sign of the times - Concealed Weapons, Spotting and Profiling (by David Morris, We.8Feb12)

From: Absolute Rights Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 Subject: How to spot your enemy
Spotting Concealed Weapons and Profiling

by David Morris
article source: http://AbsoluteRights.com, Issue #17, Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
     Staying alert includes being able to spot a person who is or may be carrying a concealed weapon.

     As you observe people there are certain things you should be looking for that may indicate the presence of a weapon.

     For example: As a person walks, only one of his arms swings. His coat is left open in cold weather. A shirt is buttoned only at the top and the tail is hanging loose over his waistband. A person sees you, looks down toward his hip, then avoids eye contact.

     According to Robert Gallagher, a former NYPD detec tive who studied over 1,000 arrests by New York City cops, people who try to conceal guns develop special behavioral characteristics.

     Some of these traits are now taught to the U.S. Secret Service agents for crowd assessment during presidential and dignitary protection assignments.

     According to Sgt. Robert Stash, a gang specialist with Chicago PD, most people are right-handed and when they greet other people they use their right hands.

     Let's say you see a bunch of gangbangers hanging around and someone walks up and greets them using his left hand. It could signal the presence of a weapon.

     People who hide an illegal gun in their pocket tend to hold on to it to prevent its outline showing through the clothing. Someone with a gun in his waistband tends to keep a hand in the nearest pocket to hold the gun and keep it from falling below the waistband.

     People who carry an illegal handgun tend not to use a holster. If they have to drop the gun and run, they don't want to be caught with and have to explain an empty holster.

COMMON METHODS OF CARRY INCLUDE:

• A right-front pocket or the appendix area of the waist-band. Over 80% of armed suspects carry their guns in this location, according to Gallagher.
• A right-rear pocket or the waistband between the right hip and the small of the back.
• The left hip waistband (cross-draw position) is the least popular.

     Shoulder, ankle or other exotic holsters are seldom used by street gangsters.
     When looking for concealed weapons, look for things that don't look right.

     Look for a jacket that doesn't hang naturally. An uneven hemline may indicate the presence of a gun in the coat pocket. When an armed person moves, the heavy object will swing. Being aware of this, a subject may hold on to the hem near where the gun is to keep it steady.

     I have this problem with my SigTac coat because the holster is on the chest. A buddy of mine sews holsters into his coats under the armpit and it allows the coats to hang evenly, even when un zipped.

     Look for a mode of dress inconsistent with the weather - a coat, jacket or vest on a hot day. Or a coat left open on a cold, windy day may provide quick ac cess to a gun.

     A shirt draped over dress slacks may offer conceal ment to a handgun. Unnatural bulges, a jacket carried over the arm, a hat being carried instead of worn, all suggest the possibility of a weapon.

     Body language signals to watch for:

     We tend to use our elbow or forearm to press, touch or make contact with the weapon to confirm its presence.

     We tend to hold a pocket where the gun is from the outside. We tend to pull up pants or adjust our clothing repeatedly to counteract the weight of a gun and its effects on clothing.

     A gun strapped to an ankle or stuffed in a boot may cause the person to favor that leg so as not to jostle the gun more than necessary. When we walk, we may allow the non-gun arm to swing naturally and restrain the other arm to steady the gun or hide any tell-tale bulge.

     We may walk with our gun arm held away from the body, to avoid banging into the gun and possibly dislodging it.

     If you carry weapons, you'll pick up some tells just because you're being hyper-critical of yourself.

     Personally, I find that I pull down or even out my shirt tails when I get out of my car to make sure that my in-waist-band hol ster is covered.

     I am also careful to only reach up to high shelves with my left hand and to bend down at the knees instead of at the waist so that the butt of my firearm doesn't print on my shirt.

     Another tell that I have is that when it's really windy and I'm wearing a shirt that flaps too much in the wind, I find that I hold my arm somewhat awkwardly to keep my firearm from showing.

     When I'm carrying in a compression shirt holster, with my firearm under my armpit, I find that I push my arm out from my body to move it back wards.

     With knives, if I don't see a clip sticking out of a pocket, I look for worn pocket corners and a tell tale bulge in the pocket.

     Since I am a big fan of neck knives, I look for cord age or non-decorative chain around the neck.

Don't be afraid to profile.

     Profiling isn't foolproof, but it does tip the odds in your favor. A few things to look for:

Face, neck, and hand tattoos.
       Especially tear drops or "mean" looking tattoos. Keep in mind that they're permanent, so the tat toos could be a reminder from a former lifestyle. I have known several very gentle men through the years who still have gang and prison tats from their younger years.
 "I'm .. Bad." look and swagger.
       Oftentimes it's a false front, but it can also be a tool to get psyched up.
 Red or blue bandana.
       Specifically on the head, on the arm, or hanging out of a waist band or pocket. Keep in mind that bandanas are great survival tools and lots of people carry them.
 Age, sex, and dress.
       The fact is that most violent criminals are young males who dress like street thugs. It's important to note that after the collapse of the peso in Argentina, middle aged muggers regularly dressed in suits and hit targets in the banking & business districts.
"Aware" vs. "Unaware."
       Criminals, law enforcement, military, and preppers all have the trait of being more aware of what's going on around them than the average person. If you spot someone who is obviously aware of what's going on around them, there's a pretty good chance that they're either a potential ally or potential enemy and worth further exami nation.
Response to authority.
       When uniformed law enforcement enters a crowd ed room, try to look at the facial expressions of others in the room. You'll quickly notice what a polarizing effect they have.
 Counter-profiling.
       One of the things that I try to do is appear as if I'm not as aware as I actually am so that people won't profile me as being switched on. If I am with other people and can sit facing a wall that has a mirror on it, I will. I use my peripheral vision to profile people. I smile a lot and try not to look serious. I try to wear clothes that are more hiking/camping rather than tactical.
       And then there are certain facial expressions to be aware of.
       Bad guys with guns and bad intentions often avoid eye con tact until they are ready to strike. They believe that by avoiding eye contact you will be less likely to pay any attention to them. They also believe that by avoiding eye contact you will be less likely to identify them at a later time.
       Bad guys planning their attack may tend to sneak a quick glance at you, and then look away. They want to know if you've noticed them and are showing any signs of heightened awareness.
       The bottom line is this: You should assume everyone you come in contact with is armed until you're satis fied they are not. Anyone exhibiting any of the cues described above is considered a possible threat until you are comfortable they are not.
       This doesn't mean you need to be paranoid, worried, or that you have to give everyone a thorough examina tion to look for weapons. It just means that you accept the fact that everyone you meet may have a weapon...whether for good purposes or bad purposes.
       When someone approaches you, quickly observe their hands for weapons, their waist area for bulges or signs of concealed weapons and their body language for signs of weapons or bad intentions. If you're more than 3 feet away, you can do this with your peripheral vision without taking your eyes off of their face.
       Keep distance between you and anyone you consider suspicious. Be prepared to use cover. Know your op tions and decide in advance how you will handle any problem.
       Don't just look, observe. Watch for body language and facial cues. Bad guys usually aren't too bright and they almost always tell you in advance what they are up to, you just have to know how to read the signs.

God bless & stay safe, David Morris

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