They Start To Yell That I'm Carrying A Gun (What Should You Do?)

What should you do if someone spots your concealed firearm and starts to cause a scene? In this short video, former Wisconsin State Prosecutor Tom Grieve outlines the actions you should take — or avoid — if someone reacts poorly to catching an accidental glimpse of your carry weapon.

00:00 What should you do if someone freaks out when they spot your concealed handgun?
00:45 Remain calm and try to quickly explain that you are a licensed holder and mean no harm.
00:59 Leave the location to avoid further escalation.
01:15 What to do if the police have been called or are already on scene.
01:25 Disarming yourself gives law enforcement one less opportunity to harm you in a stressful situation.
01:48 Police officers are humans too and may make mistakes in a tense situation.
01:57 If someone spots your concealed handgun, reevaluate what went wrong so that you can correct it and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

#concealedcarry #selfdefense #uscca

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[URGENT] Attention Gun Owners:
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Want the same peace of mind enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of responsibly armed Americans like you?

[markdfranke]

I actually saw a similar situation at a grocery store. The person 2 people in front of me was open carrying. Tge lady behind him could not contain herself and loudly said "and that's why there is so much gun violence". The man turned around and said "I'm an off duty police officer and a trained sharpshooter. If someone walks in here will ill intent, I'm the reason your walking out." He turned around paid for his groceries and calmly left.

[danh]

I do have my concealed permit, in a Constitutional Carry state. I did have a similar situation in a restaurant. Lady from a restrictive state saw my IWB sidearm, & freaked out. I was half way done with my meal & I wasn't about to leave. All I did was loudly ask how many others were carrying. Four men and three women raised their hands, the lady stormed out with her Husband looking like a scolded puppy. Irrational fear of firearms should be listed as a mental illness.

[theranger]

Fortunately here in Tennessee, open carry is considered constitutional carry. No permit required. It's starting to be quite common to see firearms on folks' belts

[isaned]

Here's a better question: isn't shouting "He's got a gun!" When you see legally carrying tantamount to yelling "fire" in a crowded theater? Can you press charges on that person for creating a panic/inciting to riot, misuse of 911, etc? Or can stupid people just keep crying wolf and getting away with it like false rape accusers do?

[bluzzjazz]

I am uncomfortable being made to feel like I have to tuck and run to exercise my ability to CC., While diffusing a situation is always the goal, if we run every time someone points something out, might as well keep our guns locked up at home is a safe. It could be that someone just suspects you have a gun because they see a slight bulge. I will not live my life in fear of others stupidity.

[andersangstrom]

"OMG HE HAS A GUN!"
"Ma'am, I have a license to carry a firearm. You ignorantly making a scene only puts my life in danger."

[farhan.naushad]

If you’re a store owner and someone screams out on a concealed carrier on your premises, please consider banning that screamer from your store for life and offer some curbside pickup option to them. They might have severe anxiety and other mental health issues that could end up costing people’s lives.

[sawyer]

Where I live, if someone calls out "they've got a gun" everyone else is going to respond "me too". I carry concealed because a criminal is less likely to see it. I couldn't care less if the person standing in line with me at the grocery store sees me printing, or a piece of my handgrip sticking out while I grab something from the bottom shelf. It's 100% legal, mind your business lol.

[foghornleghorn]

The people who make a scene about your carry gun being exposed should be sued for causing undue panic, and businesses should kick out customers who do this as well.

[jameseb]

Can we sue the person who yelled out that we have a gun? Their ignorance or refusal to accept the laws are what could cause this whole situation to go South. It's not the concealed carrier's fault that other people can't accept the law.

[duncemonkey]

I feel like making an excuse and then running away immediately is a very suspicious way to handle this situation guys

[easyricer]

Before Texas had the open carry law (many moons ago), I hunted hogs on large ranches overnight, trying to remove a problem for ranchers. One early morning after a long night of killing and processing hogs, my wife called me to have me stop at the grocery store before coming home. So I stopped by a local store... while standing in line waiting to pay for my item a bag boy noticed that I was still wearing my side arm and whispered loud enough for me and the cop in the next lane to hear "He's got a gun!". Yeah I forgot to take off my gun belt, oops! The cashier actually did the best thing in that situation that could have been done... she told the young man "He's a hunter, I'd hope he'd have a gun!" The cop in the next lane, just tipped his hat and we both went about our ways.

[rosewoodsteel]

My wife, when I explained the video to her said this: "When encountering a police officer in a situation like this, you shouldn't disarm yourself. You should slowly put your hands over your head and calmly say, "I have a concealed carry permit, officer, you can take my gun and I will show it to you." I understand what the video instructed, about disarming, but you might not have time to do so in a private setting.. I think my wife hit the nail on the head.

[whitechris]

I was in a store the other day they had a sign to confront this. It stated please leave all guns holstered unless a situation arises. If a situation arises good marksmanship is appreciated.

I shop there every chance I get now.

[Ceyx]

So we're clear, the former prosecutor's advice is: 1) "you have no 2A right." 2) "Cease whatever you are doing and quickly leave the premises." (Which is considered suspicious activity after being accused of carrying a gun.)
and yall wonder why you're hemorrhaging memberships.

[bryonslatten]

So your advice is, "If someone doesn't like your gun, disarm yourself." No.

[kimdearrington]

Cops are the ones who need to remain calm, and the ussca should be teaching police officers that Americans have a Right to carry, open or concealed, no matter what some tyrannical politician has deemed as law!

[USMCinfinity]

This seems like very bad advice. If someone called the police on you, the last thing you want to do is run away, unless the shop owner TOLD you to leave. You are doing nothing wrong, no need to panic.

[iotaeta-pi]

One of my coworkers came into my office unannounced as I was adjusting my holster. He cried out hysterically. I told him "Unless you were planning to rob me, you won't have any problem--same as every day you've worked with me during the past 6 months".

[gregs.]

If someone made an issue of my being armed, it would have to be someone from another state who doesn’t realize that here in Kansas, it’s legal to carry openly or concealed without any kind of permit. I would politely try to explain that, but wouldn’t leave the premises just because some nut is yelling that I have a gun. For one thing, a lot of cops have the attitude that “flight equals guilt, ” and most of the time they’re right.