While some states allow open carry, most of us choose to carry concealed. We do not want others to know we’re in possession of a handgun until that rare moment arises when the protection is needed.
Telling others you carry concealed is not only unwise, it can also significantly impact the frequency and types of altercation in which you find yourself involved.
Consider the stereotypical story of the biggest guy in a bar. Simply because someone is the biggest and tallest person in a bar subjects them to increased attention and aggression. Persons with something to “prove” will target this larger person, who usually doesn’t want any trouble at all.
This may hold true when people become aware that you are carrying a firearm. Simply because you are in possession of a weapon can make you a more likely target for aggression.
Questions will arise. Why and how does anyone know? Should they know? Should those close to you be aware you are carrying concealed?
These are difficult questions and the answers will vary from person to person and situation to situation.
Here are some things to consider when deciding who to tell and who should remain unaware that you are carrying.
- Consider that if friends know you are carrying, they may tell others in a moment of indiscretion. Know who knows how to keep a secret and who doesn’t.
- Though family members may see your gun and know that you’re carrying, it’s important to instruct family members, especially your kids, that they’re never to speak of it. Kids may readily volunteer the information, unless you instruct them to remain silent.
- Friends and family members may “act out” and expect you to come to their rescue if they are creating confrontational situations. Things could get out of hand. Are you willing to become involved? You don’t have to if you remain tight lipped and rigidly limit who is aware of your concealed carry.
USCCA Member Jason Williams sums it up best in his guest post “You Don’t Need to Go It Alone” on USConcealedCarry.com:
“Those of us who do carry concealed realize that the whole point of concealed carry is that nobody knows we’re carrying. If anybody does know, we’re doing something wrong, and we might very well be looking at unpleasant consequences. It could be the consequences are that whoever saw it talks to other folks, and more people learn that we are carrying. After all, once the secret is out, it’s out. It could also be that those consequences include outcry, governmental harassment, or even planning by less savory members of society to burglarize our home.” Read more about carrying concealed and discretion here.)