Concealed Carry etiquette

L

lawnboy

New member
I have a casual acquaintance who I interact with frequently. We have never discussed firearms, concealed carry, self defense or anything gun related as far as I can remember. I see this person at least 2 or 3 times a week. I carry on the standard "how bout this weather (or local sports team, etc)" conversation with him. We are on first name basis.

The issue is, he carries, and it's obvious. This is not that much of a problem, because our state is (more or less) open carry, but it is clear that he is trying to carry concealed and he prints big time. So badly that I can tell you he is carrying a small frame hammerless revolver in a paddle holster.

Question: Should I bring this to his attention?

P.S. Mods, if this is in the wrong place I'm sorry. I thought about putting it in Conference Center\General Discussion and then overruled myself.
 
Good question. I don't know of a good way to mention this, but if it were me I'd say "hey, just FYI, but if you care, you're printing pretty badly."
 
The fact that he is carrying a small hammerless revolver tells me he is trying to conceal it well... I'd say something in a friendly manner and maybe offer up some of your favorite CCW holster makers names.
 
Really do not see why letting him know in a discreet way would be a problem. If he is concerned he can address it and if not you both just move on.
 
Paddles stink. The original purpose was for police detectives who open-carry but need to take it on and off a lot going into jails or otherwise interviewing prisoners (which is usually a no-guns thing).

He needs a pancake type, high-ride, close to the body if he doesn't like IWB as some people don't. Point him at http://simplyrugged.com - they have the best deals in pancake types.
 
It all depends

I guess it all depends on how well you know this person. Then you can guage just how to go about it. I have no problems communicating with my guy buddies nor they with me. You are in the best position on what to say, if anything. I'll just bet, if you give it some thought, you will come up with somethig positive!! I have yet to see my first printing but have seen two open carries at Gun-Shows. Perhaps, for the most part, no one will notice but eventually someone will. Then what? .... :confused:


Be Safe !!!
 
I guess I'm going to mention it to him. I always worry about offending someone by pointing out that they are doing a serious thing in a "wrong" way. I'll have to be diplomatic and avoid making him feel that I think he's doing it "wrong". It's a fine line.

I wish I could just run into him at the range or something where the topic would be more natural. But I have no idea where he shoots.
 
I'd make it a gun conversation. Just ask something along the lines of "what do you carry" then just start talkin' guns. He'll know by then that he's not concealing his gun very well.
 
Just get into a casual conversation with him ....ask about what he uses for a holster, etc ....and why does he like it ....discuss printing ...

maybe he doesn't even know ... and maybe nobody else has said anything ...or he doesn't know who to ask / or how to look for options to fix it.
 
I would agree about starting up a gun conversation, but before asking him what he is carrying I would offer up what you are carrying, the type of holster and so on, it if prints or not and why, once he responds keep the conversation going about his likes then move on to the fact that you noticed that you could see his type of weapon. I would defiantly keep on the friendly side rather than on the accusatory tone. ;)
 
I too would bring it to his attention. I'd probably say something like,"Is that a J frame your carrying ?" I'd let him know it is obvious and then tell him how and what I'm carrying. I've read that off the rack belts will sometimes ..... make that usually, not give enough support to even the best holsters. That may be part of his problem. A true gun belt might hold the weapon closer to the body.
 
He's legal and happy.

I'd ask him what he's packing there. Eventually in the conversation showing or telling how my pancake holster holds the gun high and tight with a no effort retention release. If he likes the set up he'll comment further or figure it out himself and get one.
 
It's sort of like telling a guy his fly is open...

You say that this is a casual acquaintance with whom you engage in mostly small talk. Therefore I see no reason why you should reveal that you carry concealed in order to advise him that he's falling down in the concealment dept.

It's sort of like telling a guy his fly is open (or that he has spinach in his teeth).

Maybe you could just say something like, "Your secret is safe with me, but it appears there's something you're not keeping as concealed as it should be". His first reaction may even be to check his fly! But then you'll probably see it dawn on him what you're actually talking about.

If he asks you if you carry concealed, simply reply, "Why, can you tell?" When he says "No", say "Good. That's the way it should be, don'tcha think? So, how do you like this weather?"

The fewer people who know you carry, the better. Think of the expression "Loose lips sink ships", or the poster from WWII that says "How about a nice hot cup of STFU?" Or the first two rules of "Fight Club":
1) You don't talk about Fight Club.
2) You don't talk about Fight Club!

Personally, I have life-long friends whom I trust enough to have keys to my house and my cars, but I still don't tell them I carry.
They just don't have a need to know.
 
Many good ideas. I'll probably see him tomorrow so I'm going to bring it up. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks all!
 
I'd probably say something like, "Hey, what kind of handgun are you carrying? Looks like maybe a S&W 642?"

And he could take it from the comment that he's obviously printing, and whether he fixes it or not is up to him.

Daryl
 
He may not be overly concerned. I have a very good friend who goes to the same church I do. He is an LEO and wears one of those flowery shirts untucked and always un buttoned in the front.

It is a no brainer that he is carrying and is not trying real hard to conceal it.

There are probably some at church who would be disturbed should he take the outer shirt off. Most probably do not know what they are looking at.

I don't know if I would feel any different about someone I did not know wearing a similar outfit.

Arizona is a gun friendly state and I don't pay much attention to people carrying or not carrying except when it is 110 outside and someone is wearing more than one shirt. Then, I try to figure out what they are carrying.

Funny thing though. . .when I took my CCW class, the instructor came into the room and he looked like he was not carrying a thing. He is a big man but he sure pulled out an arsenal. I never expected to see all the stuff he pulled out of his clothing. If I remember correctly, he had a small semi-auto in RF pocket, a medium size semi auto in the small of the back and a small gun of some sort in a holster on his ankle. He also had several knives and at least two pepper sprays on him as well as a tactical flash light.

I know I was really surprised that he could carry all that stuff and not "clank."

Geetarman:eek:
 
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