Would you speak up if you saw...

[JALLEN]

I guess if you are the Sheriff, you can display a badge or not as you like. Who is going to hassle you?

I like that better than some of these Chief LEOs who outfit themselves to look like South American Army Generals, gold and stars and ribbons all over the place.

I favor the simple dignitude of the Texas Rangers attire.

[joe817]

I guess if you are the Sheriff, you can display a badge or not as you like. Who is going to hassle you?

I like that better than some of these Chief LEOs who outfit themselves to look like South American Army Generals, gold and stars and ribbons all over the place.

I favor the simple dignitude of the Texas Rangers attire.

Too funny! Good on JALLEN!

I too like the way Texas Rangers dress.

[thatguyoverthere]

Interesting question. I did see that very thing in a small town Chili's about 6 months ago. No uniform, no badge (that I could see), button up shirt, but shirt tail hanging out, but shirt tail tucked behind gun & holster (seemed to look intentional). Fairly young guy (mid-30's). Sitting with a couple of other similarly aged guys. Could not see if they were armed or not, but no uniforms or badges on them either. Considered several options (ask if he's a LEO, ask if he's from out of state, ask if he knew he was "showing", call the Chili's manager over, call the cops) but long story short, I didn't do anything, other than keep an eye on him. I've wondered many times since then what I should have done (if anything), or what I should do if I see that again (before Jan 1)...

[treadlightly]

Back in the 80's, long before the Texas CHL, I rolled in to the Taco Bell that used to be at Northwest 19th on I30 in Grand Prairie on my nasty old Harley Sportster. A policeman was chatting with a uniformed security guard who was carrying his firearm.

Because guns were involved, I had my radar perked up a little, and from their conversation it was obvious the security guard was working his way through his education with the intent to someday be a police officer.

As I left, I said hello, and said I really appreciated fellow citizens enjoying their second amendment rights. There was a nervous pause in the conversation, then the police officer said his friend was a license security guard and could show me his license if I wanted.

I told him there was no need, that I knew unless he had a contract to guard the Taco Bell he wasn't any more legal to carry a handgun than I was - but I liked that a citizen was armed, regardless of any unconstitutional ban.

Although I could have ended up against the wall in handcuffs, the conversation was cordial. We had a few laughs, and I left the police officer with the thought that his acceptance of armed citizens, even though laws were being broken, was laudable. I told him he was a saint for keeping crime and firearms in separate categories, and that I hoped the next time he found an otherwise law-abiding citizen with a pistol he would exercise his obviously good judgement. Heck, I said, it might even be me.

That was one nice police officer. His friend left, which I protested wasn't what I wanted to happen, but he was really a nice guy. I bet he was fair in his traffic stops.

[Abraham]

None of my business unless he starts acting threatening...

[jmra]

None of my business unless he starts acting threatening...

[thenick_ttu]

Do you flag drivers down to let them know they are speeding?

No. But I do honk my horn and shake a finger at people who are playing on their phone while driving.

[The Wall]

I had mentioned this story on another forum about the guy in a flight suit at the deli wearing a horizontal shoulder holster over the top of his flight suit. He didn't have a badge per say. He did have a patch that said Homeland Security. In this case I guess you could have said something like, "nice gun!" Maybe that would have initiated a conversation instead of a confrontation.

[Jim Beaux]

If I saw someone OC a sidearm the thought that he/she was doing something wrong would never cross my mind.

[Right2Carry]

If I saw someone OC a sidearm the thought that he/she was doing something wrong would never cross my mind.

[thetexan]

If I saw someone OC a sidearm the thought that he/she was doing something wrong would never cross my mind.

Please don't take this as a personal criticism......I don't believe that for a minute. Again, this not aimed at you. Several posts here have stated that they would not do anything and "assume" things were kosher unless given some reason to take notice.

I just don't believe that.

There is a dynamic here that will be new to all of us, me included (and maybe I am being naive). Almost weekly we read about someone who misuses a weapon to kill indiscriminately, and the almost universal response by media and those close to the event is to wonder if they missed some signal or tell that might have given them a heads up to be on the lookout for this kook!

But now that the new law allows for guns to be showing, as if we flip some awareness switch, we won't be suspicious of someone carrying a gun?! We're going to "assume" he's legitimate? Don't get me wrong. We really can't do anything about it. If I see someone carrying a pistol I won't challenge his authority by license to do so. But I also won't disregard him. I will be keenly aware of him as I expect someone might be of me...(read carefully here...) INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT!.

So, when I see you carrying, unless I know you, I will maintain my awareness of you and what you are doing in my vicinity. The more suspicious you behave the greater my concern (as has also been stated here.).

I can't believe there are any who wouldn't. And I certainly do not believe that lowering one's guard by assuming the guy is law enforcement or "one of us" (licensed, that is) is prudent. Not when several people in the room have guns visible.

tex

[winters]

A lot of officers I see open carrying out of the typical police uniform have some sort of badge embroidered on their shirt. Usually like a polo type shirt. I have seen people I was pretty sure was an officer with no sign of any type of badge showing. People are different when it comes to showing badges. Some will have it out in plain sight while others hide it. Even just employee badges people do that.

One job I had most of us had about 6 badges to get into different buildings and stuff for IT work.

[Javier730]

Do you flag drivers down to let them know they are speeding?

No. But I do honk my horn and shake a finger at people who are playing on their phone while driving.

Bad idea unless your a LEO in uniform.

[WinoVeritas]

I see a group of 2-4 men in civilian clothes that frequent a Mexican restaurant in my area all openly armed w/belt holster and have never seen a badge in the several years I've run into them. Never gave it much thought after a couple of sightings, other than I was outnumbered, albeit armed concealed. They could be LEO from any of the small surrounding burgs in the area - Bracken, Selma, Live Oak, UC. Don't appear to be mall cops or security guards which I would presumed would be uniformed. I also operate under the presumption that a bad guy isn't going to OC - that may change next year.

As to OP's question - not my business - unless a gun clears a holster with intent. Whether OC legal or not is of no concern to me and would not alert anyone to check them out.

I walked around shopping in an HEB with my pistol accidentally exposed (untucked shirt caught over grip) and didn't realize until loading groceries in car - no one said a word - not sure they even noticed. Had someone said something I would have pulled my shirt tail down.

[Jim Beaux]

If I saw someone OC a sidearm the thought that he/she was doing something wrong would never cross my mind.

Please don't take this as a personal criticism......I don't believe that for a minute. Again, this not aimed at you. Several posts here have stated that they would not do anything and "assume" things were kosher unless given some reason to take notice.

I just don't believe that.

There is a dynamic here that will be new to all of us, me included (and maybe I am being naive). Almost weekly we read about someone who misuses a weapon to kill indiscriminately, and the almost universal response by media and those close to the event is to wonder if they missed some signal or tell that might have given them a heads up to be on the lookout for this kook!

But now that the new law allows for guns to be showing, as if we flip some awareness switch, we won't be suspicious of someone carrying a gun?! We're going to "assume" he's legitimate? Don't get me wrong. We really can't do anything about it. If I see someone carrying a pistol I won't challenge his authority by license to do so. But I also won't disregard him. I will be keenly aware of him as I expect someone might be of me...(read carefully here...) INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT!.

So, when I see you carrying, unless I know you, I will maintain my awareness of you and what you are doing in my vicinity. The more suspicious you behave the greater my concern (as has also been stated here.).

I can't believe there are any who wouldn't. And I certainly do not believe that lowering one's guard by assuming the guy is law enforcement or "one of us" (licensed, that is) is prudent. Not when several people in the room have guns visible.

tex

I find it utterly ridiculous that you claim to know my thought process better than I. You can take my statement to the bank.