TexasCHLforum.com

Happy New Year everyone.

I was thinking the other day about something I saw a few months ago and wanted to share it with the community and get your thoughts. My memory isn't 100% on this, sorry in advance.

I was headed in to a restaurant for lunch one day and parked about 2 cars over from a guy in his (probably) mid-sixties. He was walking in ahead of me by about 15 feet. He was wearing jeans and walking shoes, and had on a safari style vest. What I immediately noticed was the vest was caught between his body and the butt of a 1911. I did some quick mental machinations about the social considerations of telling someone their gun is showing. Before I could decide he pulled his vest down over the gun, but he never stopped and didn't make a big deal of it. In the restaurant I noticed his cap had verbiage like "Sherriff's Office" or "Deputy Sherriff" on it. I wish I could recall exactly but I don't. He also had a lanyard around his neck like you get at trade shows, the kind that have wide straps like giant shoelaces. There was writing on the strap that said something about a law enforcement group but I couldn't make it out. I think it may have been a police union or something similar. I couldn't tell what was hanging from the lanyard but it certainly wasn't a badge. I came away from this thinking this guy wasn't LEO but I admit I didn't ask him so I can't say for sure.

Does anyone know where you cross the line of impersonating an LEO? I kinda assumed this guy I saw had on a few LEO related items to avoid someone freaking out if they saw his gun. If so, it is an interesting concept. But I am not sure if it is kosher...? Anyone know?

I don't think a statement like "you're showing a little" would be out of place whether he was a LEO or CHL.

However, since it common for off duty or plain clothes LE to wear their credentials on a lanyard, my opinion is that man was probable LE.

I honestly don't know how I would react if I saw someone showing.
I am pretty sure that If someone pointed out to me in a friendly and non-condenscending manner that I was showing (my weapon) that I would take it well. But you never know how a crotchety old man that is not the personfication of personality incarnate such as myself might handle it.

Blinking Dog wrote:Does anyone know where you cross the line of impersonating an LEO?

The individual police officer gets to decide.

A couple of weeks ago, in Texas City, a man was arrested and charged with impersonation for wearing an old coat with police insignia on it that he had obtained second-hand. He was not doing anything at the time that would imply he was impersonating an officer. In fact, he was allegedly riding a bicycle drunk at night.

IMHO, doing anything to suggest you are a LEO when you are not is bad ju-ju.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

Blinking Dog wrote:Does anyone know where you cross the line of impersonating an LEO?

The individual police officer gets to decide.

A couple of weeks ago, in Texas City, a man was arrested and charged with impersonation for wearing an old coat with police insignia on it that he had obtained second-hand. He was not doing anything at the time that would imply he was impersonating an officer. In fact, he was allegedly riding a bicycle drunk at night.

IMHO, doing anything to suggest you are a LEO when you are not is bad ju-ju.

- Jim

Does that mean I have to stop wearing my CHL badge? I think I'll just wear my CHL on a lanyard around my neck...

RE: advising the gentleman his gun is visable.
I would say, "Excuse me sir, but I can see your piece" and then quickly clear the area.

It's only come up for me once before, but I simply said something along the lines of, "Your shirt is hung up on something there."

The guy said thanks, adjusted his shirt, and we both went about our business.

I saw it here - back when I first joined.

"Your second amendment is showing" - I liked it them and am still waiting for a chance to use it :-)

Doug

LaserTex wrote:I saw it here - back when I first joined.

"Your second amendment is showing" - I liked it them and am still waiting for a chance to use it :-)

Doug

That's pretty good , I like that one .

Personally , I wouldn't hesitate (discretely) letting someone know their gun was showing in public.
I would hope they would do the same for me.

USA1 wrote:

LaserTex wrote:I saw it here - back when I first joined.

"Your second amendment is showing" - I liked it them and am still waiting for a chance to use it :-)

Doug

That's pretty good , I like that one .

Personally , I wouldn't hesitate (discretely) letting someone know their gun was showing in public.
I would hope they would do the same for me.

I agree.

This happens sooner or later to everyone who carries regularly (and more often to those who don't when they do).

A timely word to the wise is both sufficient and usually much appreciated.

I cannot imagine why anyone would want to "appear" to be a LEO if they are not. Even in a big city, lots of the officers know each other so it would be a quick trip to jail. Failing that, it marks you as a target for any would-be criminal - especially if you are unaware. LEO's can also usually spot other LEO's in a non-stress setting even without the visual clues.

I am a badge-carrying sworn police chaplain. I am forbidden by my department policy to carry when I'm on duty, even though I have a Texas CHL. In my nightmares I see myself grabbing up my badge to respond to a call while forgetting I'm wearing my Glock.

A few weeks ago I was wearing the jacket that all of the graduates of my Citizens' Police Academy were able to buy, it has a logo similar to the police department's but wording that clearly indicates that it is CPA, not police. I have no idea why I was wearing it, it was just the right weight for the weather and concealment and in the right place in the closet I guess.

As I left work I called my wife and asked if she wanted me to stop and pick up a dirve by supper, and she suggested Subway, so I stopped.

I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the conversation behind the counter, but in retrospect I realized that I had heard the word "police" in the conversation - in Spanish.

They only charged me half price. I couldn't figure it out, and tried to tell them it was wrong, but they said it was right so I left. And then I realized it was probably the jacket.

I decided not to wear the jacket there again.

I spotted someone carrying the other day, or atleast I thought he was.
If I saw someone was "Showing" I would politely tell them "Hey, you got a Concealed Handgun Permit right? your "showing" friend."
or if I wanted to be a jerk
THAT MANS GOT A GUN! *Points*

marksiwel wrote:Hey, you got a Concealed Handgun Permit right?

Really? I wouldn't react too well to this 'tact'. I suppose others might not, as well.

If that's what you consider polite, then we were raised differently.

marksiwel: I would never use "Concealed Handgun License" in
public if trying to let a gun toter know that his gun was unconcealed.
You don't want to scare the horses, you know.

"Are you CHL?" quietly would get the job done.

Or just assume he's CHL and let him know he's unconcealed.

If someone is Mexican carrying, I would assume that he is illegally
carrying and wouldn't say anything.

IMHO, if someone is CHL, they know enough to have a proper
holster.

SIA