Awkward

[roundgun]

I was shopping in a hardware store and carrying IWB at 4:00 with shirt tucked in and zipped up jacket. Local acquaintance approaches and playfully punches me in attempt to say hi. He ended up punching my gun square on, quickly recoiling and shaking his hand wondering out loud what I had under my coat that was so hard. I quickly smiled and said it was my cell phone and moved the conversation to how his family was doing. He knew it wasn't my cell phone but said nothing further. After thinking about this encounter later in the day, it provoked a thought about how other EDC citizens have managed being "made" in public.

 

[Kronos]

I don't try to hide it like I'm ashamed as many seem to be I just say "you don't want to know,but it's legal don't worry"

If they have a problem then they don't need to be around me.

 

[oldIrish]

A good number of female acquaintances are huggers. I'll attempt to get my arms under theirs and bend a bit to keep them well above my waistband. Haven't had anyone "punch" me in the gun yet.

 

[bulletslap]

Anyone that knows me enough to hug or playfully touch me knows I am packing, as a matter of fact in the circles I travel in most are also
Packing.

 

[ContinentalOp]

That's easy. I don't have any friends.

...

 

[Smoke]

The fact that I carry a gun is my business and my family's. I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends when I first got my permit and they told other people against my wishes, lesson learned.

As others have mentioned, if you know me well enough to put your hands on me you already know I'm carrying a gun.

 

[Pisgah]

My response: "My abs. Now, hold still, 'cause it's my turn..."

 

[Chief Wiggums]

nobody needs to knew minus SO's and other family members , the Good Lord above already knows.....

do not .......I repeat , do not , give "others" the opportunity to "Red Flag" you...

Crazy neighbors / strangers will do so at any given opportunity....
just saying.......

 

[SAFireman]

Anyone who sneaks up behind me and tries to punch me will not like my repsonse, never mind the hard metallic object that they just collided with.

This is not middle school gym class, nor the YMCA boxing ring. Adults will keep their hands to themselves, or will be reminded of the lessons that they should have learned well prior.

Reminds me of a helpful quote from the Duke 'I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them'

....Oh, and you can see my signature for further clarification....

 

[16thVACav]

Just announce in your best Mae West voice "I'm just glad to see you".

They won't do it again. In fact, you'll probably never see them again.

 

[Krogen]

Another aspect of this discussion should be situational awareness. I do my best to see who's around me. I'm not always successful and it bugs me when somebody gets close enough to greet me before I spot them. If somebody were to get close enough to punch me in the gun, I'd be really bugged. Not so much at them, but at myself for not spotting them and evading their "friendly jab."

 

[Kanewpadle]

Family and close friends know I'm armed. I maintain a high level of situational awareness at all times so it's rare that someone gets close enough to put their hands on me. If they do, I give them a mean look for a few seconds. They usually get the point. What happens afterwards depends on them.

I could care less if they're guessing that I'm armed.

 

[Echo40]

I was shopping in a hardware store and carrying IWB at 4:00 with shirt tucked in and zipped up jacket. Local acquaintance approaches and playfully punches me in attempt to say hi.

Am I the only person here who read this far, fearing that the rest of the story was going to involve him drawing on his friend after being caught off-guard by his friend hitting him?

 

[vipermd]

The fact that I carry a gun is my business and my family's. I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends when I first got my permit and they told other people against my wishes, lesson learned.

As others have mentioned, if you know me well enough to put your hands on me you already know I'm carrying a gun.

They were not friends! Be Safe,

 

[JayFramer]

I would double over in pain and say "you just hit my external pacemaker!" or "you almos popped my colostomy bag!" and that would pretty quickly end it.

 

[Telecaster]

Am I the only person here who read this far, fearing that the rest of the story was going to invoglve him drawing on his friend after being caught off-guard by his friend hitting him?

Yeah, just you.

 

[CH4]

If you were carrying a Glock it wouldn't have hurt as much.

Fortunately, as a career LEO everyone knows I am always packing. Keeps the smart ones from running up and punching me.

 

[swsig]

I would double over in pain and say "you just hit my external pacemaker!" or "you almos popped my colostomy bag!" and that would pretty quickly end it.

To these devices you can add "insulin pump".

My strategy for hugs is to turn and engage with my "unloaded" side.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I pocket carry. I don't get a lot of jabs or hugs below the equator.

 

[whataboutbob]

After thinking about this encounter later in the day, it provoked a thought about how other EDC citizens have managed being "made" in public.[/QUOTE]
no big deal to me just move along

 

[Old cop]

I was in Sears many years ago when a salesman greeted me w/a playful slap on my gun side (off-duty IWB w/untucked shirt). Recognizing it was a gun he recoiled and asked if I was an FBI agent. I said no and walked away.

 

[sotexas]

I think the majority of the people that know me would at least suspect I carry, since a main hobby is shooting. A high percentage of my friends carry and I suspect a good portion of acquaintances do also. I would have probably laughed at his response and moved the conversation to a different topic. I don't advertise I carry but certainly don't care if someone knows or thinks I am armed.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Might get a fast elbow in the face.........................

I married into a "hugging family"..... drives me nuts.....no reason to hug everyone in the room when you arrive or they depart......God gave us the "knuckle bump" for a reason!!!

 

[fatcat3]

I aint doing no "Knuckle bump". Shake hands like a Man. I feel the same way about "High 5, good game", etc. As for the salesman from Sears in post 21... after which ever of us ended up in the hospital got out I would be filing sexual assault charges. slapping at iwb indeed. I also come from a Vary large family where everyone has to hug everyone. NO BIG DEAL THAT'S FAMILY. Everyone else keep your hands to yourself. SAFireman put it best "This is not middle school gym class, nor the YMCA boxing ring. Adults will keep their hands to themselves, or will be reminded of the lessons that they should have learned well prior."

 

[BAM-BAM]

My Boys and I have been doing the "knuckle bump" since they were little...... when we pass each other.......hugs when they come home or are going out.

But Second cousins of my wife and their rug rats...... not so much.

 

[tarsam]

I'd just tell them it's my squid pack. Move on to "What's new?

 

[SMSgt]

I think it's time for a group hug...

 

[Cornhusker]

Did he hurt the gun when he punched it?

My sister hugged my gun once at Thanksgiving dinner.
She never said a word, she was raised by the same people as e

 

[flagman1776]

"I was in Sears many years ago when a salesman greeted me w/a playful slap on my gun side (off-duty IWB w/untucked shirt). Recognizing it was a gun he recoiled and asked if I was an FBI agent. I said no and walked away. Old Cop, LEO (Ret.)"

I think it's foolish to deceive about legal carry, if someone accidentally discovers it. Making a big deal only draws attention to it, which is counter productive.
If he was Police, I would have said "Police" or maybe "Undercover" in a whisper. I always had my badge clipped to my belt in front of the piece.
As a civilian, I would say "It's legal, I have a permit." And move away, no further discussion. Period.

 

[delcrossv]

How odd. I've never had someone who is not a family member do that.

Reminds me of a comment I heard: " Do not violate my intimate space".