Anyone give up carrying for a while?

[Wheelgunner840]

I have been carrying for over 12 years. I carried a majority of the time. Lately, my job has been sending me to places where I cannot carry, or where I have to "check" my firearm at the door. (courthouses for example.) This has been the case for the past two months. I decided that it just wasn't worth the hassle of having to return home to lock up my gun because I was being sent to NYC (where only the criminals and the police have guns), or because I had to go to a bldg. that was a gun free zone.

The point is that I have not been carrying everyday for two months now. I carry occassionaly after work, but not really so much. This is the scary part. I am beginning to enjoy not having to be acutely aware that I am armed. I know that sounds weird, but I am finding that, for example, if I want to grab a beer with a friend, I can do so without having to go home first to lock up the firearm. This is just one example.

At first, I felt naked without my gun on me. That feeling is mostly gone now. Strange days indeed! I will never let my CCWs expire, and I will continue to carry on a regular basis once things get back to a somewhat normal situation with my job, but I just wanted to share the weird feeling of not carrying for a while, and how ones mind adapts to it.

Anyone else have a similar experience?


WG840

 

[ACP230]

I went to Wisconsin and couldn't carry for a weekend.
It wasn't a pleasant experience.

Of course, since I was going there for an Appleseed Shoot I had two .22 rifles with me, so I wasn't exactly unarmed.

 

[Brian41]

I can relate as my employer has taken a hard line lately about not having weapons in company parking lots.
I've stopped that practice this year and found myself carrying less after hours too. Granted I'm in safe areas and a homebody mainly but have gone from a 24/7 carry gun to sometimes now.

 

[jimmyj]

GOOD LUCK your with your decision.

 

[The Big D]

Last year I allowed (not by design) my LEOSA credentials to expire and was thus gunless for 82 days. Felt a bit "funny" for a bit but gradually became accustomed to something missing from my hip.

Frankly, I didn't miss it but then, again, didn't need it during that time.

Fact is I have CCW'd for more than half my life and guarantee those 82 days were more than I missed during the previous 30+ years.

I do believe carrying a gun is a wholly personal choice; I choose to do so but don't force my belief on anyone else.

Be safe.

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

If I were in your situation I might make the same choice but, the only gun free places in my state are schools, government buildings, and bars. I haven't been in a school since I escaped from it, I don't drink at bars, and if I need to go to the courthouse I leave my gun in the car, any other time I wouldn't think of not having my gun on me.

 

[Two Guns]

I started a new job (At a County Jail)a month and a 1/2 ago and I am not able to have any firearms or knives even in my car.So now I only carry on my days off and when I get home from work.

 

[jtpur]

after I retired I obtained a CCW and carried depending on where I went. I moved to the Peoples Republic of Mass......and I did not carry there.....When I went back to Florida my CCW had expired and I was too lazy to get it renewed. If I went someplace dangerous I would take my gun with me hoping a cop would give me a break if he found me with a gun.....but since the 2nd has come under so much attack from the loons I now carry even if I go out to get the mail just because I can...I keep several Concealed permits from various states plus I qualify yearly at the PD so I should be able to carry in all 50...what drives me nuts is the hassle I have to undergo to transport a gun on an airline......so when I go out of state I have recently left my gun at home and the last time I felt I really needed it as one area was really nasty and seedy.....

 

[george minze]

The age old question...Should I carry or not. When in St. Louis metro Police in the 60's there was a regulation that you would be armed when in public....St Louis City...Not the county. St. L city is not in St. L county. It is a political sub division that stands alone as a city county subdivision. (Civil War stuff) St Louis County did not have the same regulation. Until you have to wear a ccw all the time you won't know the problems associated with it. i.e. shorts, casual wear etc. etc. no other offices in the state had that regulation that i know of. I guess it comes down to personal preference. location etc. If you carry you do take on a very serious responsibility. Not to be taken lightly. Do you really know if your life or better yet do you know if another life is in danger. Is it wise to start what ends up a gun fight endangering others etc. Not a easy decision. I guess it is up to those who are allowed by law to carry. A example of the right decision....A group of young attorneys have a bar b que in front of their office a renovated civil war circa type building with apartments above the first floor. This was a weekly event. One evening three of the "Pants on The Ground" types came walking by and they decided this was a easy mark and one of the guys pulled a gun and told every one to get on the ground . One of the genius bad guys saw one was carrying a empty holster, he asked where" u piece" while holding his gun sideways like in the movies. The attorney sort of pointed to his car and told him I left it in my car. The genius turned his head toward the car at about the same time the slug hit him. Robbery over. Bad guy drags himself off eventually to turn up in an apartment upstairs leaving a blood trail a blind man could follow. His brave but smart buddies left him quick on the run.. The Police apprehended him and took him to intensive care......I doubt that there will be anymore attempt to rob a bunch of yuppie lawyers anytime soon.. You be the Judge...of course there was a 'No True Bill" from the Grand Jury...It is Missouri...

 

[borntoraisehogs]

I wouldn't carry all the time if I didn't think I might need my weapon anytime . I understand your situation . I used to fly on commercial air two round trips a week . Makes you reassess . That is healthy .. I bet you reassess again and start packing when you duties come back to normal . Maybe you should cheer yourself up with a nice new used pawn shop gun . I never have buyers remorse with a good pawnshop gun buy .

 

[jtpur]

The age old question...Should I carry or not. When in St. Louis metro Police in the 60's there was a regulation that you would be armed when in public....St Louis City...Not the county. St. L city is not in St. L county. It is a political sub division that stands alone as a city county subdivision. (Civil War stuff) St Louis County did not have the same regulation. Until you have to wear a ccw all the time you won't know the problems associated with it. i.e. shorts, casual wear etc. etc. no other offices in the state had that regulation that i know of. I guess it comes down to personal preference. location etc. If you carry you do take on a very serious responsibility. Not to be taken lightly. Do you really know if your life or better yet do you know if another life is in danger. Is it wise to start what ends up a gun fight endangering others etc. Not a easy decision. I guess it is up to those who are allowed by law to carry. A example of the right decision....A group of young attorneys have a bar b que in front of their office a renovated civil war circa type building with apartments above the first floor. This was a weekly event. One evening three of the "Pants on The Ground" types came walking by and they decided this was a easy mark and one of the guys pulled a gun and told every one to get on the ground . One of the genius bad guys saw one was carrying a empty holster, he asked where" u piece" while holding his gun sideways like in the movies. The attorney sort of pointed to his car and told him I left it in my car. The genius turned his head toward the car at about the same time the slug hit him. Robbery over. Bad guy drags himself off eventually to turn up in an apartment upstairs leaving a blood trail a blind man could follow. His brave but smart buddies left him quick on the run.. The Police apprehended him and took him to intensive care......I doubt that there will be anymore attempt to rob a bunch of yuppie lawyers anytime soon.. You be the Judge...of course there was a 'No True Bill" from the Grand Jury...It is Missouri...

In my view a definite rightous shooting.......

 

[george minze]

So did the Grand Jury, and every body else in Jefferson City...and yes they still have the weekly bar b que.....

 

[The Big D]

...what drives me nuts is the hassle I have to undergo to transport a gun on an airline...

How so? I travel quite regularly and encounter only minimal difficulties (never a problem) whilst toting on commercial airlines...in checked luggage, of course.

Be safe.

 

[CJofWolfcreek]

Sadly, I rarely carry. My work takes me into no carry zones every day so it's not worth the hassle of arming up for the drive to work and leave it in my car all day long, which would be in violation of company policy. I've emailed my state senator about getting this remedied by having our state legislature pass a law similar to what other states have done to allow workers to secure their firearms in their private vehicles on company property.

When I'm off work and traveling around the state, both the Mrs and I are carrying. Just wrote out the check and sealed the envelope for my renewal and need to remind the wife to do the same.

 

[cp1969]

I thought there was some court case which ruled that employers could not ban employees from keeping weapons in their cars while in company parking lots.

 

[straightshooter1]

I started carrying when I was a young policeman and, except for actually IN law school (the building) or IN the courtroom, I have carried since.

Once I forgot my handgun, drove all the way back home to get it (had two or three shotguns in the car) since I felt naked without it.

Bob

 

[cmort666]

The only times I leave the house without a gun are my infrequent trips to Chicago, which I hate.

I'm going to have to go back there in a while to watch my mother's dog while she visits relatives. I have no friends there, so I won't be visiting anybody, just reading shooting forums and watching the dog. When I am there, I prepare to use my vehicle as a weapon in lieu of a firearm. I also have my promotional NRA pocket LED flashlight with the ridged bezel. I think I'll bring my Gerber MkII with me to keep in the house.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Like American Express, I never leave home without it. I am fortunate my employer let's me carry at work. But there are times that I have to leave it in my company vehicle while doing work at a school, bar, government building etc...

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Had someone else started this thread, I could see myself typing many of the same replies that you folks have written. There would not be such a problem if I could secure the firearm in my vehicle when I had to enter places that firearms were not allowed. Alas, this state, while not terribly bad when it comes to gun laws, does have a stupid one that states that a firearm cannot be left unattended in a vehicle at any time. That means that if I have to go into a school or courthouse, I cannot just leave it in the truck.

There are some bad gun laws, but I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to obeying them. There are so many anti-gun laws now, that just trying to abide by them all makes your head spin.

It appears that things should be getting somewhat back to normal next week, and I will be close enough to home that if need be I can return here and lock up the firearm before going wherever it is that they send me.

I do plan on once again carrying on a daily basis. I started this post to find out about the mindset of those who for whatever reason, suspended their regular carry routine. I guess I was surprised to find out that while I felt really weird not being armed at first, that the feeling passed so soon (within two months.) I am sure I will have no problem getting right back in the groove once I start carrying again every day.

I found that one of the things that really goes through your mind when you stop carrying for a while, is that you begin to think about the responsibility that goes hand in hand with concealed carry. I also started putting a lot of thought into the "what ifs" of actually having to draw a weapon, and the consequences that would follow should the firearm be used.

I am no stranger to these type questions, as I have been an instructor for just about 20 years. It is just that when you get completely comfortable with CCW, sometimes complacency sets in, and one never thinks of these things.

Not being constantly armed has made me once again put a lot of thought into what it means to carry a gun, and under what circumstances that gun would come into play. It is hard to explain, but I had become so used to carrying everyday that I stopped giving these things much thought. That is bad.

If any good has come from this short lived disarmament, it is that I believe I am now not so complacent. Once the firearm is back with me most of the time again, I will be a bit more alert, and aware of the responsibility that CCW demands of us all.

Probably not a bad thing!


WG840

 

[george minze]

Had someone else started this thread, I could see myself typing many of the same replies that you folks have written. There would not be such a problem if I could secure the firearm in my vehicle when I had to enter places that firearms were not allowed. Alas, this state, while not terribly bad when it comes to gun laws, does have a stupid one that states that a firearm cannot be left unattended in a vehicle at any time. That means that if I have to go into a school or courthouse, I cannot just leave it in the truck.

There are some bad gun laws, but I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to obeying them. There are so many anti-gun laws now, that just trying to abide by them all makes your head spin.

It appears that things should be getting somewhat back to normal next week, and I will be close enough to home that if need be I can return here and lock up the firearm before going wherever it is that they send me.

I do plan on once again carrying on a daily basis. I started this post to find out about the mindset of those who for whatever reason, suspended their regular carry routine. I guess I was surprised to find out that while I felt really weird not being armed at first, that the feeling passed so soon (within two months.) I am sure I will have no problem getting right back in the groove once I start carrying again every day.

I found that one of the things that really goes through your mind when you stop carrying for a while, is that you begin to think about the responsibility that goes hand in hand with concealed carry. I also started putting a lot of thought into the "what ifs" of actually having to draw a weapon, and the consequences that would follow should the firearm be used.

I am no stranger to these type questions, as I have been an instructor for just about 20 years. It is just that when you get completely comfortable with CCW, sometimes complacency sets in, and one never thinks of these things.

Not being constantly armed has made me once again put a lot of thought into what it means to carry a gun, and under what circumstances that gun would come into play. It is hard to explain, but I had become so used to carrying everyday that I stopped giving these things much thought. That is bad.

If any good has come from this short lived disarmament, it is that I believe I am now not so complacent. Once the firearm is back with me most of the time again, I will be a bit more alert, and aware of the responsibility that CCW demands of us all.

Probably not a bad thing!



WG840

VERY WELL STATED.....With rights also comes responsibility.