Shooting from the hip

Okay, so, I'm reading Retail Blog and it reminds me of one of the more bizarre events that occurred while I was working in a local book-music-video store.

It was either a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and I was working in the book section. I had gotten called up to one of the registers and, as I'm walking up the aisle, I pass a couple walking the other direction. As they pass, my eyes lock, briefly, on the man's right hip. I do a double-take. Was that a...? Surely not. Yep... he's got a pistol holstered on his hip.

I know several people who are or have been cops. Usually a plainclothesed officer will wear a jacket so his weapon is not on display but it's not a requirement from what I can tell. Since I did not get a good look at the man's front to see if he had a badge on his belt or anything, I note it and take care of my business at the register.

Once I've taken care of the customer, I search the store for the couple I had seen earlier. I spot them and inconspicuously make my way to that area of the store. I position myself so I can get a good look at the guy's front. Curious... no uniform, no badge. Now, it may not be a requirement that the police officers wear a jacket for subtlety but I'm pretty sure that, if they're carrying a weapon, they are required to be clearly identified by a badge or uniform.

I'm not panicked by the situation for two reasons. 1 - He appears to be just shopping and not casing the place or acting suspiciously in any way. His weapon, to him, is as invisible as an unnoticed mustard stain on the front of a shirt. 2- He's an older guy (mid 40's maybe?) and he's with what appears to be his wife. I didn't say I was unconcerned - I just wasn't panicked.

With my confirmation that he's not wearing a badge, I seek out one of the managers. It takes me a little while to find him and when I do I tell him about the situation.

"Hey, there's a guy walking around the store and he has a pistol holstered on his hip. It's in plain view and I can't see a badge or anything else identifying him as a police officer."

If you're not in the seated position while reading this, please take a seat now. His response may shock you.

"Yeah? So? It's not concealed."

What the f%#^!!?? Did I just hear that right?

"There's a man walking around our store with a gun and this doesn't concern you!?"

"If it's not concealed, there isn't anything I can do about it." With that, he walked away. I was stunned. I don't know the law that well but seeing a man walking around with a gun whom I cannot identify as operating in any official capacity whereby he should have a gun concerns me!! "It's not concealed..." What are we supposed to do, wait until after he pulls it out and is robbing the store?

You may ask why I didn't just call the police when I first saw the gun. I thought about it - I really did. In restrospect, I probably should have. Two things, though. I wanted to let the manager know so he didn't wonder why the cops were rolling up and I would have liked some confirmation that the man was not, in fact, wearing any sort of identification. Besides, how would it look if I called the cops then this guy exits the store before they get there. I look like a lunatic. I wanted someone else to see it.

Nothing came of the man with the gun. By the time I located the manager and we finished our conversation I was no longer able to locate the guy. He must have left while we were talking. Had I spotted him, though, I would have called police and kept my eye on him until they arrived.