Should I say anything about an exposed concealed weapon in public?

[leadcounsel]

Tattle? No. Bad for him personally, Bad karma, and VERY BAD for CCWs in general. Imagine what would follow. Bad press, strip searches at concerts, etc. Leave it be. A few of these and CCWs might become a thing of the past.

Discretely tell him? Yes. I would appreciate it if I were in his position, and I'm sure he would have appreciated it. If nothing else it might prevent someone else from reporting him and leading to the above BAD stuff happening.

 

[Headless]

If I was him, I would have been glad for you to let me know my gun was visible; better you than someone who isn't comfortable with firearms who DOES start screaming "HE'S GOT A GUN! HE'S GOT A GUN!" in the middle of a concert.

 

[learn2shoot]

No Snitching

NO!!!!!!!!!! I really do not understand why people think they need to tattle on other people espically when they are not bothering you. I think CCW laws are a waste of time and could care less if I see someone with a concealed weapon where they are told not to be of even dring 3 beers. Just me I believe people in this country just can not stand to leave people alone. Do you get the urge to call police everytime someone of the freeway is going 5 miles over the speed limit. How about if you caught them smoking tobacco in a non smoking resturant in the bathroom. Or how about if you saw a fisherman keep one fish that was 1" below the length law.

Probably not, but there is a line to be drawn. If you see a person kill another person (neither of which you know) would you tattle? - it isn't bothering me any more than any of the other murders I read about in the paper. What about some one selling crack in a public restroom, or shoplifting at Mega-Low-Mart? What if this 'cop' is not a cop, just a wanna be, and goes out an kills someone in his altered state (perhaps he took a Vikadin too). IMHO - He has already shown bad judgement by drinking while carrying. Would you feel guilty for not talking? I understand your feelings, but I cannot help but feel that this may be the same feeling some people have when seeing people selling crack. I am not trying to preach here, just make a point.

 

[Huddog]

Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions. I also do not like ccw laws which stifle the right to carry in stated situations, especially the one in GA which states "public events". It is wide open to interpretation. By the way, he did conceal his weapon within a few seconds of it becoming exposed. Had he not I may have said something then but fortunately I did not have to make that decision.

 

[03Shadowbob]

I agree with those saying to just let him know discretely that he is showing. If he is a large guy, then 3 large beers probably won't affect him. As far as a previous poster writing that 99% of cops would look down on another cop for having a sip, well, you probably didn't go to the same Academy as I did and probably weren't in the same district as I was.

 

[Seismic Sam]

I'd just look the other way...

You don't know if he's a friendly cop or one of those belligerent self-righteous ones, and three beers just rachets up the uncertainty factor. There's REALLY no point in getting involved with the situation in the first place.

If it were in a venue where you could make a reasonable assumption that the person exposing the hardware was a fellow CCW'er, then I think by all mans that a polite word about his 3 o'clock barn door being open would be appropriate.

 

[RealGun]

fellow CCW'er

My view is that he gets no loyalty from someone who doesn't approve of his drinking significantly while carrying. The point is that creating an incident could be counterproductive to CCW in general. Unless he gets loud, mentions a gun, or starts to reach for it, leave it alone. Telling him his gun is showing without suggesting he cool it with the drinking is not the right move.

 

[Shweboner]

I agree with the earlier post.... people are to quick to get into other peoples business. I dont know maybe that makes them feel important? Its like those idiots in traffic who see a van or truck change lanes without a signal or something silly and call the "how's my driving" # and complain that the driver was out of control... If you want to call someone and get all excited over something stupid... call a ing radio show.


All that aside. Who would get up in the middle of the show, and wander the grounds looking for a cop to tell? Would you go to the unarmed security? Call the police, the FBI? tha ATF.... the moon? Let it go.

Tell the guy in a discrete way that his pistol is exposed. Or let it be. No one else has to know. Put yourself in that situation... would you rather get a quiet tap on the shoulder from a fellow gun owner, or would you rather face off with the SWAT team because some sissy called the cops?


FWIW I had a similar situation in the grocery store... man reaches for a box on the top shelf... as he does his shirt moves above the waistline... as he brought his arm down the shirt falls behind the grip, exposing the pistol. He didn't notice, I did. All I said was, " you might want to fix your shirt" He replied with a sigh of relief and... "thanks for not freaking out" I let him know that I sympathize with his situation and took the opportunity to give him one of my cards... never pass up new customers

 

[Bopleo]

I never understand this why dont you mind your own damn business instead of caring who is printing their gun, or not.

You should only care if the gun is pointed at you or someone you care about.

 

[bpisler]

The pistol had become exposed and not just
printing.If you think someone carrying a
uncovered gun while drinking is helping our
cause i just feel sorry for you.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Are you sure he wasn't drinking O'Doul's?

 

[justashooter]

...and then there was the baltimore county cop who was hassling the wives of the willie dikker band in the glad crab (dallastown pa) 2 years ago. he was being hustled out the door stone drunk when he pulled his peice and got off 3 shots into the roof before the bouncer nailed him.

seem to recall he got slapped on the wrist or something. you guys who read gunboards will remember the story terry posted in the AK section. i heard it firsthand, hanging out there myself, sometimes.

 

[Travis McGee]

Every situation is different, but from what I've read here, I'd give him a quiet "Hey buddy, your weapon is showing." It might wise him up about the beers with the CCW at the same time.

 

[Billy_H]

For what it's worth if I were in a situation where my pistol was showing I'd appreciate it if someone calmly and quietly told me about it so I could remedy the problem.

 

[USMC - Retired]

Actually, if he was a LEO he was breaking no laws, but maybe some departmental policies. Georgia code allows LEOs to carry where CCW holders can not AND while a CCW holder can not go to a place that serves alcohol, there is no retriction for drinking while packing. So say you were packing and stoped by a friends house and had a beer or three and then your wife drove home, you have broken no law besides the law of common sense. Georgia also does not require concealed carry to carry. I often open carry and have never had a problem with it. So if I were packing concealed and happened to show or print it's no big deal as long as I'm not in one of the MANY off limits places.

 

[MikeS.]

I too feel that a quiet polite word to the carrier would have been in order.

We had a similar incident while I was an armed security supervisor at a large venue in Calif. Had 3 men come in carrying concealed. They claimed to be bounty hunters. The door sup called me over and from there I asked them to follow me down to the "pass gate". At pass gate we always had a city PD detective. The detective talked to them and they supplied credentials and 2 warrants. They were allowed to stay and even got 1 of their bail jumpers.

MikeS.

 

[Glockfan.45]

I wouldnt see anything wrong with politely taping him on the shoulder, and telling him he's flashing. Its kinda like letting someone know they got a booger on the end of there nose. Unless you were sure he was a LEO then just leave him alone.

 

[ezypikns]

If I don't KNOW this individual.......

I,m not saying a word.

 

[jackdempsey]

im from memphis when i was 16 i went to music fest
its a mutiband festival that has 20-30 thousand in attendence
this year they had a bungi jump you could do
as i was watching a man do it a naa 22lr revolver fell from his pants sum 40 feet and hit the ground i ran under the rope and grabbed it and stuck it in my pocket i had thoughts of running off but instead waited on the man and gave it back telling no one his breath reaked of booze too he was very appreciative (as guns are banned there ) and showed it by slipping me a couple 20's i thought about telling but didnt and never been a thief but at 16 it was such a cool tiny gun and would easily have gotten away as he was hanging from his heels 40' in the air plus a crowd of 20000
nobody got shot that year so i feel i did the right thing

 

[dodo bird]

Had an gentleman have most of his full size 92fs showing tonight at local bbq joint. I could not resist to let him know. Place was half full. It was obvious he was not a officer. I politely told him and he thanked me. BTW we are talking about a no open carry state.

 

[CaneCorso85]

Alcohol and CCW is a funny subject. I'm an LEO and personally, I understand that you are very likely to run into the same bad guys you put behind bars years prior, while you're out to dinner or possibly having a drink. Despite how I (and I'm sure the rest of you) feel about CCW laws, an excessive amount of alcohol and CCW is a bad mix. As an LEO and a law abiding CCW holder it should be a fairly common sense issue. If you're carrying, do not drink beyond reason. You can't be obliterated AND a responsible citizen at the same time. One or two beers isn't going to impair most peoples judgement though. Just my thoughts.

 

[R.W.Dale]

No

The first and most important rule of ccw (well aside from use a holster) is MIND YOUR OWN ---- BUISNESS!

ccw and nosy mixes about as well as ccw and drinking. If that debacle in Florida teaches us anything its that as a ccw you don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong.

posted via mobile device.

 

[dodo bird]

My instance tonight involved no drinking. Just a friendly comment. Concealed means concealed. I would hope someone esle would do the same for me. Especially before some anti called the police on me just because my shirt didn't cover me up.

 

[BUCKrub91]

I would have told the guy his gun was showing

Then I would have proceeded to mind my own business

 

[friscolatchi]

Old post. It would have been perfectly legal in NY. I would have not said anything.