Need to do some banking?

[Griz44]

I made an interesting visit to the bank this week. I went there to deposit a large sum of money (in cash).
I have had my business account at this bank for many years, as well as my personal account.
The lady who usually helps me once again assisted me. While we were taking care of business, she stated that my business had a catchy name, but asked me what my business was. I handed her a card.
I told her that I was a gun dealer, taught CHL classes and did private instruction.
So she asked if that "CHL" license gave me the right to carry a gun on my person.
So I asked her what she thought a concealed handgun license was for. (Duh)
We were standing in the cash count room, away from the open to the public area, behind closed doors. Me, her, and my wife. So the conversation was not public.
She stated that she did not really know. So I informed her that it was a license to carry a gun, concealed, anywhere that it was not specifically prohibited.
She then asked of course, "What about banks?"
So I asked back, "What about them? It's just another business like the grocery store or gas station."
She got a little more specific, "What about carrying a gun in this bank?"
So I asked another question, "Is it specifically prohibited to carry a gun in this bank?"
She stated that she did not know.
So I said to her, "Then it must be specifically prohibited by this bank to inform the employees of the bank's policy on weapons."
She got very specific then. "Are YOU carrying a weapon in this bank? Do you have a gun on you?"
So once again, I eluded the question, although I knew it was eventually coming to that question. I told her that if anyone knew when or where I was carrying, it would defeat the whole purpose of concealed carry in the first place, so it would just have to be a mystery until she signed up to take my class.

Just maybe, another future armed citizen.


She got kinda quiet, and dropped it. We counted the cash through the machine, twice as is the custom, and we exited the room and the bank.

[mikeintexas]

It sounds like she wanted to know if you were packing and, also, she didn't want to know if you were packing...

[A-R]

Whenever I get the "are you carrying right now?" question from an interested person who is not a relative or close friend (not often, but it does happen), I just fib a bit and tell them "if I AM carrying it would be illegal for me to tell you so" and leave it at that. Most of them accept that answer and don't ask too many more questions.

[shootthesheet]

Griz44, I do hope the experience sticks in her mind and I am sure it will. If this truly was her first experience with CHL I think it was a good one. The realization of a person who was possibly armed, in her work place, who was peaceful and without bad intent may have made a future CHL holder. If she is the type that never thought about guns or thought about them as a fearful thing she had the opportunity to expand her thinking at least. Maybe she will move beyond that to become an owner or shooter or even a CHL holder and for that I say good for you and for her.

Maybe, she won't get a CHL but maybe she will tell her friends and family the story of the "Guy that had a gun in the bank" and they will learn about CHL and that it might be something they would want to peruse. It takes a bit of faith to recognize that we may not win the person we are talking to over but we will affect them and others if we do it calmly and peacefully and with the attitude that gun ownership or CHL or activism for this cause is not something anyone has to be ashamed of and hide. In this case it was as simple as handing a woman a card and being patient enough to help her understand you are no threat to her or the bank and it is a part of your life. Maybe our victory here was that she or her family or friend won't assume guns and gun owners are the problem or a threat. I see this type of opportunity as a winning situation no matter what happens. That type of encounter destroys the anti-freedom lies. It puts thought into someone’s head that maybe what they assume isn't as factual as they thought it was. Good for you.

[sawdust]

I am currently using a Bagmaster belt bag. In the banks, I haven't noticed anyone giving it the "eye" So far, I've only caught 1 person looking at it, and he glanced at it 4 or 5 times as we walked along in the same direction. If I am ever asked, I am prepared to give one of two replies:

1) It's my emergency kit, or

2) I have to wear it because of my colonostomy. Wanna See inside?

Whenever I get the "are you carrying right now?" question from an interested person who is not a relative or close friend (not often, but it does happen), I just fib a bit and tell them "if I AM carrying it would be illegal for me to tell you so" and leave it at that. Most of them accept that answer and don't ask too many more questions.

Now I have a 3rd response.

[JNMAR]

Whenever I get the "are you carrying right now?" question from an interested person who is not a relative or close friend (not often, but it does happen), I just fib a bit and tell them "if I AM carrying it would be illegal for me to tell you so" and leave it at that. Most of them accept that answer and don't ask too many more questions.

I understand the premise, but is this really correct? I've not read anywhere that it's against the law for you to tell or otherwise notify someone, in a non-threatening way, that you are armed.

I've been asked a few times by acquaintances if I was carrying and I've always just said, "yep, I am" if I was, probably the alternative would be to just ignore it. I'm not a very good liar. At this point in my life I wouldn't even think of doing the wally walk with a sign on my back saying, "I'm ARMED...do not mess with me" but there was a time in my life...well I'll just leave it at that.

[davidtx]

Whenever I get the "are you carrying right now?" question from an interested person who is not a relative or close friend (not often, but it does happen), I just fib a bit and tell them "if I AM carrying it would be illegal for me to tell you so" and leave it at that. Most of them accept that answer and don't ask too many more questions.

I understand the premise, but is this really correct? I've not read anywhere that it's against the law for you to tell or otherwise notify someone, in a non-threatening way, that you are armed.

I've been asked a few times by acquaintances if I was carrying and I've always just said, "yep, I am" if I was, probably the alternative would be to just ignore it. I'm not a very good liar. At this point in my life I wouldn't even think of doing the wally walk with a sign on my back saying, "I'm ARMED...do not mess with me" but there was a time in my life...well I'll just leave it at that.

[The Annoyed Man]

About a year ago, my wife and I switched from banking with B of A to a community bank. The reason had everything to do with customer service attitudes, and a few other advantages. But interestingly, the B of A branches don't say anything about guns on the door, while my new bank has a "gun-busters" decal in the window, down low, next to the door. I pay it no attention, and both the branch manager and the marketing director there are friends who knew me from before I brought my business there. There has never been any mention of not being allowed to carry in their bank. I honestly don't think anybody there cares, as they tend to be a pretty conservative bunch.

[TLE2]

If you tell someone that you are armed, then is the gun concealed? Could it be considered verbal "printing"?

[drjoker]

If you tell someone that you are armed, then is the gun concealed? Could it be considered verbal "printing"?

Yes, that would be verbal "printing" and would be in violation of the law. Don't do it!

[lancermit]

If you tell someone that you are armed, then is the gun concealed? Could it be considered verbal "printing"?

Yes, that would be verbal "printing" and would be in violation of the law. Don't do it!

Government Code, Chapter 411
Subch. H; 411.171 (c) "Concealed handgun" means a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.

Well, if someone TELLS me that they have a CCW, then I am able to openly 'discern' (perceive by the senses or intellect) with ordinary observation (my ears) that they are carrying.

Hence, yeah, openly telling someone, IMHO, would be a violation of Government Code.