My buddy, a very nice guy, vet, in his late 60s/early 70s decided to get his first library card. We live in a mid sized town, Metro West MA. He was asked for two forms of ID. He gave his drivers license and CCW license as forms of ID, both of which were issued in that town.
Girl tells manager of library a man used a gun license as ID, manger calls police. Police track him down. He’s well known in the town and the police were nothing but polite and solid and knew it was a silly call, etc. All good there, we have a good bunch on the PD as a rule and they are generally well liked. My experiences, all good to date.
In this current climate, using his CCW as ID probably not the best idea (he’s a very happy go lucky type and I doubt it even occurred to him…), but at the same time, it’s ID, it’s legal, and (as far as I know) there’s not been a single shooting in the history of this country where the shooter presented his CCW before acting badly!
After getting his new library card, he took out a book, and left.
So now people with a CCW have to worry about others seeing it for fear of having the police knock on your door? Different town, different person, etc, it may not have gone so smoothly and although a judgement call if that was a good idea on his part, he broke no laws.
I keep mine tucked in the back of my wallet and facing backwards.
People are emotive and panicky, so I choose to avoid that whole scene you’ve just described all together.
It is something that very much dawned on me the moment I got my CCW.
I approach as you do, and always have. No one has any reason to see my CCW unless I have to by law. But that’s not what his mindset was. It’s a form of ID, he used it. He did nothing wrong, broke no laws, etc. and knowing his personality, quite surprised using that form of ID got the attention of the sheeple.
What, pray tell, is “inner city Austin”? Is it some small part of the City of Austin? East Austin, Maybe?
Yes, the City of Austin is a different incorporated city than either Round Rock or Buda, and Austin is the city I was speaking of. I thought that would have been obvious.