Creative answers to the question: "Are you carrying?"

I tend to avoid foolish questions like this.

If I'm asked by a LEO, I will say yes and then proceed to identify myself and produce creds. I can't remember the last time a non-LEO ever even asked me such a question.

For those of you that may think I don't carry off duty. :D

Just to give an example, I recently got drug, kicking and screaming I might add, to a party with a bunch of Engineers from Raytheon in the desert southwest. I was drug there by my better half, and dress was casual. I was wearing Cargo Shorts and flip-flops if that's any indication as to how casual.

I wore two guns, concealed of course and had four reloads, as well as my usual compliment of two knives. Nobody tumbled on to the fact that I was carrying one gun, let alone my usual two.

This is really a question that a concealed carrier or off duty LEO should never receive. If you folks are receiving these questions I would look at two things. First, either your concealment sucks, and needs vast improvement, or you have opened your mouth and let your brains dribble out, telling the world.

Something to think about. BTW: the two guns I was carrying? One was a Browning High Power, the other was a J-Frame.

Biker
 
Back in my folks' day the question was "Are you holding?"
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Latigo
 
It appears I have been censored... probably rightly so :D... my post was a little, uh, crude :D. Just being creative, that was a stipulation by the OP :D, guess I was a little too creative.
 
JasonG said:
As a previous poster said "If its properly concealed, why would they ask?"
Because they bumped into it, or accidentally felt it during a friendly hug or any other way of becoming aware of it outside of visually.

If it is someone I know, I usually just answer to the affirmative if I am, or in the negative if I am not. As long as it's legal and I know the person, what's the big deal? It is especially important to be clear and honest while in someone's home or on their property.

If a stranger were to ask, however, I would just tell them to mind their own business. This has never happened to me.

For Law Enforcement Officers, I would obviously be up front and honest.
 
"... completely depends on who is asking and how they are asking." Absolutely!

However, most, if not all, the serious or semi-ambiguous answers suggested, not being a denial or effectively evasive, are tantamount to admitting you are carrying, or at least likely to be.

Better than smart answers is an effective change of subject. For example, "Carrying ......... hey, did you see that guy almost hit that woman crossing the road :eek: ; should we call it in ...?" etc.

I entertain folks on my private range occasionally, and conversation often turns to concealed carry; I'm happy to tell them all I know about it, so "the question" often arises. Since most of my closest friends don't know I carry, I don't want to answer.

Since I am among gunnies, I can say " it is bad form to ask, because it is to my disadvantage either for people to know if I'm armed or not" :cool: . That is a reasoned ambiguous response.

When a person knows I at least sometimes carry, I'll say no more than "I carry occasionally" when the question is about NOW.

I have never been asked by someone who has no clue about my habits. I'd try to avoid all responses that suggest I know about CC. "Whatever makes you think that?" would reveal what tack to take in dealing with the situation.

They might have seen or felt something, in which case a response is tough :o: . You might get away with "It's a multitool" (to my mind a gun IS a multiool), but if they ask to see the multitool, you are going to have problems and directness may be wisest. Better to say one is a trained, licensed carrier, and ask for confidentiality, than leave doubts, IMO.

C
 
Carrying?

Perhaps I am over cautious. I have never had any one ask me if I was carrying and have been for nearly 30 years. The only time someone did ask, was a co-worker (who carries also) just to make sure when we were in a questionable situation.

I go to great lengths to make sure that my package is not obvious. Wife beater shirt and a loose button up shirt worn on outside of trousers hides nearly anything in warmer weather, otherwise a jacket will hide my ccw.

Transport
 
to a co worker on the job. "no that is against company policy, I may not like the policy, I do like my job."
A family member "since when have I not"
A friend that knows me well will just ask what I am carrying
Other than that the awnser is just "no that is why run every day, keeps the extra weight off, I do not like to cary any extra body weight"
 
All of my friends already know that I am. A cop gets an honest answer. Anyone else SHOULD know better than to ask that kind of question, so I'll just assume they had not spoken. If they get upset that I'm not answering their invasive interrogation, then my only response is, "I have difficulty understanding stupid questioners."
 
My answer varies, depending...

To the friends who know I carry (which is all the time): "I'm dressed, aren't I?"

To the obnoxiously curious: "Are you wearing underwear? If you can get personal, so can I".

To an old (rather attractive female) friend who knew I was a lawman and would commonly ask me - ala Mae West, "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you happy to see me?" I would always respond, "Most certainly!"

As many others, I seldom get asked. Nor am I above telling a blatant lie, if I feel the need.
 
My brother (rudely) asked yesterday in front of the entire family... my parents, wife and kid included. I just told him it's none of his business. He was mad, but he got over it...
 
my condom? yep
no im not pregnant
no I don't have an STD
no I don't have drugs on me
Yes, I am carrying, now try to guess exactly what...
What my prescription? I left it at home, I don't need to take it with me ya know.
yea I always take a pocket knife with me, it has so many uses!
 
To an acquaintance or friend I'm going somewhere with, "Ask me again before we get mugged" or "Ask me again when the car breaks down in the middle of the night"

Never had a stranger ask, but they would get either ignored or something like, "if I was, why would I want tell you?"

Sometimes you can throw people with an exceedingly *formal* response.
"I'm not inclined to volunteer that particular bit of information."
 
Casually: "That's what she said"

Not so casually: "That's what he said" while motioning to the gentleman behind you
When asked who you are talking about, "Oh, I guess he's not here anymore. I wonder why"
 
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