What to do with hug greetings while carrying

[Abraham]

There's a "Seinfeld" episode where Jerry expresses his dislike for this type of greeting.

Everyone in the building he lived in did the "Hi, good to see you hug". Everyone greeted this way every time they saw each other.

He was soon shunned by his neighbors.

Presumably they thought him antisocial.

Me, I'm the same way. I don't care for such things, unless it's my wife, daughter or grandchildren.

When greeting, I promptly stick out my hand with body language that says, no, I'm not going to do the greeting hug. (if it looks like it's going to be attempted)

Why is that?

For me it's greeting overkill, basically insincere and generally inappropriate.

So, if you're concerned someone may recognize that chunk of metal on your hip, cuz they just have to hug, do the looooooooooong arm handshake instead.

It works.

[joe817]

Anyone I like well enough to hug, they like me well enough to hug me back. And in that case, I like them and know them well enough to tell them the truth. From my wife, daughter, grandchildren, to my friends.

I do not go around casually hugging strangers. In this case, a handshake will do. That's my opinion and I'm unanimous in that.

[Mithras61]

I prefer to go low on the right (being as I'm right handed). That works out pretty well for right handed others, since they go low on my LEFT. Its easy, I just offer with my left arm out & shoulder high, and my right elbow tucked in by my hip & my right forearm pointing forward. Most everybody responds in kind. A few of the women respond with both arms high, but that isn't really a problem.

I like the lifesaving device/medical device (thoracic perforater ) as well for those who find it and just HAVE to know...

[garcia946]

I wouldn`t worry about it , I get lots of hugs from friends and family.Not one has said anything to me about it , that didnt know ( or didnt relize that I was carrying ).
But , most of the time I hug on my left ( since I carry on right ) or I hug straight on. Never had a problem.
Plus , were legal to carry anyway....

[Dexdahex]

No problems here... people just thinks it my phone...or my gerber... maybe one day they will figure it out

[ninemm]

If you're using a smart carry holster, you may get the question Mae West is famous for a little more often.

[SlowDave]

Anyone I like well enough to hug, they like me well enough to hug me back. And in that case, I like them and know them well enough to tell them the truth. From my wife, daughter, grandchildren, to my friends.

I do not go around casually hugging strangers. In this case, a handshake will do. That's my opinion and I'm unanimous in that.

Not a big hugger also, but can't always say the same for those around me. I'm not quite anti-social enough to just rebuff someone who walks up with both arms out (usually happens at church). I have even stuck out my hand for a handshake and had the "Oh come on now..." followed by a hug. I could put my hand out to their face and hold them at arms length, but I'm just not quite that... something.

I had a guy come up the other day and give me a kind of half arm-around-the-shoulder/hug on my right (I'm a lefty, with belly band under my left arm with S&W Sigma) and at the last moment, he just reaches around and pats me on my left ribcage touching the gun. He didn't say anything and neither did I. Not sure what he thought, but I'd prefer that not to happen a bunch more times.

I'm gonna try to practice this "low on the right" thing (reversed of course for southpaw version) and see if I can protect well enough.

[aardwolf]

If you're bothered by hug greetings you can try smartcarry.

[NcongruNt]

No problems here... people just thinks it my phone...or my gerber... maybe one day they will figure it out

I have a huggy friend who knows I carry (and is considering a CHL himself), and I have the opposite problem with him. One day, he hugged me and bumped my mag carrier. He discreetly indicated that he thought it was my gun. I told him "that's not what you think it is".

[stevie_d_64]

Anybody I know well enough to hug I know well enough to not worry about it if they "find" the gun.

Yep...

[USA1]

my wifes large family are bigtime huggers , and bigtime pro 2a. when i get a hug from them, they say ...
..........."so, you still have'nt got your CHL yet ? "

[The Annoyed Man]

This is one of the MANY reasons why I usually

choose Smart Carry.

http://www.smartcarry.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You better hope that nobody can get a handful of your gun while hugging!

[The Annoyed Man]

I prefer to go low on the right (being as I'm right handed). That works out pretty well for right handed others, since they go low on my LEFT.

Interestingly, I'm left handed, and I always go low on the left, but most of the people who give me hugs are obviously going to be right handed, and it doesn't seem to bother them at all.

[rmoraes]

B"H

I glue my elbows to my hips and hug with the forearms. Not the full on hug they were expecting, but better then nothing.

That is my approch. I just glue my right arm along my G23, so any hug goes over my right side and no problem.

"medical device" it is from now on.