WA State
So it should be easy for the LEOs in WA state to pick these offenders out. Is this a fact?
Yeah, it should be.
Do you mean legit or illegit? I hope I don't give off enuff "markers" to guess if I am or not. As for illegit carriers I just look for bulges from neck to ankles. if some one gets nervous and starts "covering" a particular portion of their body I give them a little closer scrutiny...
One obvious give away.
Others:
Hand resting in clothing or pocket in one place almost constantly.
Constantly adjusting clothing or bag.
Suspicious glances, anxious activity.
The legal carriers are likely to be much more comfortable with their carry, and also more likely to use proper carry methods that don't require constant adjustment/attention.
Also, and flame me if you like, there's a little profiling involved. There is a lot of gang activity in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Most everyone who pays attention to the news knows how these kids dress and act. There are obvious clues as to who they are. Like most gangs they have certain articles of clothing, colors, and other signs that distinguish them.
As a corrallary, we just got a breifing from the MP's that the common crimes, i.e. home invasion, mugging, convenience store robberies, are increasing gang-related.
It stands to reason that if someone meets the description of a gang member, then to disregard them as a non-threat is kinda stupid.
Also, if you have a guy constantly hoisting his pants, covering a pocket, or pulling down his hoodie, or nervously checking out mirrors and security cameras, then he shouldn't be disregarded either.
You may not like it, but there are signs. And yeah, some of them are based on profiling. That's too bad. You dress thug, you get scrutinized like one. You dress like a goth, you get stared at like one, you dress like a freak, you get oogled. It's a shame, but that's the way it is. Great example is me. I wear boots and jeans and a big hat, I get a lot of attention. Also, on days I'm on the bike, I wear a leather jacket and all the appropriate bike trappings. I get a wide berth, and a lot of stares, and even some comments.
People call attention to themselves by what the choose to say, do, or wear. And it does make the LEO's job here a lot easier.
Don't know how it works over in Maine, but that's how it goes here. Too bad they didn't start it sooner, or maybe we could have avoided the '05 shooting here.
Like I tell everyone, you have a right to do pretty much whatever you want. But with that right also comes the responsibility to consider others around you. If you consider the reaction of others and you're still cool with it, go for it, just don't be suprised at the attention people draw.
By the way, the most obviously give-away of the illegal packer is the way they act around authority. If they get nervous, freeze up, or panic around LE or security, there's probably something wrong there.