Would You Tell Someone If You Noticed Them Printing.

[decuerno]

IDK if, statistically, the overwhelming majority of us will never have to draw our gun in self-defense throughout our entire lifetime.

Are you really that much safer than someone with no gun?

It's kind of like walking around Arizona wearing a life jacket

Have you ever been in Arizona during a flash-flood?


Summer of 1971:
I was hiking with my wife down from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We were planning to camp out overnight on the river at Phantom Ranch.

When we got halfway…to the Indian Garden area…we were taking a lunch-break, when the Ranger approached us and advised us to leave the area and head back up the switchbacks. He pointed to a rain-shower occurring up on the South Rim.
It didn’t look like much….but in only a few minutes I had to lift my wife up to sit on the overhead-rafters of the shelter…while I hugged the uprights standing almost waist-deep in rushing water!
That lasted about 15 minutes and then disappeared just as quickly, leaving us standing in debris and mud.

It was only noon but it took us until 10 o’clock at night to get back up those muddy switchbacks to the top of the rim where we’d left our car.
It was a memorable experience.

(Bit of humor: We were so worn-out (despite being in our early 20’s) that we had to stop every ten steps or so to relieve our leg-cramps climbing up those switchbacks. We were almost delirious from fatigue as we reached the paved parking lot at the El Tovar…. when we made that last step to the pavement my wife saw the sign the Rangers had posted at the parking lot to prevent people from entering the slippery/dangerous canyon….It said “No Entry!” …. upon which my desperately-fatigued wife turned to me with tears in her eyes, saying, “Oh NO! We have to go Back!”

 

[Smoke]

Have you ever been in Arizona during a flash-flood?


Summer of 1971:
I was hiking with my wife down from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We were planning to camp out overnight on the river at Phantom Ranch.

When we got halfway…to the Indian Garden area…we were taking a lunch-break, when the Ranger approached us and advised us to leave the area and head back up the switchbacks. He pointed to a rain-shower occurring up on the South Rim.
It didn’t look like much….but in only a few minutes I had to lift my wife up to sit on the overhead-rafters of the shelter…while I hugged the uprights standing almost waist-deep in rushing water!
That lasted about 15 minutes and then disappeared just as quickly, leaving us standing in debris and mud.

It was only noon but it took us until 10 o’clock at night to get back up those muddy switchbacks to the top of the rim where we’d left our car.
It was a memorable experience.

(Bit of humor: We were so worn-out (despite being in our early 20’s) that we had to stop every ten steps or so to relieve our leg-cramps climbing up those switchbacks. We were almost delirious from fatigue as we reached the paved parking lot at the El Tovar…. when we made that last step to the pavement my wife saw the sign the Rangers had posted at the parking lot to prevent people from entering the slippery/dangerous canyon….It said “No Entry!” …. upon which my desperately-fatigued wife turned to me with tears in her eyes, saying, “Oh NO! We have to go Back!”

But like carrying a gun, needing a life jacket in Arizona is the outlier not the norm

 

[Boxlock]

I frequently read posts in which people say nobody notices them printing. I really wonder does nobody notice or is nobody saying anything?

So here's the situation, you're walking through Walmart. You notice somebody Who You Don't Know printing or the butt of their gun is visible in their pocket.

Would you mention it or mind your own business.

I’d bust their knuckles with a ruler!

 

[65-2x2]

“Hobbyists.” Yep, a perfect word for them.

Wait a minute, are you saying that if you buy a handgun it doesn't make you a gun fighter?

 

[decuerno]

But like carrying a gun, needing a life jacket in Arizona is the outlier not the norm

Sooo….you’re recommending Arizonians stop carrying a gun? … and also abandon life jacket ownership..?

 

[Peter_Bigfoot]

I would feel more comfortable knowing that i am safer with more people carr

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that my point in starting this thread isn't to say what (except for approaching my wife) you should or shouldn't do or which course of action is the best.

I started this discussion in response to all the people who say that nobody notices when they print.

I don't know if you could call it frequently but I have noticed several people printing. And unless I was at work and they were in a place where they weren't allowed to have a concealed handgun I didn't say a word.

Never assume that just because nobody said anything that nobody notices you printing.

If I were concealed-carrying and printing, I would like to know. If I saw someone printing, I would give them a good look to try to guess what their response would be and yes, if they didn't look aggressive I would probably tell them.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

I'm in an open carry state and very few do. I suppose that's because CCW permits are pretty easy to get. I've only seen true open twice. Yes, once in Walmart the other was at an event at a Harley dealer. The woman got off her bike with a big single action in a cowboy holster. I was laughing at the dopey display both times.

Then at a restaurant I observed three young guys getting into a booth with their girlfriend or wives. All three displayed auto's in OWB holsters, all matching equipment, while climbing into the booth.

As I was leaving I knocked on the wood of their booth and said just loudly enough for only that booth to hear, "Only rookies display" and continued on my way. I hope they learned something.

As an academy FA instructor for 18 years this is a truism that is mentioned often. Yeah that gray man approach has it's advantages.

I shoot regularly with other retired cops, deputies and special agents. We all are carrying concealed and even knowing and looking it's quite rare that you can even see a minor print. Total surprise is your best advantage.

 

[Smoke]

As I was leaving I knocked on the wood of their booth and said just loudly enough for only that booth to hear, "Only rookies display" and continued on my way. I hope they learned something.

They're probably posting on another forum somewhere about the time that they were enjoying a meal in a restaurant with their girlfriends and some old man who had no business talking to them at all and no authority to tell them how to carry their guns, got in their business.

 

[decuerno]

A good friend and I were eating in a restaurant in Austin which had a sign posted on the entrance prohibiting the carriage of Any Weapons (the so-called Texas .30-06 sign).
Four 4 guys wearing Khaki pants, jogging shoes, and polo-shirts with a small Texas Longhorn (steer-horn) logo, beneath which had the letters “UTA-Instructor” came in and sat at a table nexg to us. No badges or shields were visible. They were all open carrying semi-auto handguns which clearly concerned many patrons in the cafe.

I figured they were either some sort of police …or ignorant gun-club members… so I approached them and as politely as possible asked to engage them in conversation. (Excuse me gentlemen, for interrupting your lunch, may I ask a question or two?”
They responded affirmatively.

I reminded them of the clear signage at the door and inquired if they did not consider the effect of open-carriage might have on the patrons of the cafe… and asked if they were part of an identifiable group.

Just then, my (rather irritated) friend also approached, One of them responded “These are our uniforms…Haven’t you ever heard of the University of Texas Longhorns?”

Before I could respond, my friend said, “YES! … and they usually also wear football helmets when in uniform… not pistols!’

At that point, one of them stated they were “instructors” at the campus police-force academy.

Well…this quickly escalated to a confrontational back-and-forth between they and my friend…(with whom I was irritated for barging-in as he did)… And I apologized for such a disruption ..BUT, I wanted to know how an ordinary citizen was supposed to deal with what was clearly a violation of protocol under these circumstances…. My Main Point I was attempting to make, “I don’t believe the average citizen would recognize your costumes as representing official Police…and that misunderstanding could create a dangerous situation you fellows don’t seem to appreciate….”

…however, the aggressive approach of my irritated friend prevented any reasonable discussion of the matter …so I again apologized and walked away.

I feel they should, at the least, either prominently display recognizable LEO badges …Or…they should not be open-carrying in public places in-which weapons are prohibited. Any citizen who had reason to disagree with one of them would be subject to “obstruction” or “resistance” or some-other claim these guys chose to create.
I wrote a letter to the Univ of Texas Campus Police Academy asking them to review their policy and explain the behavior of their instructors.
That was five years ago and still no response.

There are some excellent videos by a fellow who documents many cases of such misbehavior of LEO. My point of this post: Be aware. Be careful and aware out there.

Not particularly addressed this limited subject, but some interesting videos by this atty you might find of interest:

 

[HARLEY0]

Younger people have not been taught how to write so they all print!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Younger people have not been taught how to write so they all print!

My parents used block print. I use block print. Everyone in my expanded family circle uses block. All my friends use block.

Cursive isn't necessary as are blank clock faces.

I moved on.

 

[decuerno]

My parents used block print. I use block print. Everyone in my expanded family circle uses block. All my friends use block.

Cursive isn't necessary as are blank clock faces.

I moved on.

No reason to “shout” with block print …

I was entertained(?) to learn my grandkids cannot read my birthday cards, etc. I send to them. Cursive is no longer taught in schools…it might as well be Kanji.

 

[rockquarry]

No reason to “shout” with block print …

I was entertained(?) to learn my grandkids cannot read my birthday cards, etc. I send to them. Cursive is no longer taught in schools…it might as well be Kanji.

Cursive is still taught in private schools, at least some of them. Still a good thing to be able to learn and read cursive.

 

[decuerno]

Cursive is still taught in private schools, at least some of them. Still a good thing to be able to learn and read cursive.

My grandkids DID attend private school… Trinity!

 

[JimCunn]

Don't care if he prints. Don't care if I print.
Wouldn't say anything.

 

[rockquarry]

Don't care if he prints. Don't care if I print.
Wouldn't say anything.

Perhaps the best response so far to a pointless thread. Yes, not a good idea to approach and/or rebuke strangers, especially nowadays, over a near worthless concealed carry "hobbyist" concern. Today, many people are very confrontational, like the rude and immature road ragers. The printer engagers need to get out and do a little shooting or something else constructive rather than irritate others.

 

[Smoke]

I figured they were either some sort of police …or ignorant gun-club members… so I approached them and as politely as possible asked to engage them in conversation. (Excuse me gentlemen, for interrupting your lunch, may I ask a question or two?”
They responded affirmatively.

I reminded them of the clear signage at the door and inquired if they did not consider the effect of open-carriage might have on the patrons of the cafe… and asked if they were part of an identifiable group.

Just then, my (rather irritated) friend also approached, One of them responded “These are our uniforms…Haven’t you ever heard of the University of Texas Longhorns?”

Before I could respond, my friend said, “YES! … and they usually also wear football helmets when in uniform… not pistols!’

At that point, one of them stated they were “instructors” at the campus police-force academy.

How many times are you going to open your mouth and fill it with your foot before you learn not to open your mouth?

 

[Mr. Vito]

When I first started carrying concealed, many years ago, I found I was very vigilant in observing other people, trying to determine if they also were carrying. In many ways my sense of situational awareness was much stronger than it is now. I try to be aware of what is going on around me, but not in such detail that I might notice anyone "printing" unless it was really flagrant. I remember being told that most people are not observant in the least, and not to worry about possibly "printing" or exposing my firearm (such as when reaching up to a high shelf in a store) and I recognize that I am not much better myself most of the time.

My answer to the original question is "no", but seeing the sign of someone carrying will instantly bring me back to a high state of situational awareness.

 

[Smoke]

Before I say anything else, let me say I think we have another Ringo Kidd amongst us.

I worked as a Security Guard for 15 years. Alot of what I had to do was confrontational by it's very nature. I learned to be initially very polite every time I had to do it. I also learned not to do it at all unless it was necessary.

I see people walking right past the No Open Carry" signs at my local Walmart open carrying all the time.

Nobody's paying me to involve myself in that, so I don't.

 

[Boxlock]

I do not open carry as I don’t want to be identified and shot first. I have taken my jacket off after being seated when eating out but drape it over the back of the chair or booth to help conceal it.