Carrying... If asked, how do you reply?

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i carry a keltec inside my jeans ,right in front. when i asked by a man or woman my answer is the same. i say no,i'm just happy to see you. either way if they noticed the bulge,it works. they usually leave me alone.
 
I like to say "Why do you ask? -Because the Constitution guarantees your right to the freedom of speech. I am indeed carrying, and I have the right to carry a gun just as you have the right to ask me if I am."
 
would you respond to a stranger asking if you are carrying a firearm?
Stranger? "No."

Make something up. "It's my diabetes pump." "It's my colostomy bag." "It's my digital camera."
 
I've been carrying for years, and have never been asked by a stranger. I'm sometimes asked by friends or acquaintances. My rule is never to answer that question directly. I might make an exception if it was clear from the circumstances that the friend/acquaintance was alerting me to a possible problem situation.

How would I respond if an unidentified stranger asked if I was carrying?

"What?" Make him or her repeat the question, preferably loudly enough they would prefer not to.
"That's an odd question; why do you ask?" Hopefully they would drop it. If not ...
"That's really none of your business." And I would answer that way whether or not I was carrying; I'd rather leave them wondering than give away my disposition.

If the questioner positively identified him or herself as law enforcement, I'd answer honestly ... but would probably still tack on, "Why?"
 
Your colostomy bag? REALLY?

Reading through the thread in legal, 'Carrying... If asked, how do you reply?'. It just strikes me as... I don't know, touchy? Fearful? I don't know, forgive me. I guess it's time to don the flame suit. It's almost Memorial Day after all, so here goes. :eek:

Who. The. Heck. Cares? Who freaking cares?!!? You're carrying a gun. You're doing it legally. Someone happens to notice and for WHATEVER reason, they ask if that be the case. It's not their fault that YOU'RE imprinting.

If they notice that you're carrying, why play this child's game? Your colostomy bag? REALLY? :eek: You'd rather tell a stranger that you are toting around a sack of your own feces, than to show them what an honest gun owner is like? :rolleyes: Please. Why not just own up to it? Yeah, I'm LEGALLY carrying a gun, get over it. Are we that afraid of what will happen when someone finds out that we're a legal and ethical gun owner? Are we THAT afraid?

Is that how you respond to people when they ask you about the pants you're wearing? Your shoes? If they ask you about your watch? So your standing in line and a some guy notices your smart phone.
He asks, "Is that an HTC?".
You reply, "Why would you ask? It's none of your business."
Him, "Uh, I don't know, looks like one. Is it?"
You, "It's my colostomy bag. It's none of your business. It's my diabetes pump. Why do you ask?".
Him, "Okay. Whatever, idiot. Forgive me for breathing, jerk."

I know, I know, I know. A gun is different. You can't give away your ace in the hole. :rolleyes: If you own up to the fact that the imprint on your hip is a poorly concealed handgun, they will shoot you dead right there and take your gun because we all know that the guy open carrying or imprinting gets shot first, right? :rolleyes: Oh jeez guys, that one's getting tired. Why do we hide from the reputable truth?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's none of their dang business, so why give them information that they have no right to, correct? :rolleyes: It just strikes me as a bit touchy, and yeah, fearful. Wouldn't Pam Soccermom be a little better off if she was shown how pointless it is to buy into the negative myths surrounding concealed carry? But what if, what if, what if she was to scream, "He's got a gun!!"? Yeah, we can sure 'what if' ourselves, trembling into the fetal position can't we.

I suppose that if 'printing' is a crime in your state, you wouldn't want to publicly confess to a crime right then and there; so you guys get a pass. The one and only other argument that you might be able to sell me is that you live in one of those places in our nation where gun owners are so horribly denigrated by an anti-gun majority opinion, that you can't help but to hide from the truth. I get that, I've seen the videos on YouTube where the guy is open carrying in the WRONG city. Those guys are doing something legal and they are being open and honest about it. Their experiences might likely benefit you, I, and all gun owners eventually. So what do we gain, when we hide? What do we gain when we have to lie? Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity for activism, for all of our sakes?

Now... burn me.
 
Burn you? Hell, I'm gonna nominate you for the Common Sense Post of the Year award!
I don't carry openly or advertise that I'm carrying concealed, but to go out of my way to lie to someone because I print or reveal in some way, really is kind of paranoid.

Of course it depends on the demeanor of the person noticing my 'bulge'. If it's a venomous "Is that a gun? They might get a reply of "That's really none of your business" and a dismissive glance. If it's a neutral "Hey, I can see your pistol on your hip" they'll get a polite "Thanks, I really appreciate the heads up." I might even talk to them further if they are so inclined.

But the uber secretive approach taken by so many is really kind of funny and childish.
 
If it's a venomous "Is that a gun? They might get a reply of "That's really none of your business" and a dismissive glance.
I'll take that. That is common sense. The response is relative to their demeanor.
But the uber secretive approach taken by so many is really kind of funny and childish.
+1 The colostomy bag line is my [strike]favorite[/strike].
 
Burn ya? No way, Cro. No flames.

I've been asked about my carry gun,
and I've answered honestly and gracefully,
and I've dealt graciously with the person who inquired.

Even if they are venemous, I'm gracious.
No need to fight fire with fire. This isn't a fire fight.


Put a safe, responsible and gracious face on gun ownership
and the masses respond favorably.



And it all turned out OK.
 
Amen! No flames from me either!

I agree with your assertion not to give immature excuses, but I still hold to my belief that just because someone asks me a question, then I am obligated to have a discussion with them. That goes for anything, not just my concealed or open carry gun. Now, if the tone is one of genuine interest, sure, I’ll talk to them. But I am not obligated to talk to anyone. I don’t feel obligated to answer the door if someone knocks, nor do I feel like it owe it to the person calling me on the phone to answer. My time is my time. My business is my business. Talk to the hand.

Nevertheless, that’s a personal belief. If someone wants to talk, more power to them.
 
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Are you trying to pick me up?
Questions are just questions, unless it's a law enforcement officer asking them. I would ask them a stupid question, and see what they say. If they say no then you can say good or too bad. Then continue on your way. No need to answer a direct question from a person without athority. You could say "i don't answer personal questions to people I don't know, or anything else that is a non answer. Are you trying to sell me a gun? Do I know you? Are you a Muslem?
 
Well, guess I shouldn't have started this thread. It was a theoretical question, not a political or 'rights' question. As I originally stated, I know that I am NOT printing. Guess that's what I get for being curious. Sorry, guys.
 
"maybe yes, maybe no.... that's for me to know, and for you to wonder"

or if you seriously want to throw him off just reply: "guns are illegal"
 
Blank look and walk away.

I agree. Unless the person in question is family, friend or positively identified LEO, I'm just going to smile and go about my biniz. I don't carry in places that are off-limits anyways, so I think the silent approach would be acceptable. I've never been asked by a stranger, though.
 
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