Tense situation today

[Luke Notaras]

I'm out shopping for some jeans that fit with my carry rig in a local big box dept. store in a changing room with my Glock 23 sitting on the bench beside me in its holster. You can't see through the sides of the door, only top and bottom. Then, I hear this over the intercom: "All employees report to customer service" and I think nothing of it. Then, about 30 seconds later I hear this on the intercom: "Attention all shoppers, at this time we've made the decision to close and evacuate the store. Please proceed to the exit as calmly as possible.

At this point I'm in condition orange and thinking of two possibilties

1. The store is being robbed or something else terrible is happening. I might have to draw or even shoot. Thank God I started carrying with one in the chamber.

2. I got made and someone freaked out about it.

I get dressed, grab my stuff, and get out without incident. I drive home halfway expecting to see flashing lights behind me but never do.


I'm confident that I didn't expose my gun to anyone while I was in the store. I carry IWB at 3:00 and was wearing an untucked shirt that provided more than adequate cover. I've been carrying like this for a few weeks and have never had any problem. Before I decided to take my gun out in the dressing room I thought about the possibility of being watched by security cameras, but that would mean they're watching people undress on camera without their knowledge or consent. I thought surely that wouldn't be the case, and laid my gun on the bench confident that no one would see it. Right now I'm not sure what happened, and I'm slightly freaked out about it.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[rocky]

If you are legal to carry , why worry? No cameras in the fitting rooms either, we save all those for the womens fitting rooms. J/K.

[SIXTO]

Huh... I'd be more curious than worried.

[Dal1Celt]

Huh... I'd be more curious than worried.

+1 to SIXTO

Please let us know why they closed and evacuated the store.

[larefugee]

Here are some other possible explanations:
* someone called in a bomb threat
* a suspicious suitcase/package was found
* a cooling unit is leaking freon
* elevated levels of carbon monoxide were detected
* someone smoked a cig in the wrong place and triggered a fire alarm

There also could have been 10 others in the store carrying concealed besides you. You never know.

[clacky]

You are definitely overreacting/over analyzing. They aren't going to evacuate the store because someone with a gun on their hip is in the dressing room. For all they know you are a cop.

More than likely, there was a fire or something similar. Call them and ask.

If there was a robbery, I doubt they would call all the employees to the front of the store.

[Patti]

Maybe the mall cop thought he saw some snipers and pushed the panic button.

[F350]

I heard of a recent evacuation due to a sagging roof in the ice storm area the other day.

[XD in SC]

Don't sweat it.

[Squawker]

Careful, Gecko45 and the "Mall Security Directorate" may be on to you!

[Luke Notaras]

Huh... I'd be more curious than worried.

Yeah, not worried anymore but definitely still curious.

[morintp]

Huh... I'd be more curious than worried.

Same here. I would have been tempted to hang around and see what the fuss was about. If they singled you out when the police arrived, that would be very interesting to hear them explain just how they knew you had a gun.

[CAJUN600]

definitely weird

[Thumper]

The timing of that would have made me a little nervous too even though you did nothing wrong. Still, that doesn't mean someone couldn't make your life miserable over the matter.

Probably just a coincidence though.

[nutz4utwo]

send you wife/friend... in tomorrow and have them ask

Probably better just in case you were the cause and are recognized