I'm finally applying for a Texas CHL 20 years after it was passed. I first started thinking seriously after hearing of ISIS threats to start killing Americans on our own soil.

These animals aren't after your wallet or car, but your life.

Though Texas is on the verge of allowing open carry, I hadn't thought it an option until the shooting in Garland the other day (Garland is about 50 miles NE of me.) With the prospect of facing multiple, heavily armed lunatics bent on killing as many people as possible, I don't think I want to be limited to a weapon I can conceal.

BTW, the actions of the off-duty officer who stopped the attack in Garland were nothing short of heroic.

I'm more concerned about every day crackheads then ISIS but my carry hasn't changed. G19 IWB.

jtcarm, that is a very good question. I am a LEO, so I carry on a daily basis. However, due to the current threat we are in I now carry a full/mid size handgun off duty, always with spare ammo. I even keep several spare magazines in my glove box just in case. Funny, I actually used a hypothetical situation of 2 gunmen with AKs when I discussed this with my partner 2 months ago. Not so hypothetical anymore.

-Personally- I don't like the idea of open carry (for me) because I like the element of surprise. I can carry a large/midsized handgun with a good hybrid style IWB holster. YMMV.

I hope more Americans opt for concealed carry. Protecting this country and it's communities isn't just the job of soldiers and police, but of every patriot who is capable.

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"to protect and to serve"

No. The odds of being in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time for a gun terror attack is miniscule.

There is a much greater chance that I will get in a car accident on the way to the mall or grocery store, but I don't put on a NASCAR helmet and fireproof suit before driving there.

I agree with Arik. You're more at risk from some random knucklehead, than an ISIS knucklehead.

Conceal carry fits my lifestyle better. I can perform my physical duties without hindrance. It also allows for the element of surprise.

Ordinary Joe citizens, even with carry licenses, can't open carry here in California any way.

Also, around here so many people are gun phobic that open carry would freak everyone out.

I don't look like the type of person who would be carrying a gun, and that's just the way I like it. Keep the surprise element.

I'm not particularly worried about an ISIS member coming up and beheading me.

Much more likely some druggie looking for money for his next fix.

We will see over the next 6-12 months......... but

I am beginning to think the odds of me "needing" to use my concealed carry handgun has risen from.......... "none" to "slim"!!

My daily carry since 1990 or so, has been;more often than not, a 3913 with extra magazine......... lately I find my hand pausing over a PC 6906 in the gun vault.... before moving to the 3913.

Don't do anything more than I use to as for carry, but I try to be a little more observant than before!

I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH YOU, Rifleman, AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE THIN BLUE LINE. I BELIEVE THAT ABLE BODIED MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILY. THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO GET ARMED, AND TRAINED. I WOULD HOPE THAT LAWMAKERS IN EACH OF THE STATES WOULD RECOGNIZE THIS, AND LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON THE CONCEALED CARRY OF WEAPONS BY LAW ABIDING CITIZENS…..

I TOO, WOULD OPT FOR CONCEALED CARRY, EVEN IF OPEN CARRY BECAME AN OPTION IN MY STATE. OPEN CARRY MAKES YOU A PRIORITY TARGET FOR AN AGGRESSOR WHO IS ASSESSING POTENTIAL THREATS. I WOULD MUCH RATHER APPEAR RELATIVELY HARMLESS, AND UTILIZE THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IN MY OWN ATTACK…...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

In a word, No.

Yes, but I went and got a permit right after the planes hit the twin towers. I am very situationally aware now and remind myself constantly to look at people around me. In restaurants, I face the front door as an example. We have open carry in Iowa but there are too many hoplophobes who would scream and carry on to make it a useful option.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

I do hope that you buckle your seat belt though.

But the terror on our streets, yes.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Statement of the year. Please make this your signature

Don't say that.

Vaughan Foods beheading incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is 90 miles away from us but still "right around the corner." You never know what makes those people snap. Not all crimes are planned month or years ahead.

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Jorge

Thank you Rifleman762.

I agree with Rifleman762. I am not a fan of open carry, just brings on way too much attention and your element of surprise is gone. I guess that's my northeastern. Fact of the matter is, we live in a world now where sadly shootings can happen anywhere, which is sickening.

No but I do pity them. Life means nothing to them. Open carry to me is a 12ga pump riot shotgun.

Nope.......

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On the Oak Savannah

If I go to the big city. I'll bring my glock 17. Otherwise out here in the desert my model 19 for desert and colt cobra or ruger lcr for concealment will still serve me fine.

Remember the Minutemen of colonial times. Self trained, self armed, ready to respond on a moments notice and otherwise just going about living their lives.

The news says isis is claiming 71 trained operatives of some kind are spread throughout 15 US states, waiting to activate. There are 318,000,000 Americans, of which a few million are Muslims and maybe 70,000,000 are under 18. Leaving about 3.5 million Minutemen (and -women) per jihadist.

The question is, how many of the quarter billion American adults are going to be willing and capable of standing up to the jihadists? Because, really, with a 3.5 million to 1 ratio, we could just drown them in spit and never have to fire a shot.

I agree with previous posters that garden variety miscreants are a more immediate threat.

Hasn't changed my carry habits at all. But it, along with recent occurrences in Ferguson, Baltimore, etal, have made me reconsider and beef up the type and amount of "defensive" implements I keep in my home.

Bob

I have carried a handgun since 1978, about 20 years of that as an LEO. I have been retired for 15 years and usually carry a 5-shot J-frame in my pocket and 6-shot K-frame on my belt, along with 2 6-shot reloads in Speed Strips. Since the incident in Garland,TX I have added a Model 59 with an extra Hi-cap to the console of my Jeep. When I go to a big town I add a .357 Rossi 92 & a 20 box of ammo in a hard case to the Jeep.

I carry a 6906 with 12 rds of SD ammo. Been that way for 21 years. A model 60 for 10 years before that. What exactly could I do different? I have no idea what those **** **** are gonna do when they decide to do it. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Not so much....I moved the AR pistol w/reflex sight outta the trunk and
up in the front with me a couple of years ago....
Right after the lit'l ambush........I survived.




.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I am considering a 12ga shotgun. I just have to decide where to put it in my vehicle. When that decision is made, it will be in there at all times. One box of buckshot, a few slugs and situational awareness and I will feel better. Not paranoid just prepared.

Far as I'm concerned, a druggie who wants my wallet or car can have it. As I said earlier, the reason I'm getting one now is what looks like the increasing possibility of having to defend my family or myself against someone who is bent solely on killing us.

I'm no open carry proponent, either, but I'd say the crackhead looking to score is exactly the sort who's going to go elsewhere when he sees a gun on someone's hip.

I agree, open carry is kinda like wearing a "shoot me first" sign.

Yes, we are far more likely to be in a car accident than a shooting. Following that logic, wearing a NASCAR harness & helmet makes far more sense than carrying a handgun.

I've also considered stowing a riot gun or some sort of carbine behind the seat of my truck. Legal in Texas without a permit.

Yeah, last I looked, the way the CCW law reads it's only in the smallest of the rural counties where a license can be issued to allow for exposed/open carry in the specific county.

The entire section can be read at: CA Codes (pen:26150-26225)

Having had to carry an exposed duty weapon when working a uniform assignment, I have little or no interest in ever again carrying an openly exposed concealable firearm. I'd much rather not have it apparent to anyone that I'm lawfully armed, for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which is I'd just as soon not have to ever again worry about retention of an openly exposed belt gun, meaning the weapon possibly becoming a target (of theft/robbery), or, making me a target just because I'm visibly armed.

I realize there's a lot of opinion and interest being generated about the presence of visibly armed private citizens maybe being a deterrent to potential terrorist attackers, especially of the "lone wolf" jihad types.

Really? How has that worked out as a deterrent when such attacks have been made against visibly armed police or security? How about against armed police, security and even military in other countries?

Given my druthers, I'd just as soon such a crazy person, or persons, not know at the moment of their act, or in advance, that I'm armed.

Now, has the state of current affairs and press reports of potential ISIS inspired "lone wolf "agents" made me change my retirement CCW choice?

No. Not really.

I save breaking out the larger belt guns for those relatively infrequent instances where my planned activities are going to take me somewhere that might make me feel there's a reasonable potential of an elevated risk.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

my opinion is slightly skewed as I have a permit but do not yet carry regardless of the situation (I will when i'm ready).
That said, ISIS attacks don't push me (yet) to grab a holster sooner than I want, though that of course could change. What has me thinking more and more are all the 'protests' that pop up and can turn ugly in a second. I can and will avoid an area that is about to have one, but that doesn't mean the looting and other crimes cant spill into other neighborhoods or 'burbs. Heck i expect issues in Madison tomorrow when they announce their decision on the recent shooting.
Those situations, along with a growing # of home break-ins by the addicts, are what my wife and I talk about for protection needs more so than a terrorist group.

I carried often before - now I carry more often - and the better half who passed her CHL course is in the process of getting her CHL and I guarantee once Open Carry (if ever) is approved in Texas. We will carry a bigger guns that we shoot way better - since we don't have to worry about "printing" or 'failure to conceal" then.

Gulf Cartel and Zeta violence has claimed way more lives within 200 miles of me than any Islamists....so, to answer your question specifically , nope.

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Halfway and one more step

I still carry my J frame. Due to my age and medical problems the J is the heaviest/biggest weapon I can deal with. Like others said it's more likely that I'll have other run-of-the-mill problems before encountering ISIS.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 in combination with a Santa Cruz lock would work fine.
Or, if you have a vehicle that also LE uses you can get a vehicle specific roof mount.

Attached Images

g5500saoi.jpg (10.9 KB, 1273 views)

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Jorge

Islamic terror, NO. But with the increase of civil unrest, I'm carrying more and more, I also have a dedicated car gun that lives in the trunk. That way if I'm away from the house and something happens, such as the recent civil unrest that occurred, as my wife and I were leaving our local shopping mall, one Friday evening. I can arm myself very quickly, if I feel the need.

It has not changed anything for me. I have however started carrying more ammo, and possibly other types of ammo.

Started keeping a little more firepower in the trunk, with a couple of extra 30 round mags. Paranoid, maybe a little, but would rather be prepared as best a normal citizen can be.

Gotta be ready no matter what/who/where/when...

This is a very informative thread. There are a lot of great points here, being made by people from vastly different backgrounds and circumstances. What works for one person, might not work for another. I might feel differently if my location, health, body type, etc were different.

My personal decision to "step it up" in carrying more gun and ammo, was mostly due to many of the circumstances mentioned.. civil unrest, rise in violent crime, convicted felons being release at a record rate, AND the threat of terror attacks at home. A totality of the circumstances.

Each of us finds their own balance in comfort and being prepared. Most likely, God willing, I won't have to use my handgun. If I do, most likely it won't be against a terrorist. But I can think of one off duty cop in Texas that probably thought the same thing, but was ready when things turned out differently.

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"to protect and to serve"

Okay. So what would you carry?

A full size Government .45?
A Glock G40 Gen4 in 10mm with 16 cartridges loaded?
A Glock G17L in 9mm with 18 cartridges loaded?
Maybe a Desert Eagle AE .50 with 8 rounds and extra mag?

Or even better, the Sig P556 in 5.56 with a 30-round magazine and a 9-inch barrel?!?

Seriously...what will you carry, and will you open carry? And chances are, if someone opens up with an AK or something, you're initially gonna panic just like everyone else. Are you confident enough in your own mental state and capabilities to respond with force in what's basically an urban combat situation?

And if you don't want to be limited to a gun you carry concealed, then why bother to even apply for a CHL?

I'm not trying to be funny here, either. I'm genuinely curious what your choices are.

Good luck.

I answered this post and my computer crashed.....so annoying!

Anyway, what I said was that I have been carrying a gun in my vehicle or on my person for 35 years so, no, there's really nothing to change. I might switch from a snub nosed .38 revolver to a high capacity 9mm if I go somewhere public that could be a Tango target, like a mall, church/synagogue, community event type of thing. Otherwise, nope, no change.

I won't open carry; I think that's a mistake and makes you a target, but YMMV.

Stay alert - stay alive!

Okay, Old Bear...you're in North Carolina just as I am. We've talked before, but I can't remember if you have a CHP or not. But we are an open carry state as well. But you know that.

So. Why do you keep your dedicated car gun locked up in the trunk? That gun isn't gonna do you a bit of good locked up there if some thug runs up yanking on your door handle trying to carjack you. Or if you pull into your driveway at night and someone jumps out of the dark on you or your wife.

I have a couple of guns that do duty as "car guns", and they're always within reach when I'm driving. Always. Either out in the open or under an t-shirt or something on the passenger seat...or somewhere. Even if I'm belt carrying or have a pistol in a pocket holster in my pocket, I can reach that other gun.

So again...locked up in the trunk? Maybe you should rethink this. I'd hate to see something happen to a friend and fellow North Carolinian.

Got to say ...... in 21st Century America...IMHO.. open carry makes no sense to me.......just saying.......................

........I got my concealed carry permit in 1978 so I could carry a revolver in Penn's Woods...... discreetly........

in the 80s a Walther PPK in .380 became a part time friend........

in 1990 the Walther was (for the most part) replaced by a 3913...cus it was 9mm and a better gun......................

today...... I still very much doubt I'll ever have to use a gun in self defense .... but I do feel the world is much different than it was ..... for me; I have a wife and two teenage boys........

so maybe when we go out to eat: I'll make sure (insist) I'm the one sitting with my back to the wall;facing the door........carry a 6906 vs. a 3913 .....stash an extra mag........ or two in the car......... and consider a carbine in the trunk.


My goal is to die of old age .... with my boots off....never having to fire a gun in anger..... or in the defense of my family...........

May God grant that to all of us....................


the "Happy Days" of the 50s were so much easier to deal with...........LOL

Got that right!

I love my M&P 45 and my Beretta M9 - today while carrying my SD9 - I was told I was "printing" and I probably was but it is damned hot in Texas now and wet - I train dogs for a living (including protection and service dogs) I wear ABU or ACU's all the time (because after 30 yrs in them they are very comfortable - and I can. And I can't see wearing a blouse instead of a T-shirt when it is nearly 80 with nearly 100 percent humidity on a daily basis lately. If the law had not been changed to loosen up "failure to conceal" I would not likely carry any gun since the mouse guns just do not work for me and I despise IWB holsters - after years as a LEO/CO - no I did not retire from them I resigned/quit because dealing with jackasses on a daily basis made me hate the job- I am just an OWB kinda guy I guess and I always wear retention holsters and they are bulky and "print" - and I could not believe that Texas did not allow Open Carry when I moved down here - and was shocked because my home state of Washington allowed open carry without a permit and you only needed a permit if you were carrying concealed - Texas is back asswords to me - but I comply and do my best to be a law abiding citizen - and if one of the Jihadists or Islamic extremists decides to show their *** around me and try to hurt, maim or kill me or any one I am around I will respond accordingly as I did in the Persian Gulf and OIF - and have no problems doing so

Guys in NASCAR are doing as much as 200mph inches from one another. Your daily commute hardly qualifies.

You do wear a seatbelt don't you?

I bet everyone who has been in a robbery, homicide, or other violent attack probably thought "it will never happen to me" until it did.

The mindset is the hardest part, since decent people have a very strong block against taking human life.

Train your mind, stay on yellow when out, and have the willingness to do something - anything to save yourself and your family.

The tool used for the job is not as important as the willingness to use it. That said, a high capacity pistol to get to your vehicle to escape can be a great comfort.

My 12ga riot pump is loaded, "00"buck, 400gr slug, "00" buck, 400gr slug, "00" buck why let's say my aim isn't so good lol ok won't miss. There's a shell holder on the butt stock with slugs and a box of "00" buck on the sling. "Got ammo" lol.

There have been warnings for years about terrorist cells waiting to be activated in the U.S. and warnings about, "lone wolf" attackers. That threat seems more real to me today than ever before in view of events like Texas last week, the attack in Australia and the Boston bombing.

I posted a link in another thread about this article written a decade ago. Ten years after it was written, it seems prophetic, and may well be a glimpse of the future.

I think I messed up in the other thread and did not properly attribute the article and the link was removed. Hope I'm doing this right this time because it seems timely to this discussion.

From the article titled: The Future of Terrorism: What al-Qaida Really Wants by Yassin Musharbash

The Future of Terrorism: What al-Qaida Really Wants - SPIEGEL ONLINE


According to the seven phase plan outlined in the article, we are somewhere in phase five or six and on the brink of a period of, "total confrontation" with radical Islam.

From the article: "The Sixth Phase Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden."

That said, I do think more these days about what and how I carry, partly because of the terror threat.

I carry mine all the time i say i don't want to be a sitting defenseless duck if im in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I hope i never have to use it.
How about jade helm ? i hope texas isn't being set up for badness.

Yes. The recent high profile attacks (both terrorists and multiple victim public shooting) have influenced how and what I carry.

These days, if I'm going to a 'high population' location with the family, I always have a full-sized pistol with multiple reloads. Currently, I like my HK P7 with two spare mags (25 rounds total).

I wouldn't feel too bad carrying a 4 inch .357 magnum revolver with a few speed loaders as well.

But the days of me carrying just a J-frame are gone. Always at least one reload, always a 'full capacity' service-style pistol. Going against multiple rifle wielding terrorists isn't something i want to do...but if I have to, I want a full sized gun with multiple reloads.

I don't feel I will run into IS directly. I do feel dealing with the aftermath of something instigated by them is quite likely. I have felt that the country is off the rails for years so my wife and I pulled up stakes and moved north to an infinitely safer life and a just as equally sane gun culture.

I have half a dozen bags of tools for work. No one even looks twice as I carry them in. I'll have several hundred rounds of ammo stashed with the tools for my Steyr L9-A1 which is either OWB in a Bulldog 31 or stowed in one of the bags within reach.

I add an M&P15 with another couple hundred rounds bungy corded to the truck wall for overnights.

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~ From the Land of Lobstah ~