[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Greetings while carrying??? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/3/2009 1:25:19 PM EDT
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OK - here is a really wierd question, but this has happened to me many times.
Do you ever shy away from greetings such as hands around the waist while shaking hands or the inevitable "friendly hug" while carrying? Lately I have found myself keeping my right arm down by my side to keep other's hands away from my holster. I hate the question: "Is that a Glock on your side or are you just happy to see me"? 
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Quoted:
Lately I have found myself keeping my right arm down by my side to keep other's hands away from my holster. Always seems to happen at family gatherings, holidays, etc. Hugs from people that don't know, and I don't announce it, that I'm carrying. I usually try to do the hand at the side and approach them with my left side first with a one armed hug. I've had a few people bump the "butt" anyway, but have never been questioned. |
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When you hug someone your arms go around their waist first so they have to put their arms around your neck. Well, that would be really awkward if you were BOTH carrying, wouldn't it? Doing a little dance, trying to grab each other around the waist?! 
Just kidding. I've been trying this approach, with limited success. |
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When you hug someone your arms go around their waist first so they have to put their arms around your neck. Well, that would be really awkward if you were BOTH carrying, wouldn't it? Doing a little dance, trying to grab each other around the waist?!
I saw a buddy sitting with a few people at a local pub so I joined them. After getting along very well with one of the girls, they left and she gave me a hug. I went low, and grabbed a big handful of butt. The butt of a Springfield XD to be precise. Turns out she was a cop and apparently left handed.
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Everyone I know well enough to let hug me knows I am always armed. 
This Indeed. The only people I hug already know I'm armed anyway. You can always "angle yourself" in such a way that in a "cross-hug", your dominant-side arm (where your pistol is) goes under their opposing arm. You know, "control the hug". 
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Everyone I know well enough to let hug me knows I am always armed.
This Indeed. The only people I hug already know I'm armed anyway. You can always "angle yourself" in such a way that in a "cross-hug", your dominant-side arm (where your pistol is) goes under their opposing arm. You know, "control the hug".
+1 to both posts. |
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When you hug someone your arms go around their waist first so they have to put their arms around your neck. Well, that would be really awkward if you were BOTH carrying, wouldn't it? Doing a little dance, trying to grab each other around the waist?!
I saw a buddy sitting with a few people at a local pub so I joined them. After getting along very well with one of the girls, they left and she gave me a hug. I went low, and grabbed a big handful of butt. The butt of a Springfield XD to be precise. Turns out she was a cop and apparently left handed.
LOL . . . good story.
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Quoted: Quoted: I saw a buddy sitting with a few people at a local pub so I joined them. After getting along very well with one of the girls, they left and she gave me a hug. I went low, and grabbed a big handful of butt. The butt of a Springfield XD to be precise. Quoted: Well, that would be really awkward if you were BOTH carrying, wouldn't it? Doing a little dance, trying to grab each other around the waist?! When you hug someone your arms go around their waist first so they have to put their arms around your neck. Turns out she was a cop and apparently left handed. |
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I had the same concern, but found that if you go into the hug or handshake angled at 45 degrees, it makes it hard for someone to touch your weapon. ETA - I didn't realize this was tech before dropping GD references in, but it is effective and true to an extent. DO NOT TOUCH ME, DO NOT TOUCH MY WEAPON! ...bladed...at 45 degrees... 
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Keep your SA alert. Preempt their hug by hugging them. Keep your arm on your strong side low and your weak side high. That forces them to go high on your strong side and miss the gun. Lean into them and keep your gun side back.
For kids, bend your knees, go low and meet them at their level. Make their arms go high. Control yourself, control them, control the situation. Gringop |
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+1 to the comments about putting your arms low and forcing them to hug you high. I learned that on arfcom, and it has worked out pretty well for me.
Occasionally I'll get caught by surprise at a family gathering and they will come in contact with my pistol. This happened a lot before I learned the hugging trick. Every time it has happened, I was thinking "oh shit, here it comes"...amazingly, I've never had anyone say anything. I don't know how many times it was because they already know that I carry, and how many times it was because they simply didn't put two and two together. For the most part, we are simply way too self-conscious about being spotted. This really sunk in once I got my permit and finally had "government permission" to be carrying. I've often been very fucking lazy since then regarding concealment in terms of my dress, holster selection, bending over, etc....haven't been spotted yet. The reality is that it would never occur to most people that someone would carry a gun, and 80% of the ones that are on that level are pretty much pro-carry. Always good to avoid the problem though, I always make an effort not to be made during hugs...but so far none of the aunts and old lady's that have managed to get a handful of holster or pistol have said anything. YMMV |
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Quoted: Quoted: When you hug someone your arms go around their waist first so they have to put their arms around your neck. Well, that would be really awkward if you were BOTH carrying, wouldn't it? Doing a little dance, trying to grab each other around the waist?! ...It can also be awkward if you're the tallest in your family by far... |
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Quoted:
OK - here is a really wierd question, but this has happened to me many times. Do you ever shy away from greetings such as hands around the waist while shaking hands or the inevitable "friendly hug" while carrying? Lately I have found myself keeping my right arm down by my side to keep other's hands away from my holster. I hate the question: "Is that a Glock on your side or are you just happy to see me"? No. |
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Now I find this thread.
Last week met up w/ my wifes HS best friend...did the greeting hug & we both inadvertently grabbed a handful of each other's handgun...she had a Charter Arms Pink Lady & I had my ROBAR'ed SA 1911. I'll have to work on the strong side low hug technique. 7mm |
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I kind of blade at 45, I guess, and transitioning to a hug position I kind of fend of their left arm with my right elbow, forcing it to stay high. Went out with a girl the other day, and when I picked her up, she hugged me, somwhat caught me off guard, and totally hit my 1911. Don't know what she was thinking, but when I told her a few hours later I was CCW-ing she was completely surprised. |
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Quoted: I kind of blade at 45, I guess, and transitioning to a hug position I kind of fend of their left arm with my right elbow, forcing it to stay high. Went out with a girl the other day, and when I picked her up, she hugged me, somwhat caught me off guard, and totally hit my 1911. Don't know what she was thinking, but when I told her a few hours later I was CCW-ing she was completely surprised.  |
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Quoted: Quoted: I kind of blade at 45, I guess, and transitioning to a hug position I kind of fend of their left arm with my right elbow, forcing it to stay high. Went out with a girl the other day, and when I picked her up, she hugged me, somwhat caught me off guard, and totally hit my 1911. Don't know what she was thinking, but when I told her a few hours later I was CCW-ing she was completely surprised. That's what she said.... (Except her eyebrows are thinner) |
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I hug low with my right arm to insure they go high. Worked so far.
ETA: I was at church once, lined up waiting for communion. My 15 year old sister walks up behind me and kind of punches me in the small of the back. She was a little surprised to hit metal. I told her it was my cell phone and she bought it. |
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Gave my father in law a hug last Christmas. When he gave me a hug he felt the gun and grabbed it to confirm what it was. It was funny how he did it.
Going low is ok, but it's hard for us folks that are really tall. I have to go really low to hug around the waste. |
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Quoted: I let the old ladies hug me. If one asks what that is, I say it's my Blackberry. Then I walk away. Or a penicillin pump, etc. People won't really pursue that further. But I am going to have to go with first, people that would hug me already know. If for some odd reason that is not the case, go low. If that fails, go with the above. |