I know we have our set groups of vest versus non-vest and an open thread somewhere I can't find, but this one I have to share.
Even though today is my day off, I got called back to work for a few because they were having trouble with the surveillance system. My regular vests were in the washer so I took my IDPA match vest (old raggedy thing I don't mind getting all dirty & sweaty) and went to work. At the office was a somebody who has no idea I shoot or carry, he saw me & my vest and his comment was "You are going fishing today?
I rest my case.
This plain clothes federal investigator used to come into the office all the time. He was a real jerk and treated everyone like crap. He always wore a vest, and I knew why.
Since I could not openly be rude to him I would be very passive aggressive and invite him fishing, ask how his day at the lake was, if he took any pictures lately, etc. I would constantly comment about his vest. Boy did this make him angry!
Eventually it got to the point where I would openly ask him (in front of other people who weren’t in the know) what he was carrying, what type of holster, how much spare ammo, etc. He actually threatened me a few times because of this!
Mind you, I would never do this to a normal person, ever. But this guy was just plain rude and a run of the mill jerk. The department OIC eventually filed a formal complaint concerning his "professionalism", or lack thereof.
Point being the vest can make you stand out in a crowd and the people who assume you’re into photograph and fishing aren’t the ones to worry about.
Here here. I get so tired of seeing people say that vests and fanny packs scream "gun" at people. I've worn both and never gotten even a second glance from anyone in the general public, including LEO's.
"After all these years, I've only found one case of anyone "getting shot first" because they were wearing vests. It is found in the very first Star Wars movie. The rebel bodyguards of Princess Leia are all wearing a uniform that includes a black vest which looks remarkably like something from Concealed Carry Clothiers. When the Imperial Storm Troopers led by Darth Vader attack their ship, the Storm Troopers blast every rebel so dressed."
I'm still a little too sketched on looking like I'm carrying to wear a "tactical" vest, but around here nobody looks twice at anything that says Carhartt on it.
:image035:
I run into the same sheep all the time.....& without fail the only ones that say anything about my vest ask me if I'm going fishing or where did I get it, they need a good fishing vest.
The people I see regularly are used to wearing vests & if I'm not wearing one...they ask me where my vest is?????
A little OT, but once in Alaska when the kings were running I saw a spot where a bunch of cars were parked...obviously fishermen. So I grabbed my little Opie pole and after a trek of about 1/2 mile through the woods I found a stretch of river about 100 yards long that was nearly shoulder to shoulder with guys using deep sea rigs. I tried to hide my little Opie pole and look cool watching for a while. Then I noticed that almost to a man those guys were armed for bear, literally. Apparently bears are attracted to fish. Whodda thunk?? lol
I find that most sheep won't even see you as you walk by. They are way to involved in their cellphone, blackberry, laptop, or simply themselves to hardly ever notice a vest. I think we all call that contition "White". If you don't believe this find a seat at the local mall and see all those who walk by that will never make eye contact with you or ever look your way.
We had a guy walk into our church several time in August, in Texas wearing a black duster type coat, only our security team (including Reborn) and myself ever saw him. ... Nuff said!
I don't wear a "shooter's vest" per se. They are a little to "tacticool" for my tastes. I do have a couple of Columbia fleece vests that I wear that offer good concealment during the colder months.
I honestly don't think that the average person (criminals included) is even going to know what a Shoot Me First vest is for. I sure as hell didn't, before I started carrying.
I don't understand the debate. You're right, the average person won't ever notice the vest, or will simply think you're a loser for wearing one. Nothing to worry about there. But unlike some, I agree that the sheeple aren't the people to worry about.
If you honestly believe that bad guys don't know as much about the "gun culture" as the good guys, I have some swamp land you may be interested in. I'll promise you that not everyone reading this forum is someone I'd want to know I was carrying a gun. The people buying American Handgunner include a wide range of people, not all of which are looking for the newest gun for IDPA competitions.
Even if there is only one bad guy that has ever heard of a shoot me first vest, that is one too many in my mind. Yes, they work- they hide the gun from view. But, so do countless other things that don't point an arrow at you to anyone. I'm pretty confident that if you all saw me on the street you'd never dream I had a gun (or two) on my person. If you all knew, the bad guys would know-- and I don't want to do anything that could make me a target to anyone.
I don't own a vest, though I've thought about buying one.
I used to have a HUGE fanny pack, big enough to conceal a full-size 1911....until the 80's called and demanded its immediate return...
I'm not necessarily convinced that the prospect of a BG recognizing the significance of concealment gear is NECESSARILY a bad thing. When you think about it, if they believe you to be armed, intimidating you goes right out the window as an option, leaving them with only two others:
1. Attack you, an armed adversary, from ambush
or
2. Look for a different victim
My personal theory is that most criminals, by definition, are too lazy to WORK for a living, and therefore are far more likely to favor option # 2.
To those who think a vest says 'Shoot me first!', I have a solution....this is what I use during hunting season....maybe it'll work for you.........I haven't been shot by any deer yet!
it's funny I have always worn vests,even as a kid....only in the past few years have I used them to carry concealed.I wear a 5.11 vest instead of a jacket sometimes.A co-worker actually commented that she liked it because of all the pockets......as a funny side note,the more pockets, the more crap I carry.I weighed it once..7lbs.
I usualyy wear a smith and alexander vest,doesn't look"gunny".I called to order one over the phone and talked to one the "Smiths".He said he gets calls from wives saying thank you for not making him look like cop or fisherman.....super nice guy BTW.
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