Concealed Carry etiquette

I don't see a problem with discreetly bringing it to his attention. There have been some good suggestions on how to go about it. If he cares that he's printing, you'll have done him a favor. If not, then not. I do not see any need for you to tell him that you carry, though. How you answer if he asks, . . . up to you.
 
TRUE STORY


I was with my friends, sitting out here in Miami at a cafe after dark...Having some Cuban coffee, with Cuban bread and butter..I'm sitting with my back facing the cafe, my buddy who is a LEO..Not in uniform, plain clothes, badge not visible, I.D. not visible..His back is towards the street, so across from me. Next to me is another friend who carries to my right.

We're sitting down..Life is good, when a DT in an unmarked undercover vehicle comes out starts heading to the window of the cafe..Pauses, turns, dashes for the LEO's firearm, draws his places it on the LEO's chest and said "Don't you _______ move! Don't move!" Both are police officers, friend on my right and I are screaming " He's police, he's police!" Quickest thing we can say, they had yelling words dropped down, caused a scene, he said he thought the LEO was reaching for his piece which was at 4:30...Wow...what a night.


Imagine if that went the wrong way...and the DT undercover wasn't stronger and didn't have 15+ years under his belt? I don't know how that was diffused between the two of them it happened in 40-60 seconds but felt like a lifetime, and when you look back at it feels like a flash. Cause it was so wrong!


Anyways, try not to print. Just a story.



And about your acquaintance, everyone is kinda right..Cool, calm, collect..."You're printing a bit there buddy boy"
 
I say it'd be much appreciated!

I know I'd want people to tell me if it was obvious,I would do the same for them without question. I'm fortunate enough to live in a state and locality that doesn't make an issue of carrying.
 
It worked out good. I just said, "hey bud, you're printing". He actually had no idea what I meant so I chuckled and said "your gun is showing". His eyes got big and he put on a jacket. Then we were talking for a few minutes. I mentioned that I'd noticed before. He said thanks and he'd have to start paying more attention.

Turns out his wife is big into fashion. She pushes him to wear stylish type clothes, which tend not to be big and baggy. Fine if you're wearing a jacket, but no good for concealed carry otherwise. He's a thinner guy too so no concealing bulges. He's gonna look into ankle holsters. I don't really like that idea, but he's an adult so its up to him.

It's a Taurus 850 in .38 special.

Thanks for all the ideas and advice all.
 
Always watchful...

Constantine:
I'm sitting with my back facing the cafe, my buddy who is a LEO..Not in uniform, plain clothes, badge not visible, I.D. not visible..His back is towards the street, so across from me. Next to me is another friend who carries to my right.
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Why would anyone, LEO or not, armed or not, sit with his back to the street? I sit in sidewalk cafes all the time, but never with my back to the street. I sit with my back against the wall or window, and I take great care not to print or expose. Inside any cafe or restaurant, if I can't sit with my back to the wall and facing the door, I don't sit. It's an old habit from long before I routinely carried; I grew up around guys who didn't like surprises; it was just part of being "street smart".

It makes even more sense now that I'm a geezer and my peripheral vision is no longer what it once was.
 
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Me too

Why would anyone, LEO or not, armed or not, sit with his back to the street? I sit in sidewalk cafes all the time, but never with my back to the street. I sit with my back against the wall or window, and I take great care not to print or expose. Inside any cafe or restaurant, if I can't sit with my back to the wall and facing the door, I don't sit. It's an old habit from long before I routinely carried; I grew up around guys who didn't like surprises; it was just part of being "street smart".

It makes even more sense now that I'm a geezer and my peripheral vision is no longer what it once was.
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Very, very well said & I agree 100%.

As for the original question posed, I would nice & diplomatic like tell my buddy that he's showing that he's armed & that he may want to examine how he loads up a little closer.
 
Glad all turned out well, lawnboy. Being a day late and a dollar short, I'd add another piece of advice in case you happen to run into a similar scenario again. If you ever have to approach someone again and they blow it off as no big deal, I'd leave it at that. Although most agree printing isn't the best thing to do, others may be a bit defensive on the subject. Let the sleeping dog lie...

Ringolevio said:
Why would anyone, LEO or not, armed or not, sit with his back to the street?
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Because not everyone can sit as such in a restaurant/cafe...
 
Why would anyone, LEO or not, armed or not, sit with his back to the street? I sit in sidewalk cafes all the time, but never with my back to the street. I sit with my back against the wall or window, and I take great care not to print or expose. Inside any cafe or restaurant, if I can't sit with my back to the wall and facing the door, I don't sit. It's an old habit from long before I routinely carried; I grew up around guys who didn't like surprises; it was just part of being "street smart".

It makes even more sense now that I'm a geezer and my peripheral vision is no longer what it once was.
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I don't get what your trying to get at. Besides being packed, maybe you're right, next time I'll tell him to flip someone off their chair and say "I'm sitting her! Back to the cafe! Police officer! MOVE!" that makes more sense.


Maybe try googling Miami, Florida and you'll see how packed it is. I can take 100 pictures of a place where there is no choice to sit that way.
 
Back to the door? NO WAY!

I wrote:
Why would anyone, LEO or not, armed or not, sit with his back to the street? I sit in sidewalk cafes all the time, but never with my back to the street. I sit with my back against the wall or window, and I take great care not to print or expose. Inside any cafe or restaurant, if I can't sit with my back to the wall and facing the door, I don't sit. It's an old habit from long before I routinely carried; I grew up around guys who didn't like surprises; it was just part of being "street smart".

It makes even more sense now that I'm a geezer and my peripheral vision is no longer what it once was.
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Constantine wrote:
I don't get what your trying to get at. Besides being packed, maybe you're right, next time I'll tell him to flip someone off their chair and say "I'm sitting her! Back to the cafe! Police officer! MOVE!" that makes more sense.

Maybe try googling Miami, Florida and you'll see how packed it is. I can take 100 pictures of a place where there is no choice to sit that way.
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'Sorry, but there is no restaurant or cafe I want to dine in or hang out in badly enough to sit with my back to the street or door. I will not give up the tactical advantage of seeing what's coming.

You can call it paranoia on my part; I call it caution. Either way, it has served me well.

Of course you don't ask someone to move! If it's that crowded, I don't need to be there. In a tony joint, it might be a matter of patching the Maitre D' for a preferred table. Most diners wouldn't like to be seated in back near the kitchen door; tactically, I'd prefer such a location (for the escape option as well).

Truth be told, I don't have much occasion these days to dine in a joint with a Maitre D'! But even in a luncheonette, as much as I like to sit at the counter, I will not do so if it puts my back to the door.

If you're going to take the responsibility of being a LEO or an armed citizen (or you just want to see trouble before it sees you!) you have to make certain adjustments.
 
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.
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This is completely foreign to me.

If I had any kind of acquaintance that interacted with frequently and I had even the slightest notion that he owns guns,. shoots or carries, we'd be discussing it.

It wouldn't be like me at all to NOT be discussing guns with someone who is a "gun guy." As such, it wouldn't be like breaking the ice and letting him know for me... because we'd have long since discussed it.
 
Sorry, but there is no restaurant or cafe I want to dine in or hang out in badly enough to sit with my back to the street or door. I will not give up the tactical advantage of seeing what's coming.
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I, I, I, I, I....

Yes...you, you, you, you.


And there's also...me, me, me, me, me...


See? Everything is okay now. You won't change him.

By the way, it was an outdoor seating place. I sat where I can see all who walk up to the hole in the wall cafe. (Not walk in cafe)



I mean...I understand if you lived here and know where I was and who I was with and why...But, what I don't understand is what your arguing with me about? State your opinion...Has nothing to do with me. If you'd like I'll ask my LEO friend why he chose to sit that way.
 
Dam constantine no need to become so hostile, he was just stating his stance on the matter. I really hope you don't anger so quickly while carrying especially in the city we live in , which is already filled with impulsive people.

OP nice way of going about it, its always good to help a fellow shooter out, unless that fellow shooters gun jams in the middle of a bank robbery then theres no need.

I actually was at wallmart buying some rounds and a sharpening stone for my new ka-bar usmc knife and i was waiting infront of the glass for an hour for someone to open up to get me some 9mm and 12ga when i fell into a conversation with a fellow shooter who i guess had experience waiting for rounds and he really helped out by going to the auto service center and getting us some help. I dont understand how liberals can hate guns, we seem to be decent folk. CRIMINALS ARE NOT GUN GUYS.

Late night ramble i apologize :o
 
Dam constantine no need to become so hostile, he was just stating his stance on the matter. I really hope you don't anger so quickly while carrying especially in the city we live in , which is already filled with impulsive people.
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Internet words have a way of distorting tones of voice and light humor depending on the reader. :D


Doesn't the 5:00 traffic suck?


Wait...that was in 2005....that's a constant thing now. lol


I've seen very few printing by the way, living here. Also, did you know that the little plaza where LA Fitness is on Kendall and 122nd...movie theater and such...Put up a sign "No illegal weapons" Ok...we're good..Then next to it another sign "No weapons of any kind allowed on premises.

What the???
 
Tradecraft, concealment, "printing"...

Over the years, I've seen US military service members, PIs, armed citizens, EP/executive protection agents, PIs, and sworn LE officers print or carry firearms incorrectly.
To me it's a matter of tradecraft or a sign of a true "professional" ;).
In the novel; The Protector, the main character is a former Delta Force member turned bodyguard. The author, David Merill(check spelling) goes into detail about clothing, tailoring, concealment etc.
Former US Army Ranger & spec ops unit member Eric Haney(E-9/retired) wrote in his non fiction book about his service career that COL Charles "Charging Charlie" Beckwith brought in a "fashion expert" to advise the unit about plainclothes ops(suits, formal wear, etc). ;)

As for the "friend" I'd ask him what his thoughts were about holsters, concealment etc, then I'd "suggest" some other gear or carry methods.

ClydeFrog
 
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