• About USA Carry
  • Advertise
  • Contact
DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS - CLICK HERE!
USA Carry
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Resources
    • Concealed Carry Permit Information By State
      • A-E
        • Alabama
        • Alaska
        • American Samoa
        • Arizona
        • Arkansas
        • California
        • Colorado
        • Connecticut
        • Delaware
      • F-J
        • Florida
        • Georgia
        • Guam
        • Hawaii
        • Idaho
        • Illinois
        • Indiana
        • Iowa
      • K-M
        • Kansas
        • Kentucky
        • Louisiana
        • Maine
        • Maryland
        • Massachusetts
        • Michigan
        • Minnesota
        • Mississippi
        • Missouri
        • Montana
      • N-O
        • Nebraska
        • Nevada
        • New Hampshire
        • New Jersey
        • New Mexico
        • New York
        • North Carolina
        • North Dakota
        • Northern Marianas
        • Ohio
        • Oklahoma
        • Oregon
      • P-U
        • Pennsylvania
        • Puerto Rico
        • Rhode Island
        • South Carolina
        • South Dakota
        • Tennessee
        • Texas
        • Utah
      • V-Z
        • Vermont
        • Virgin Islands
        • Virginia
        • Washington
        • Washington D.C.
        • West Virginia
        • Wisconsin
        • Wyoming
    • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
    • Concealed Carry Permit Examples
  • Articles
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Defensive Gun Use Stories
    • Training
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • EDC
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Directory
    • Firearm Instructors
    • Gun Ranges
    • Gun Stores
    • Gunsmiths
    • Gun Clubs
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Deals
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Resources
    • Concealed Carry Permit Information By State
      • A-E
        • Alabama
        • Alaska
        • American Samoa
        • Arizona
        • Arkansas
        • California
        • Colorado
        • Connecticut
        • Delaware
      • F-J
        • Florida
        • Georgia
        • Guam
        • Hawaii
        • Idaho
        • Illinois
        • Indiana
        • Iowa
      • K-M
        • Kansas
        • Kentucky
        • Louisiana
        • Maine
        • Maryland
        • Massachusetts
        • Michigan
        • Minnesota
        • Mississippi
        • Missouri
        • Montana
      • N-O
        • Nebraska
        • Nevada
        • New Hampshire
        • New Jersey
        • New Mexico
        • New York
        • North Carolina
        • North Dakota
        • Northern Marianas
        • Ohio
        • Oklahoma
        • Oregon
      • P-U
        • Pennsylvania
        • Puerto Rico
        • Rhode Island
        • South Carolina
        • South Dakota
        • Tennessee
        • Texas
        • Utah
      • V-Z
        • Vermont
        • Virgin Islands
        • Virginia
        • Washington
        • Washington D.C.
        • West Virginia
        • Wisconsin
        • Wyoming
    • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
    • Concealed Carry Permit Examples
  • Articles
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Defensive Gun Use Stories
    • Training
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • EDC
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Directory
    • Firearm Instructors
    • Gun Ranges
    • Gun Stores
    • Gunsmiths
    • Gun Clubs
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Deals
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles

What Does Brandishing Mean? And Why You Should Never Do It…

Luke McCoy by Luke McCoy
September 2, 2015 - Updated On August 19, 2020
in Articles, Concealed Carry, Self-Defense
Reading Time: 4 mins read
What Does Brandishing Mean? And Why You Should Never Do It…

There are going to be tense days.  You’ll eventually run into someone who isn’t paying attention or just very extremely violent and rude.  It doesn’t matter.  Your concealed carry pistol stays concealed and in its holster until you are one hundred percent certain you intend to use it for your own self-defense.

Letting someone know you are armed – whether it’s resting a hand on your pistol grip or sweeping back your shirt to let the other person know you’re armed – can and will be construed as a threat.  And once it’s safely in that arena, you can be prosecuted in both civil and criminal court.

A few years ago, noted firearms expert Ben Findley wrote a very comprehensive article on the definitions of brandishing as they apply to some of the states.  In that article, he gives a rough overview of the various definitions that exist out there as a means of educating concealed carriers to the facts about brandishing.

Brandishing can be called a lot of different things.

  • “Improper Exhibition of a Weapon”
  • “Defensive Display”
  • “Unlawful Display”

But it all reduces down to one key concept: threatening.  And while in your mind, at the time, you may think along the lines of “that’s not a threat – that’s a promise”, the prosecuting attorney will tend to agree with you.

If you’re charged with brandishing of a firearm or weapon, most states will use that as reason to revoke your concealed carry permit.

Let’s be absolutely clear about one thing: your firearm doesn’t give you the authority to take the law into your own hands.  It affords you the right and privilege of defending your life from lethal attack.  Anything short of that will be construed as threatening someone who has not demonstrated intent to do you harm.

Let’s Look At How Brandishing Affects You And Everyone Around You

You’ve gotten in a verbal altercation with a stranger.  Things have got hot and he’s looking like he may assault you.  This is a precariously dangerous place to be in as a concealed carrier.  

A.)  If you have power to stop or de-escalate, do it.  

It doesn’t matter how foolish you look or what people say about you – you have a moral obligation to de-escalate because you’re armed with a firearm and you don’t know if the other guy is.  

More importantly, if he doesn’t back down – in many states you are perfectly allowed to defend yourself accordingly.  That is, however, after all other options have been exhausted.  Failing to do this will leave you open to both criminal and civil prosecution.  

While you may never see the inside of a jail cell, your concealed carry pistol will be forfeited for at least the duration of the investigation and the court proceedings.  If found guilty, you will effectively lose all rights to bear arms, serve significant jail time, and be ordered to pay costs associated with the case, the victim’s family, etc.  You will also end up spending tens of thousands of dollars on defense attorneys – if you don’t expect to simply lay down under that legal bus heading your way.

B.)  Brandishing your firearm is not an immediate “win” to any altercation.  

If anything, you’ve just informed the other person that you’re reckless enough to show your firearm.  Worst of all, if he is armed – you just presented yourself as a threat.  And this doesn’t extend to just him – anyone in the field of view can independently determine that your careless display constitutes a logical, lethal threat to their well-being.  And they’d be right.  If you can’t be counted on to know the law and act lawfully with your firearm then it’s reasonable to say you’re woefully ignorant of the rest of that process — all of which could draw those surrounding you and your “foe” into that conflict.

Before considering “defensive display” or anything of the sort, put yourself both in the shoes of the person you’re dealing with and those in the near vicinity.  How would you feel if you saw two people arguing and one of them draws or brandishes a firearm?  You’d likely be scared – rightfully so.  You would feel your life is danger.  You would try to move your family and close friends away from the potential hot spot.  You immediately don’t trust the reasoning and rationale of the person doing the brandishing.

Each person you see is a witness in this event.  Your actions will be judged by the full extent of the law.  Whatever you do – do it with clear intent and communication.  Don’t brandish your concealed carry pistol.

Tags: audiobrandishing
Previous Post

Are You Gripping Your CCW Pistol Correctly?

Next Post

3 Situations, 3 Concealed Carry Choices — Are You Ready?

Luke McCoy

Luke McCoy

Luke McCoy is the founder of USA Carry. In 2007, he launched USA Carry to provide concealed carry information and a community for those with concealed carry permits and firearm enthusiasts.

Related Posts

Maximizing Your Firearms Training: The Benefits of Training Partners and Accountability
Training

Maximizing Your Firearms Training: The Benefits of Training Partners and Accountability

by Ethan Vaughn
March 29, 2023
Retired Police Officer and Burglary Suspect Hospitalized After Exchanging Gunfire
DGU

Retired Police Officer and Burglary Suspect Hospitalized After Exchanging Gunfire

by Sean Holt
March 29, 2023
Armed Bystander Helps Disarm Knife-Wielding Suspect at Las Vegas Mall
DGU

Armed Bystander Helps Disarm Knife-Wielding Suspect at Las Vegas Mall

by Luke McCoy
March 29, 2023
Father Shoots Daughter's Abusive Ex-Boyfriend in Act of Self-Defense
DGU

Father Shoots Daughter’s Abusive Ex-Boyfriend in Act of Self-Defense

by Sean Holt
March 28, 2023
Fatal Shooting at Family Dollar: When Emotions Override Responsibility
DGU

Fatal Shooting at Family Dollar: When Emotions Override Responsibility

by Luke McCoy
March 28, 2023
Next Post
3 Situations, 3 Concealed Carry Choices -- Are You Ready?

3 Situations, 3 Concealed Carry Choices -- Are You Ready?

2.8 5 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Peter
Peter
9 months ago

So just open carry

4
USA Carry

© 2022 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • Concealed Carry Resources
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Directory
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Deals

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Resources
    • Concealed Carry Permit Information By State
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
    • Concealed Carry Permit Examples
  • Articles
    • Concealed Carry
    • Reviews
    • Defensive Gun Use Stories
    • Training
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • EDC
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Directory
    • Firearm Instructors
    • Gun Ranges
    • Gun Stores
    • Gunsmiths
    • Gun Clubs
  • Giveaway
  • Store

© 2022 USA Carry LLC

Popup Button
wpDiscuz
1
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment