I voted, "no, lie". Why give up your best advantage: the element of surprise, so you can become a target for someone who wants to steal your gun by getting the jump on you? If they ask in such a way that you think that they are going to attack or otherwise accost you in some way, they will find out soon enough when they see that you lied to them.
Someone asks: "Do you carry?" What do you say?
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armoredman
New member
Coworkers know, they see my drop my off duty in the gun locker before I go pick up my issued pistola. 
Friends who know me know, except for the acquaintances I am not so sure of. Concealed is the best way - I have some friends I hang out with still don't know I carry, and that carrying this full size Phantom under a t-shirt in AZ summer weather. 
Strangers on the street just see a guy with a fat belly and untucked t-shirt.
Friends who know me know, except for the acquaintances I am not so sure of. Concealed is the best way - I have some friends I hang out with still don't know I carry, and that carrying this full size Phantom under a t-shirt in AZ summer weather. Strangers on the street just see a guy with a fat belly and untucked t-shirt.
Crazy88Fingers
New member
"You may never know."
40caljustice
New member
"If I tell ya, I'd have to kill ya!"
Ok I'm joking. If I'm ever asked I would say something smart like "Sure am. Car keys, wallet and cellular." Or "Not much. Just a few extra pounds. I joined weight watchers though." I tend to keep quiet while others share their secrets. The important folks in my life already know I have their backs if need be.
Ok I'm joking. If I'm ever asked I would say something smart like "Sure am. Car keys, wallet and cellular." Or "Not much. Just a few extra pounds. I joined weight watchers though." I tend to keep quiet while others share their secrets. The important folks in my life already know I have their backs if need be.
Southern Rebel
New member
I usually just give them a joking answer, such as:
"Naw, the penicillin cured that problem!"
or
"Real men don't discuss their sex life or their six shooters!"
After enough lame jokes, they usually get the hint. If not, I start asking personal questions of them. After all, time about is fair play.
"Naw, the penicillin cured that problem!"
or
"Real men don't discuss their sex life or their six shooters!"
After enough lame jokes, they usually get the hint. If not, I start asking personal questions of them. After all, time about is fair play.
Carne Frio
New member
"No, I'm just happy to see you."
youngunz4life
New member
It depends on who is asking, and the issue has never come up.
JustThisGuy
New member
This question, posed in a normal social setting (not a gun culture setting), is as inappropriate as asking someone what is the available credit limit on the credit cards they are carrying.
No one, absolutely no one has any business knowing that. If it is illegal to "print" or accidentally expose the weapon, asking this is the verbal equivalent of asking a CHL holder to show everyone his weapon, which could, for example in a restaurant, be prosecuted as brandishing.
To answer yes is to pass on private information that could put you or your family or friends at risk to someone with ill intent. Even if no one there is a threat, their off-hand recounting of the event could jeopardize your privacy and place you at risk by someone they recounted the story to, or so forth on to their friends. Additionally, it puts you at risk of having to deal with anti-gun advocates in this group or as above, when recounted to others.
I too would turn the question back to "What, do you want to know the size condom I use?", or something equally outrageous. And I would continue to do that until they get the hint. If they fail to get the hint, I would ask them if they carry, and get a conversation going on the merits of gun-control vs. the right of self-defense. Who knows, maybe some education could result. But in any case, I would never take a position on the subject, but just act as the moderator.
I would not ever want to lose the advantage that concealed carry offers.
No one, absolutely no one has any business knowing that. If it is illegal to "print" or accidentally expose the weapon, asking this is the verbal equivalent of asking a CHL holder to show everyone his weapon, which could, for example in a restaurant, be prosecuted as brandishing.
To answer yes is to pass on private information that could put you or your family or friends at risk to someone with ill intent. Even if no one there is a threat, their off-hand recounting of the event could jeopardize your privacy and place you at risk by someone they recounted the story to, or so forth on to their friends. Additionally, it puts you at risk of having to deal with anti-gun advocates in this group or as above, when recounted to others.
I too would turn the question back to "What, do you want to know the size condom I use?", or something equally outrageous. And I would continue to do that until they get the hint. If they fail to get the hint, I would ask them if they carry, and get a conversation going on the merits of gun-control vs. the right of self-defense. Who knows, maybe some education could result. But in any case, I would never take a position on the subject, but just act as the moderator.
I would not ever want to lose the advantage that concealed carry offers.
I am a college faculty member in Detroit. I serve as a source of CCW/CPL information for students and sometimes other faculty members. Since I offer CCW/CPL information, I am not asked whether I carry. The most often asked question is, "Are you carrying right now?"
The answer is, "I carry when and where legal. Since I am now on campus, I am probably going into a classroom where it is not legal. So, no, I am not carrying now."
Since this is Detroit, no one seems upset by the discussion of guns; and, usually, at least one young lady per class tells me that she already has her CCW/CPL and is a gun owner.
The answer is, "I carry when and where legal. Since I am now on campus, I am probably going into a classroom where it is not legal. So, no, I am not carrying now."
Since this is Detroit, no one seems upset by the discussion of guns; and, usually, at least one young lady per class tells me that she already has her CCW/CPL and is a gun owner.
Ringolevio
Moderator
Secguru:
Hear, hear! to everything you said! And also to the poster who advocated saying absolutely nothing!
My own approach, however, would be to give 'em a big Cheshire cat grin, look 'em right in the eye, and say, "Golly, it's a beautiful day today, isn't it? Don't ya love it when the sky is so nice and blue, and the clouds are so white and fluffy?"
Most people will catch on that their line of questioning is going nowhere.
"Do I carry? Y'mean, for protection? Naw, I brush with Colgate, so I have that invisible protective shield."
Hear, hear! to everything you said! And also to the poster who advocated saying absolutely nothing!
My own approach, however, would be to give 'em a big Cheshire cat grin, look 'em right in the eye, and say, "Golly, it's a beautiful day today, isn't it? Don't ya love it when the sky is so nice and blue, and the clouds are so white and fluffy?"
Most people will catch on that their line of questioning is going nowhere.
"Do I carry? Y'mean, for protection? Naw, I brush with Colgate, so I have that invisible protective shield."
Do you carry?
I have never been asked if I was carrying by anyone other than a fellow CHL carrier. A fellow CHL carrier asked me if I was carrying when we had a funeral at our church last week. We have a Shepherd’s Ministry at our church with the approval of the church staff and both of us are members of this ministry. When he asked me if I was carrying I told him the only time I didn't carry was when I was in the shower and when I was asleep and then my firearm was lying beside me on the table next to my bed.
I have never been asked if I was carrying by anyone other than a fellow CHL carrier. A fellow CHL carrier asked me if I was carrying when we had a funeral at our church last week. We have a Shepherd’s Ministry at our church with the approval of the church staff and both of us are members of this ministry. When he asked me if I was carrying I told him the only time I didn't carry was when I was in the shower and when I was asleep and then my firearm was lying beside me on the table next to my bed.
My most recent response was, "Well, if I were, no one should know." which led to an interesting discussion about why open carry as a deterrent isn't such a bright idea...would you rather have guys thinking, "Yeah, we can take out the two guys with guns", or "We have no idea how many, if any, are carrying".
I voted "Ambiguous and/or witty remark." IMHO, as others have pointed out, situation would determine my answer.
Also, being LEO, I'm carrying 98% of the time, as also pointed out, only not carrying when in the shower or in bed, and even then, something is very close at hand.
Also, being LEO, I'm carrying 98% of the time, as also pointed out, only not carrying when in the shower or in bed, and even then, something is very close at hand.