Someone asks: "Do you carry?" What do you say?

What do you say?

  • Yes, tell the truth.

    Votes: 39 30.7%

  • No, lie.

    Votes: 16 12.6%

  • Ambiguous and/or witty remark.

    Votes: 72 56.7%
  • Total voters
    127
  • Poll closed .
My reply is an honest one, "Sometimes..."

No one knows whether this time is one of those times or not, and they don't need to know so they assume that anytime could be one of those times... or not one of those times.
 
I haven't been asked if I was carrying yet. I have been asked twice if I have a CCW. First was my son. I said yes. Second time was a coworker, where several people could hear. I said "In Missouri, you never know who has one. And it's good for bad guys to wonder who might be carrying."
 
Depends

There are people in my life who are in a position to ask me a question and receive an honest answer.

Others, casual acquaintances and strangers, who ask personal or intimate questions, aren't entitled to the same candor owed to friends and family.
 
Given that my chosen life's work is to educate people about concealed carry, I often answer, "Of course. Do you want to know how I conceal the firearm, or are you just wondering why I would bother?"

As the conversation unfolds, I do always make a point of reminding the asker that I do not want them to tell anyone that I have a gun, or prod me to react if something happens while we're together. I add that if I haven't responded to an apparent threat, I probably have a good reason and it sure isn't because I've forgotten I'm armed! :)

pax
 
More than likely I would prefer not to disclose the fact if I'm carrying or not. Having the element of surprise on your side is always better than the alternative.

Or if its a group of familiar (not close) friends, I would make a witty remark like "Yea, I always carry a big weapon... in my crotch" :D
 
Don't spill your guts; don't put your business in the street.

pax:
As the conversation unfolds, I do always make a point of reminding the asker that I do not want them to tell anyone that I have a gun, or prod me to react if something happens while we're together. I add that if I haven't responded to an apparent threat, I probably have a good reason and it sure isn't because I've forgotten I'm armed!
Click to expand...

pax, y'know I luv ya, but lots o'luck getting folks to keep a confidence or not do something just because you've asked them nicely.

Loose lips sink ships; I know you consider it your life's work to be an advocate and ambassador for concealed carry (and I admire that!), but in conversation I think it's still better to discuss it hypothetically and to speak in the third person.

In the relative anonymity of this forum, I don't mind revealing certain things that I would never reveal face-to-face, even to intimates. Remember what G. Gordon Liddy says: "3 people can keep a secret if 2 of them are dead."

Always carry; never tell!
 
Ringolevio,

Context is everything. :) There are very few people in my life who don't know what I do for a living: I teach firearms classes, I write articles about firearms, and I edit a magazine about concealed carry.

Given all that, for me, there's no point at all in dodging the question. Nobody with an ounce of sense would believe a denial, and being coy about my carry status would make it even more obvious.

So the only thing I can safely do is to hold my head high, answer the questions as best I can, and educate them about concealed carry -- including what not to say if something happens while I'm around. YMMV and probably does.

pax
 
Among friends and family my answer is the same as Big P's, "only when I have my pants on." I don't hear very well so in other situations I simply won't respond to the question.
 
People don't usually ask me that question as I only conceal in the winter and only then because I have a coat on.

A more proper question for me would be Why do you carry...answer "because I can" I am not doing anythin illegal, why should I hide it.
 
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