It would seem to go without saying, but a big part of the point of concealed carry is keeping anyone else from realizing that you are carrying a firearm with you. Still, some may ask why carrying concealed is so important and if you actually can carry without anyone else noticing.
The answer to why has to do with the basics of human psychology and with tactics. As you know, many people are simply uncomfortable knowing that a firearm is near them. They are terrified of the weapon whether being pointed at them or in a glass case. Because of this irrational fear, it’s often simply better not to make an issue of having a firearm on your person. Why cause anyone to freak out? It’s just not worth the hassle and the disruption to your pleasant evening out or your trip to the grocery store.
The tactical side of things has to do with surprise. You don’t want an assailant to realize that you have an advantage that they don’t know about. If you can surprise them by pulling out a firearm when they aren’t expecting it, you can use their surprise against them to cause them to, ideally, surrender and run or, at the very least, to not be able to hurt any more people if they are already attacking people.
The second question is a little trickier. Can you really carry concealed? A writer going by the name of Travis P says, “Yes, you can.” As he points out,
Winter has always been the time to carry a big gun. The jackets and sweatshirts have always made it just a little easier to conceal a weapon. Concealing is easy, but as soon as you start adding layers of thick clothing, your draw quickly becomes slow and difficult. So the fact is, baggy clothes mean easy concealment, but difficult draw. Hoodies tend to snag and catch, and jackets can do the same.
Fortunately, as Travis points out, a number of clothing manufacturers, such as Under Armour and 5.11 Tactical, are making hoodies, jackets, and shirts with integrated holsters to make carrying invisible while maintaining quick and easy access to your firearm if necessary.
So, there you have it: the why to carry concealed and the answer that you can carry concealed. With just a little thought (and, maybe, some investment) you can carry everyday without anyone else knowing.