Carry or not to carry???....IWB or OWB???

[Guest 808-South]

I'm a American, born & raised in Hawaii. And I do have my original long form birth certificate....ahahahahaha.... Saying that, Just to say I'm not white. Ive been mistaken for samoan, chinese, japanese and also been called mexican. I was asked to see my papers once. And even asked if I had to file papers to leave Hawaii.

The reason I am saying all this is. I am being dicouraged to not carry at all, by my family members. Reason being, if I come across some gun toting idiot that hates my brown skin. I gave him an excuse to draw on me. If I carry OWB then it may be seen as a threat by a hater. Or If I carry IWB, if seen he may think Im hiding a illegal gun, since he thinks im a illegal alien anyway. And may draw on me.

Discrimination still exist to think otherwise is either your in denial, stupid or a racist yourself.

I plan on conceal carry. But wanted others opinion on the matter.

Im not writing this to offend anyone. Im new to TN and is experiencing culture shock. And is trying to educate myself of the ways of TN life. Ive met alot of beautiful nice heartful people here, but I also met some that hate me.

[Guest RobThatsMe]

Hmmmm... 3rd option.... A pocket pistol, like a Sig P238, Ruger or KelTec.

[Guest 808-South]

Hmmmm... 3rd option.... A pocket pistol, like a Sig P238, Ruger or KelTec.

I plan on IWB, pocket, or lack of another term "fanny pack"

[Guest nysos]

Most permit holders/carryers generally speaking are pretty responsible people. A lot of the reaction you will get just depends on how you dress, and your body language. If you are calm and relaxed, nothing will likely happen. If you are nervous and twitchy, then someone would be more likely to call the cops on you for a "man with a gun". I would not worry about someone drawing on you just because they think you are illegal, their life isn't in danger, etc. If I saw someone that I thought had a gun illegally and were an illegal in the country, I MIGHT call the police...thats their job, but regardless of whether I call the police I would definitely be keeping an eye on you while I went about my business until I dismissed you as a threat. Handgun carry permits are so people can protect themselves, not police the populous. If anyone drew on you while going about your business, they would be breaking the law - not you. It probably wouldn't be the best idea as it would escalate things, but at that point you would be justified in drawing and defending yourself from the ignorant fool.

Given time you will get over your culture shock, just carry however you prefer...most prefer concealed as I do myself. Out of site, out of mind.

Edited June 21, 2011 by nysos

[Guest friesepferd]

the answer is quite simple really. Make sure you carry concealed. Tons of people here can help you figure out how to best do so, but with a little work, it is actually quite easy to carry concealed and nobody will ever know you have a gun.

[JC57]

Whether or not you choose to carry is up to you. I always carry concealed when I carry at all, so I would suggest that course of action to you.

[Guest SUNTZU]

If you dress appropriately, you can carry IWB or OWB with a shirt over it for going concealed. I prefer IWB. Get a pistol belt. I think Beltman has been recommended. I haven't tried them myself. Allow time to get over the culture shock. Some people in small towns take awhile to accept ANYONE who is "different" or just an outsider. Being both, it might take time. I don't know the circumstances. Most people I know are willing to accept you for who you are instead of what you look like. If you're on the East side of TN, come to one of our shoots!

[Guest 808-South]

Thank you all.

Im taking my HCP class this Saturday. Gonna be shopping for a IWB holster soon. And a BUG & pocket holster soon as well.

[ttocswob]

Contrary to popular belief, racism is on its way out. While there will always be a few bigots here and there, the vast majority of Tennesseans do not care. So get your HCP if you haven't already, then carry however you want.

I'm from the lily white and bigoted Upper Cumberland Plateau...hence the banjo!

And welcome to TN, BTW!

[daddyo]

Practice concealed carry with your weapon of choice until you reach a comfort level that you like. At that point, it will be just like tying your shoes - no big deal.

[Guest Woodandsteel]

I'm a American, born & raised...

This.

Get your carry permit and carry confidently. Once you get comfortable with it, people can't tell when you're carrying concealed, even though it might seem really obvious to you. Avoid conflict and learn to de-escalate.

Welcome to the mainland!

[Guest 808-South]

Contrary to popular belief, racism is on its way out. While there will always be a few bigots here and there, the vast majority of Tennesseans do not care. So get your HCP if you haven't already, then carry however you want.

I'm from the lily white and bigoted Upper Cumberland Plateau...hence the banjo!

And welcome to TN, BTW!

I deal with bigots daily. Its a everyday challenge for me. But it wont turn me into a angry person. I will continue to smile amd live my life with Aloha.

Aloha means - "hello", "goodbye" & "Love"

[Guest nicemac]

Practice concealed carry with your weapon of choice until you reach a comfort level that you like. At that point, it will be just like tying your shoes - no big deal.

This. ^^^^^^

[Jonnin]

If you are experiencing hatred, thats all the more reason to have a pistol on you and well concealed. I carry my guns in my pockets; a small pistol can fit behind a thin wallet and be 100% invisible and give you 5-10 shots of 380 or 9mm, even a couple of small .40 calibers out there and a few other odds and ends. There are a LOT of small guns, almost anything smaller than 6, 6.5 inches long can vanish on your person with minimal effort. You can also learn to conceal a much larger gun but that takes careful wardrobe selection and a lot of work to find the holster, etc that work for you.

[Guest friesepferd]

and on the racism note: i hate to say that east tn is actually the most racist place i have ever seen. its not bad or anything. i have never found a place that was actually what i consider to be racist. but i actually do knew some people here who are - but not to your skin color.

what i see more than anything around here though is not as much racism as outsiderism I am a northerner so people certainly give me a hard time about that- but jokingly. the large majority of people around here are as friendly as can be. it is certainly the exception that someone is actually racist when it does occur.

but again, like i said before, get a good IWB holster (I love my supertuck and Mtac (leather-kydex combo). just get a gun holster combo that will really suck into your side and dont forget to train and practice a lot!

[kwe45919]

I'm a American, born & raised in Hawaii. And I do have my original long form birth certificate....ahahahahaha.... Saying that, Just to say I'm not white. Ive been mistaken for samoan, chinese, japanese and also been called mexican. I was asked to see my papers once. And even asked if I had to file papers to leave Hawaii.

The reason I am saying all this is. I am being dicouraged to not carry at all, by my family members. Reason being, if I come across some gun toting idiot that hates my brown skin. I gave him an excuse to draw on me. If I carry OWB then it may be seen as a threat by a hater. Or If I carry IWB, if seen he may think Im hiding a illegal gun, since he thinks im a illegal alien anyway. And may draw on me.

Discrimination still exist to think otherwise is either your in denial, stupid or a racist yourself.

I plan on conceal carry. But wanted others opinion on the matter.

Im not writing this to offend anyone. Im new to TN and is experiencing culture shock. And is trying to educate myself of the ways of TN life. Ive met alot of beautiful nice heartful people here, but I also met some that hate me.

Am I missing something here?? If you are carring concealed how would anyone know including family and thugs know that you do have a gun?? Look up the defination of concealed and show me where it says people notice things concealed.

Now, personally, I think the posting of the racism stuff isn't a concern here. Neither is the issue of what your family thinks. If you are 21 yrs old and are applicable for an HCP, then by all means get one....however, don't get one because you've had a few racist comments made twards you or your family so now you think carrying a gun is the answer....because it's not. Properly carrying a weapon and being able to use it are way more important than getting a gun for protection against the racist fools of the planet. Hopefull you understand what I'm saying because one of these day, you may have to save a racist fools butt with your firearm......

[Guest 808-South]

and on the racism note: i hate to say that east tn is actually the most racist place i have ever seen. its not bad or anything. i have never found a place that was actually what i consider to be racist. but i actually do knew some people here who are - but not to your skin color.

what i see more than anything around here though is not as much racism as outsiderism I am a northerner so people certainly give me a hard time about that- but jokingly. the large majority of people around here are as friendly as can be. it is certainly the exception that someone is actually racist when

Im in Sevier county.

Yes, I have met ALOT of friendly people here. Some is rude but once they hear that I speak english and that Im from Hawaii then they are nice to me. And some is just full of hatred. Due to me being a outsider and mistaken for a mexican. But I keep smiling. And living my dream.

I plan to conceal and try to go to the range weekly. To keep with my accuracy & muscle memory.

Thank you for all your advice. Its greatly appreciated.

[Guest 808-South]

Am I missing something here?? If you are carring concealed how would anyone know including family and thugs know that you do have a gun?? Look up the defination of concealed and show me where it says people notice things concealed.

Now, personally, I think the posting of the racism stuff isn't a concern here. Neither is the issue of what your family thinks. If you are 21 yrs old and are applicable for an HCP, then by all means get one....however, don't get one because you've had a few racist comments made twards you or your family so now you think carrying a gun is the answer....because it's not. Properly carrying a weapon and being able to use it are way more important than getting a gun for protection against the racist fools of the planet. Hopefull you understand what I'm saying because one of these day, you may have to save a racist fools butt with your firearm......

Thank you. I know what concealed means. And there is times that a concealed weapon may be noticed. As for the racism, It is a issue on my original post and thats not the main reason for me to carry. I experience it daily. If you want details I can pm you, cause its definatly not "just a few comments". As for saving a racist, I have no problem rendering aid to another person. If they'd let me help them.

[Guest Th3KhansMosin]

IWB may be best for your situation if you want to avoid the poss. of someone noticing an outline or print of your gun. I carry OWB most of the time in a high-riding leather holster, but I carry a Walther PPS so it is VERY thin. It will depend a lot on what you consider carrying, but regadless it is easier to hide IWB.

[Jonnin]

Thank you. I know what concealed means. And there is times that a concealed weapon may be noticed. As for the racism, It is a issue on my original post and thats not the main reason for me to carry. I experience it daily. If you want details I can pm you, cause its definatly not "just a few comments". As for saving a racist, I have no problem rendering aid to another person. If they'd let me help them.

Again, a small gun won't be noticed by yahoos. My wife and I carry the small sig 380s and twice we have been searched by rent-a-guard types who missed the guns entirely (at, I will add, a place that was not posted so the guns were legal anyway). The only thing that is going to spot a small pocket pistol is a metal detector or x-ray type machine. The naked eye can see you have something in your pocket, but not what it is, as pocket holsters are designed to obscure the outline (many of them anyway). This is the age of the cellphone and gadgets: the untrained will assume that whatever is in your pocket is harmless, and due to the small size, the last thing they will think is "gun". If you google it, you can find the dozen or so ways that folks with a gun mess up. Mostly, that means touching the gun to make sure it is covered, still there, etc, turning your body away from whoever is approaching, wearing totally goofy clothing such as a coat in the heat, or really baggy clothes, etc, walking/moving/sitting funny due to uncomfortable gun, and wearing a belt/etc because a heavy gun pulls your pants down. To avoid being noticed, you have to totally overcome your desire to check on the weapon, which means wearing it and practice enough to be assured that it is where you left it and does not need your attention.It takes time to get there. But everytime you touch the gun, make a mental note to stop doing that. Every time you look at it, or turn it away from someone, make a note. It gets easier in a few months.

I apologise but the forums keep removing my paragraph breaks for some reason.

[Guest WyattEarp]

I'm a American, born & raised in Hawaii. And I do have my original long form birth certificate....ahahahahaha.... Saying that, Just to say I'm not white. Ive been mistaken for samoan, chinese, japanese and also been called mexican. I was asked to see my papers once. And even asked if I had to file papers to leave Hawaii.

The reason I am saying all this is. I am being dicouraged to not carry at all, by my family members. Reason being, if I come across some gun toting idiot that hates my brown skin. I gave him an excuse to draw on me. If I carry OWB then it may be seen as a threat by a hater. Or If I carry IWB, if seen he may think Im hiding a illegal gun, since he thinks im a illegal alien anyway. And may draw on me.

Discrimination still exist to think otherwise is either your in denial, stupid or a racist yourself.

I plan on conceal carry. But wanted others opinion on the matter.

Im not writing this to offend anyone. Im new to TN and is experiencing culture shock. And is trying to educate myself of the ways of TN life. Ive met alot of beautiful nice heartful people here, but I also met some that hate me.

I say you do what you think is best for you. Your family discouraging you from carry should not be a factor IMO, it's what you personally feel is best for you. That said, if you do carry, carry IWB, it gives you the element of surprise in the event of an unexpected attack, because they won't know you're carrying. If you're OWB, and you're in a gas station that's getting knocked off or other similiar situation, you're automatically a target, because they see your weapon, they'll take you out first before you ever have a chance to respond.

IWB gives you the chance to be discrete, and it gives you the ability to assess the situation without being a primary target (as opposed to someone visibly carrying), and any time you can buy for yourself to get out of the situation, or put yourself in a position to safely neutralize the threat is invaluable. the more advantage you have, the better your odds.

[Guest 808-South]

if you do carry, carry IWB, it gives you the element of surprise in the event of an unexpected attack, because they won't know you're carrying. If you're OWB, and you're in a gas station that's getting knocked off or other similiar situation, you're automatically a target, because they see your weapon, they'll take you out first before you ever have a chance to respond.

"Automatically the target" is the same reason Im going concealed.

[JAB]

Dang - double tap.

Edited June 21, 2011 by JAB

[JAB]

Here are a couple of pics for you. I did this just for fun to show what could be concealed under just an unbuttoned shirt - coincidentally a "Hawaiian" shirt. Seriously, shirts of the type often called 'Hawaiian' shirts - as long as the cloth is thick enough and the main color is fairly dark - can be great for concealment because the pattern helps hide that there are things under the shirt from the casually observing eye. Of course, being of...um...larger build also probably helps. Anyhow, this is me:

and this is what I had on me when that pic was taken:

The revolver is a four-inch barreled Taurus 66 and in the first pic I had it OWB (in the FOBUS shown) on my right hand side at about the 3:00 position. The Kel Tec P3AT was in my offhand (left) pocket also in the holster shown, complete with spare mag. Now, I was going for the extreme, here, just to show what it is possible to conceal with just an unbuttoned shirt - I don't carry the 66 when I am going for concealment, it is mostly for carry when camping, fishing, etc. Also, the P3AT is not something I carry as an offhand BUG. If I carry a BUG, it is usually a North American Arms mini revolver.

The point is that a snubbie revolver or compact semiauto - even carried OWB - can be easily concealed. If you pocket carry something of an appropriate size, concealment can be even easier.

The type of holster you choose can also make a difference. I used to think it would be impossible to conceal a Ruger P95 OWB. Then I found that a leather belt slide holster - which holds the pistol higher on the beltline - made doing so quite possible. Now, in the winter where a heavier cover garment (thicker shirt or light jacket) are practical, I routinely carry my P95. Here are some pics to illustrate (once again, yeah, I have a gut although I think I have lost maybe a few pounds since the pic was taken):

And in case you aren't familiar with the P95, this is what they look like. A little bulky, as you can see, but built like a tank and totally concealable with the right clothes/holster. The all black one is the one I had on me in the above pics:

[Guest UberDuper]

Do whatever is most comfortable. F the haters!

I go OWB cause I don't care if I get made and it's more comfortable to carry an XD that way.