Funny incident

[camlott]

I like the idea of openly carrying when you answer the door. That should definitely let them know to keep moving if they are casing the place out. I may start doing that myself, but it just occurred to me as I was reading you post, could someone call the police and try to get you for branishing? I know it seems ridiculous, but we live in such a touchy society.

No I don't think that would meet the definition of brandishing but IANAL!
Brandishing [Webster Dictionary]
1 : to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
2 : to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner

I don't think the mere presence of a gun (intentional or unintentional) meets the definition of brandishing unless one or both of the above is true. At least that's my interpretation

However your question brings the following story to mind...
>>>Sunday, December 20, 2009 foxnews.com
A Virginia man has been convicted of indecent exposure after prosecutors said he stood naked inside his house as a 7-year-old boy and his mother walked by.

The mother and child allegedly observed the defendant, 29-year-old Erick Williamson, first through a doorway and again through a window that had no drapes, MyFoxDC reported.

Williamson, the father of a 5-year-old, argued in court Friday that he should be free to go au naturel inside his home. But a judge agreed with prosecutors who argued Williamson's actions showed he intended to make himself visible to the pair as they walked to school along a path outside his home in October.

Williamson's arrest received national attention and spurred debate about whether someone should be subject to arrest for exposure from inside his own home.

He received only a suspended jail sentence and no fine, but still intends to appeal.<<<

[mr surveyor]

when I'm home, or in my office or the yard, I normally don't worry about a cover garment. I also don't worry about what friends, clients, salespersons, panhandlers, vagrants, etc., think about it. Most of my friends carry, my clients either strike up a firearms conversation or just don't seem to notice or care, the honest salespersons usually take "NO" for an answer, and the panhandlers and bums tend to spot the firearm and immediately take "NO" for an answer as well.

I do NOT considered it "brandishing"... especially "out in the county". It just makes plain good sense to have your sidearm on you while at home.

surv

[sjfcontrol]

In my CHL class, the question of open carry on your own property was brought up. The instructor said:

You can strip down to your boxer shorts, strap on a set of spurs and a pair of 6-shooters, and ride around your property on a broomstick horse, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I don't think that image will ever leave my head!

[Keith B]

In my CHL class, the question of open carry on your own property was brought up. The instructor said:

You can strip down to your boxer shorts, strap on a set of spurs and a pair of 6-shooters, and ride around your property on a broomstick horse, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I don't think that image will ever leave my head!

Well, that may not get you arrested, but it might get you commited!!

[03Lightningrocks]

In my CHL class, the question of open carry on your own property was brought up. The instructor said:

You can strip down to your boxer shorts, strap on a set of spurs and a pair of 6-shooters, and ride around your property on a broomstick horse, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I don't think that image will ever leave my head!

Well, that may not get you arrested, but it might get you commited!!

I would have asked that instructor when and even more important, HOW, it was he first discovered he liked playing cowboy in his living room.

[chabouk]

There's no such thing as "brandishing" in Texas.

[RHenriksen]

I get up to go answer the door, and pull my shirt tail out from over the pistol, and tuck it behind the holster as usual. Nothing paranoid, just routine.

I like the idea of openly carrying when you answer the door. That should definitely let them know to keep moving if they are casing the place out. I may start doing that myself, but it just occurred to me as I was reading you post, could someone call the police and try to get you for branishing? I know it seems ridiculous, but we live in such a touchy society.

Since my holster is at 4:00, the caller can't see it. Happily, my front door is hinged on the left, doorknob on the right, as I'm facing it from inside the house. I did like reading about what one other poster did when the sales guy got aggressive (reached back & put his hand on the pistol grip). Caller probably still couldn't *see* the pistol, but any BG could read between those lines.

[03Lightningrocks]

If it were me, I would have a certain amount of concern for those two coming back to get me later, when I am not expecting it. You might want to keep a good eye out when going to and from your house. I know...I know...you have a gun...but realistically, guys like that aren't going to let you see them coming. Just be careful is all I am saying. If they really felt disrepected enough to start hollering from the street at you, they might come back and vandalize your property or worse.

[sjfcontrol]

In my CHL class, the question of open carry on your own property was brought up. The instructor said:

You can strip down to your boxer shorts, strap on a set of spurs and a pair of 6-shooters, and ride around your property on a broomstick horse, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I don't think that image will ever leave my head!

Well, that may not get you arrested, but it might get you commited!!

I would have asked that instructor when and even more important, HOW, it was he first discovered he liked playing cowboy in his living room.

Actually, I believe he mentioned "in your front yard" rather than "on your property" -- The implication was definitely a PUBLIC display.
Not sure it would get you committed, but it would certainly be the subject of conversation that the next neighborhood block meeting!

[sjfcontrol]

A couple of summers ago, I was outside in my yard when a young black man came up to me and started his pitch with an outstretched hand and a "How are you doing today?". I refused the hand, and gruffly asked what he wanted. He got upset, and started accusing me of not liking "black folks". Basically I told him to get lost, but did kinda wonder how well accusing your potential customer of racism works as a sales technique. He was rejected because he was "walking spam", not because of his color.

[drjoker]

PeteCamp,

You're right, we shouldn't finance alcoholics by paying panhandlers. That's why I have to see the merchandise that they're selling. A "youth" (usually 11 to 16 years old) selling candy is an entrepreneur, not a panhandler. I myself was one of those "youths" once. When I was 15 years old, I went around the neighborhood door to door selling (drum roll) knives. I can't see how I could've been so stupid. A couple of nice ladies actually invited me inside and bought some of my knives.

Remember, the Good Book says that you should be generous. After you've harvested, if there is still some loose crops in the fields, let those less fortunate than you eat that. I do not farm and I don't own any fields, but the spirit of the advice in the Bible is to donate a little here and there to those less fortunate than you, so that's what I do. I invite you to do the same, too.

My friend, I've been a pastor for more than 30 years and a Police Chaplain for almost 8 years. Please think about this advice carefully. If you give a drug addict cash, what exactly are you sowing? If you give an alcoholic cash, what are you sowing? Helping the needy does not mean we enable sinful behavior. Jesus told one, "Go and sin no more." I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen well-meaning Christians finance drunks or drug addicts who have little children at home starving. What are we sowing when we promote abuse of their children?

May I suggest that if you really want to help, you get some vouchers for food, gas, whatever, and give those instead of cash. It is also much safer to give a voucher than cash through the door. It is always a good clue about who you're dealing with when they react to the offer of food or gas. My brother, the "Good Book" says a lot of things, but I should point out that it also reminds us to be "wise as serpents." Consider carefully what you sow.

Sorry for the OT here but panhandling seems to be an epidemic right now. Being wise in dealing with them is essential.

[nonameisgood]

I always carry in my house and in my yard, usually open, unless it is cold.

The pizza guys know. The neighbors with good eyesight know. The BG's cruising the alley know. And the "inner city youth trying to make good" know.

And, the guy who was casing houses for burglaries a week later knows:
He showed up at the door with a solicitor ID around his neck, and began selling a "free alarm system". The idea was that by allowing them to install an alarm system on a few of the "nice houses" in the neighborhood, people would see the signs and buy a similar system. He wanted to place the sign conspicuously, and then the installation team would be back "in two weeks" to install the system. I've been around a while, and generally know a scam, so I simply told the guy that I didn't have anything to steal, as I had been remodeling the house and hadn't moved all my things in yet. I inadvertently broke my concealment while standing in the doorway.
The neighborhood watch guy checked and the solicitor's permit was not on record with the city.

Within a week, three or four houses in a four block radius had been burglarized. About as many burglaries as we had in the previous year, or two.

Deterrence. It works!

[03Lightningrocks]

I always carry in my house and in my yard, usually open, unless it is cold.

The pizza guys know. The neighbors with good eyesight know. The BG's cruising the alley know. And the "inner city youth trying to make good" know.

And, the guy who was casing houses for burglaries a week later knows:
He showed up at the door with a solicitor ID around his neck, and began selling a "free alarm system". The idea was that by allowing them to install an alarm system on a few of the "nice houses" in the neighborhood, people would see the signs and buy a similar system. He wanted to place the sign conspicuously, and then the installation team would be back "in two weeks" to install the system. I've been around a while, and generally know a scam, so I simply told the guy that I didn't have anything to steal, as I had been remodeling the house and hadn't moved all my things in yet. I inadvertently broke my concealment while standing in the doorway.
The neighborhood watch guy checked and the solicitor's permit was not on record with the city.

Within a week, three or four houses in a four block radius had been burglarized. About as many burglaries as we had in the previous year, or two.

Deterrence. It works!

Are you saying you think the gun hanging off your side was a deterrence to the burglars?

[wgoforth]

In my CHL class, the question of open carry on your own property was brought up. The instructor said:

You can strip down to your boxer shorts, strap on a set of spurs and a pair of 6-shooters, and ride around your property on a broomstick horse, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I don't think that image will ever leave my head!

I have been told that there may be some disagreement over openly carrying on ones own property? Supposedly if neighbors complain that it scared them, the police may be able to do something for "frightening the public."

Anyone know if there is any validity to this?

[03Lightningrocks]

In my CHL class, the question of open carry on your own property was brought up. The instructor said:

You can strip down to your boxer shorts, strap on a set of spurs and a pair of 6-shooters, and ride around your property on a broomstick horse, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I don't think that image will ever leave my head!

I have been told that there may be some disagreement over openly carrying on ones own property? Supposedly if neighbors complain that it scared them, the police may be able to do something for "frightening the public."

Anyone know if there is any validity to this?

I would think the boxer shorts and spurs would be enough to get the cops called on you. I think you are talking about creating a public nuisance...or something like that.