Divided Attention wrote:Printing is not a problem, and not near as big a problem as you think the first time you try to hide the 900 pound 4 foot tall weapon under the unbelievably thin threads of the previously occlusive material of your shirt.
For me personally it has gotten easier not only around LEO but "in general" to the point I don't feel dressed without it. Kinda like when I don't have my watch on, or when my wedding rings were being resized because the gold shrank according to the jeweler
Divided Attention wrote:Printing is not a problem, and not near as big a problem as you think the first time you try to hide the 900 pound 4 foot tall weapon under the unbelievably thin threads of the previously occlusive material of your shirt.
For me personally it has gotten easier not only around LEO but "in general" to the point I don't feel dressed without it. Kinda like when I don't have my watch on, or when my wedding rings were being resized because the gold shrank according to the jeweler
Absolutely!
If you need, or want, attention, act like you don't know what you're doing, you're out of place and/or are trying to hide something. Those furtive motions should get you noticed.
Divided Attention wrote:Printing is not a problem, and not near as big a problem as you think the first time you try to hide the 900 pound 4 foot tall weapon under the unbelievably thin threads of the previously occlusive material of your shirt.
I love that analog - because that is exactly how it feels at first.
Divided Attention wrote:Printing is not a problem, and not near as big a problem as you think the first time you try to hide the 900 pound 4 foot tall weapon under the unbelievably thin threads of the previously occlusive material of your shirt.
I love that analog - because that is exactly how it feels at first.
It sure is. My first carry gun was lighter and more compact than what I carry now but it felt HUGE at the time.
About being nervous around LE...Yeah, I was.
One of my first trips out in public was to a local eatery. We pulled into the parking lot and there were four police cars parked there. As luck would have it, the only place to sit was near their table and I kept feeling like I was being eye-balled the whole time...They were looking at me looking at them.
These days, those feelings are long gone because I know that I am well within my legal rights, plus I'm not doing anything wrong to attract attention in the first place.
Last edited by USA1 on Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have lunch every Wednesday with the Grapevine AMBUCS of which I'm a member. I often wind up sitting next to or across from the Assistant Chief of the Grapevine PD. No big deal. He makes a great show of open carrying his Colt Stainless Gold Cup in a Galco Fletch when he's in regular street clothes. He doesn't know I'm carrying, and it just hasn't been atopic of conversation.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
If you want to check out your jitter factor, take a walk thru Sundance Square. I was there yesterday afternoon with a buddy to check out the ESPN-town. There are more FWPD per square block than at any gun show I've been to. I walk slowly past them, say hi, and just smile. After awhile, you don't even think about anymore.
Lifetime NRA Member
Member Texas Firearms Coalition
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress. -John Adams
Griffen wrote:If you want to check out your jitter factor, take a walk thru Sundance Square. I was there yesterday afternoon with a buddy to check out the ESPN-town. There are more FWPD per square block than at any gun show I've been to. I walk slowly past them, say hi, and just smile. After awhile, you don't even think about anymore.
Now that might just be what I need to do next time I go home...My first wally walk I definitely had the 900 pound 4' tall gun syndome. Second time I had the flu (This weekend), so even though I carried, I was to preoccupied getting my Tamiflu to give a rat's rear if you could see a slight bulge on my hip (note: yes, I made sure it was concealed)... But around LEOs I still feel nervous. Might have to try that
about 65 days to plastic...
Carry guns:
Springfield V-10 3.5" 1911(thanks again, Texasvet)
Glock 26
Springfield XD40 4"
Llama 1911 (hey, don't knock it. Never had a SINGLE reliability problem with it. Over 1000 rounds through it.)
(lots of long guns, and a few other pistols for other use)
I'm a relatively new CHL holder and it does take some getting used to. At first I thought that because I could barely see the print of my gun, everybody could. Now I'm coming to realize that nobody but me are looking for it.
A little nervous walking past a LEO yesterday but he didn't even give me a second look.
It does take a little mind change to feel comfortable but it gets better everyday I carry.
I don’t worry about printing. I'm more concerned with some sort of wardrobe malfunction and accidental exposure. Especially in warm weather when I dress lighter.
The typical soccer mom worries me much more than LEO’s. A LEO is less likely to over react to printing knowing there are many CHL's out there.
Last night the wife and I were at our local Target picking up various items from almost every department in the store. We must've been in the baby care section for about 10 minutes when a deep voice from behind me asked, "Are y'all finding everything ok?". When I turned to see the individual who was talking to us he was wearing a dark blue uniform and went about 6'-0" 220lbs. I could feel my heart skip a beat and that warm flushed feeling come over me. Until a second later when I saw the red Target logo on the left chest pocket of his Target shirt! Why cant they all wear those bright red shirts?!?! Needless to say I'm still not quite relaxed while carrying yet.
texanron wrote:Last night the wife and I were at our local Target picking up various items from almost every department in the store. We must've been in the baby care section for about 10 minutes when a deep voice from behind me asked, "Are y'all finding everything ok?". When I turned to see the individual who was talking to us he was wearing a dark blue uniform and went about 6'-0" 220lbs. I could feel my heart skip a beat and that warm flushed feeling come over me. Until a second later when I saw the red Target logo on the left chest pocket of his Target shirt! Why cant they all wear those bright red shirts?!?! Needless to say I'm still not quite relaxed while carrying yet.
hahaha I hate to laugh at that as being a new CHL myself I'll probably find myself in a situation like that, but it is really fun to read about something like that... Note to self: avoid target while adjusting to a carrying lifestyle... LOL!
about 65 days to plastic...
Carry guns:
Springfield V-10 3.5" 1911(thanks again, Texasvet)
Glock 26
Springfield XD40 4"
Llama 1911 (hey, don't knock it. Never had a SINGLE reliability problem with it. Over 1000 rounds through it.)
(lots of long guns, and a few other pistols for other use)
After a couple years of carrying, the jitters have stopped.
Last Friday night, the wife, her sister and husband and another lady that graduated around the same time they did were going to north Dallas to meet some of their classmates. We witnessed a pick up/bicycle accident. When the LEO's and ambulance got there, the LEO took a statement from me and asked for ID. I handed my DL and CHL to the officer. He looked at both, handed the CHL back and said he didn't need it. When he was done with the statement, and almost as an after thought, he asked me "is your weapon in the car or on you?" I told him it was on me. He then asked where? I said my right hip. He said "Ok."
texanron wrote:Last night the wife and I were at our local Target picking up various items from almost every department in the store. We must've been in the baby care section for about 10 minutes when a deep voice from behind me asked, "Are y'all finding everything ok?". When I turned to see the individual who was talking to us he was wearing a dark blue uniform and went about 6'-0" 220lbs. I could feel my heart skip a beat and that warm flushed feeling come over me. Until a second later when I saw the red Target logo on the left chest pocket of his Target shirt! Why cant they all wear those bright red shirts?!?! Needless to say I'm still not quite relaxed while carrying yet.
hahaha I hate to laugh at that as being a new CHL myself I'll probably find myself in a situation like that, but it is really fun to read about something like that... Note to self: avoid target while adjusting to a carrying lifestyle... LOL!
I'm still laughing at myself over it. Oh shoot! It's the Target Cops!
Armed in my Aunts home during my grandmothers 90th birthday. Open carryish but I concealed it(whole family knows and supports it), since I just go back from the range with my cousin. Turns out 2 of the guests were LEO's... one for the Local PD and another Constable. Struck up a conversation about guns talking to them and the constable takes out his glock 22 to show me. LOL.
nice people. I used to have a very negative opinion about LEO's but as the two guests said, some of them are just idiots anyways.
I'm still nervous around Police. Feel their reactions can go several ways and its best to avoid the excitement. Was traveling through Giddings yesterday and stopped for gas and snacks. Walked in to the store to see a uniformed officer there. I positioned myself to place the gun on the opposite side of my body as I walked past him and smiled. Back in my days of international business travel my wife taught me you should always smile at custom agents as if you have nothing to hide. Makes them less nervous.
