I don't remember why I started carrying, just seemed natural to me. I packed a rifle or handgun under the seat of my truck as a contractor in SoCal for years.

Started carrying concealed maybe seven years ago. Now I can't imagine NOT carrying.

rd

I got my CCW when we moved to Arizona after living in California for 50 + years where common sense has left the building and permits are nearly impossible to obtain. We live in a retirement community 25 miles out of Tucson and I rarely carry here (I'm usually in a golf cart), but any time I head into the city (Tucson), you can bet I'm packing. I got the permit primarily to comply with the existing laws, especially when we go camping or just out plinking for the day. I must admit I do find myself carrying more and more (MP9C or the 649), and that will probably continue. I'm currently shopping for a truck gun that I can just leave in the F150 24/7.

Waco, Texas, Luby's restaurant. God bless the famlies.

started my own biz about 5 years back. requires late nights, road trips, gas station stops late, possible roadside breakdowns,...too many times I've been approached by folks wanting money and possible trouble. Just made sense to add a handgun to my list of "tools".

My father taught me to shoot revolvers, and he carries from time to time himself.

I just applied for mine 2 weeks ago. I have a 686+ for around the apartment and in the truck sometimes, but I'm gonna save my pennies and get a 642 hopefully over the summer.

I've just become more and more convinced that it is a responsible thing to do. For my safety but also for the safety of my fellow law-abiding citizens. I'm one of the good guys and I'm not afraid of guns so I feel the responsibility to prepare myself to meet evil with lethal force if necessary. A good citizen with CCW is always going to be able to respond quicker that LEOs.

Just last week, my roommate, who has a permit, was in AAA when the girl behind the desk received a threatening phone call. She promptly called the police. Then she asked my friend if he happened to be carrying which he wasn't. The deranged man arrived before the police. Good news is he did not have a weapon and did not hurt anyone before the police got there, but he certainly could have. I think my friend is gonna be carrying a little more often from now on.

When I was 21, I had a issue of mistaken identity with drug induced SOB. Nothing happened but put a mental footnote forever etched in my mind.
In combination of LEOs and military in the family it was a natural evolution for me.

Now they all seek me out for all their gun related questions.

So, the SOB was needed in my life, for some strange way...

There are a few things that caused me to start carrying:
Virginia Tech
the protection of my 11 year old son
the protection of my 13 year old daughter
the protection of my wife.

In other words I believe that I have a responsibility as a father and a husband to protect my family.

I have been around guns my whole life but only carried occasionally until last year. When I started to carry I thought my wife would be really nervous about it. Come to find out she feels safer with me carrying than not and now really appreciates that I carry. Now if I can only convince her that carry guns are like golfclubs and you need a whole bunch of them for different situations, I would be in great shape.

I started carrying when I was about 14 years old. A friend and I used to do a lot of hiking and camping on weekends and our mothers were worried. I picked up an old H&R hammerless in 32 S&W and started carrying that when we went camping or hiking. Far from legal in looking back on it.

In the late 70's and early 80's I managed Exxon Stations. There was a series of robberies where after getting the cash the robbers would take everyone in the back and execute them. I started carrying a 1911A1 at that time. I felt if all someone wanted was the <$50 I had in my pocket at any one time they could have it. If someone thought they were going to take me out back I wanted to be able to at least take a few with me. Therefore the 45 ACP. I did us it to prevent a robbery once but ironically the only actual robbery we had while I was present I lost my temper and beat the guy up, then held him until the police arrived.

Off an one I've carried when ever I felt the need.

Uncle Norman, That is my point exactly!
I agree that my response would be the same one of alarm.
Our culture has made the appearance of a firearm anywhere other than on the police a reason for alarm. Truth is millions more good guys own firearms compared to bad guys and are proven to be among the most responsible and law abiding people on the planet.
We've alllowed ourselves to be marginalized to the point where we can only be legal when we are not seen carrying.
Somehow we need to be viewed as the most responsible of citizens exercising our most basic right, not whackos in need of overregulation, monitoring and a level of suspicion.
Best thing we can do is encourage others to exercise their right and carry!

Win, I guess it all depends on where you see someone with a weapon. I've seen lots of people in the country with long arms and I know they're hunting, even if walking on the shoulder of the road. However, if I'd see someone walking down the street in an urban shopping district with a shotgun and I know there are no gun stores nearby then I'd be concerned. Likewise, if I "made" somebody carrying anywhere in a manner recognizable as a concealed carry license holder (I know. If it's concealed how do you know?) that would be cool. If, however, I was in a store and somebody pulled their coat or shirt back to get to their money and they were carrying "Mexican" I'd take a hard look and maybe back off a little.

I grew up with a mom and dad that have both carried for as long as I can remember. But I never had an interest in carrying until recently though.

When I changed jobs a few years ago, I went straight to one of the roughest parts of Memphis. A week after I started I heard on the radio that the zip code I now work in has the highest homocide rate in the city. Since 1) I have to drive through some pretty seedy, gang-ridden parts of town to even get to my office and 2) I arrive at work, alone, before the sun is up, I decided I didn't want to be the next statistic if I could help it.

Apparently I'm not alone since 75% of our staff also carries.

quote:

Originally posted by TNDixieGirl:
I grew up with a mom and dad that have both carried for as long as I can remember. But I never had an interest in carrying until recently though.

When I changed jobs a few years ago, I went straight to one of the roughest parts of Memphis. A week after I started I heard on the radio that the zip code I now work in has the highest homocide rate in the city. Since 1) I have to drive through some pretty seedy, gang-ridden parts of town to even get to my office and 2) I arrive at work, alone, before the sun is up, I decided I didn't want to be the next statistic if I could help it.

Apparently I'm not alone since 75% of our staff also carries.

Dixie, how many does 75% represent? I'm in a three person office. I carry all the time, my brother is blissfully ignorant and my wife has her 642 in a bag. So I guess 67% of our office staff carries.

Good stories. I realized the need for a concealed handgun the summer after I graduated from high school and I solo hitch-hiked up into to the Adirondacks backpacking a couple of times. This was right after a psycho predator murdered/raped several hikers in the Adirondacks (anybody from that area remember the Robert Garrow manhunt and trial in the early '70s?) and that weighed heavy on my mind as I tried to sleep in my puny tent, convinced that every little sound outside was the footstep of another maniac and wondering what the odds were of fending off an armed lunatic with only my Case hunting knife. Finally got my CCW and a model 36 when I turned 21 and was starting to go camping with my girlfriend--that really made me realize I had an obligation to protect someone else for the first time in my life. And now as the father of two daughters the obligation continues...

quote:

Dixie, how many does 75% represent?

At any given time we have 10-15 full-timers in the office. 2 or 3 of those work out of town for months at a time. The percentage guess I threw out there may be wrong. I suck at numbers.

quote:

Originally posted by TNDixieGirl:

quote:

Dixie, how many does 75% represent?

At any given time we have 10-15 full-timers in the office. 2 or 3 of those work out of town for months at a time. The percentage guess I threw out there may be wrong. I suck at numbers.

Hey, even 2 or 3 out of 15 is a heck of a good percentage!