carrying in retail stores

[RoyGBiv]

I carry in clothing stores all the time.
Buying clothes on the internet is definitely sub-optimal.

I always assume I'm being watched in the dressing rooms, so I try to be discrete about unholstering and placing my weapon quickly under removed clothing or under the clothes I'm planning to try on. In the 17+ years I've been carrying I can remember only once being followed around the store after trying on clothes. That may have been because someone saw my gun in the dressing room, or just as likely, the plainclothes security guy just saw something suspicious about me and followed me for a while. Kohls

Here's the bottom line.... If you are legally carrying, in possession of your CHL and DL, try not to worry about it. 2 out of every 50 people in TX have a TX CHL, it's not new news for the store. Be discrete. If you are ever questioned, be polite and as honest as the situation warrants**. Leave if asked. If someone threatens to call 911 say "ok, that's no problem if you feel you need to do that". You're not doing anything wrong, so, don't be defensive. No need. Be prepared to be inconvenienced if things go a little sideways, but, they rarely do. Remain calm and polite. It's not personal.

** if a store security guard ever asks me if I'm armed I plan to politely reply with "Are you a police officer?".
If they answer yes, I'll ask to see credentials and if provided, I'll reply honestly.
If they are not LE, I would simply say "No". I feel no obligation to give a truthful answer to that question unless it's being asked by LE. If they've seen my gun on a dressing room camera, they already know the answer, so, whatever comes next will come next regardless. Be polite, stay calm and know you're not breaking any laws.

Just my opinion. I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice.

[Texas_Blaze]

I have actually had the retired pastor at my church pat my carry weapon twice while we were hugging / greating. I haven't told anyone I carry at church. He hasn't said anything. Either he knows or hasn't got a clue even after the "pat down".

most of the general public haven't a clue

[oohrah]

I guess there is no expectation is privacy in a dressing room. Similar story, I recently went into a Belk's dressing room to try on a pair of pants. This required removing my cellphone-holster combo which I placed on the chair and covered it with my pants. I think it would've been very difficult to discern it was a handgun.

Shortly after, while waiting for my wife, a uniformed LEO out of town (a nearby suburb) walked by kinda looking at me. Then we went to the shoe departent and he shows up again. Later, I see him talking to a salesclerk at the info table by the front door. He never spoke to me, but I got the eerie impression he was checking me out.

After reading the above, I'm now convinced that I was observed in the dressing room doing "something" unusual, and the LEO was working as off-duty store security. Perhaps when I was sticking my holster back under my belt, they thought I was shoplifting. I will not assume I am not being watched in the future.

[MotherBear]

While you don't want to constantly be pulling on your cover garment, if you know that in this style shirt, this type movement can likely result in this type exposure, adjust accordingly.

When I get out of the car, or stand up from being seated, or if I've just been reaching or bending over or doing something else that's likely to significantly affect the way my shirt is hanging, I casually adjust the hemline. It's something a lot of people do normally anyway, and if you just casually straighten it all out, without focusing on one specific area or constantly messing with it, no one's going to think anything of it.

[MotherBear]

I guess there is no expectation is privacy in a dressing room.

I've always figured I have a reasonable expectation of privacy in a dressing room. If I'm dressing and undressing, I certainly do not expect decent people to be watching me. If someone is, and they see my gun, I don't believe that's on me as a failure to conceal.

[howdy]

I have carried every place it is legal for over 17 years and I have not once been asked if I am carrying. A security guard will not ask you (just for grins) if you are carrying. A Police Officer will not ask you (just for grins) if you are carrying. If the place is not posted, then carry away...odds are you are not the only person in there that has a gun. If you are asked to leave, then do it and take your money elsewhere.

[Texsquatch]

I guess there is no expectation is privacy in a dressing room.

I've always figured I have a reasonable expectation of privacy in a dressing room. If I'm dressing and undressing, I certainly do not expect decent people to be watching me. If someone is, and they see my gun, I don't believe that's on me as a failure to conceal.

Yep, that's how I look at it. If it gets to that point, I would ask why they felt the need to ask me if I'm carrying. I would not provide any info/ID unless the security is actually LE, as previously stated by others. They're more than welcome to ask me to leave, and I would have them know they lost a customer and file a complaint and let others know.
If they spied on me in the dressing room, then they would have a bigger problem with me because I would make a huge deal about the invasion of privacy.

[jmorris]

I guess there is no expectation is privacy in a dressing room.

I've always figured I have a reasonable expectation of privacy in a dressing room. If I'm dressing and undressing, I certainly do not expect decent people to be watching me. If someone is, and they see my gun, I don't believe that's on me as a failure to conceal.

Exactly. Besides, isn't why they put those convenient gun hooks up on the wall?

(And to another post, I think its riskier *not* to carry in a retail store.)

[rotor]

Do you really know a store that has cameras in a dressing room and you haven't made a stink about that?

[RoyGBiv]

Do you really know a store that has cameras in a dressing room and you haven't made a stink about that?

Where have you been?

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/09/29/how- ... oud-think/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Texsquatch]

Do you really know a store that has cameras in a dressing room and you haven't made a stink about that?

Where have you been?

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/09/29/how- ... oud-think/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So what they're saying here is that they don't have cameras in the dressing rooms, but they do have security personnel spying thru strategically placed door louvers.

Hmm, makes me want to go try on some clothes and cover the doors with something and see if the store complains. I love to hear their argument that I'm blocking their view.

[rotor]

I guess I live in the dark ages.

[SewTexas]

I guess there is no expectation is privacy in a dressing room.

I've always figured I have a reasonable expectation of privacy in a dressing room. If I'm dressing and undressing, I certainly do not expect decent people to be watching me. If someone is, and they see my gun, I don't believe that's on me as a failure to conceal.

I believe it is illegal for them to have the cameras "in" the rooms, but they are allowed to have cameras on the "area". I do my best to not have my gun out of cover for more than a second. I tend to just assume i'm on camera, that way I'm not surprised.

[asbandr]

I would be curious to know specific laws regarding cameras in the dressing room. Now in the hallway between the doors? Wouldn't shock me, but trained on the dressing room itself? I'd have problem with that. As others have stated, I would expect a good amount of privacy in the dressing room, just like my gun would be visible using a public restroom, so though I wouldn't go crazy and say, practice drawing in there, I find nothing wrong with my gun being visible in the normal actions of trying on clothes. Plus, I'm not buying something until I know it will hide both my muffin top and my gun!

[howdy]

Most dressing rooms are open at the top allowing ceiling mounted security cameras good views of the inside.