I did forget to add that I wear when I go to a park with my dog. Its to protect myself and my dog against other dogs, thats the primary reason. The reason I originally got my ccw was to fend myself against dogs when I went for a run. For some people thats the primary reason they carry, but some of you would turn your nose up at this reason because the person doesnt carry all the time. Quite ridiculous. Intolerant as the liberals.

I like the idea that CCF/W is CCF/W, it is not supposed to be comfortable, fashionable, just life saving. IMHO

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Six rounds,load and holster!

With all the options available today (caliber/size/weight) don't you think it's possible to be both comfortable AND comforted?
I do.

When Col. Cooper made his now famous statement there were very limited options available. Today, that has changed.

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Stay protected my friends.

So, because they aren't open carrying, you assume they aren't carrying at all?


Yes, it was possible when Copper said that and it's possible now. The problem is, most don't know how to do it and choose their gun for the wrong reason.

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Freedom isn't free.

Uh what. There is a right reason to carry? What is the right reason?

I didnt know one had to meet certain criteria to carry rightly.

Not long ago an active duty law enforcement officer and member of my church said that he had excellent firearms training and that he had successfully competed in significant pistol shooting tournaments. He said that he rarely carries a handgun. I didn't want to get into a discussion in front of folks, so I let it go, but I'm at a loss to explain or understand his thinking. I don't know if it's a statement of moral superiority or Andy Taylor syndrome. He does seem to have a very high opinion of himself, IMHO.

You know:
Feeling/looking cool
Feeling protected in those dangerous areas

So you're convinced he was "thinking"?.....
I believe he was just "feeling".

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Stay protected my friends.

Yea. Everywhere is dangerous. I forgot. Anything can happen anywhere, hope you dont drink or sleep!

Everywhere ISN'T dangerous, you already told us that, or you would carry there. Remember?

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Stay protected my friends.

No. I carry in places more dangerous and have higher SA in those areas. Its what the military does and the police, but I guess youre smarter than everyone else right? I accept the risk that I may be attacked in places I deem safer, which I determine through appearances and news with some statistics.

It seems youre not willing to accept the same risks as I do, which is fine.

Apparently I was wrong yesterday to go for a run on a trail without a gun. Whoops!

Wow, completely missed that one. Not choosing to carry, but using the wrong criteria to decide which gun to carry. Yes, there are wrong guns to carry.

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Freedom isn't free.

On all occasions when I am legally able.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I have my 40 on me as I sit in front of my computer talking to you guys.

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_It was love at first shot_

We've already covered the legal places you cannot carry but there are a few other times when carrying isn't an option. If I'm going to be doing a lot of bending sort of sheep work with people present who do not know I carry and who I don't want to know I'll leave it it the safe. I'm not willing to get into a big gun discussion when I've got a flock of sheep to deal with and limited time to do that before it either gets too hot or we lose the sheep patience. And wrestling sheep means I am likely to print at some point in the day.

I've also not carried on particularly hot days because I cannot figure out how to conceal any of my preferred guns if I can't wear a cover shirt and there are a few times where it's just obvious that it is too hot to be wearing that many layers. I am not comfortable with off body carry and usually don't have a purse in those situations anyways.

I must admit I do feel a bit naked in those situations.

I carry all day...I live in an open carry state but prefer concealed...I was taught that concealed means concealed....most people I know DO NoT know that I carry...I think it is choice that is made by each person...just be sure you are mentally ready to use it if that time ever comes and I hope I never have to use mine but I will use it if me or anyone is in imminent danger of harm

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carpe diem
one day at a time

This ^^^^

As long as I'm legal to do so.

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Mike
686 no dash

Some of the discussion here reminded me of when I was a certified motorcycle instructor and we were discussing the concept of "ATGATT", i.e., "all of the gear, all of the time" regarding protective clothing, helmet, boots, etc. I used to say to the students that obviously some riders were smarter than me, because I see them riding in shorts and flipflops, so they must know what days they are safe and what days they are going to crash.

If I knew what day and where I would need a gun I would stay home that day and not go anywhere. But obviously none of us knows when a totally quiet and ordinary day will turn into a life and death situation. I usually do not carry at home, and the other day I needed to run out for a few items to the grocery store. I left the house and arrived at the store and suddenly realized that I had not taken my gun. Fortunately everything went as normal and no gun was needed, but I was very aware that I had left myself vulnerable because I had forgotten that I had put away my gun when I came home earlier. This will probably get me to carry in the house now, all the time every day.

That said, I do know several people who like myself applied for and received their concealed carry license as soon as it was possible here in Illinois. But while I carry every day, I have a few friends who admitted that they have yet to carry. Reasons range from needing a better holster, needing a smaller or lighter gun, waiting until they retire since they cannot carry at work, etc. Each to their own.

Hey, maybe the neighbors were going to a BBQ.



I've never figured that one out.

Everyone knows that barbeque sauce causes people to draw and fire their guns, which is why you should never carry when going to a BBQ.

I have encouraged my friends and neighbors who show even a slight interest in shooting to apply for their CC permit. Even if they never carry, the permit shows our elected leaders that there is yet another person who supports the second amendment and the right to carry.

Just getting the permit is a positive statement! What you actually do or don't do after that is nobody else's business.

I seem to remember and article by Massad Ayoob in which he states that if you're ever in a defensive shooting and it goes beyond a preliminary investigation they will likely ask you "Why were you carrying a gun at all?"

He said you're better off if you're able to say "I always carry a gun, today was no different." Than if you say "I don't normally carry a gun but I was doing something that made me think I might need one today." Or "I wanted to look cool."

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Retired Career Security Guard

My BIL has his permit and I don't believe he ever carries.

Or you could just not answer that question smokes which is probably the best option.

Has no one ever heard of a BBQ gun? There is a reason why decorated holsters and guns sell well.

Carrying is as much about personal preference as anything else in life - do what makes you happy. FWIW, I've been carrying essentially everyday since I was 16 - yes, always had a shotgun or rifle in my truck, even at school, which was perfectally legal and accepted at the time.

Became a cop at 19 and have carried a handgun 99% percent of the time from that point on. However, I don't carry in my home, I carry one gun at a time (usually with pepper spray and spare mag or speedloader); most of the time i carry concealed, sometimes open. 99% of the time I don't feel it's needed, but like many my crystal ball is in the shop for repairs. I also know that without bad things happening there wouldn't be a need for the 5 o'clock news; I will do what I can to insure I am the one talking with the reporter after the dust settles.

Self defense is generally an affirmative defense; you're admitting to doing something illegal (Shooting someone) but claiming that the circumstances (he was trying to kill you) justified your actions.

At some point in that process you are going to have to justify why you did what you did.

IOW at some point you will be answering questions


Necessity defense legal definition of Necessity defense

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Retired Career Security Guard

Yes, you don't have to answer every question to defend your point or to make it a justified self defense. That's why you have a lawyer who will tell you that you don't have to answer that question.

In your case it won't matter because they'll just subpoena your hard drive and ask you to explain this

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Retired Career Security Guard

Yes, because they would have reason to do that in the first place.

Your reasoning is flawed, just don't answer the question. It's too easy.

Your Google Fu is weak old man.

Looking through your social media accounts is standard practice these days. It's almost automatic

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Retired Career Security Guard

Yea smokes because my name is clay and im a cow. Your knowledge of these matters is extremely weak.

I carry a gun for self defense period. If they come up with a tool that does the job better than a gun I'll carry that.

A gun is like a seat belt, it's purpose driven so you use it every time you get in the car no matter what. I carry every time I walk out the front door whether I feel like it or not.

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Retired Career Security Guard

Avoiding legal traps by Massad Ayoob

From the above article


THR

This ain't my first rodeo

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Retired Career Security Guard

Smoke, you obviously don't know anything about computers and neither does Ayoob. His statements are geared toward people who don't know anything about the internet or computers.

Sorry, let me clarify. What Mas is saying isn't false by any means as those are all possible, but the steps to get there are many and convoluted. Not to mention you don't know my living situation.

Reading some of the posts about the areas not being likely to "need" protection, I'm reminded of an interview of a long dead bank robber. Some youngster was inteviewing Willie Sutton and asked why he robbed banks. After a period of silence, he gently explained that: "That's where the money is."

If you're going to rob/home invade/burgle are you going to do so where no one has anything or a better neighborhood?

When I lived on the east side of Des Moines the general consensus was that the west side was the haves and the east side was the have-nots and those more inclined to thievery. Some one asked me if I worried about burglaries , I replied that the thieves frequented the west side where the good stuff was.

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Jim in Iowa

I carry whenever I'm out of my home, unless there is a particular reason that I cannot/should not, etc.
1. I went through the trouble ( not much ) of getting my CCL
2. I'm an American and it's my right
3. There are lots of crazies out there.

When I first started carrying, my wife would say things like, are you really taking that to the restaurant tonight or something like that. Now, she's accustomed to my having it with me whenever we're out, she is more comfortable and is like the spare tire in the car or my amex card - I don't leave home "without it" !

When I took the class for my CPL, the instructor strongly advised that once we were legal, carry every day. Make it a part of your daily routine. Keys, money, wallet, firearm. I've done it that way ever since. That said, I know a few people who carry when the mood strikes. I don't try changing their mind. MYOB rules the day.

Being new to CCW (have had my permit for 2 yrs) I am easing into trying to be come more comfortable and trying different carry methods and holsters. A local ret LEO made me a custom ankle holster for my J frame and it is very comfortable, I just need to put in more time dry practice drawing and reloading. I am a bit ADD so it takes a long time to make anything a daily routine. Fortunately I am seldom anywhere risky, around here we don't lock our cars seldom take keys out of ignition. And yes I know violence can strike anywhere anytime but I still consider the odds.

I do appreciate all the well meaning advice and the candid opinions of all the forum members here. When I do carry I want to do it in a safe, responsible and discrete manner.
When any of my guns are not in my immediate possession they are in a locked safe or a quick access lock box.

Thank you members for all your contributions to this topic.

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Jim in Iowa

I have my CC permit and I have never carried. I'm sure it's different depending on the State you live in, but in Michigan, it's easier to purchase a gun if you have your CPL. I agree with the post above, that it's also a comment to your State that you support the second amendment, but I got mine so I could buy guns easier. Why do I want a gun(s) if I'm not going to carry? Well that's a different thread, but I enjoy going to the range and I like intricate machines.

It's also nice from a legal point that if for some reason I don't secure my gun properly and have it in my car, I have significant protection with my CPL. Not that I would, but my gun can be loaded and be anywhere in the car without issue. Without a CPL, the gun MUST be unloaded, in the trunk, separated from ammo . . . Of course, that is how I travel to the range, but the CPL is a significant layer of protection from making a mistake during transportation of a gun.

It may be that I will carry at some point in my life, but at this moment in my life, I'm not carrying.

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18-4, 15-4

Yea. Its nice having that measure to know youre in compliance when transporting with the license. In this state it also speeds up ffl transfers.

In Pa. only about 7-8% of the population have cc permits....... my guess is that like the survey on page 1 maybe 50% carry on a regular/daily basis....

Too each their own....their decision on how they want to live their life.....

I've had my permit since 1978...... didn't carry much till the mid 80s......now pretty much all the time I'm away from the house...don't generally carry in the house or while doing yard work....but my CC guns aren't far away.......only time you'll find me open carrying is on a hike at the cabin....even then generally have a vest on...... a man can never have enough pockets.......

So the fact you don't see your neighbors open carrying all the time.... really tells us nothing......just a series of random observations on your part...

kind of like I don't open carry a fire extinguisher when we have a "fire-pit evening" in the back yard.... but one is near by....

if I'm washing the car.... my gun and holster may be lying one the drivers seat under a towel or news paper..............................



I do know that since learning TTSH's back story.... I won't go to an Italian Restaurant w/o my gun.......for fear of crazed waitresses........

And yet we managed to escape unharmed (although still hungry) despite the fact that neither one of us was armed and able to shoot the crazy old nutcase waitress for denying us our salad.

Sometimes a tactical retreat can be accomplished without suppressive fire..... and sometimes you're just lucky!!!!!

Until recently, I didn't carry at all. I've always been a 'gun guy', but life made carrying impossible. As an airline pilot with a company that did on demand worldwide charter work I could literally wake up anywhere on the planet at any time. When I left for work I didn't know if I was going away for a day or a month. Since 90% of my life was on the road in places far more dangerous than my home town I never really bothered keeping up the CCW from my early years.

Of course, not being armed was only one of the many reasons that the life sucked. I worked around it for years just by being senior enough to 'mostly' hold a single route where I had a car(and gun)and some sort of life at both ends, but eventually that went away and all the flying became anytime/anywhere,..........and one year of that was enough to make me leave it.

Since my 'retirement', I've renewed my CCW to lifetime status and started carrying more or less 100% of the time. Just haven't quite settled on the 'perfect' gun and rig yet,...........but I'm enjoying the search.

Oh, that's easy, the perfect gun is...yeah, you'll have to decide for yourself, but lots of guys are willing to tell you what they think it should be. I've found mine.

The search is fun isn't it?

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Freedom isn't free.

I just wish I was smart enough to know.WHEN it would be dangerous and I had to carry.If I only carried in certain neighborhoods.I would not want to explain why I went there armed and no where else.If I got in a shooting it might sound like I went there looking for trouble as opposed to I always carry.

I don't understand why gun owners simply keep repeating this "crystal ball" thing. We all understand that no one is a psychic and won't know, but it seems like you guys refuse to acknowledge that there are more dangerous areas than others which increase your chance of having to use your gun in SD. Instead you simply repeat that you never know - something which is acknowledged and understood by those who carry occasionally. It's simply an assumed risk, which apparently is pill too hard to swallow for many.

Hahaha! That's a good one ClayCow. Yes, I absolutely agree that some areas are more dangerous than others. Crime statistics bear that out. You won't find me on Chicago's Eight Mile at any time.

Still, that doesn't mean crime is impossible elsewhere. Sure, the numbers might say that there's only a .1% chance of a violent crime in a particular area. I'm not going to be the unarmed victim of that .1% crime. I'm carrying whenever legal.

Just a few days ago a lady was stabbed to death by her crazy boyfriend. She lived in a gated community near me. The guy didn't have any right to be there so, how'd he get past the gate? Doesn't matter. She's dead and might still be alive had she been carrying at the time.

I don't care if you carry or not. I won't look down on anyone who decides not to carry. However, to assume that, "This area is OK so, I won't need my gun here" is playing the odds. The odds are indeed in your favor, but that's the risk you take. If you're saying that there are areas where the chance of needing your gun is zero, then you're just fooling yourself.

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Freedom isn't free.

Not sure why you're laughing? But i'm glad you got amusement. I will never assume the odds are 0% and do understand that bad things can happen anywhere.

I will admit, when I don't carry, I feel a bit naked. Is that because of all the fear you guys put into my head? Maybe. Is it because i'm used to carrying a gun but now it's not by my side? Maybe. Either way, I totally accept that I play the odds and to me it's acceptable.