Who do you tell that you CC?

[jimmib]

over a period of time most of my immediate family have found out I carry, but the subject never comes up....I had a friend ask me in public if I was carrying and I lied and said no and then told him to never do that again....concealed means concealed....I have a lockbox under my backseat for times that I can't carry....what I do is my business as long as it is legal....JMHO

 

[BC38]

Only 3 people - me, myself, and I.

My wife knows 'cause more often than not she sees me holstering my cc - but even if she doesn't she already knows I carry everywhere I can. My 16 year old knows too - though he seldom if ever sees my cc.

 

[hoc9sw]

As I see it - Concealed means just that. If you tell anyone, you are effectively breaking the law. Sure, you'll be found out on occasion, but don't volunteer the info unless expected to do it in compliance with the law.

 

[John R]

Admit to nothing, no none needs to know.

 

[Bat Guano]

Quien, yo?

 

[swsig]

Do you REALLY believe your wife/kids/anyone are not gonna tell anyone else, who in turn tell more people? May as well open carry at that point, the secret will spread like wildfire. If you can't keep a secret don't expect others to. It's an almost impossible secret to keep & blabbermouths certainly don't help. Assume anyone that knows will tell at least 1 other & that would be greatly underestimating things.

How true. I have only told my gun enthusiast friends. My wife, on the other hand, has told everyone in our family, and most of her friends.*

*Disclaimer: We live in Texas, and with 800,000 Concealed Handgun Licensees, it's not a huge deal.

We spent a week staying with our son and his family last summer, and I carried the whole time. Oddly enough, it became a classic "Don't ask, don't tell" situation. No one asked me if I was carrying, and I didn't volunteer anything. Amazingly, even my wife said nothing. Go figure.

In our CHL class, we were told to always inform any law enforcement officer we encounter of our licensed status, whether we are carrying or not.

 

[RobertJ.]

I learned why you shouldn't tell anyone who doesn't need to know, thankfully not the hard way.

Years ago, I was going to a food show at the Expo center in Portland with a group of fellow employees, who were also friends. Before we took off, the subject of firearms came up, and even though I knew and trusted these guys, I kept my mouth shut that I was carrying. Everything was fine. Several weeks later, the subject of the show came up, and I mentioned to a couple of the guys I'd been carrying that day. Well, one of them, a younger guy named Joe, was flabbergasted that I'd actually had a gun on me, and he just couldn't let it go! He finally did, but not right away. I started picturing how that day would have turned out had I mentioned it that morning. Joe would have let everyone within earshot all day know that I was carrying a gun!

It showed me that keeping my mouth shut about it is the best course of action.

The only people who know I carry are my wife, my mom and sister, and a couple close friends who also carry.

 

[Arc Angel]

With the exception of post offices, and other (genuine) federal offices I never leave my EDC pistol in the car. (If it should get stolen, guess what might happen!) With me it's, 'Love me, love my gun!' I just had one of my biannual cardio exams. The nurse asked me to remove my shirt before she took my blood pressure. When I did she saw my pistol.

She looked down at the pistol; and said, 'You're the second patient, today, who's been in here carrying a gun.' 'The other man is an instructor.' I looked at her, smiled, and said, 'Well if it makes you feel any better, I am too.' She laughed and replied, 'That's fine with me. I want to learn how to shoot, myself.'

My personal philosophy is this: Way back when I was in high school (the late middle ages) I had a fellow student who was an outrageous dresser - Which was uncommon in those days! One day I saw him wearing what was called, 'high water pants' (The cuffs were 2 or 3 inches above his shoes!) and a very wide belt.

So, somewhat curious, I asked him, 'Eddie, aren't you ever embarrassed?' He looked at me and quickly replied, 'If you're going to wear, 'high waters' and a Bohemian belt then wear them!' 'You don't owe anyone an apology.'

Eddie was one of the smartest students in school; I considered him to be a peer; and I respected his opinions. So, the next day, just to see what would happen and how I would feel, I wore a pair of, 'high waters' myself. Know what? I got through the day, no problem! Yes, I was the recipient of a few odd looks; but my dating life remained essentially unaffected.

 

[joeintexas]

Casual acquaintances, no. Family, yes. The kids all carry, they are all grown by the way. Close friends, just the one's that also carry and you really can't fool them. Folks at the gun range, well if they don't know they certainly assume you are.

 

[Jim1392]

Other then my wife no one. She also knows that the subject isn't anyone's business. My thinking is there is no possible reason for me to tell anyone I carry other then wanting to brag about it.

 

[Arik]

The only people that know are those that have known me for a long time.

I try not to overthink it. All my family knows and my friends who I've know for decades. But if they tell someone else then so be it, it's not like I robbed a bank or something. It's perfectly legal. I carry a gun and I also wear shoes and socks!

 

[Old cop]

After I retired in '97 I decided to continue to carry all the time (the street is a good teacher). The only person who knew was my wife and I've tried to keep it that way. The "secret" leaked out once or twice (my fault) and each time I was embarrassed by someone's big yap in a very public way. Nothing came of it but it's best, IMHO, to keep this info to yourself. This may mean trying to evade or outright lying when asked directly.

 

[Arik]

I'll add one more thing. It has slipped out a few times, once or twice, at parties and BBQs. And the funny thing is those that were never exposed to guns and only seen them on TV joined in the conversation and both times I ended up taking 2 rather large groups of noobs to a fun day at the range with all kinds of "evil" black rifles and handguns. One guy had this weird look on his face the whole time. Later while we were at the bar I asked him if he was ok and he says he can't figure out one thing. ....after shooting a Mosin and an Enfield and a AR .....he couldn't figure out how the AR was any more dangerous. You can take down an elephant with the other two or a rodent with an AR. Sure they are a little slower but they seem to be far more capable.

This is what happened the last time some none gun people accidentally found out I was carrying.

The next day

 

[old&slow]

I believe in the ' Don't ask , Don't tell ' policy ..
Besides,, It's not concealed if everyone knows you have it ,,

I am required by law, in my state, to inform a police officer if pulled over.
( hopefully,, that doesn't happen very often )

 

[PirateJim]

A concealed weapon is, sorta by definition, a secret. My wife knows I usually carry. Most close friends and relatives (those I see with any regularity) know I've been a shooter most of my life and have a carry permit. With those friends there's an unspoken "don't ask, don't tell" pact.

I have to visit a hospital bi-weekly and on those occasions I lock my gun in a strongbox attached under the car seat. I really don't want to go through having it "discovered" nor am I willing to take the fairly long car trip without my gun. Yeah, the car could be stolen, but life is full of compromises.

 

[KSDeputy]

We now have constitutional carry in KS. You do not need a permit. You do not have to tell anyone what or if you are carrying. People that know me, know I am always armed. I was a peace officer for 30 years.

 

[H.J.]

I thought you always, in all states, if pulled over you are to keep your hands on steering wheel and tell the officer you have a permit and you are carrying?

 

[grover99]

I thought you always, in all states, if pulled over you are to keep your hands on steering wheel and tell the officer you have a permit and you are carrying?

Some states you do and some you do not. When driving out of state you need to know the law of that state. In Missouri you do not need to tell the officer but in Texas you do. Even in Missouri I tell the officer just to be up front. Never had a problem.

 

[H.J.]

Is there any reason "NOT" to tell the officer your carrying? Its my understanding if an officer runs your drivers license it is shown that you have a concealed carry permit.

I was also trained in the CC class that the same is true if an office walks up to you or if your approached by a security guard at a store etc.

That seamed right to me and I guess I go back to what I said earlier when I starting this post "Is there any reason "NOT" to tell the officer your carrying"? Including security guard?

Its seems like to responsible thing to do... Where am I going wrong?

 

[swsig]

Is there any reason "NOT" to tell the officer your carrying? Its my understanding if an officer runs your drivers license it is shown that you have a concealed carry permit.

One positive reason to do this is that your carry license tells the officer that you have been vetted by the criminal justice system, and that you have been certified as a "good guy". That could get your "10 over" reduced to a warning.