Flat out asked "are you carrying now?"

[hangnoose]

TELL OR NOT

IMO, if you tell, you may as well be open carrying. If you tell someone, do you really believe they are going to keep your secret? I prefer not to lie if possible but depending on whose asking I generally tap dance around it/ try to change the subject, answer the ? with another ? etc. EX. If we are going to ask personal/inapropriate ?'s, I should get to go first, then let them have both barrels and I have never been to charm school or been noted for my people skills. As a former RN at times we (both lone men & woman) would have to go into bad areas at bad times to see sketchy Pt's. Many of us carried & it would have meant instant termination & possible loss of our license if caught. On the flip side my job req'd asking countless extremely personal ?'s needed for us to do our job & insure our safety & the safety of the Pt's family. DO YOU OWN A GUN/HAVE ONE IN THE HOME was one of them. I would preface the innumerable admission ?'s with I am req'd to ask, and expect to hear many of the same ?'s again at each visit. you are not req'd to answer truthfully, or at all, but I would explain the potential consequences for not telling the truth or the full story.

 

[KSUGlocker]

I'm in a small office and we had a salesman from Ohio visiting and he wants to get his first gun so we start talking. All guns are Glocks and all rifles are assault weapons to this guy, so I can do a little educating. I ask pretty standard questions, what have you shot in the past, what do you want to use it for, where will you store it...

Conversation shifts to concealed carry I explain NH law, and I tell him I can give him no advice on Ohio law. He then flat out asked me "are you carrying right now?"

I hesitate for about 2 seconds and tell him no. He picks up on the hesitation and doesn't believe me. I get him off the topic and we go our separate ways.

It's none of his concern if I'm carrying or not. If I tell him yes, his next likely question will be show me. Not gonna happen.

I will not discuss guns with him in the future.

Anyone ever run into something similar? How did you handle it? Any advice for next time?

Thanks - Matt

Refuse to acknowledge the question and keep talking.


JimA

 

[posigian]

The only people that knew were my Wife and the Senior Pastor and his Wife, who we are very close friends with.

Been with my church for 3 years now. Got to know one of our Elders who is a retired LEO and he too carries everyday. So I felt it necessary to talk with about the fact that I too carry every day. I felt this was important in case something went down in the church I did want him to mistake me as one of the bad guys. He was grateful that I shared with him and it was during that conversation I found out the Pastor is always armed as well.

The Pastor is the Shepard, the congregation is the Flock, and we are the Sheep Dogs there to protect them all.

Now I'm a Deacon in our Church.

 

[Johnmuratore]

Concealed means concealed

Here in New England (Mass and CT anyway) concealed means its concealed and stays concealed. I have never mentioned that I carry and will never mention it. Why would anyone ask unless they had some indication that it might be so?

 

[Lew Archer]

To the OP, your contact was some kind of business associate. So, I would personally be reluctant to flat out lie. Why compromise your credibility on any subject with someone? But, you could simply decline to answer...or laugh it off--say, in your best government style voice "I can neither confirm nor deny".

Your instinct was not to reveal you were carrying. Trust that instinct. You did and were right to do so...I'm just considering other possible responses that might be useful in a similar conversation down the road with someone else.

 

[Harkrader]

Unless the person is a trusted friend or family member I always say I won't tell the asker. If that person then says s/he doesn't want me carrying on property they control, I ALWAYS go out to my car and spend a few minutes. If I am carrying, I take it off. If I am not, I still do not want anyone I don't trust to ever be able to figure out I'm carrying by observing whether or not I go back to my car.

 

[WyoShooter]

Way back in grade school, many decades ago, we knew how to answer that or any other nosy question. We'd just say, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies."

Ed

 

[Jessie]

He's obviously new to it and curious. I wouldn't get upset about it. I'd just tell him its not something you ask people is all. Doesn't say yes, doesn't say no.
Good time to educate him that you don't ask, you don't tell.
I would offer suggestions as to how to carry what kind of gun and maybe get with him at some time later to discuss options.

 

[br25004x4]

I would have told him no. I don't tell anyone if I'm carrying unless they have a need to know. Most people have no need to know. My wife asked me privately one time when we were out with friends if I was carrying, I told her I was she never figured out what or where I was carrying. That's a good thing when someone knows and can't tell. I was carrying a Colt Officers .45 and 2 spare magazines at the time.

 

[Houdini1953]

The proper response in this situation is well...I might be... ARE YOU?

 

[captcook]

No I'm not carrying I'm just happy to see you

 

[TJ1225]

A cold stare without saying anything should suffice!

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

My First lesson in CCW was given to me by a forum member here.

After I got married and visited Virginia with the wife to meet her family.

I had mentioned on the forum that I was visiting and met several members.

I went to a gun show with the member. He was very amused at my reactions to what I saw.

First time I have ever seen Full Auto and suppressors openly anywhere.

Of course CCW came up and I ASKED him THE Question.

He looked at me and informed me that is a Question that is Never asked.

He told me that I was "excused" for asking because of where I am from, Hawaii.

He then schooled me about CCW. I've Never forgotten what he told me.

That was 20 years ago. I've learned a lot, but, compared to most of you, I'm a babe in the woods about CCW.

 

[Rastoff]

I've learned a lot, but, compared to most of you, I'm a babe in the woods about CCW.

Don't feel bad Yogi, we all have to start from ignorance. You asked and were given an education. At least you learned from the experience.

It's a shame that many don't learn and continue in ignorance.

 

[Marie13]

No I'm not carrying I'm just happy to see you

That answer doesn't quite work for a woman!

 

[7shooter]

A friend of mine used to say " You'll know I'm carrying when you see the muzzle flash ".

 

[memphisjim1]

Perhaps I engage in something of a semantics game. If asked if I have a "concealed weapons permit"? I always answer truthfully, "No." In Mississippi its a state-issued Firearms Permit and with the IC endorsement I have more flexibility as to where I may exercise my Second Amendment rights within the state. Further, to split hairs, "carrying" (as I choose to define it) is something I do with my hands. So, in my mind, the only time I'm carrying is the draw stroke through presentation to firing sequence. Otherwise, in my lexicon, I'm "wearing." So, if asked if I'm "carrying," my honest answer (in my mind anyway) is, "No." Now when a LEO asks, I follow Mas Ayoub's advice and reply, "I'm armed with permit. How do you wish to proceed?" while keeping hands clearly visible and very still.

 

[PR24]

It's kinda like asking what kind of underwear I'm currently wearing... Don't worry about it it's personal.

Truth is I'm never in a gun free zone.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

Or tell them you are 'commando' & offer to show them.....

 

[ClayCow]

Unless the person is a trusted friend or family member I always say I won't tell the asker. If that person then says s/he doesn't want me carrying on property they control, I ALWAYS go out to my car and spend a few minutes. If I am carrying, I take it off. If I am not, I still do not want anyone I don't trust to ever be able to figure out I'm carrying by observing whether or not I go back to my car.

I like how you actually respect peoples wishes.

 

[TimmyRay]

Inform no one when it comes to your carry situation. From personal experience people talk, word gets out, and things are blown out of proportion. My firearm never leaves my side, and its no ones business.