What is "printing"?

F

FUD

Moderator
Is the bulge from the tip of a barrel of a pistol running down the side of you leg under your pants considered "printing"? What about the butt of a pistol causing a bulge under your shirt along your waist line? If it's not recognizable as a gun, is it "printing" or just a bulge?
Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
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I would call it printing because so many people have CCW's that they would probably know for sure. According to OK law you may not allow your weapon to "bulge" or "print". You have to hope that a fellow CCW holder would just tell you and not run tell the LEOs but you never know any more.
 
I think "printing" happens when it looks like a gun is there under your clothing. And this is lifted verbatim from the FL Department of State web page: The Florida Legislature defined a concealed firearm as any firearm "carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal it from the ordinary sight of another person". The web page is available here Personally, with the proliferation of cell phones and those humongous pagers coming out now, if it is not readily recognizable as a gun, I wouldn't worry about a bulge.

-sarah
 
Interesting topic.

I've scoped 3 people carrying concealed here in San Diego in about the last year. FYI, it's almost impossible to get a concealed carry license.

First guy was at a park with his kids. It was 90 degrees and he's wearing long pants. He and a bunch of other parents were at a kid's birthday party. Something about the group (sorry for the stereotype, LEOs) screamed "COPS!" Anyway, his pants were too tight around the ankles and I made out his roscoe in an ankle rig. The whole group was LEOs (no uniforms, but I know what I know) so I wasn't too concerned.

Second lady had the classic black "tactical" fanny pack. Bianchi, I believe. Not 100% sure she was packin', but my gut told me she was. Not too smart, really. Those things stick out like a sore thumb (to me anyway) and with a little close observation you can confirm they're not an ordinary fanny pack. Will probably fool 95% + of the people, though.

Third guy had a "wanna be" look to him. Once again, 90+ degrees out, he's wearing pants so big around the waist they would have fallen right to the floor without a belt. On top of that, he's got the classic "look at me, I'm carrying" photographer/fishing vest on. I followed him somewhat around Costco until I saw him lean over at the waist, confirming my suspicion. He didn't print per se, but the "bulge" was definitely there.

I wasn't too riled about any of them, but it makes you wonder how many are uh... how shall we say? Disregarding unConstitutional laws here in the PRK.
 
There are two main trains of thought on this one:

1. If it is obviously a gun to anyone, it is printing. (Duh.)

2. If it is obviously a gun to people who know what to look for, it is printing. The police fall into this category. They decide, not the carrier, what printing is and isn't. I'd adhere to the rules of this train of thought, if I were you.
 
Seems to me like printing would also be function of where you are.

Whats good enough for out in public where you have short term interactions with random people and generous zones of "personal space" is not good enough for a for a closenit environment where you have multiple interactions, less formal interactions and reduced personal spaces.
 
Get a set of duds that are silkscreened with prints of guns ALL OVER them. 75 guns printed on you. Covert camo.
 
"Printing" is like farting in a crowded elevator...just plain bad manners. Furthermore, in addition to being rude, it's a major tactical liability. Stay safe.
 
Around here printing would lead to an arrest. "May issue" means no CHLs, in practice. The only people I sportted were either security (Mall of America droids with very obvious full-size Glocks in fanny packs) or gangbangers (like a gent trying to get the courage to rob a restaurant I was visiting). Real people tend to be discreet.
 
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