Yesterday I finally had to put away my old battered Eotac Lightweight vest (not made anymore, damn it) and start using a Woolrich my beloved Better Half got me for Christmas. As I was leaving work and kitting up in the parking lot as discreetly as possible, I was approached by a co-worker, a gentleman well in his 70s who wanted to ask me a question about the vest.
I mentally went “Oh crap. After 13 years of carrying concealed with a vest, somebody finally has tagged me. Blame Michael Bane’s last podcast! He jinxed me!”
So I readied myself to be polite and prepared myself to be asked the usual questions about why I carry, is it legal, etc. Instead the gentleman said he liked the vest a lot and wondered where he could buy one for himself! So I wrote down the brand and model and told him that the easiest way was to get it online from slew of merchandisers.
The Myth of the Shoot-Me Vest remains a myth. I think sometimes we worry about stupid stuff instead of the things that can actually hurt us.
Personally, I would rather see open carry. Odds are in my favor that they’re shepherds rather than sheep…
I’ve been OC ‘ing in WA state for about a decade now. No issues. 🙂
Travis, I speak for all Florida when I say: “We hate you!” 😀
I think
sometimeswe worry about stupid stuff instead of the things that can actually hurt us.I think if anyone is going to recognize the vest, it will be other legitimate gun owners (including police and military). The Bad Guys hardly ever use proper holsters much less a tactical vest of some kind. They’re just not a part of the gun culture so they likely won’t make the connection between guns and the associated gear that goes with it.
Just like how if some random person sees a bulge at your hip underneath your shirt. They’re going to think it’s a smart phone or some other gadget, not a gun because they’re just not thinking that way. Hell some don’t seem to notice when people OC, so I wouldn’t expect them to think so hard about what more subtle details might imply.
Yes, that was a good podcast. It’s good to hear some common sense applied, instead of just agreeing that a vest would be a Bad Idea “because you’d think so”.
Also, check eBay. That’s where I got my 5.11 vest with the larger pocket on the LEFT side (newer ones have it on the right)!
We call this “Because You’d Think So”
https://www.facebook.com/Because.Youd.Think.So
I hate (with relish) 5.11 vests. I had two and both collapsed in less than 6 months. Plus I find the pockets of the Woolrich more useful than the ones in the 5.11.
Just my very opinionated opinion 🙂
I think the only people that tag vests as “shoot me first vests” are the people in the shooting community.
An example: Last year I saw a gentleman about 5-10 years my elder standing around in the narthex (that’s “lobby” to non-architects….) of my church wearing a vest, and *darn* if I didn’t notice that he was printing.
No one else cared or noticed, because concealed means, well, CONCEALED.
This. After someone commented on my blog a while back, I carried under my IDPA vest for a week. Nobody had a clue.
Depends on what else you are wearing…a few years ago I saw a guy in a tan photo/fishermans vest with dress pants and dress shoes. I would have been shocked if he’d continued walking past the gun shop instead of turning in. I’ve spotted a handful of people I was pretty sure or certain were carrying, but I’ve never let them know I made them.
But it doesn’t really matter…I conceal so people have an excuse to ignore me, I don’t particularly care if the perceptive can deduce I’m likely to be carrying.
If you want someone to shoot you over your shoot-me vest, you have to wear it backwards (the street term for this is ‘strait jacket style’). It has to be drooping low so your undergarmets are showing. And it has to be gang colors.
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Most people walk around clueless about their surroundings…those of us who carry are more aware(or should be) The ” Shoot me first” vest “myth” may be just that, but if I saw a guy in a suit surrounded by some big dudes with ray-bans and vests…well it is all about perspective sometimes….besides , I hate vests.