Last week I finally had it with Compass Bank and decided to change to Chase. So on Saturday morning I went to the local branch and spent two hours creating accounts and filling out paperwork.
When I walked into the bank a young man – God I sound old – greeted me and sent me to talk to a banker about opening new accounts.
At one point I was asked for two forms of picture ID, so I naturally pulled out my Driver’s License and my Texas Concealed Handgun License. Two forms of government issued ID.
But alas, my new banker told me they can’t take a CHL as a form of ID. A credit card would be fine. WTF? She said when they get audited by the main office that isn’t one of the things on the list.
Whatever.
I was carrying. I had on jeans and a long shirt. My Springfield XD in a inside the waistband holster.
My wife wasn’t around on Saturday morning to sign paperwork, so we had to go in on Monday morning and handle it. When we did we got an interesting story from our new banker. She said the young man who greeted me at some point realized I was wearing a gun. I don’t know if I flashed while stretching or moving around, or if I printed while sitting down, but some how he saw it.
Well it freaked him out and he went and found the manager and said “There’s a guy here with a gun!”
The manager said to calm down, but they did let the banker know later that I was carrying. She said she knew because I’d tried to use my CHL.
I know I screwed up letting them see it, but here are a couple of thoughts I had.
First, I always assumed if someone saw it, they would assume I was a cop. Guess not.
Second, this is Texas, a gun shouldn’t freak you out. Remember that scene in Miss Congeniality where Sandra Bullock sees someone with a gun in San Antonio and jumps them from the stage? Her beauty pageant coach says, “This is Texas. My florist carries a gun”.
Third, even before there we shall issue CHLs, on way show need for a license was if you had to carry large amounts of money to the bank. So banks should have the most experience with people with guns. But I can understand they also have a big fear of being robbed. I’m pretty sure that was why the guy was standing there to start with. Someone told me it was a security measure they instituted to catch people acting strange before they get to a teller.
Reading a recent post about Open Carry by Hsoi made me remember and decide to post this story.
Technically a CHL is NOT a valid form of identification. I remember being told that during my CHL class. I don’t know why it’s not considered valid. I mean, you have to go through a LOT more to get a CHL than you do a drivers license (e.g. no background checks to go drive!). But no, it’s not considered a form of identification.
But look at what happened, or rather, what didn’t. There was a man with a gun in the bank. And nothing happened. Well OK, something did happen: someone got hysterical and got their knickers in a twist. But apart from perhaps needing to change his underwear, nothing bad happened. Imagine that… some folks can be responsible. Imagine that… guns don’t instantly turn people into bloodthirsty maniacs. Amazing that.
.-= hsoi´s last blog ..Thinking more with open carry =-.
Ron,
You might not have printed or flashed your carry piece to anyone. This was days after you first came in, right?
It is entirely possible that the banker/teller talked after you left the first time and the young man was acting on that information.
Second, this is Texas, a gun shouldn’t freak you out.
Way too many people who have moved here from very restrictive states. I agree that a firearm shouldn’t freak people out, there are too many people who grew up where firearms are rare or hidden completely.
Another thing to worry about is that some Chase locations are posted prohibiting Concealed Carry.
Our Gun Club banks at Chase and one location is posted in my town, but others aren’t. Be careful where you carry.
.-= Bob S.´s last blog ..Tell me again… =-.
The guy noticed the first time I came in. It wasn’t until after I left he told my banker and she then informed them I’d showed a CHL. I got told the story the next time I came in and talked to my banker.
For what it is worth, the bank manager didn’t make a big deal out of it, and it may have been the guy’s job to watch people who came in. Someone told me it is a security measure to have someone greet you before you get to a teller to see if you act nervous.
And there was no sign posted. I wouldn’t have banked there if there had been.
Wow. That is one hell of a reaction, I will say that much. If you ever make it up to the Tennessee region, I cannot guarantee as though you will not receive similar treatment, but I can say that the odds are pretty slim. Honestly, I think you handled the situation about as well as can be expected, and while it does show that certain people do freak out at the sight of inanimate objects, it also shows that other people will probably correct them.
In other news, it still boggles my mind that TX does not allow for open carry… 🙂
.-= Linoge´s last blog ..questions and answers =-.
I remember similar actions to the way the young man reacted to the gun from my childhood in the 1960’s. I saw it when white people reacted to a black man walking through a white neighborhood.