CCW and printing....

[pipmaster1971]

I'm sure NH is a bit more relaxed on this issue than MA ....

I was carrying the other day, looked down, and saw the handle of my 442 sticking out of my pocket slightly (it's in a pocket holster). This got me thinking, does a concealed handgun have to be 100% concealed?

Is it illegal to have the weapon exposed, even accidentally, in any way? Is it ok if the weapon prints slightly? At what point could one consider it open carry?

 

[Tim94gt]

I'm sure NH is a bit more relaxed on this issue than MA ....

I was carrying the other day, looked down, and saw the handle of my 442 sticking out of my pocket slightly (it's in a pocket holster). This got me thinking, does a concealed handgun have to be 100% concealed?

Is it illegal to have the weapon exposed, even accidentally, in any way? Is it ok if the weapon prints slightly? At what point could one consider it open carry?

I thought you could open carry in N.H., Here in Ma. that would get you in trouble, depending on where you are. If someone sees it the call the cops, next thing you know you are face down on the pavement. I hate Mass. Keep it covered and be careful

 

[namedpipes]

I was carrying the other day, looked down, and saw the handle of my 442 sticking out of my pocket slightly (it's in a pocket holster).

You BRANDISHER!

 

[BBQ.Uncle]

if you can see it, Its no longer concealed. Printing is a great way to end up face down on the pavement. This is Ma. if some idiot realizes that you have a gun they call the cops. Keep it covered and be careful

Bingo. If you think you've been "outed", but nothing has been said, my advice is to casually get yourself out of there asap before the sheep start going baaaaaa..baaaaaa!!!

I had a minor situation where I suspected something like that might have happened...was in a store, the salesperson dropped something and I bent to pick it up (at the knees, btw) and when I got up it felt like my shirt was riding up over my holster. I pulled my shirt down & thought maybe that the bottom of the holster had been exposed. When I stood up, the salesman kept talking & seemed normal, but was now glancing at my hip a bit - enough for me to be concerned. I shook his hand and told him I'd be in touch and made a casual but quick exit.

 

[jaypap]

This got me thinking, does a concealed handgun have to be 100% concealed?


Is it illegal to have the weapon exposed, even accidentally, in any way?

Question one I'd say yes.

Question two accidentally exposed, this would be up to the officer to decide if that's who saw you or was called.

 

[namedpipes]

Question one I'd say yes.

Question two accidentally exposed, this would be up to the officer to decide if that's who saw you or was called.

It's not illegal as such, but in Mass it would not be "called" the butt of your handgun was accidentally exposed for a couple of seconds. It would be called assault with a deadly weapon and attempted manslaughter.

Where the heck is my coffee?!

 

[G3]

Printing is different than exposing. When you print, you don't see the gun, you see the outline of the gun under your clothing.

 

[edhead35]

You are located in NH, don't worry about losing your license or anything. You will not be arrested for printing, or showing, or open carrying. Where you are partially concealed you would have to have your conceal carry license (pistol/revolver license) on you. Partially concealed IS concealed and requires a license.

Nashua isnt the friendliest to open carry, but they cant do anything about it except check you out, and send you on your way. The same would apply to accidentally showing or printing. You are still concealed but have not violated anything. It isnt like MA, where if you alarm someone once, your chief could pull your license.

Just be nice to the officer (no Skippy Gates moves) and you are fine.

edit: If you show or print in a store, restaurant, mall, gas station, someone's house, depending on the owner, you could be asked to leave for scaring the sheep, and you MUST leave and leave quietly.

 

[VARCHAR2]

edit: If you show or print in a store, restaurant, mall, gas station, someone's house, depending on the owner, you could be asked to leave for scaring the sheep, and you MUST leave and leave quietly.

Correct. By NH state law, the only place you are restricted from carrying, at preset, are courthouses and courtrooms, and only then if there is proper signage. No town or establishment can further restrict you, even if they have a strict "no gun policy" or their own signs, but they can ask you to leave. If you did not leave, it would be a trespassing offense, not a firearms offense.

 

[Auspicious Aspect]

I'm sure NH is a bit more relaxed on this issue than MA ....

I was carrying the other day, looked down, and saw the handle of my 442 sticking out of my pocket slightly (it's in a pocket holster). This got me thinking, does a concealed handgun have to be 100% concealed?

Is it illegal to have the weapon exposed, even accidentally, in any way? Is it ok if the weapon prints slightly? At what point could one consider it open carry?

Assuming that you have a valid NH carry license, you may carry it completely visible, or completely concealed, or anything in between; no one cares.

 

[upStomp]

Assuming that you have a valid NH carry license, you may carry it completely visible, or completely concealed, or anything in between; no one cares.

To be more specific, you actually do not need a firearms license of any kind to open-carry in NH - only to carry concealed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWXnK5UyRI

 

[Delta L Varmint]

I am under the impression that it is not illegal to open carry in MA if you are a class A license holder, just foolish as it could easily upset people and land you in cuffs. Possibly charged w/disorderly conduct.

 

[bostonasphalt2]

I am under the impression that it is not illegal to open carry in MA if you are a class A license holder, just foolish as it could easily upset people and land you in cuffs. Possibly charged w/disorderly conduct.

open carry is not illegal whatsoever in MA. Ill advised to do it? absolutely.

 

[scottmac019]

I am under the impression that it is not illegal to open carry in MA if you are a class A license holder, just foolish as it could easily upset people and land you in cuffs. Possibly charged w/disorderly conduct.

But if charged with disorderly conduct you may just get to go have a beer with the President...isn't that how it works now??

 

[cekim]

But if charged with disorderly conduct you may just get to go have a beer with the President...isn't that how it works now??

Only if you are good friends with the president...

That's how socialism works... There are no "rights" only privileges afforded to you corresponding to your distance form the ruling elite...

[sad2]

 

[Delta L Varmint]

But if charged with disorderly conduct you may just get to go have a beer with the President...isn't that how it works now??

Yeah, a sh!tty Bud Light and Obama sounds like toooons of fun

 

[exo]

Yeah, a sh!tty Bud Light and Obama sounds like toooons of fun

I would have figured Obama for wine coolers...

 

[Delta L Varmint]

I would have figured Obama for wine coolers...

I never read his book, but I do wonder what he drank back in the day while he was putting all those little white lines up his nose!

 

[MACGYVR]

I see this talk of open carry in mass and people freaking out and I know there has been the one legendary instance in Boston of the raincoat blowing open but here is what I see every day.

I work under the Essex County DA office. all day long people are wandering around my building, parking lot and downtown Salem with open carried weapons. These guys are just in a normal business suit. No jacket now, too hot. Gun hanging off the hip. Glocks mostly, some revolvers.

No badge or anything. And nobody cares. No one freaks out. no lockdown, swat team,etc.
Occasionally one will have a badge on their waste but you only see that after you start looking.


So if I had a suit and open carried, 99.9% sure that no one would even care. Maybe its just conditioning or assuming that the suit and gun must be a cop.

They carry into the restaurants, bars anywhere.

Ok just my observation.

I still think that story of the rain coat blowing open is horseshit and missing lots of details.

 

[cekim]

So if I had a suit and open carried, 99.9% sure that no one would even care. Maybe its just conditioning or assuming that the suit and gun must be a cop.

They carry into the restaurants, bars anywhere.

Ok just my observation.

Likely a very valid observation... As pointed out in other threads, the reaction of the sheeple is going to depend on your appearance generally...

This is one of those things that will work wonderfully until that day it doesn't and you run into a LEO who decides you don't fit into one of the boxes he approves of and stops you to ask what agency you work for...

 

[drgrant]

I still think that story of the rain coat blowing open is horseshit and missing lots of details.

It's not horseshit. The whole thing was pretty well documented. Hell, the victim of the police annoyance even posted on here once the dust settled.

As you suggest, it's all about context and location.

-Mike

 

[drgrant]

It's not illegal as such, but in Mass it would not be "called" the butt of your handgun was accidentally exposed for a couple of seconds. It would be called assault with a deadly weapon and attempted manslaughter.

Even in MA that wouldn't pass muster. I'd be more likely called "unsuitable
person" if your chief is a complete douchebag.

-Mike

 

[Business]

Even in MA that wouldn't pass muster. I'd be more likely called "unsuitable
person" if your chief is a complete douchebag.

-Mike

Right I'm looking at my ltc a right now and it says "license to carry a firearm" says nothing about having to conceal it. But I have been told many times if somebody complains the fuzz will deem you unfit, and either pull it or not renew it.

 

[Twigg]

<snip>
I still think that story of the rain coat blowing open is horseshit and missing lots of details.

Actually, it was a jacket while on a motorcycle and gentleman who lost his LTC has posted here about the incident.

Do a search.

 

[M1911]

I still think that story of the rain coat blowing open is horseshit and missing lots of details.

It is not horseshit. The fellow had his LTC revoked and it took years of fighting for him to get it back.

The chief of police can find you unsuitable and revoke your LTC. Some chiefs are very reasonable. Some are not.

 

[Len-2A Training]

I still think that story of the rain coat blowing open is horseshit and missing lots of details.

Think what you will.

Evidence to the contrary that was posted here on NES are as follows:

- Person who had his LTC revoked as "unsuitable" and fought (and lost) in court posted his side of it here.
- Lawyer for this person also posted here.
- Newspaper articles IIRC were also linked.

 

[Bugs100]

Any one else remember the story about the guy in Dedham. He was coming out of a pizza shop with his hands full when the wind blew his jacket open and exposed his gun.

A police officer was across the street and saw it. He stopped the guy and checked his license and wrote a report on what happened.

As a result of the report his license was revoked. The guy was a avid military collector and had a large collection of WII weapons and artifacts. He had to hire a lawyer and it took years and a lot of court appearances to get his license back.

 

[Len-2A Training]

Bugs, that is who I was referring to. His name is Joe <forgot last name>.

Scrivener (Keith Langer) was his attorney.

The final outcome was that he had to wait until the chief retired and a new one took his place before he was re-issued a LTC. It was 4+ years in court and waiting IIRC.