Concealed Carry Confrontation

[thatguy]

I was not implying that anyone should be confrontational about the situation. I always ask those questions in a very pleasant tone, with a smile on my face. There is nothing confrontational about a question.

I have learned that, when a question is asked that my first thought would be to answer "that is none of your business", it is always best to answer with a question, such as "why do you ask?". And another question, and another, until they finally give up or get the hint that it is none of their business.

All while keeping a pleasant tone, and a smile.

Agreed! I will go out of my way to be polite. Gun world already gets picked on so I try hard to keep it friendly. Who knows, that person my walk away with a different view of CHL holders.

[kjolly]

Concealed is concealed. If you are doing it right, no one should know and if its not 30.06/51% it is none of their concern.

[SQLGeek]

"No, I don't believe in guns."

[tbrown]

My brother told me that on one of his trips to Academy (not sure which one but probably Lufkin) that there was an employee sitting at the front of the store trying to pick out who was carrying, and he was actually asking people to confirm or deny it.

How would you react to this kind of comfrontation?

I'm just happy to see you big boy.

[RPB]

My brother told me that on one of his trips to Academy (not sure which one but probably Lufkin) that there was an employee sitting at the front of the store trying to pick out who was carrying, and he was actually asking people to confirm or deny it.

How would you react to this kind of comfrontation?

Of course I probably wouldn't hear him and just walk in .... but if I did hear him ...

I'd probably ask if there's a door prize for people that do and where do they sell the guns n stuff so I can enter the contest.

Then I'd ask why he's asking.

Then I'd ask if he wants to help me change my adult diaper...

I wouldn't answer his question though unless he identifies himself as a peace officer..

[rremt_p]

This is interesting, I've been in that store several times, in shorts and a t-shirt, gun IWB and never had them look at me twice, yes there is a greeter there sometimes, but they usually just ask if you need any help. I did notice that the door has a sign saying its against store policy to enter with concealed firearms, but its not even close to a legal one.

However I did buy a handgun there once, and the manager carried it outside the store before handing it to me. Thought it was silly, but didnt really care since I allready had one

[VMI77]

I might say, "why don't you please call the store manager over for me, I'd like to talk to him about store policy." Or I might go hunt up the store manager myself and ask him if it is store policy to publicly identify people with CHL's as they enter the store. What I'd do next would depend on how the manager handled it.

[03Lightningrocks]

................. I did notice that the door has a sign saying its against store policy to enter with concealed firearms, but its not even close to a legal one.

However I did buy a handgun there once, and the manager carried it outside the store before handing it to me. ................

WOW!!! The different stores must have a lot of latitude on policies like this. If there is a sign like that at the Academy I go to in Plano(off 75), I sure never noticed it. That doesn't mean a lot because I rarely read signs on windows at entrances as I already know how to walk through the door and don't need instructions. They did carry my rifle purchase to the front of the store, but handed it to me before I exited.

The greeters at the Plano store usually do the "How You Doing" with the big silly smile. Pretty friendly. Sometimes the greeters are just teen agers and if they did ask me about carrying concealed I would just assume they were playing a, "guess the gun toter", game and I would play along. It's not like they are asking me if I am wearing underwear or something. Although I would bust a gut laughing if one of them ask me this.

[schufflerbot]

wow - interesting thread. being new to this whole CHL thing, i have to say - i'd probably be taken aback quite a bit by an inquiry like that.

in my years of customer service, sales and general 'public encounter' type jobs, i've learned that it's best to just speak with his manager. once behind closed doors with someone of authority in the store, i'd probably help them understand what laws this kid could potentially be breaking, what confrontations he could potentially be causing and just how much revenue he could potentially be costing the store.

of course, in a polite, concerned citizen kinda way... all the while maintaining my super secret ninja CHL status.

[Ropin]

A quick note...if you're worried about giving yourself away, but you proceed to tell him what the laws are on you carrying, or disclosing, or him asking about it, you probably just told him that even if you aren't right then, you do, or you have.

Think about it. Before you took the course, did you know that you only have to tell a LEO when asked by one? Did you actually take the time to ponder about unconcealing a concealed weapon by telling someone about it? Most people without a concealed carry mentality aren't going to be able to reference law about it.

If you want to be under the radar, look at the guy like he's crazy, and go on past him. Talk to his manager when you get inside if you want. Turning on your heel before entering the store looks a lot like the businessman being investigated for embezzlement saying, "No comment" as he drives away from his failing business in his brand new Beamer, headed back to his McMansion. Think about before you started carrying. Were you offended then by someone asking if you were carrying?

[sjfcontrol]

A quick note...if you're worried about giving yourself away, but you proceed to tell him what the laws are on you carrying, or disclosing, or him asking about it, you probably just told him that even if you aren't right then, you do, or you have.

Think about it. Before you took the course, did you know that you only have to tell a LEO when asked by one? Did you actually take the time to ponder about unconcealing a concealed weapon by telling someone about it? Most people without a concealed carry mentality aren't going to be able to reference law about it.

If you want to be under the radar, look at the guy like he's crazy, and go on past him. Talk to his manager when you get inside if you want. Turning on your heel before entering the store looks a lot like the businessman being investigated for embezzlement saying, "No comment" as he drives away from his failing business in his brand new Beamer, headed back to his McMansion. Think about before you started carrying. Were you offended then by someone asking if you were carrying?

Ummm.... Like, never happened, man! Don't think it ever even came close to happening. The question would have flummoxed me! The questioner probably would have thought I was lying.

[michael e]

I would just walk past him. We dont have to tell him so im not going to. My academy is always packed so cant see them asking everyone that walks there the door .

[C-dub]

It depends on my mood and how much time I have. If I were in a playful mood and had the time I might take Crossfire's approach. If I were in a good mood, but didn't have the time I might reply, "No thank you," playing like he asked me if I needed any help finding something. If I were not in the mood or had the time I would probably just say, "No."

I would not challenge or request to speak to the manager while in the store. If I felt the need, I might call the store later or corporate.

[Hoi Polloi]

C'mon... You walk into a store and with no other context a store employee asks if you're concealed carrying. Not one of you would instantly think you were possibly showing? None of you would look down to check you were still concealed?

Unless you knew the guy was doing it (as you know from reading this thread), I think most people would be inclined to have their thoughts go straight to what they were doing immediately previous--getting out of the car and walking in the store. I can't imagine that most would assume he is playing some sort of guess-the-gun-guy game and would respond accordingly.

[C-dub]

Nah. That's the first thing I check after exiting my truck or car. I try to do it discretely, while I'm still between vehicles. Most times I can do this as I exit so it's even less noticeable to the unobservant.