New to concealed carry...

[Shall Not Be Infringed]

So, my wife and I have gone through our CC courses and we are officially applying for our permits to carry. I Have always had firearms since I was a kid, I always have one close to me at home, and I would even open carry a 1911 in thigh holster in Arizona when I was headed out to hike, because you just never knew when you'd come across javelina, coyote, feral hog, or one of the many sizable critters running around that state.

Anyways... We picked up a couple of 9mm M&P Shields, and I've gone through them and performed some trigger mods, night sights and other little odds and ends...and we have fired about 500 rounds through each without even a slight snag.

With all of that said... I must admit that there has been some strange feeling in the back of my mind as I have been preparing to legally conceal carry. I never experienced this with open carry, because I wasn't really in the presence of the general public when I was doing it. The strange feeling I guess is all the "what ifs", the consequences of actions, and knowing that I have to change my mindset in many ways to avoid them all together. The biggest one being conscious to avoid confrontational situations that can and do occasionally spring up along the way in life. I can not either pin myself or be pinned into a situation to where I have to pull my weapon to defend mine or my family's lives, or even a situation of where the cops end up involved and I look like the bad guy for engaging in such an event while having a firearm in my possession. I'm not a real confrontational guy, but you know...s*** happens sometimes.

I guess another big part of the weird feeling is finally admitting to myself that I live in a society in which I feel like I need to carry a firearm on me at all times. I just hope I never ever have to use it for anything else other than shooting at paper targets. But, make no mistake... If it comes down to my life or theirs, I will make sure I'm the one that gets to see another day. Same goes for my wife.

I must say though... While in the process of completing my CC course and submitting the applications/fees, I have been carrying mine around the house in an IWB holster (as has my wife). And, as I've become more comfortable wearing it, those feelings I have had have subsided a bit. Hopefully, I'll get used to carrying my CCW just like I do my boot knife or any other article...and I'll forget all about it unless the need arises.

So, after all of that rambling... The feeling of heightened responsibility and awareness of yourself, other, your surroundings, situations, and legal consequences? Knowing that if I ever have to pull that trigger, I will have to answer for it. The feeling that this thing could either save my life or get me into a legal bind? Is it just me over thinking it? Or did anyone else go through this when they were starting to conceal carry?

 

[Fishinfool]

Carrying a gun is a serious responsibility. The fact that you recognize that, and are thinking things through is a good thing. The "newness" of concealed carry eventually wears off, and becomes second nature, like putting your wallet in your back pocket.

Larry

 

[TACC1]

I'mnot as new to CC as most, but I've gone
thru the same doubts. Now, I don't go anywhere w/o
a firearm, and will hobble back to the house to get
one if I do forget.
After getting used to my limitations, the only worry I have,
is if I'm not carrying. If I think that I need it, I'll worry about
getting into legal troubles later. At that point, someone else will have to sort things out. And, I plan on Being here, to find out. You'll be fine.
TACC1

 

[ironhead7544]

A firearm is emergency life saving equipment. I put mine on with my pants every morning. You will get used to it. You are not doing anything wrong, just planning for situations that may come up.

 

[Voyager28]

I guess another big part of the weird feeling is finally admitting to myself that I live in a society in which I feel like I need to carry a firearm on me at all times.

And that, Sir, is the greatest tragedy of all.

For us , as a society, to have come to this point is the real shame of it.

Bob

 

[Brian41]

It's a big responsibility to carry a gun and glad sir you don't take it lightly. I know I felt a little weird when I first started to carry concealed and quickly became a very polite citizen especially when driving. My wife feels she's too much a hot head to get a permit and carry but I tell her that her attitude would change quickly if she did. Still she feels she shouldn't carry and I don't push the issue as some should not.
One thing common to first carrying is the feeling your gun isn't concealed properly and the desire to check on it. This goes away in time and as mentioned carrying becomes second nature and you won't hardly notice your gun.

 

[federali]

Where Do I Begin?

Carrying a handgun is indeed a major responsibility. There's enough written material on the subject to keep you reading for three or more lifetimes.

For many, self-defense (SD) carry begins and ends with the gun. In reality, members of police department shooting teams have lost their lives in armed confrontations. They could chew out the center of a bullseye or silhouette target but lost their lives to some mutt with little or no gun experience firing a stolen handgun.
So, there are additional factors involved and they are, in order of importance: mindset, judgment, tactics, marksmanship and firearm. Master these factors and understand how each contributes or detracts from a favorable outcome and you will become a much more formidable adversary. The factors must work together as a team.

 

[jmace57]

I agree with what's been said. I have had my permit for about 4 years now. I do front pocket carry and have gotten past the "everyone notices me" feeling that I had for a little while.

I have told my "anti" friends that one of the results of taking a CHL class is that I am LESS likely to ever shoot someone. There was a lot of conversation in the class about the consequences of even a "good" shoot.

 

[Jaysq]

It sounds like you have your head in the right place. Yes, it is a great responsibility and you have to make sure you are not the cause of any confrontation. But the way the world is now, you just never know when things may go south and it is then that it is up to you to protect yourself and your family. That is why we carry.

I carry everywhere I can legally every time I go out. I find the Shield is so easy to conceal that I wear an OWB leather holster with all day comfort. A dedicated gun belt is as important as the holster.

S&W Shield 003cf3 by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr

 

[66 shooter]

It's great that you thinking about all of the aspects of carrying a weapon. You are at least headed in the right direction and with the right attitude. The people who usually get into trouble are the one's who just go get the permit, strap on the gun and go. Three important things I always teach on concealed carry is;(1) concealed carry is just that...concealed (2) Your training and education must be a constant and ongoing process and (3) If you are going to commit to carrying a deadly weapon your life and the way you live it will change for as long as you carry.

 

[Adk.IBO]

I too have had those feelings and change of mindset that makes me behave better. I also have been around firearms my whole life but a real eye opener for me was a dedicated self defense day at the range with a qualified instructor. Plinking away at a relaxed pace taking the time to hit the bullseye as best as you can, checking your progress between shots is just plain different than simulating much closer to real life threats with a loaded (not for long) firearm. And from what I've read and experienced it's still a far cry from the real SHTF scenario that most of us pray will never happen. I recommend it highly.

Stay safe, John

 

[BAM-BAM]

After 35 years I still don't take it lightly............. you've got a good mindset going in!!!

 

[Ogandydancer]

I agree with all that has been said. Especially about it being a serious undertaking and also the feeling of being obvious. It is good that you are taking this seriously and from what you have said you are headed in the right direction with your thinking. Stay safe and never forget it is an awesome responsibility.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The simple fact is that we live in a dangerous world. Being prepared to defend ones self and family, and having ready means to do so, is nothing more than enlightened self interest.

The US Justice Department collects data on reported crimes in every city, county, and state in the US and publishes annual summaries in the Uniform Crime Reports. Reported in Part I of the UCR is the total number of reported serious crimes. It is a relatively simple matter to divide the population of your residence location by the number of UCR Part I crimes to arrive at a statistical estimate of the likelihood of being the victim of a serious crime in any given year.

I live in Colorado, which is not a particularly high crime state when compared to many others. The chances of being a victim of a UCR Part I crime are about 1 in 17 each year. A 34 year old is likely to have been victimized twice during his lifetime. A 68 year old is likely to have been victimized four times during his lifetime. Of course, some people are luckier than others, or may have better security arrangements, and others may be subjected to more criminal acts. But the message remains clear; there is a very real likelihood that I will be the victim of a serious crime at any time.

I carry homeowners insurance but I don't want my house to burn down. I carry automobile insurance but I don't look forward to being in a traffic accident. I carry a sidearm but I don't want to be in a gunfight.

It is just better to have some things and never need them than it is to need those things and not have them.

 

[NCW Ray]

As Lobo said..."we live in a dangerous world" and have since the day of the cave man...Who Carries the Bigger Stick Wins!

 

[Reacher6]

Most police officers go for a career without firing a shot at a felon. At the same time I recall a first sergeant saying that you never need a weapon until you really really need one. Find a weapon that you can shoot well and carry comfortably. It should be a part of you that you don't notice any more than your belt or shoes.
Welcometo CC!

 

[Reacher6]

That should be you never need a weapon until you really really need one.

 

[Shall Not Be Infringed]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that has or had apprehensions of some sort. No matter the apprehensions though, my duty to protect myself and my family are always priority number one. Once I have my legal permit in my wallet, I will not leave the house without a firearm. I have even built "covert" locked storage boxes in each of our vehicles. That way, if we have to leave our firearms in our vehicle to enter a place where it is actually illegal to carry (such as a post office), our firearms can actually be secured within our locked vehicles. I never want one of my firearms to end up in the wrong hands on the street because our federal government can't seem to grasp the concept that criminals don't abide by their gun laws.

Thanks again, everyone. I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving, and keep up the good fight.

 

[2K7]

You have done a very good job of "considering many things" when speaking of concealed carry, but you have left 2 topics out:

1. Just like the old west, carrying a firearm is in itself not just the answer. You must be proficient and mentally prepared, most are not. You must be faster and shoot more accurate than your adversary, who may now be armed as well.

2. Your new 1 million dollar liability insurance rider to cover you in the event you are engaged in a shooting. Your homeowner insurance will most likely walk away from you if this incident takes place anywhere other than your property. Although your shooting may be within the confines of "legal" as far as statute, you can certainly bet you will be the recipient of a civil suit.

Just like the firearm and concealed carry permit are tools for your protection, don't forget the aforementioned 2 others.

 

[Muss Muggins]

You've now satisfied the first rule for a gunfight: Bring a gun. The rest, in line with most of the previous posters, is all about mindset, awareness, and proficiency. Proficiency is the easiest to accomplish. The rest will come, but require even more practice than proficiency does . . . Somebody important once said "Chance favors the prepared mind," and I believe that to be very, very true.