probably a really dumb question

F

floydpink

New member
but it's really been on my mind and I gotta ask.

Say you are in a friend's house who is into guns or collects guns and the conversation comes up about what weapon is your carry choice.

Common sense seems to dictate that discretion is always the best option and NEVER display your firearm unless it is in your own house. I would think that doing otherwise would put you in risk of being charged with brandishing a weapon.

I probably answered my own question, but if I missed something, I'd love to hear from the much more knowlegeable members here, as I would guess there are many who come in contact with others who are gun collectors.

The reason I ask this question is because I go to a bike night many Tuesdays near my house and one of the patches on a vest I sometimes wear has my NRA life member patch they sent me and a guy who hangs out there brought up the question of how I carry. I pointed to my vest pocket and he proceded to lift his shirt to display a Glock 19 IWB holstered.

I felt it was bad judgement considering the parking lot was full and chose to walk away. He seemed to feel it was perfectly normal behavior.
 
A person should never display a weapon in public view, unless you have to, by self defense or LE asking to see it. As far as the person wanting to see your firearm in his or her own home. I would say yea let them see it, its private property not in view of the public. Just make sure you unload it and check the chamber before handing it to them. IMO if you cant trust a person enough to show them your gun, then you shouldn't be in their home. And by the way I would not have pointed to my vest pocket, when you CCW, only you need to know where it is.
 
I'd feel comfortable just telling the person what I got, but not revealing it in public unless you know there's no one around to care. Surprisingly there are some places around where I live where I'd have no problem showing a gun in front of a bunch of people in a public place, but it doesn't sound like you were in a place like that.

And yes you could get charged with brandishing a weapon if someone wanted to be anal about it and report you.
 
I felt it was bad judgement considering the parking lot was full and chose to walk away. He seemed to feel it was perfectly normal behavior.
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It was. You can tell folks that you're carrying (if you decide it's appropriate) without visual aids.
 
I prefer that noone know that/what/where I'm carrying. My girlfriend lives with me and doesn't even know if I'm carrying unless she happens to be around when I'm getting dressed. We went out of town yesterday to do some shopping and she didn't know if I was carrying or not until at least six hours after we left our home. She asked if I was when I was looking at holsters and took one up to the gun counter to see would let me try a jframe out in it. She asked why I didn't just pull mine out to see how it fit, or had I left it at home (I explained to her why I didn't).
 
I personally would never show my piece out in public anywhere unless im planning on using it. I would be carefull about who I show it to and where.
 
floydpink, how are ya? No such thing as dumb question! Foolish thing to brandish in public. May get you hassled/arrested and there goes your CCP. As far as at someones house thats a gun enthusiast also, don`t see a problem as long as safety concerns are met and its ok with all parties concerned.
 
floydpink said:
Say you are in a friend's house who is into guns or collects guns and the conversation comes up about what weapon is your carry choice.

Common sense seems to dictate that discretion is always the best option and NEVER display your firearm unless it is in your own house.
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Depends on the friend and whom else is there. If it's just me and my gun-owning friend, perhaps others of his family, my wife, or others that are gun-owners, I'd have no problem. But if there was a party going on, with a house-full of non-gun-owning types: Of course not.

floydpink said:
I would think that doing otherwise would put you in risk of being charged with brandishing a weapon.
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In the private home of a close friend who's also a gun owner?

Look: Merely allowing your (normally concealed) firearm to be seen does not necessarily constitute "brandishing." It all depends on the scenario, how it becomes visible, etc. Of course anybody can try to make a mountain out of a mole hill, and who needs the grief, but unless you're displaying a firearm in a manner that could be interpreted as threatening, hostile, etc., it's not brandishing. N.B.: IANAL.
 
I have shown mine a few times in public But it was at the gun club and talking about concealed carry:eek: Would I do it any where else NO:)
 
I have shown mine to an employee of a gun shop (in the gun shop and with his permission) - usually for the purpose of fitting a holster or set of grips. Nowhere else.
 
comn-cents said:
great way to lose his carry permit. uncool!
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That isn't necessarily true. Depending on local gun laws, there's nothing unlawful displaying a holstered firearm. It could very well be classified as open carry. Stupid? Probably. Unlawful. Not necessarily...
 
I guess it comes down to your definition of "friend." I would unhesitatingly clear and hand over for brief inspection my pistol(s) to any of my friends who asked to see them. The only caveats: not among mixed (non-friends to me) company and not any drinking has occurred.
 
thats why i love new mexico, if i go jogging at night i can carry my handgun out in the open and the cops dont bother me. and it seems to keep the wannabe tough guys away too
 
Common sense seems to dictate that discretion is always the best option and NEVER display your firearm unless it is in your own house. I would think that doing otherwise would put you in risk of being charged with brandishing a weapon.
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I take the concept somewhat further. I will never, ever show anyone my carry weapon. I will not discuss whether or not I am carrying with anybody - ever. I fullly admit that I take the idea of "concealed means concealed" to the nth degree. The weapon that I really fear is the idle tongue that spreads my personal business far and wide. So, I just keep it to myself.
 
right, in a public place- NEVER- that isn't the place for it. in a private residence and the owner of the house asks, sure, AFTER you unload it.
 
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