"Printing" -- why care?

[ArmedBear]

To me carrying an ineffective weapon in an ineffective manner shows a lack of both care and intelligence.

There are times and places where it's necessary, and might be better than any real alternative. So I won't say it shows a lack of care and intelligence.

However, in general, I have to say I agree that it's ineffective to carry an ineffective weapon that's virtually inaccessible to its owner. There's a balance to be struck, and total concealment under all imaginable circumstances probably requires one to take measures that make the gun far less useful for defense.

 

[Gryffydd]

There are times and places where it's necessary, and might be better than any real alternative. So I won't say it shows a lack of care and intelligence.

I won't disagree with that. There is definitely a time and a place for deep cover concealment. I just couldn't resist the urge to play with dairycreek's words.

 

[Drail]

Printing can be very bad if you are observed by an anti gun cop. You'll know it when you meet one.

 

[Wayne02]

Put me on the side of those who don't care if they "print" (however that is defined). I obsessed about it for the first two weeks when first starting out many years ago but have never given it a second thought since then. I take reasonable precautions to conceal the weapon, but if the shirt gets pulled up and the gun temporarily exposed on occasion, oh well that's life.

In addition, I think many folks give the general public (including most criminals) far too much credit for being able to spot people who carry, be it through manner of dress, holster methods (waistpack) etc. All one needs to do is perform some people watching/observation to see that the vast majority of the population is amazingly oblivious to what goes on around them.

 

[SomeDude]

Wayne and Japle hit the nail on head. The general public is completely oblivious to what is going on around them. I'm 6'4'' 210 pounds and people would walk right into me if I didn't move. They're too busy talking on those moronic Bluetooths, yammering like mindless idiots. You think they're gonna notice the butt end of my pistol poking my shirt?

 

[AKElroy]

I am a Texas CHL holder & the law here defines a weapon as concealed if it avoids detection from casual observation. I carry a G27 in my front pocket, and IT PRINTS. 10 years, and I have never had a comment or a 2nd look. People do not pay attention. LEO's may notice, but in Texas, they ARE NOT casual observers. Covered is good enough, friends.

 

[Deanimator]

Printing can be very bad if you are observed by an anti gun cop. You'll know it when you meet one.

Maybe where you live.

I don't know what you think he's going to do in Ohio. This is an open carry state. I don't have to conceal AT ALL. If a cop here wants to violate my rights because I LAWFULLY carry, I'll gladly accomodate him with a formal complaint and a civil rights suit. He'll know ME. I'll be the guy standing in front of his house wearing a big grin as the Sheriff takes his furniture to auction off to satisfy the judgement I get against him (I'm UTTERLY opposed to settlements in such cases.).

 

[mgregg85]

The only people likely to notice "printing" would be criminals and cops because they are the only ones who would bother to look for such things. Other people will see the bump or outline and probably assume that its a cell phone or something like that.

Now you want to worry about "printing" because you don't want any undue attention or harrassment from the police and you really don't want a criminal to know that you have a gun.

 

[sohcgt2]

I agree with Japle, I am certain that most people are clueless about what goes on around them. If you painted an m-14 in candy stripes guys would ask you for a haircut rather than be concerned about you standing on a corner with an m-14. The only ones that will recognize the "print" are those under the age of 10, not BGs and not LEOs, but little kids will catch you every time.

 

[kmbrman]

Printing

Here in Texas the law in the concealed carry book also covers the subject of accidental exposure of a handgun. If somehow you are shopping say and reach too high up and accidentally expose your firearm ,because your shirt hiked up,the law says this is not a crime or an offence. Also if you leave your gun in plain view in an auto, but an officer who looks through your window cannot readily make out that it is a firearm you are OK. If it can be readily observed as being a firearm though, you are toast, and may lose you liscense!

 

[Diggers]

I really think printing is a non issue.

People have been sticking stuff to their belts now for well over a decade. Phones pagers sunglass cases.....what ever.

If someone happens to notice a bulge at the waste band of a person they don't even think about it, its totally normal these days. The last thing they would thing is gun.

Printing is a concept of a time gone by.

 

[WardenWolf]

Lots of people wear things under their shirts for various reasons. Some people wear an undershirt, some people wear a back brace (or an insulin pump, chemo pump, or any of various other common medical devices), some people let their shirt hang over their cellphone pouch (that's a big one). People put so many things on their belts these days that most people will assume it's a cellphone, a Leatherman, or something OTHER than a gun. Unless you're trying to conceal a full size Super Redhawk .454, you're probably not going to have a problem. With a little creative work, you could probably even conceal it. There's too many distractions in today's life for people to be thinking about things like that, and too many other possibilities that are much more common.

 

[catspa]

In WA since 1994, as I understand it, the holder of a valid CPL can carry concealed or openly. It's hard for me to imagine that if those are both legal, anything in between is going to present a legal problem with anyone except a badge-heavy cop looking for a hassle. We have a few of those, but not many, most cops here don't care unless you show some criminal intent, then they care quite a bit. Also, I haven't seen any case law that invented the offense of carrying "half-concealed". Perhaps justice4all can correct me if there is some.

I have .38sp and .357's that I can carry in a holster, in my pockets, down a boot, tucked around me here or there, and it kinda depends on where I'm going and how big a hurry I'm in which one I take and where I put it. I agree with Mr.510, accessability is more important to me than hiding it 100%. In addition, holding the sidearm in place while I hike, hunt, climb, or crawl is a big deal to me, as I tend to be, ahh... physically active, and having it fall off of me is undesirable, to say the least.

As far as friends fooling around with me and finding it, I don't think much of playfighting/faking a punch/wrestling around/slap-flapping, and my friends know it. I think it's kid stuff. If I'm with somebody who likes to do that, I tell them one time, politely, that I take it seriously. If they persist, I grab a body part and cause them some pain. Not a huge amount, just warning pain. I haven't had a need to go farther, at least with anyone I want to be around. But those who know me well, know that I carry, so it's not a surprise to them.

I live out in the sticks by choice, and guns are more accepted here. In my daily activities, probly almost half the people I see are armed in some manner, or their mother or brother is. Nothing special about me, I'm just another one. If anything, I'll be asked, "Whatcha packin' today? Is it that blued .38 you showed me before?" I can understand how it might be different in an urban or suburban setting, with more people milling around. Still, as has been mentioned, most people there don't notice squat outside their bubble.

Parker

 

[chuckusaret]

casual observation

Here in Florida if you print most people would guess it was a colostomy bag. I use to carry a KelTec in a leather case on my belt similar to a sunglass case but a bit larger.No one ever made a comment no did I get any looks by a LEO

 

[MedWheeler]

Though I've been out of LE since 1991, I still get mistaken for a cop a lot, even when there is no reason (other than that) to think I have a firearm on me. I take some solace in that. If I were to inadvertently print, or otherwise make my weapon's presence known, that's likely what anyone would think. The area in which I live has a lot of LEOs, firefighters, and EMS-ers living in it (I work in EMS now.)

 

[Mainsail]

Here in Florida if you print most people would guess it was a colostomy bag.

OK, that's funny.

 

[Japle]

Quote:
"Here in Florida if you print most people would guess it was a colostomy bag."

OK, that's funny.

Last winter my wife and I took our grandson to the "Medieval Knights" show in Kissimmee, FL. When you walk in the door, they want to take a photo so they can try to sell it to you later. The photographer's assistant was taking everyone's jacket; I guess they thought the pics would look better. I wasn't about to take off my jacket and reveal the Glock 19 on my belt.
The kid got pretty insistant. Finally, I asked him if he knew what a colostomy bag looked like. His eyes got big and he just barely kept himself from taking a step back.
When I saw the pic later, my grandson had a big grin on his face and my wife was looking at the ceiling.

 

[ScareyH22A]

I just received my Raven kydex IWB holster for my Kahr PM9 and it's too concealed! I can't get a grip on the handle to pull the pistol out! Darn, and I've been waiting 45 days for this. Maybe I'm trying not to print too much.

 

[jaholder1971]

In Kansas, concealed is concealed. Printing is what Josten's does to yearbooks at their Topeka plant.

It's a nonissue around here.