Spotted CHLs...

[Snake Doctor]

This one may be a stretch, but I think it could be a fun, interesting and informative topic.

Everyday since acquiring my CHL, my awareness of the environment around me has improved. Along with the awareness of potential threats, BGs, etc., however, my eye for possible CHL holders has become a little sharper, too. I thought about creating this topic today while picking up some odds and ends at Wal-Mart. An older man, I'd bet in his late 60s, had a fanny pack on and set at about 3 o'clock. I thought about a quote I'd read here about fanny packs being the last true way to spot a CHLer. A man yelled at his wife extremely loud and while the man and I both turned, I noticed his hand instinctively went to his fanny pack.

I think it would be interesting to keep a running thread where people can write in ABC, XYZ about a possible CHL sighting, and I'd bet it won't be long until someone says, "Good eye! That was me wearing ______ at the ______ store in Amarillo today!"

[Snake Doctor]

Date: 9/30, about 4:30 PM

Location: Wal-Mart @ South Park Meadows, Austin

Male/Female: M

Age: Late 60s?

Description: Red, plaid shirt, khaki pants, awesome Indiana Jones-style hat, black fanny pack

Other:

[GlockenHammer]

I've noticed several people that could be hiding a handgun whether it is a fanny pack, vest, draped shirt or whatever. Very seldom have I seen incontrovertible evidence that they were packing. And in at least one case, I was wrong--my Dad came to visit wearing a large fanny pack. No, it didn't have a gun in it. The gun was in a pocket holster that I didn't notice.

[Snake Doctor]

I've noticed several people that could be hiding a handgun whether it is a fanny pack, vest, draped shirt or whatever. Very seldom have I seen incontrovertible evidence that they were packing. And in at least one case, I was wrong--my Dad came to visit wearing a large fanny pack. No, it didn't have a gun in it. The gun was in a pocket holster that I didn't notice.

Oh I definitely agree, I guess I meant that you should post when you're quite sure.

[jrosto]

Last weekend in the Arlington Pappadeaux there were at least three other folks with concealed handguns. Two gentlemen sitting at the same table with their significant others (most likely wives as they were not primping for each other and holding an enjoyable, light conversation), and one man with his family.

Funny thing is that all four of us were wearing Hawaiian style shirts.

[yobdab]

This one may be a stretch, but I think it could be a fun, interesting and informative topic.

Everyday since acquiring my CHL, my awareness of the environment around me has improved. Along with the awareness of potential threats, BGs, etc., however, my eye for possible CHL holders has become a little sharper, too."

I think that is some form of awareness that needs to be named.

It's like when you buy a new car..all of a sudden everyone seems to be driving your model car. You know they were driving that model before you bought yours but all of a sudden you notice them more.

[Thane]

It sounds like a fun game, but I'm not sure this is the proper forum/format to conduct it in, as this is somewhat of a public forum.

I do have one request; before posting anything about someone you "make," let them know what "tell" gave them away (so they can fix it), and keep their description intentionally vague. Some folks, myself included, are a tad uneasy about our description as a "man with a gun" going out over the virtual wires. For example, I don't mind if friends/family/co-workers know I shoot/carry, but I don't exactly want my description available to strangers.

However, letting us know what "tell" gave the CHL-er away DOES help us fix our own carry methods. I would suggest, rather than a description and location of the person, simply a description of the tell. If someone on here believes themselves to be the "made" CHL-er, then they can be the ones to decide whether to broadcast description/location.

Use this game with discretion, and courtesy to the "made" CHL-er's privacy, and I see nothing wrong with it. But, as I said, I am a tad uncomfortable with the idea. Perhaps a private sub-forum, one that only TexasCHL members can access, would be a better place for it.

[Snake Doctor]

It sounds like a fun game, but I'm not sure this is the proper forum/format to conduct it in, as this is somewhat of a public forum.

I do have one request; before posting anything about someone you "make," let them know what "tell" gave them away (so they can fix it), and keep their description intentionally vague. Some folks, myself included, are a tad uneasy about our description as a "man with a gun" going out over the virtual wires. For example, I don't mind if friends/family/co-workers know I shoot/carry, but I don't exactly want my description available to strangers.

However, letting us know what "tell" gave the CHL-er away DOES help us fix our own carry methods. I would suggest, rather than a description and location of the person, simply a description of the tell. If someone on here believes themselves to be the "made" CHL-er, then they can be the ones to decide whether to broadcast description/location.

Use this game with discretion, and courtesy to the "made" CHL-er's privacy, and I see nothing wrong with it. But, as I said, I am a tad uncomfortable with the idea. Perhaps a private sub-forum, one that only TexasCHL members can access, would be a better place for it.

Criticism so early? Boy oh boy...

Really though, I see your intention of keeping people's privacy, but we're not talking about giving away license plates and enough facial details to establish a police sketch. The possibility of it being one of "us" is extremely slim, and even if it was, I cannot see how naming the location you're in and the clothes you're wearing will release your "secret" to the world. Hopefully it would be understood that if someone is wearing their company logo shirt or at a private address, we wouldn't post that.

[USMC-COL]

How about when you know everybody or almost everybody is carrying? I just got back from the IDPA Nationals in Allentown, PA tonight and on a couple of evenings, many of us went out for dinner at particular restaurants. Out of 35 people in one restaurant, I knew 30 who were carrying. Or how about 300+ people at a hotel who were carrying. Those would have been wrong places for BGs to pick on. Just a thought.

[seamusTX]

FWIW, I have never "made" anyone, including people I knew were carrying (off-duty cops). I can see lumps sometimes, but I can't positively identify them as weapons.

Back when I was a teenager, while waiting for a bus, I saw a man drop a quarter while putting it in a parking meter. He bent over to pick up the quarter and dropped something else. After he walked away, I looked to see what he had dropped. It was a revolver cartridge. I kept it for many years. That was in Chicago, where a guy in a suit who was carrying was either a cop or a mobster.

I had one "false positive" recently that turned out to be a Blackberry-type device.

- Jim

[TXGLOCK23]

Since getting my CHL, I too have been more observent of others, looking for printing or other give aways. I saw an elderly gentleman in Walmart last week that could have been carrying but all I saw was a bump on his hip under his untucked shirt. Couldn't really tell. Could have been a cell phone except he was talking on his.

[Kalrog]

I "made" somebody in a CostCo bathroom while waiting for my son to finish his business.

An older gentleman (60s or so) was wearing a light jacket in May or June and that was my first clue. Then when he was adjusting everything at the sink, it opened up enough and I saw the grip of a small pistol in a crossdraw holster.

[Mithras61]

Since getting my CHL, I too have been more observent of others, looking for printing or other give aways. I saw an elderly gentleman in Walmart last week that could have been carrying but all I saw was a bump on his hip under his untucked shirt. Couldn't really tell. Could have been a cell phone except he was talking on his.

Maybe he's like me & has three (I have one from each of the major carriers for business reasons).


ETA: Cell phones, that is, not handguns. I don't know that I could limit handguns to a top three if I wanted to!

[CJATE]

I was at the bank, old guy bent over to rest his elbows on teller counter/fill out paper work, I thought his shirt was draping off his back funny. I was trying to decide if he was packing. . . . Probably looking to hard. When he stands up, turns,,,, it was MY CHL INSTRUCTER. He did not recognize me, but I got a good chuckle.


He was indeed packing, and I could even tell you what he was packing, and that he also had a 38 in his pocket..


But I do find my self trying to out people. (never would, unless they were not hidden)

[Thane]

Criticism so early? Boy oh boy...

Really though, I see your intention of keeping people's privacy, but we're not talking about giving away license plates and enough facial details to establish a police sketch. The possibility of it being one of "us" is extremely slim, and even if it was, I cannot see how naming the location you're in and the clothes you're wearing will release your "secret" to the world. Hopefully it would be understood that if someone is wearing their company logo shirt or at a private address, we wouldn't post that.

Didn't mean to sound like I was coming down on anyone; I'm just a little leery of this in spite of myself.

Have fun with it, but be careful.

For what it's worth, I make a habit of looking for fellow CHL-ers myself, although the most obvious folks I've "made" are federal ICE agents... Someone needs to tell them that a dark Italian suit with a slightly oversized, unbuttoned coat is NOT "inconspicuous." Especially not in the El Paso summer.