invention_45
New member
In another thread, Hal posted a link about a CCL-carrier who got into an incident with an aggressive jerk. There was some indecision on the gun carrier's part as to whether he should, at some point during the incident, ditch the weapon before further trouble developed. The jerk saw the weapon at this point and was able to cause our fearless carrier to end up in court for brandishing.
I have had a somewhat similar situation, in that I have been threatened by a jerk to be accused of "pulling a gun". This person had seen my gun during a visit to my home. Later, we had a disagreement and, having seen the gun, decided to threaten me that he would call the police and claim I pulled it on him if I didn't do what he wanted. Luckily, in my case, he was stupid enough to make this threat to my voice mail, which I of course kept a copy of.
A month or so later, I sold the gun and then subsequently bought a new one that looked somewhat different. I know that, ordinarily, this move could make me look guilty, but I had that voicemail message.
Had I never shown the gun (it was shown in the spirit of "this is here. don't mess with it", for safety), there could have been no problem.
All I would have had to do in court (or, better still, at a deposition) is to simply ask "can you describe the gun that you allege I pulled?". Had I not ever shown it to him, well, that would have been that.
This is how the fellow in Hal's article got himself in trouble. He briefly displayed the weapon, giving the jerk a way to prove that at least he'd seen it.
And that brings us to the title of this post, which I learned a hard way (a loss of about $400 to pawn the first gun), but had I not had a stupid accuser, might have learned the VERY hard way (my day in court).
Concealed means concealed. This means nobody who doesn't absolutely need to see your weapon should see it until they're facing the business end of it. Only somebody you can GUARANTEE you'll never ever have to shoot. Like maybe your mother. Not your wife (who, these days, can become a contestant in a divorce), not your casual friends, certainly not anybody you are having the slightest beef with, not your neighbors.
Doesn't matter too much if they know you have it. Just don't let them become able to identify it.
I have had a somewhat similar situation, in that I have been threatened by a jerk to be accused of "pulling a gun". This person had seen my gun during a visit to my home. Later, we had a disagreement and, having seen the gun, decided to threaten me that he would call the police and claim I pulled it on him if I didn't do what he wanted. Luckily, in my case, he was stupid enough to make this threat to my voice mail, which I of course kept a copy of.
A month or so later, I sold the gun and then subsequently bought a new one that looked somewhat different. I know that, ordinarily, this move could make me look guilty, but I had that voicemail message.
Had I never shown the gun (it was shown in the spirit of "this is here. don't mess with it", for safety), there could have been no problem.
All I would have had to do in court (or, better still, at a deposition) is to simply ask "can you describe the gun that you allege I pulled?". Had I not ever shown it to him, well, that would have been that.
This is how the fellow in Hal's article got himself in trouble. He briefly displayed the weapon, giving the jerk a way to prove that at least he'd seen it.
And that brings us to the title of this post, which I learned a hard way (a loss of about $400 to pawn the first gun), but had I not had a stupid accuser, might have learned the VERY hard way (my day in court).
Concealed means concealed. This means nobody who doesn't absolutely need to see your weapon should see it until they're facing the business end of it. Only somebody you can GUARANTEE you'll never ever have to shoot. Like maybe your mother. Not your wife (who, these days, can become a contestant in a divorce), not your casual friends, certainly not anybody you are having the slightest beef with, not your neighbors.
Doesn't matter too much if they know you have it. Just don't let them become able to identify it.
