear:

Milt Sparks Nexus and VM2 Holster Comparison, 1911 Commander - YouTube

That's me in the vid.

 

[Devildogcpl]

Agree

I think you handled the situation correctly. If it is not LawEnforement asking the answer should be no. I have stopped talking about firearms with people I do not know.

 

[Leighman1964]

"Don't ask, don't tell" has worked for me for many years when such conversations arise.

That said, I live in a rural community with only ONE other certified CCW instructor in the county (my name/contact number is legally published on the state's CCW website) so people who "know" me probably "know" the answer without asking...

 

[David R]

I read the whole thing. Thank you for all the other views and opinions besides mine.

New Guy
David

 

[Derry 1946]

"If you can't tell, why should I?"

 

[RdrChRy]

When someone asks if you carry, just say "I'm sorry, but I CAN'T" (Carry Always, Never Tell)

 

[ProgressiveTruth]

I have had that happen and when no one is around I absolutely will show them. It's not a big deal. It's not like he killed my wife and raped my prize winning pig! :what:

I take out the ammo and the gun is no different than a stapler or a coffee maker. Often this takes out the awe and demystifies the gun. They see it, hold It and it's just material not a magical child death ray. If they wanna see the ammo also not a problem. I holster the gun and they can check out A BULLET. Basically it's the bullet that was originally chambered.

I treat it like with kids. Demystify it and they react normally. Yes a lot of people who have no idea about guns think they are all Glocks. I don't know much about airplanes and think they are all the same (within their respective class).

Why do people act as if asking to see it is so offensive? The horror. ...wow

Oh and usually this is followed by "can you take us to the range" and "I would like one where can I buy one?"
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Yea, I am a first time gun owner. I kinda did that to a small circle of friends. I talked with them about gun ownership then told them about my gun. If they asked I would take out the amno, then check if it is clear then show it to them. For me this was an accountability circle for me. Knowing that some of my dearest friends know that I CC it mentally holds me to an even higher standard. Now that I am taking classes and shooting with a club, I don't feel so alone as a legit gun owner.

 

[franzas]

I have no problem disclosing that I am armed- to an individual. If some leftist wants to create a CHP database, that's a different story. We are not sex offenders. we have no reason to make our information public.

If I get the question "OMG why do you need that?" I calmly explain if some idiot decides to start shooting up Wal-Mart, I could defend myself and possibly 100s of others. if I feel like being the a-hole, I'll say "because I'm legally allowed to." that shuts them up.

Fortunately, I have not met the person that thinks I'm more likely to go on a shooting spree because I carry. Anyone who believes that we would go through all the red tape to obtain and lawfully carry firearms just to shoot up a movie theater is mentally ill.

If I'm open carrying, well, there's your answer.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

inform them that such a question is a breach of privacy and discourteous

+1 here, I'd say this guy honestly didn't know the etiquette, and it's a good chance to teach him. I've had the question asked by somebody who should have known better and lied. We were in public and she had had more than a couple glasses of wine. I let her know later in the evening that that was not a question to ask in public.
My mother once did something similar, and worse. "Hey show Scott what you've got"... she said this in a church kitchen. Scott is a family friend and a police officer, I had no problem letting see my new 1911, but not in a church kitchen. He handled the situation pretty well, though he was clearly as uncomfortable about it as I was.

 

[rdf37]

For me it depends on who it is. Most of my friends are pro gun and the ones who are not pro gun usually are not anti gun, they just have no side and are generally good people. I am a vocal person and those who know me know that I go nowhere without a gun or two somewhere on my person so it is not a suprise to them. But, to take gun out of holster is a big deal to me. I find no good reason to take it and show it to someone I do not know very well and that I am sure is very pro gun. I do occaisionally show others that carry also as we compare and voice our opinions on them, but it is always in a private setting. The only people that see my gun outside my home are good good friends or the bad guy...although the bad guy will see it in a VERY different way
Just my 2 cents
rdf37