Okay, here is a common situation that I find. At church this really isn't an issue since I don't carry at church, but people my age that are there for instance will walk up to me, kidding me about wearing a suit or sportcoat and tie (I'm 28). They will walk up and knock on the side of my hip at 4 o'clock postion and say "hey you must be FBI or something." Ho ho and Ha ha, no big deal. Ahem...however, what do you do when people do that outside of church when you ARE carrying (I commonly wear a sport coat to conceal). Sportcoat or not I am either carrying my .38 4 inch on my hip or my .32 mag snub in my pocket. People every now and then will kid and joke about searching me or something for whatever reason. They don't know I have a gun....but how do you avoid these situations when it takes you to the brink of them finding out you have one.....
....And, if they do find out. Like if someone walks up and pats you down from behind laughing and suddenly stops laughing when they hit a "CLUMP" when their hand hits my pocket or discovers a gun under my coat, what do you do?!!!!
I came VERY close to facing this situation today when in someones office building with my .32 in my pocket. (It wasn't about anything serious at all. The gun wasn't showing and the comments and humor had nothing to do with a gun but something else, but it was humorously suggested that I be searched before I left. I half expected someone to jump up fooling around and start pating down my sides. Someone even noted that my face turned red when it was said that I needed to be searched. Another person pointed out that "i must be walking out of here with something because I shifted all my weight to one leg standing to my side. The person didn't know it was because I had a gun. My face apparently then turned red as someone noted. yikes.)
I ask myself this question today after leaving that office. What do you do?First thing would be to appreciate the humor they approached me with and laugh with them even after they found the gun to put them at ease and know that I am still me and we are all still friends here.
Second would be to calmly pull my wallet and produce my license and tell them it's okay, I'm legal.
BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT GET TO THAT POINT AND AVOID IT. As I put it to my CHL instructor. I need to guard the gun like Clark Kent keeping his secret identity.
BUT, what if that is not enough for them or if someone should call the police or if just a policeman should happen to be standing in the midst of this, do I get in trouble? I mean, I WOULDN"T HAVE REVEALED MY GUN the person kidding around would have.
....And, if they do find out. Like if someone walks up and pats you down from behind laughing and suddenly stops laughing when they hit a "CLUMP" when their hand hits my pocket or discovers a gun under my coat, what do you do?!!!!
I came VERY close to facing this situation today when in someones office building with my .32 in my pocket. (It wasn't about anything serious at all. The gun wasn't showing and the comments and humor had nothing to do with a gun but something else, but it was humorously suggested that I be searched before I left. I half expected someone to jump up fooling around and start pating down my sides. Someone even noted that my face turned red when it was said that I needed to be searched. Another person pointed out that "i must be walking out of here with something because I shifted all my weight to one leg standing to my side. The person didn't know it was because I had a gun. My face apparently then turned red as someone noted. yikes.)
I ask myself this question today after leaving that office. What do you do?First thing would be to appreciate the humor they approached me with and laugh with them even after they found the gun to put them at ease and know that I am still me and we are all still friends here.
Second would be to calmly pull my wallet and produce my license and tell them it's okay, I'm legal.
BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT GET TO THAT POINT AND AVOID IT. As I put it to my CHL instructor. I need to guard the gun like Clark Kent keeping his secret identity.
BUT, what if that is not enough for them or if someone should call the police or if just a policeman should happen to be standing in the midst of this, do I get in trouble? I mean, I WOULDN"T HAVE REVEALED MY GUN the person kidding around would have.