Always be vigilent.

[longtooth]

Am in Lubbock visiting the Wife's family. I am the country boy that is in bed while every one else spends most of the night up visiting. Then morning comes & no one wants to get up so I go out for some coffee & watch the sun come up. This morning, 5:00 I stopped at a 7-11 close by the house. For you in Lubbock, 50th & Ave U. Drinking the coffee & visiting w/ the young lady that was the only employeed there. (Man I would not let my wife or daughter do that even while armed. Different thread though)
Telephone rings & she answers it. Listens a while & say OK I will watch. Hangs up & says that it was their other store on Ave Q. Watch for a heavy set young guy w/ a hooded heavy sweat shirt. Spent a lot of time in the store looking & not buying anything. Several other folks in the store at the time.
Sure enough it is about 5 minutes until he arrives & gets out. I get out my cell & punch in 911, do not hit the dial button, & lay it on the ice cream counter. I am to where I can see his car, the door & all but the farthest corner of the store, & any approach to the register. Speak to him as he comes in, "morning young man, is it really that cold out there this morning?" No reply. Makes a short round around a counter & out the door.
All you new guys & gals at carry. It is good for you to practice with your gun. Learn to let the cell be your first reach if you have any fore warning. As I set up, you can push the dial button & talking loud the dispatcher can hear all that is said. I showed the girl what I had done & why. Then showed her how to slightly rearrange her counter for her cell to be unseen by the register. She thanked me & shortly a Lubbock PD came in. She told him & he took a discription from both of us. Car discription? I don't know makes & models by sight so only red compact ralatively new.
No incident but very well an averted incident because of awareness.
Remember, ladies & gentlemen, especially ladies, you will very seldom know what did not happen.

[kauboy]

Excellent encounter. If only all such events happened this way. At least the hooded gentleman was smart enough to leave.

[longtooth]

Yes sir, & this is not a "what if I had not been there" but a what if nobody had been there. There were seveal people in the store that called & warned her. Probably workers headed out for the job. One person alone in a place like that is a criminals delight.

[kauboy]

You never mentioned if the female attendant was armed. Did you ask? Are they even allowed? Are they allowed now???

[Charles L. Cotton]

We have to be careful about asking someone if they are armed. We could inadvertently cause them to violate TPC §46.035(a) if they have a CHL and respond "yes."

Chas.

[kw5kw]

We have to be careful about asking someone if they are armed. We could inadvertently cause them to violate TPC §46.035(a) if they have a CHL and respond "yes."

Chas.

Who'd press charges?

We need to let people know that the Good Guys carry weapons to help protect society as well.

Akin to those beer commercials about the "man law"... it should be allowed that betweenst fellow CHL holders that that law would be muted.

Russ

[Charles L. Cotton]

We have to be careful about asking someone if they are armed. We could inadvertently cause them to violate TPC §46.035(a) if they have a CHL and respond "yes."

Chas.

Who'd press charges?

We need to let people know that the Good Guys carry weapons to help protect society as well.

Akin to those beer commercials about the "man law"... it should be allowed that betweenst fellow CHL holders that that law would be muted.

Russ

I don't know who if anyone would press charges.

I agree that simply telling someone you have a gun should not be a violation of 46.035(a). For some time after 1995, I opined that it was not an "intentional failure to conceal" if you simply told someone you had a gun and didn't show it. Apparently, DPS doesn't agree as they teach Instructors that verbal disclosure that you have a gun is a violation.

I am also all for letting the general public know good guys carry guns. I was just pointing out that if a question was asked and the clerk had a CHL and a gun, then anyone overhearing could cause a problem. We don't want to our zeal to support our cause to cause them a problem. I know if a stranger asked me if I had a gun, they wouldn't get an answer.

Chas.

[Houston1944]

Not intending to jump your post longtooth, but this is just another example of why we need to pay attention to our surroundings.
My office is in the area of largest concentration of NO “visitors�. I am not flaming all folks from NO but the crime facts in our area now tell a very sobering tale. At 7:00 this morning I stopped to pick up a muffin at a large chain grocery store that is close to the office. When I pulled into the lot I noticed a 25 – 30 year old 6 foot plus male on an old bicycle and saw he was riding in a large circle near the store entrance. I kept watching him as I parked close to the front of the store. When I opened my door and stepped out I knew he had stopped about 10 yards from me. He yelled out “hey man, I need two dollars�. I was armed and I knew I could protect myself but I decided to simply step back in the truck, lock the doors and drive away. I do not know his real intentions but it was just not worth it to find out. He broke no laws, he never threatened me (partly because I never gave him a chance to) and probably only wanted free money. Unfortunately in our city lately these situations are not always just a bum wanting money. My motto is to never let them get close to me. By the time you figure out it was a bad decision to get close it is too late.
There was a shooting on this parking lot a few weeks ago. I just decided there was no use in risking another one.

[seamusTX]

I think the tactful way to get an answer is not to ask a question. For example in a situation like this, "I hope you have a way to protect yourself." If that doesn't get the answer you're looking for, a more direct question won't.

I would never confirm or deny that I was armed, except when legally required to do so, or to someone I really trusted. (There are about two people in universe that I trust that much.)

BTW, Longtooth said this was a 7-11. I would be very surprised if they allowed employees to have weapons. Which doesn't mean the employees don't, of course.

- Jim

[kauboy]

I didn't mean to suggest that she admit to being a CHL holder. Sometimes employers give their employees permission to carry in the store for protection against robbers. That was my intended question. Its not a legal issue if the owner says its okay. They could potentially carry openly if given permission.

[sparx]

I know if a stranger asked me if I had a gun, they wouldn't get an answer.

Chas.

Could you just say "Sorry, can't answer that." or "I'll have to take the 5th on that one." and be legal, even though that would more or less confirm to the one asking (and those that overhear) that you probably in all likelyhood are?

Just curious. Thanks!

[kw5kw]

<snip...>
I agree that simply telling someone you have a gun should not be a violation of 46.035(a). For some time after 1995, I opined that it was not an "intentional failure to conceal" if you simply told someone you had a gun and didn't show it. Apparently, DPS doesn't agree as they teach Instructors that verbal disclosure that you have a gun is a violation.

Really? I've set thru two classes in the past two months. First for my renewal in May, then once again this past weekend to give moral support to my daughter and Son-In-Law for their initial license.
Not once, in either class did I hear this.
However one instructor went into the "accidental flash" (as being ok) and the other one didn't even mention the "accidental flash."

I am also all for letting the general public know good guys carry guns. I was just pointing out that if a question was asked and the clerk had a CHL and a gun, then anyone overhearing could cause a problem. We don't want to our zeal to support our cause to cause them a problem. I know if a stranger asked me if I had a gun, they wouldn't get an answer.

Chas.

I am in my early/mid fifties and I'm wearing these pants that have all of the pockets down the leg at work. In the right hand pocket I keep a "pocket sized" Holy Bible (KJV now that I gave away my NIV to a guy on the street last week.) I carry it more often than I carry my weapon.
Anyway, to make a longer story shorter, a few weeks ago I was asked if I was "carrying." I said; "Do you mean this..." and I pulled out my Bible. End of converstation. Truth be known... yep, my 9mm was inside my waist band.

Russ

[mrvmax]

Russ[/quote]

I am in my early/mid fifties and I'm wearing these pants that have all of the pockets down the leg at work. In the right hand pocket I keep a "pocket sized" Holy Bible (KJV now that I gave away my NIV to a guy on the street last week.) I carry it more often than I carry my weapon.
Anyway, to make a longer story shorter, a few weeks ago I was asked if I was "carrying." I said; "Do you mean this..." and I pulled out my Bible. End of converstation. Truth be known... yep, my 9mm was inside my waist band.

Russ[/quote]

That's my kind of guy, carrying the ole double barrel, the Bible and a handgun. Nothing wrong with that.

[Crossfire]

I agree that simply telling someone you have a gun should not be a violation of 46.035(a). For some time after 1995, I opined that it was not an "intentional failure to conceal" if you simply told someone you had a gun and didn't show it. Apparently, DPS doesn't agree as they teach Instructors that verbal disclosure that you have a gun is a violation.

Charles is correct. This was stressed in my last instructor renewal class.

I have found the best way to respond to "Are you carrying?" is with an unending series of questions. "Are you a law enforcement officer? No? Why do you want to know? Why, are YOU carrying?" You get the drill.

Eventually, they just don't care anymore.

[flintknapper]

Speak to him as he comes in, "morning young man, is it really that cold out there this morning?" No reply. Makes a short round around a counter & out the door.
.

Your acknowledgment of his presence and the "knowing" comment concerning his mode of dress is what "queered it" for him.

Good job my friend.