"Concealed Carry Badge"

[Guest GlockSafe]

I am a business owner with a concealed carry permit. I typically carry my Glock G23 in a Desantis outside-the-belt holster under a suit or sport jacket. I am concerned about the gun "printing" through my jacket, or someone spotting the firearm under my jacket from a frontal view. I don't want the average non-carrying civilian to be unduly alarmed if this happened. In consideration thereof, it would seem to make some sense to consider carrying a concealed carry badge clipped to my belt in front of my holster, but far enough back to be all but out of sight unless my jacket accidentally flapped open. If the general public wasn't so "gun sight" sensitive I wouldn't care if someone accidentally saw it or not.

Note: I have seen a few folks parading around in public openly carrying with a concealed carry badge in plain view. Which, in my opinion, is a Very Bad Idea.

If you respond to this thread please provide a thoughtful reply and at the same time refrain from CCW "badge bashing" which I have seen elsewhere while surfing the Net.

Thanks!

[Guest uofmeet]

I think if they see the gun, oh well....maybe they will ask questions about it and maybe get their own.....if we continue to shield the gun from view always, we will always have this gun tight community. I think if they accidentally see it every once in a while it will help.

Also, why do we have to hide our right to carry? i try to conceal, but you can still see it. And as long as you are not doing anything illegal, who cares?

[Guest jackdm3]

Ultimately, I think you'll get the response you're looking for from the public. Mostly. It would really just be up to the officer involved to decide if your actions had a semblance of "immitating an officer."

[gunsablazin]

No badges! If the state of TN wanted us to carry badges they would have issued us one with our permit. It is too close to impersonating a police officer to carry one, IMO. I carry a full size 1911 OWB under a vest or jacket and have done so for years, if anybody has ever noticed it they did not say a word.

[oldogy]

My guess is that even the most passive sheep that would see a glimpse of a gun under a suit or sport coat would think, undercover cop and not go completely ballistic. That is if you looked the part, clean cut and business like. Looks are everything. If they ask, tell them you are legal, explain why and get on with your life.

I am not even going to comment on the badge part.

oldogy

BTW, welcome to TGO

Edited April 20, 2010 by oldogy

[Guest clownsdd]

One thing our TN Government did right was to issue a Carry Permit. Personally I conceal, but, if it is exposed, I am not breaking the law. They did something right. If you are doing nothing wrong, there is no sense in worrying about it.

You are worrying too much about alarming some anti or scared person.

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

Agreed. I have my Glock 23 IWB with a Crossbreed Supertuck, AMAZING HOLSTER, and sometimes, if I don't have my shirt tucked in well, and bend over to get something at the laundromat or something, my shirt comes up a little bit, can someone see it, probably, do they say anything, no. I know some lady saw it the other day because a fuse blew in my car and I bent over to replace it, but she just looked me in the eyes on her way in, and never looked back. If you don't look out of place, nervous or like your casing the place, people shouldn't freak out, and if they do... they'll call the police, they'll come, disarm you and then get your HCP and give your gun back .

[ftncityfatboy]

as a business owner the last thing you want to do is scare away customers because of the site of a handgun. so its your call. personally, i would keep doing what your doing and if they spot it, i don't think its an issue. i have seen business owners and employees OWB carry during work hours. Some small tobacco shops REQUIRE employees to carry. they open carry and people go in/out and it never seems to phase them. it is your right as a business owner to carry open/concealed. always a good chance to convert the sheeple.....rescue the perishing care for the dying

[Guest goomba]

seeing as you are the business owner & you have a valid TN permit. I do not see the need for adding a CCW badge.

You may want to consider how you carry & dress in order to reduce the possibility of having your pistol noticed.

[deerslayer]

seeing as you are the business owner & you have a valid TN permit. I do not see the need for adding a CCW badge.

You may want to consider how you carry & dress in order to reduce the possibility of having your pistol noticed.

+1

Ever considered an IWB holster?

[mikegideon]

Since you're the business owner, and I assume it's obvious to your customers that you work there, I can't see that the badge would add anything except confusion. I also think that people would be a lot less likely to be scared by an armed employee or owner, than if they just bumped into someone on the street.

If they do get scared by a glimpse of your gun, it's more likely an irrational fear of guns, and a badge won't help.

Kinda shooting in the dark without knowing more about your business and customers.

EDIT: After rereading your post, if you're also worried about carrying away from the business, I wouldn't.

Edited April 20, 2010 by mikegideon

[daddyo]

Not really sure what you consider "CCW Badge bashing", but why does anyone think that a badge would make the slightest bit of difference to someone who is scared at the sight of a weapon? A CCW badge carries no authority or credentials of any kind and there is no way I would ever waste my money on one. It means nothing.

Someone came up with the idea because they knew people who will spend money on anything would buy one.

[Guest BIGKENDONTPLAY]

I believe if your customers are the only concern, i could see someone that may freak seeing a gun and wondering if this place gets robbed often and be at ease at seeing a badge, I manage a golf course and carry everyday and have found out that the customers that know I carry feel safer with me here.I carry under just a polo shirt which I am shure can be seen at times but have never had any questions by customers,

I think in your case with a sport jacket a badge may do the trick while at work . I agree with other members on the steets to close to impersonating a police officer so i would leave the badge at work.

WHEN YOUR WEAK MAKE THEM THINK YOUR STRONG...WHEN YOUR STRONG MAKE THEM THINK YOUR WEAK SUN ZU

[dats82]

I would not worry about printing at all. At best, someone might see a little bump. Most people are not going to make the jump from bump to gun. As for it showing, if you carry at like about 4 o'clock, your jacket would really have to flap open something crazy for it to be seen. Even if your jacket flapped open a bit, with an IWB holster, over half of it is still covered. Short of it is, I would not waste my time worrying, nor would I spend my money on something that is worthless in my opinion. I think your set-up is good and you will have no problem.

[Guest nj.piney]

but anyway , welcome to tgo .

[Guest Engloid]

First, since TN doesn't specify any "concealed" carry, I think the badges are unnecessary and as mentioned, could open you up to some sort of impersonating charge. When you think about it, the average person will obey commands from an officer without checking the writing on his/her badge. This goes for uniformed or not. They will assume that the badge and gun = police. Therefore, lets say you go in and have an argument with a person over your Bic Mac being made wrong. They see the badge, claim to be scared, and wind up making a call to the police, stating that you claimed to be a cop. True or not, you're in a big mess.

As for somebody seeing your gun... There's a deli here in Knoxville, on Western Avenue, that got robbed years ago, at gunpoint. The owner changed the way he does business. If you go in at lunch time, you will probably see about 8 employees rushing around behind the counter. More than half will be carrying a firearm, openly. This place is in a not so good part of town. The crooks don't bother to rob them anymore!!! I have not yet heard of one single person that doesn't go to this business because of the guns.

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/729

Edited April 21, 2010 by Engloid

[Guest db99wj]

No.

[Guest Caveman]

I open carry at my liquor store and other than a question every now and then I have had none of my customers "freak out." Most of the time if someone even mentions it, it is to ask what I carry. It is obvious to them I am the proprietor and they don't care that I'm armed. The badge is for wannabes IMO and will serve no purpose for you.

Note: If you do get one though, you WILL be made fun of A LOT by other gun carriers, just so you know.

[Guest Engloid]

I really think they should stop selling the HCP badges. They look way too similar to a real cop's badge...and they're not going to sell that to you unless you can prove you're a cop.

I guess if you're a rent-a-cop, working security at the mall, the badge may make the teenage troublemakers think you have a bit more authority than you do.

[molonlabetn]

I personally think that trying to justify being armed on the basis of appearing to be law enforcement to the casual observer (who is just going to see the badge and assume), is a bad idea because it gives the wrong impression, when the reality is that your business is 'Criminals beware, there is nothing here worth your life'.

[Guest pws_smokeyjones]

with no intention of 'badge bashing' - I will say this. I see absolutely no good that can come from wearing one of those. If anything, I could see the badge actually drawing attention and raising more questions than you would get if someone just noticed a well dressed man with a gun properly holstered/carried under his jacket.

[JReedEsq]

I also wear suits and sport coats and often carry iwb outside of a tucked shirt at about 4:00. I am always armed in my office and I don't think anyone has noticed. I guess some people might be shocked depending on what kind of client they are, but either no one has noticed or no one has said anything. My guess is that people are probably not looking at you as close as you think they are and they probably won't notice you're carrying unless they are looking for it. Further, if they are looking that closely, then you may want to watch out for them. Now that it's warm, I'm often pocket carrying my Glock 26, so there's always the chance of some printing, but it's not been an issue.

Some of these things have been stated but here are my thoughts/observations:

1) I don't think people rarely notice either minor printing or a lump under your jacket.

2) If you're wearing suits and are polite, friendly and well-spoken, people don't generally ask any questions.

3) I wouldn't advise anyone to wear a badge but a LEO because (a) you could be mistaken for impersonating LE, and (they reinforce the stereotype of HCPers as wannabe cops.

[Guest Daelith]

I have to agree with everyone that it's not a good idea. Forget the badge.

[Krull]

Get yourself a badge if you want one. Don't listen to these people they all have one.

[daddyo]

Get yourself a badge if you want one. Don't listen to these people they all have one.

I made mine with aluminum foil and a magic marker.