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if the question is " what's that?" my reply...."It's a PDA" (Personal Defense Apparatus)

if it becomes exposed, just act like it's a normal thing....I guess I "look the part" (if there is such a thing) because I have people approach me on a regular basis thinking I am an LEO. Hell I can't even walk through the State Fair with out random people approach me saying "excuse me, ...officer...how do I get to the whatever"

Humanphibian wrote:if the question is " what's that?" my reply...."It's a PDA" (Personal Defense Apparatus)

if it becomes exposed, just act like it's a normal thing....I guess I "look the part" (if there is such a thing) because I have people approach me on a regular basis thinking I am an LEO. heck I can't even walk through the State Fair with out random people approach me saying "excuse me, ...officer...how do I get to the whatever"

Must be that CHL Badge you wear...

Act confident and leave if they tell you to, but don't leave if they don't request it. If you leave without anyone requesting it, then you'll seem guilty. If you see cops, grab some cumulous clouds pronto. Do not have anything in your hands such as a cell phone while you have your hands in the air. Do not try to disarm for the cops. Let the cops disarm you if they want. Doing anything else in front of the cops will get you shot a la Erik Scott.

That said, I've been "made" 3 times;
1. I dropped my Glock 19 at the Japanese fair due to a holster malfunction. A gentleman pointed it out to me, I bowed, "Origato (thanks)," and dropped it back into my backpack. I continued to enjoy the rest of the day at the fair with no incident.

2. I forgot to put on a cover garment and walked outside to walk my dog with a Glock 19 OWB strapped to my hip. Another dog walker noticed and looked concerned. I smiled, looked him in the eye, and waved, "Hi." My confidence immediately made him relax as he assumed that I was LEO or someone else legally able to OC.

3. Just before my "Wally walk," I was fidgeting with my gun holster in my car in the Wally World parking lot. A tall pickup parked next to me and the passenger noticed my gun. I smiled at her and said, "Howdy, m'am." She immediately smiled and assumed that whatever I was doing is legal.

I was O.K. all three times. As long as you act confident, you'll be O.K. If you act guilty and try to sneak away without being seen, then I'll guarantee you that the cops will be waiting to greet you at the exit.

Lessons to take away from this;
1. Dress nice. If you're carrying, wear at least business casual. Try to wear a 3 piece suit, but if it is too hot, at least dress business causal. If you are "made" and look like a thug, you may get shot.
2. Be polite, respectful, and confident if you are "made". Your confidence will tell then that you are a law-abiding citizen. Don't try to sneak away. That only makes you look guilty.
3. Add the cover garment to your mental checklist before you leave the house; lock doors (check), bring car keys (check), cover garment (check), etc.

drjoker wrote: 3. Just before my "Wally walk," I was fidgeting with my gun holster in my car in the Wally World parking lot. A tall pickup parked next to me and the passenger noticed my gun. I smiled at her and said, "Howdy, m'am." She immediately smiled and assumed that whatever I was doing is legal.

Having a fellow WalMart customer see your gun and get concerned would definitely be a Wally Walk fail. It's a good thing you've been to the fair since then and perfected it!

dewayneward wrote:i carry a full size 1911 iwb at 9 oclock all the time and no one has a clue....even people that know that i carry and where.

if you get made, act natural like carrying a gun IS natural and go about your business. if you freak....they freak.

How do you do that? I have tried that with my PT99 and when I sit down it sticks way out.

steve817 wrote:

dewayneward wrote:i carry a full size 1911 iwb at 9 oclock all the time and no one has a clue....even people that know that i carry and where.

if you get made, act natural like carrying a gun IS natural and go about your business. if you freak....they freak.

How do you do that? I have tried that with my PT99 and when I sit down it sticks way out.

What kind of holster are you using?

I use a bellyband holster and a CompTac holster. I wear both at 3 o'clock (which is the same as 9 o'clock, just on the right instead of left). Neither one makes the gun "stick way out". The CompTac is more comfortable when sitting down, because it's canted enough that it doesn't dig into my side. The bellyband conceals better under certain shirts.

drjoker wrote:1. Dress nice. If you're carrying, wear at least business casual. Try to wear a 3 piece suit, but if it is too hot, at least dress business causal. If you are "made" and look like a thug, you may get shot.

I agree that grooming and clothing are a big factor in first impressions, but I think dressing appropriate to the circumstances is better than dressing up. Someone wearing a suit and tie would attract more attention than a Hawaiian shirt, most places I go. But I agree if someone dresses "gangsta" they can't complain if people assume they're "gangsta", same as someone dressing in scrubs can't complain if people assume their job is medical.

drjoker wrote:2. Be polite, respectful, and confident if you are "made". Your confidence will tell then that you are a law-abiding citizen. Don't try to sneak away. That only makes you look guilty.

+1

Attitude is very important. If you're confident and your behavior is appropriate to the environment, people will be more comfortable and more likely to trust you.

baldeagle wrote:
I use a bellyband holster and a CompTac holster. I wear both at 3 o'clock (which is the same as 9 o'clock, just on the right instead of left). Neither one makes the gun "stick way out". The CompTac is more comfortable when sitting down, because it's canted enough that it doesn't dig into my side. The bellyband conceals better under certain shirts.

It has taken me this long to get over my embarrassment before responding. I read 9:00 but was thinking 6:00.

I first started carrying in 1978. so far,no one has said any thing ,except one LEO. He advised me to either find another place to carry my drivers licence or another way to carry my weapon. This was about 18 years before there was a chl in Texas.

You have every right to prepare an effective defense. If you have a chl it is also perfectly legal.
Don't worry too much about what someone else may think or say, you do what you need to do. As far as you are able, you can help others do what they need to do.

steve817 wrote:

dewayneward wrote:i carry a full size 1911 iwb at 9 oclock all the time and no one has a clue....even people that know that i carry and where.

if you get made, act natural like carrying a gun IS natural and go about your business. if you freak....they freak.

How do you do that? I have tried that with my PT99 and when I sit down it sticks way out.

I use a kholster (VERY COMFORTABLE!!!!!) with a full forward cant and you cannot tell I am carrying. Family and friends that know exactly where I carry do not see a thing. A friend of mine (who I finally convinced to get a CHL) shakes his head every time he sees me and says "I still cannot believe you can conceal that".

I sit, bend over, stand up, walk around, run, etc. with this full size in the holster and it is perfect. I'll see if I can post some pictures :-)

"Howdy, welcome to Texas!"

I can only say that, in my opinion, small-of-back carry is a mistake. Tactically, SOB is the worst mid-body carry position someone can choose.

Leave SOB to the movie and TV producers.

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Skiprr wrote:I can only say that, in my opinion, small-of-back carry is a mistake. Tactically, SOB is the worst mid-body carry position someone can choose.

Leave SOB to the movie and TV producers.

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Imagine if you're shoved over onto your back in a fight, or even slip and fall, with that large piece of metal between your spine and the ground!

People can assume that "bump" on your hip is anything. I wouldn't worry about that. If your gun is exposed, then:

dewayneward wrote:if you get made, act natural like carrying a gun IS natural and go about your business. if you freak....they freak.

This. You can only exacerbate the situation if you act like you were doing something wrong. If it's an anti-gun nut who freaks out, just cover up, tell them you're licensed, apologize, then leave.