How would you answer?

[10Shooter]

So, I was buying a used car this weekend from a private individual, met a local walgreens parking lot. Had my family with me, wife and two teenagers, car was for one of them.
Had brought cash with me, less than 2k.
Looked the car over, everything looked good about the car. asked the owner about going for a test drive.
He said well I have to ride along, as well as my teen wanted to I was buying car for.
I said great let's go. My wife and my other teen stayed behind.
Owner (26 year old kid, kinda seem "green" to me, kinda immature, while we were talking about things)
Out of the blue, before we go, he asks, you do you have a gun on you?

so, his car, his property, I'm getting ready to get into, was what I was thinking.
I did not think about the cash I had on me (I should have).

So I said yeah, but I'll stash it in my truck, which I did.

While we are test driving, he said he was scared about getting car jacked while trying to sell his car.
I told him I understood.

Ended up buying car.

As I was thinking later about his question, I thought I probably should not have said yes.
I have never been asked that question, and being honest, just answered.


How would you answer? I am asking for serious thought on this.
Thanks

[74novaman]

Unless the person asking me is a LEO or a close personal friend who's curious about what I'm carrying that day, I'm going to lie and say no.

Concealed is concealed and all that.

[RPB]

What sonny? You'll have to speak up ... I had an eardrum injury back in ... No I can't chew gum any more, dentures you know they stick to gum. I don't have any gum, but you go ahead if you want to chew ...

[AEA]

You could have easily been robbed. The answer to that question should have been "NO, I don't like guns" and kept yours on you. When you "stashed it in your truck" you opened yourself up for a robbery and possibly worse. If you weren't thinking of yourself, you SHOULD have been thinking about your daughter.

[Jim Beaux]

So, I was buying a used car this weekend from a private individual, met a local walgreens parking lot. Had my family with me, wife and two teenagers, car was for one of them.
Had brought cash with me, less than 2k.
Looked the car over, everything looked good about the car. asked the owner about going for a test drive.
He said well I have to ride along, as well as my teen wanted to I was buying car for.
I said great let's go. My wife and my other teen stayed behind.
Owner (26 year old kid, kinda seem "green" to me, kinda immature, while we were talking about things)
Out of the blue, before we go, he asks, you do you have a gun on you?

so, his car, his property, I'm getting ready to get into, was what I was thinking.
I did not think about the cash I had on me (I should have).

So I said yeah, but I'll stash it in my truck, which I did.

While we are test driving, he said he was scared about getting car jacked while trying to sell his car.
I told him I understood.

Ended up buying car.

As I was thinking later about his question, I thought I probably should not have said yes.
I have never been asked that question, and being honest, just answered.


How would you answer? I am asking for serious thought on this.
Thanks

I would have laughed and asked him if he had a gun.

BTW Maybe you have the thug look. Where your pants saggin?

[RoyGBiv]

Q: Do you have a gun on you?
A: First two words that come to mind are: Do you?

Regardless of his answer, my answer is "No."

[gigag04]

I have two! Then pat your biceps.

Did he know you were a CHL? I've bought and sold alot over the Internet, and it's never come up.

[03Lightningrocks]

I would have said no also. then I would have said, "why........do I need one?"

[ghostrider]

I don't think I'd answer, but I might ask him why he wants to know.

[10Shooter]

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. I thought long and hard before posting the original question.

[RPBrown]

I have two! Then pat your biceps.

Did he know you were a CHL? I've bought and sold alot over the Internet, and it's never come up.

I like this answer.

I do not think I would have outright lied since he had his teen with him and that is not a good example to set. I would have said something along the lines of well do you and then changed the subject. but thats just me and my .02

[RPB]

Also, I think it was in "The Virginian" a line similar to "Smile when you say that"

99% of the time it isn't what one says, but how it is said ...

Don't say in the Gangstah voice ; "yup, I gots me a gat; but I only wutcha gone do bout it?"

but

you could answer "Yes I do, I always have one, I'm supposed to, I'm one of the good guys" if you wanted to admit you are armed so he could tip off his buddies who were waiting to rob you where you were test driving to.

but still ... why did he ask...
Why, how bad is this part of town?

you could answer a question with a question;
"Are you a Peace Officer or a CHL? Are you interested in a trade, gimme $900 off the price of the car for my custom .45 and you show me your CHL and sign a bill of sale for the car and pistol"

[JJVP]

I would say " Wow, that is an odd question? Why would you ask that? Are going to try to rob me and want to make sure you don't have anything to worry about?"

When he says he is worried about being carjacked, you tell him " What carjacker would bring his wife and kids to a carjacking? What carjacker would bring his teenage daughter to do a carjack?"

[Scott in Houston]

I would say " Wow, that is an odd question? Why would you ask that? Are going to try to rob me and want to make sure you don't have anything to worry about?"

When he says he is worried about being carjacked, you tell him " What carjacker would bring his wife and kids to a carjacking? What carjacker would bring his teenage daughter to do a carjack?"

Exactly how I'd handle it. The best is to deflect with questions, so you're not ever lying or answering, but pointing out the oddity of the situation.

[VMI77]

I would have said no also. then I would have said, "why........do I need one?"

I like this response best. It reminds me of an incident I read about in Austin. A woman in an old junky car was pumping gas when a car with two threatening men pulled up behind her. One of the guys approached her and started talking trash about what a great car she had, eventually telling her, maybe he'd just take it. She took an "interview" position which made him pause and ask if she had a gun (she did), and she told him: "that's for me to know and you to find out." He backed away after that, got in the car with his buddy, and they left in a hurry.