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Originally Posted by Greg700
Even in Afghanistan, if I was not on a full blown combat mission, I usually chose to carry concealed. When we would go meet with afghans (some of them very questionable people) it really helped put our hosts at ease when we dropped our body armor and our only apparent weapons (M-4's) in a corner of the room.
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Originally Posted by xepherys
MOST of them very questionable people? What province were you in? Being the SECFOR over there, we never dropped armor or weapons and tried like hell to stop our CO from doing so with tribal elders. While we saw the "at ease" aspect, our province was far too hot for such things, at least as us infantry guys saw it.
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There is that. "Complacency Kills" is the most overused BS catchphrase ever, but I sure as hell didn't wanna be THAT guy, either.
Last year, I did Civil Affairs the whole time - also a lot of in-person engagements with leadership and townspeople. Generally, in this context (and also keep in mind, I was in Anbar, where we've completed the security piece and have worked transition for the past 18-24 months), I would also go slick and carry just the sidearm if we were in a hardened building and had security posted.
It wasn't so much to put anyone at ease, but mainly 1) because I could take a breather from the PPE, and B) because even in a phone booth, their marksmanship sucks ass. I *know* what I can do indoors with an M9.
Here in the US, I chime in with those who say locale goes a long way. I'd do it anywhere in Colorado, except maybe Denver or the Springs. Wouldn't dream of it in any east or west coast states withing 100 miles of an Interstate, for a lot of the reasons already cited.
People just flip the fuck out when they see a gun hanging off even a well-dressed, miled-mannered clean-cut white guy if it's not a cop. The hassle isn't worth it.