I like that game
Go to the gun shop or the gun show and play the game spot who’s packing. Here’s one guy’s tips to spotting a hidden handgun. I leaves out the obvious, such as shoot me first vests. But I guess those might be covered under clothes appropriate for weather. The trick to not getting made, generally, is to have more guns. Also, seems to presume folks are not using an adequate holster and stiff belt set up. I have different guns for the different styles of clothes that I wear.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Conversely, why should I care if someone knew I was carrying a gun?
March 25th, 2010 at 9:13 am
I’ve made the argument many times that a good belt and holster are more important for carrying concealed than the gun.
You’ll wear that holster day in and day out for years, while it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever use your gun. Pick a style of holster and belt that works for you and what you’re wearing then pick a gun that fits that holster. The gun you’ll carry, even if it’s a small .380, is better than the 1911 you left at home because you can’t hide it under a t-shirt in the summer.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Well, the author states that he and the illustrator “unfortunately” got involved in handguns, so that’s why they care. You can also tell by the illustrations that they’re only concerned with people who are carrying without holsters (except for that one graphic that talks about bulges).
So I think this was written for New Yorkers so they could know exactly how screwed they were about to be by that mugger approaching them.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:26 am
I was amused by the “hand repositions handgun” graphic. Then again, I’m immature.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:30 am
What Tam said.
Also most of these situations it could simply be an expensive blackberry or other personal piece of electronics. Who’s gonna ask for a confirmation?
Even the Po-Po are likely too afraid that they’d give somebody a pat-down for an “illegal gun” only to find a lawful carrier who is lawyered up, on an ACLU busy-body with their SLR Camera and a point to prove.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Carry in a secure fashion, and all of those go away.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Look at who they cite as the source for their information – a “former detective” with the New York City Police Department’s Anti-Robbery Tactical Unit. The graphic was designed around the assumption that the person with a gun is a criminal (and criminals do seem to frequently not use holsters).
I’ll admit that I do need a better belt for my work clothing, though. My holster does occasionally shift because the belt isn’t wide enough and the clip is to the side of the gun, but I don’t have another one that goes with a suit.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Seems to me that spotting people carrying is a facet of situational awareness.
I don’t scan everyone around me for signs, but if I see I notice something really obvious.
(Like the guy ordering coffee ahead of me carrying a full-sized something-or-other, under a tee shirt that wasn’t quite large enough.)
March 25th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
It’s amusing that both open and closed coats are tips that there’s a gun.
So if someone in hot weather wants access, or wants to conceal in cold weather, no go?
And what Jake said – most of that seems to apply to a policing context, where the person being spotted is not using proper holstering, ’cause they’re incompetent.
March 25th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
“Also, seems to presume folks are not using an adequate holster and stiff belt set up.”
Criminals almost never use a holster. The reasons are twofold. Firstly, the bad guy lacks any form of formal training and is young. A holster would be an extravigance that would never enter his mind.
Secondly, for the criminal, a holster would be an inditement. It could only mean the presence of a gun and it is not possible to “ditch” a holster worn on the belt with the same ease as throwing away the gun itself if such be nessesary.
March 27th, 2010 at 9:31 am
This ends that problem for 9 months of the year or anytime you need a vest or coat. Even been ‘checked’ twice at sports events just to see if anyone would notice. Liked the vest so much I bought the jacket, too.
March 27th, 2010 at 9:32 am
OK- don’t know what happened to the link:
http://shop.kingofthemountain.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=V-CC