I was reading other threads from some time back and found (almost) universal agreement that concealed carry badges are a bad idea and that they are for law enforcement wanabees. While I am about to disagree, first, let me say that carrying a CCW badge openly is stupid and makes no sense at all, defeating the purpose of Concealed Carry. But as for having the badge concealed on your person, I have recently been educated otherwise. I was curious about this to begin with because as a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan I learned from experience that one of the easy ways to get yourself shot is to be mistaken for a bad guy when you have to fire your own weapon. I have lost friends who were caught in crossfire and killed by our own. Knowing this, I asked 5 of our OSI agents here on base what they thought while in a sit-down discussion in their office. I followed this up with 3 of our local police and got the same answer. Now that's not a scientific study, but I do think these officers shared some good ideas which I will share here. Both agencies and all the officers were ultimately (although not immediately) in agreement that if I didn't have a CCW badge I should buy one. Here is the sum of what they said: The CCW holder's biggest danger today when responding to a criminal (other than the criminal threat) is not the danger of being shot by a police officer (although that danger does exist), but rather the danger of being shot by a CCW who (untrained) thinks "you" are the problem. They told me that if a CCW holder pulls a gun they should also immediately pull their badge (just as a LEO would) and yell PO-LICE repeatedly (not "police" which can be mistaken for "please") and shout orders to the "threat". This last bit about the "orders" shouted to the threat should be done based on your persoanl training and best judgment, only you know if you should yell or fire your weapon to protect yourself immediately. Why did they say this? So we (the CCW holder) don't get shot by another CCW good guy as we deal with the obvious bad guy. In Kansas there are allot of CCW holders. When the threat is eliminated, lay your gun down and sort out the details later. In addition, the badge attached to your belt right beside your gun (concealed, not displayed openly for some ego trip for heaven sakes) will also keep you from trouble on casual observation if you do happen to inadvertently reveal you are carrying. Having said this all this, I am interested, how many folks who are about to vehemently disagree with this information have actually taken the time to talk to numerous LEOs in a discussion forum? While some may have talked to a lone officer who told you a CCW badge is a dumb idea (or seen the Judge Judy episode where she lambasted a guy with a CCW badge), who has taken the time to discuss the idea with 2 separate forums of officers thinking it out in discussion? I am not saying you won't find officers who disagree, just saying there are a variety of valid opinions on this.