A foolish thing happened this morning.

[barbara_em]

This morning I prepared for my usual Saturday walk down the the Corner Store. I dressed warmly and wondered if I needed a cap since although the sun was out, it was still chilly; we had snow yesterday! I chose a cap and had to check my appearance in the mirror. To *******ize Hamlet, "Vanity, thy name is woman." Thinking I was ready, I put my driver's license and debit card in the right coat pocket and my keys and cell phone in the left. After another glance at the mirror, I was out the door.
I was already on the sidewalk walking briskly when I realized I left my pistol and spare magazine on the footstool in my bedroom. Normally I pat myself down to make sure everything's where it's supposed to be as I'm headed for the door. For some reason, this morning I didn't.
Do I go back and get it? I asked myself, feeling foolish. I carry a pistol daily, although I haven't needed a gun in ten years and that was against a dog. It's a bright sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky. I make this trek several times a week and people along the route know me. Is this the day it goes down? And me defenseless?
Momentum won out over safety. I went on. Thirty minutes I later I was back home. There was the gun, right where I left it. Since I don't carry a purse on these excursions, the pistol normally goes in the front right hand pocket of my pants, mag in the left. (Yes, I know the spare magazine shouldn't be loose in a pocket. I'm not perfect.) Not today, though.
How did I feel about being unarmed for the first time since since my last hospital stay? Uneasy. Perhaps more aware of my surroundings than usual, since my only option was to flee a threat. Grateful to be safely home. A bit foolish.
So, how many of you have forgotten your piece? What did you do?
The pistol is a Sccy CPX-2, holster DeSantis 111E1, worn in this case without the clip, ammo WWB 124gr. Yes there are more effective loads; personally, I tend to prefer heavier bullets but the 147 gr 9mm is too much for me in this small a pistol and I'm not going to take on the Symbionese Liberation Army. (Am I showing my age?) I like the WWB because it's universally available, well made, and economical so I can get in lots of practice with what I intend to carry.

 

[M29since14]

I don't wear a gun every day, but if I did, I might have done the same thing. I realize one cannot really say, "the threat level is low where I live." Bad things do happen everywhere, and without warning, but I prefer not to live with my hand on a gun. I can get along without access to one when I have to, for whatever reason.

 

[oneounceload]

If I'm not carrying, it is not because I forgot it; it's because I chose not to. Just drove to the liquor store and back - about 1-2 minutes away. No issues. Gee I go lots of places where I live without worry. Guess it just depends on where you live.

 

[686-380]

Most people never need a gun, ever.

My mom didn't need one, when she went to Sacramento for business. Out of nowhere, a mugger brutally beat her in broad daylight and took what little she had.

She purchased a 15-2 shortly thereafter.

It's a decision we make every day. Most of the time, I have my tiny Bodyguard .380.

I wouldn't stress about one time but it's always a good thing to know where your firearm is.

 

[BC38]

Not just where you live, but where you shop and where you travel and more importantly where the criminals happen to be at any given time.
That last one is the variable you can't control. The criminal element is making forays into even the best locales these days. They've figured out that is where they can find better stuff to steal and where the potential mugging victims with more money can be found.

The only time I am without a firearm is at work where the gun free zone is enforced with a metal detector, and the rare occasion when I have to go into a school, post office, or federal building where getting caught carrying can result in charges that would strip me of my 2A rights.

 

[oneounceload]

Agree.....Going to Walmart? Absolutely. Going for bike ride around my little neighborhood? Nope

 

[GeoJelly]

A wee bit off-topic - but I noticed the last time I carried into Wally World that one of their anti-shoplifting detectors beeped a couple times when I walked thru. Coulda been my imagination, I guess. I'm not concerned about my safety in the store - it's the coming and going that is scary around here. Aggressive panhandlers were the last problem I ran into - and I haven't been back since probably August.

 

[AlHunt]

Stepping out the door ... "Phone" - "Firearm" - "Keys" - "Wallet" - "Hat". Good to go.

 

[wingriderz]

Being I in the last say 90 days or so went from pocket carry to full time I W B. (M&P 40 c ) With my pocket carries ( .32, .380, 442, LC9) I could always stuff the pockets in P J and walk property if need be all fenced. But now 40 isn't rideing in P J . I do feel wierd out one a most likely go back to having pocket one on hand. Better to be armed my view

 

[snuffy51]

barbara_em

You could make that walk any number of times with no problems unarmed, but you never know for sure. Bet it will be a long time before you forget again. Anything you handle and shoot well is what you need to carry. Good for you.

 

[wingriderz]

If I'm not carrying, it is not because I forgot it; it's because I chose not to. Just drove to the liquor store and back - about 1-2 minutes away. No issues. Gee I go lots of places where I live without worry. Guess it just depends on where you live.

I M H O a liquor store would be a place to carry for sure and bike rideing too . Florida is full of unleased two and four leg critters. Not a dig on Florida I have called it home since 1961.

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, unless I'm in the pool or shower I have 3 things on my person at all times 1, a flashlight, 2,a knife, 3,a gun. That's just me!
SEMPER PARATUS

 

[oneounceload]

I M H O a liquor would be a place to carry for sure and bike rideing too . Florida is full of unleased two and four leg critters. Not a dig on Florida I have called it home since 1961.

NOT where I live though. Should you carry to a liquor store? Sure........(and normally I wold) but wife and I needed some stuff, had the gym shorts on - which means NO carry in those things - no loose dogs here either; so not worried in that regard. When riding my bike I worry more about folks on the phone and driving into the sun as I ride the bike in the PM. Different neighborhoods have different aspects, but in this little corner of FL, it is retired, which means eyes and ears are everywhere all the time.

 

[richardw]

I have a routine for getting ready for the day. Arise, shower, dress. Attach my RM380 in the DeSantis IWB holster at 4 o'clock on the right side. It stays there all day. Small pistol in a soft holster so I really do not feel it. When I go outdoors it is with me.

I know it is unlikely I will ever have to shoot a person, but a few years ago I did have to shoot a pit bull that latched onto my left arm and would not release. Here's the thing. That happened on my front lawn and the dog was my neighbors. You can be in jeopardy in your house, in your yard, or ten miles away. So I carry all the time.

 

[pittpa]

Being I in the last say 90 days or so went from pocket carry to full time I W B. (M&P 40 c ) With my pocket carries ( .32, .380, 442, LC9) I could always stuff the pockets in P J and walk property if need be all fenced. But now 40 isn't rideing in P J . I do feel wierd out one a most likely go back to having pocket one on hand. Better to be armed my view

Why not just put the belt and holster on with the PJ?


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[RGVshooter]

I've been licensed to carry for yrs and not once have I forgotten to bring "it". Even when I'm driving to work, I bring "it". As a matter of fact when I was walking around the neighborhood this evening, I had "it" with me. Like the american express commercial (that I don't have) don't leave home without "it".

 

[kthom]

Well, I'll 'fess up. I have a routine that I follow every morning (or any other time that I'm getting dressed. One of the steps in that routine is to holster my EDC, right after I get my suspenders hooked on my belt. While I was hooking the suspenders, my cell phone rang. Call took a few minutes to complete. Got up and put my shirt on and went in for breakfast. Piddled around the house about an hour and then left for the Post Office to mail a package. Went to remove my EDC prior to walking in the PO (which I really dislike doing, BTW!) and guess what ... no EDC to remove and secure in my vehicle. My spare mag was in place, only probably because I mostly do not remove it from my belt at night. So I had ammo but no ammo launcher. I never leave home without my EDC, and mostly never am at home without it in place. I was mortified to have done so this day. Familiarity does indeed breed contempt. So does having your head in a dark stinky place!!!

After finishing in the Post Office, I went straight home and remedied the situation. No, I'm not paranoid, but IF you need it and don't have it, it's worthless to you. I was not happy with myself. The older I get, the easier I seem to be distracted. So I have resolved to pay more attention to my routine instead of taking it for granted. Bear in mind that I've been carrying for a great many years. Last time I remember doing such a thing involved incarcerating an arrestee in the County Courthouse which involved escorting the fellow into the jail proper. Rules required removing my sidearm and placing it in a filing cabinet drawer in the dispatch office prior to taking the elevator to the top floor. About the time I finished booking and while still on the top floor, I was notified of a vehicle crash with injury on a busy highway, so I was in a rush when I got off the elevator. I pitched the booking papers in the tray and rushed out to the scene of the wreck. A fellow at the scene asked me where my revolver was. When I reached down to touch it, I went weak in the knees to find my duty holster empty. That's what I call an unnecessary feeling. I unlocked my trunk and removed my spare that I always carried there and filled the holster with it. I knew where the other one was. But I had to eat humble pie when I returned to the Sheriff's office to reclaim my duty revolver. Naturally there were several witness to the fact. It was a good lesson, as was the incident I reported above.

It can and does happen. I will say this. Had I noticed I was naked while I was still close to home, I would have returned at that time and gotten fully dressed. I suspect this has happened to more of us than we know about. If we are going to carry, we need to be sure that we really are (BEFORE we leave home!) Note to self ... get your head out, son!!!

 

[kraynky]

Odd, that very same thing happened to me this past week. I had arrived at work before noticing my IWB holster was empty. I must have really had something else on my mind, but I've slept since then and don't recall.

I do recall being a lot more attentive to my surroundings that day though. I doubt that I'll do that again. But who knows? Normally I have a handgun secured in a cabled lock box, but having to go on a nearby Army base forced me to remove it last Monday. I'm just getting more foregetfull I suppose.

 

[Breakaway500]

"Perhaps more aware of my surroundings than usual, since my only option was to flee a threat."

This is good mind training on such an occasion. I do it often if "unarmed". I do scenario play outs and look for places of cover and potential weapons I may use against a potential threat.. I think of it as a defensive drill...and make sure the next time, I don't forget my handgun.

 

[haywood]

I would feel weird not carrying. I would also worry that my gun was out where someone could pick it up. There is nobody here but me and the wife but, you never know who could drop by. I would have had to go back. I have had this happen and whent back.