Changing attitudes about concealed carry

GaryS

GaryS

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On the part of my wife that is. Back in the late 1970s, when we were dating and first married, she wasn't really aware of guns. She knew I had them, knew I carried a handgun (Model 60) sometimes, but really didn't get the reasoning behind that. She was a touch nervous about the whole thing.

One day in December we were taking the subway into Boston to do some shopping. It was a weekend, so the train wasn't that crowded. It specifically was not crowded with people commuting in from the suburbs. My wife looked around at some of the, ahem, characters on the train with us and asked, "Did you bring your 'friend' with you?"

I assured her I did and she was reassured.

Over the years I carried at various times and places and she never asked or mentioned the subject again. I think she thought I was slightly off kilter, but she wasn't against me carrying.

Which brings us to Sunday. We went to visit relatives in CT over the weekend and not being licensed there I put locked my carry firearm away before the trip.

Part of the trip was a jaunt into New London on Sunday afternoon. Our hosts, not gun owners and probably slightly liberal (if I ever discussed politics with them) were pointing out the change in scenery as we left Niantic and drove to the New London waterfront. Seedy would be charitable for those who have never been there. Pawn shops, tattoo parlors, check cashing, and other business that I have over the years learned are prevalent in less desirable areas of cities.

No bail bondsmen signs, because I don't think we were near a court house. It's like they say in real estate, "Location, location, location."

We parked on the street a few blocks from the docks and started to walked that way. Vagrants, as we used to call them were in evidence on the side walks. There was even a sign advising pedestrians that if they were accosted or threatened by panhandlers they should call the 800 number on the sign.

My thought was if I was able to carry and was threatened credibly, I wouldn't be the one that needed to call for help. As it was, I had a pocket knife and had I thought of it, I would have had OC spray in my pocket.

So, we enjoyed our time at the festival, and headed back to the car for the ride back to our host and hostesses house. They were a bit ahead of us and my lovely wife leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Are you carrying?"

Alas, I answered, as nice as CT is, I don't want to spend the next 5-7 years in one of it's fine prisons. No, I left my gun at home.

She seemed disappointed.

I think it was at the fact that I didn't have a gun, not at the fact that I wouldn't be spending the next 5-7 years in a CT prison. ;) At least I hope so.

She has her license and I'm slowly edging her to carrying, but I don't think I'll ever get there.
 
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My story with Theresa is pretty similar. Her dad has guns and hunts but her ex didnt. She soon got used to me. The main thing she demands and I do and would anyway, is to be sure all guns are locked in the safe when our grand kids show up. Her daughter WAS anti gun but had me take her out shooting and when she went home she immediately bought a ruger sp101.
 
I know a lot of people who WERE anti gun, but something seems to have happened in late 2008 or early 2009, and a lot of people suddenly changed their opinions.

Ironically, my daughter in law was never anti gun. Her uncles hunt, so she's used to guns, at least long guns.

My son became interested in owning guns when he moved to Alabama. Well, he was interested before that, but he lived in New Jersey.

So, he got a couple of guns, first shot guns. He got into Skeet shooting. Then he got a 22 Taurus revolver. I took them both shooting a couple of times when I went down there. I used my Model 18, so they could see what a real .22 revolver was like.

My daughter in law was still a bit skittish, although she loves my Mdl 18 and it will be hers some day.

Then came the Boston Marathon bombings. That day my lovely DIL told my son "I want you to buy an AR15."

She's not only lovely, she's very smart.
 
When I told my mother that I had my Ohio CHL she told me she didn't want me to carry. I just asked her if she planned to move here and serve as my human shield.

She no longer bothers to suggest that I not carry, given that she knows to a certainty that NOTHING she could say would achieve that result.

In large part, even somebody as indoctrinated as her can see the difference between life in Chicago and life in Cleveland. It's actually DANGEROUS to be an armed robber here. They get their heads blown off from time to time. In Chicago by contrast, people are admonished to let themselves be robbed, raped and murdered. Even in Chicago, that's a tough sell and getting tougher all the time.

Gun control is built almost exclusively on lies (and bigotry). The lies have been exposed, the liars outed.

Gun control was tried and found sorely wanting. The number of people willing to die to uphold Piers Morgan's craven "values" is small and declining as I type this.
 
My wife died around the time it became legal to carry concealed in Kentucky, so it was never an issue with her. My much-younger sister is terrified of guns, but takes some comfort in the fact that I carry one.
 
shouldazagged said:
My wife died around the time it became legal to carry concealed in Kentucky, so it was never an issue with her. My much-younger sister is terrified of guns, but takes some comfort in the fact that I carry one.
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One of my neighbors is sort of liberal, not in a big way. He knows I have guns, he knows I carry sometimes. Actually, I should say he suspects because I've never confirmed or denied that.

What he has said, on more than one occasion is that he thinks the neighborhood is safer because I have guns.

It's kind of odd what people think sometimes.
 
My wife is a surgical nurse at a large local hospital, and sometimes gets called in at nite. About a month ago she ask me if I could get her some pepper spray, which i did……..I told her maybe I should get you a gun……her reply was maybe. I took her shooting years ago, and she was never very interested in it…….loud noises, recoil….she has finally come to the conclusion that society may not always "protect" you, and you need to be prepared to take care of yourself, which has been my thinking for decades……

Semper Fi!
 
You should be aware that it is not a problem to get a non-resident concealed carry permit from CT. They require some kind of proof of training, but they don't create obstacles. The permit is good for five years, and they seem to have a policy of notifying of renewal time.

Dep't of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Special Licensing and Firearms Unit
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown CT 06457

(860) 685-8290
 
My FIL had an old rifle hanging on the wall for years which he later sold. She was tolerant when I packed up mine from where they had been at my parents since I was a kid so not anti but not pro. She asked the "you don't carry it loaded do you" when I got my CCW but now sends me links to news articles like the 17 year old boy who was raped in the city park nearest to us glad that I carry when were out places.
 
GaryS said:
One of my neighbors is sort of liberal, not in a big way. He knows I have guns, he knows I carry sometimes. Actually, I should say he suspects because I've never confirmed or denied that.

What he has said, on more than one occasion is that he thinks the neighborhood is safer because I have guns.

It's kind of odd what people think sometimes.
Click to expand...

Indeed, it is odd what people think sometimes; case in point--your thought that being liberal and having a CCW are mutually exclusive. ;)
 
When I met my wife, all those many years ago, She was very Anti-Gun. When my oldest son turned 13, I talked her into letting me buy him a .22 bolt action rifle, mainly with the argument that education is better than isolation. Many more years later and we have several guns, I have my CCDW and she knows I carry whenever we go out. I have taught her to shoot and to field strip and clean the guns. It's amazing how much we've grown together.
 
The first night I met my wife in 1986, I told her I would show her mine if she showed me hers- She pulled out her SW 36 and I my Speed six, we will be married 23 yrs in November. It was a "normal" to carry, we both started at 21 in Pa, my father, mother,brother, his wife, all did carry. Her father assisted an "unknown" NY State Trooper after a struggle for Troop's gun ended up the wrong way, my FIL convinced the PERP that his Colt Commander was a good reason to return the firearm to the troop and lie down. He was 82 airborne,my BIL was 82 airborne, My grandfather, father, brother were all Marines. The other side of the family ( Maternal side ) went a different path, Federal, State, Local LEO's. And to the surprise of all the anti-gunners none of their weapons ever got up on it's own accord and injured anyone. So for my wife and I nothing has changed, law abiding people carry firearms to protect themselves and their family. Our "kids" Tank & Keira 6 & 8 yr old Rotts, very seldom carry. So the more the "world" changes the more things are the same for us. Be Safe,
 
Model520Fan said:
You should be aware that it is not a problem to get a non-resident concealed carry permit from CT. They require some kind of proof of training, but they don't create obstacles. The permit is good for five years, and they seem to have a policy of notifying of renewal time.
Click to expand...

I've had a CT permit since the `80s. At times, it's been far easier for nonresidents to renew, since you can do it by mail (get a passport photo from the drug store, have your signature notarized and mail it in).
 
Stephanie B said:
I've had a CT permit since the `80s. At times, it's been far easier for nonresidents to renew, since you can do it by mail (get a passport photo from the drug store, have your signature notarized and mail it in).
Click to expand...

Me, too, since the late 80's, they even allow NYer's to have them. :eek:
 
One of my friends is an avowed leftist, and not only does she have no issues with my carrying concealed, but she was also one of the character references on my LTCF. Being a good steward of the firearms community is always a good thing. I also believe that access to more complete and less biased information via the internet is helping our side.

Truth be told, though, I don't make a habit of telling people I know that I carry concealed.
 
CoMF said:
Being a good steward of the firearms community is always a good thing. I also believe that access to more complete and less biased information via the internet is helping our side.
Click to expand...
I totally agree, and have come down on rt wing conservatives that lied. I explained to them that they do "help" me when they "misuse" facts, any more than someone on the other side of the aisle. The general public is bombarded 24/7 by a liberal media that prefers buzz words to facts, just like most politicians. SORRY I will get off my soap box.. Be Safe,
 
I've met more than one anti-gun individual who owns guns, and one who carries. They are just anti-gun for the rest of us, not themselves. They KNOW that they are responsible and are not going to get into a shootout over a parking space or a bump in a bar, but they worry that the other person will behave irrationally.
 
vito said:
I've met more than one anti-gun individual who owns guns, and one who carries. They are just anti-gun for the rest of us, not themselves. They KNOW that they are responsible and are not going to get into a shootout over a parking space or a bump in a bar, but they worry that the other person will behave irrationally.
Click to expand...

They THINK they know.
(Not referring to your individual people, just generalizing about the attitude of the "you shouldn't carry, but my bodyguards can" crowd)
 
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My wife has never been interested in carrying but is glad I do. As we were reading the morning paper about all the terrorist threats I mentioned it & she said she'd been thinking about it. I was floored to say the least. We'll see where this goes, there's a brand new Taurus PT22 waiting for her.
 
The overwhelming majority of gun owners don't carry.

Only about 10% of adults have a carry permit in Tennessee. My guess is that a majority of those don't carry much. New law allows loaded handguns in cars without a permit. I wouldn't be surprised to see fewer permits issued because of it.

Attitudes toward carry law has changed dramatically over the last quarter century with Shall Issue sweeping the nation. But the idea that one should carry a gun on his/her person as a matter of course isn't very popular.
 
To the very best of my knowledge, NONE of my non-LEO friends carries a gun. In fact, there are more than a few LEO friends who usually do NOT CCW when off duty.

Many of my friends do know I routinely CCW; none care a whit that I do. Though they sometimes inquire if I am carrying at a particular moment, none have ever questioned why I do now that I am retired. But some have asked why I can CCW wherever I go in my travels.

Family members have zero interest in carrying a gun but don't care (or seem to care) that I do.

I refrain from questioning personal choices of others and firmly believe the decision to carry or not is the sole prerogative of the individual person in accordance with applicable law.

Be safe.
 
I see that as changing. I carry all the time now, and so do a number of people I know who would not even consider it a few years ago.

My son has an AL CCW permit and after a few incidents in shady areas of Mobile is on the verge of carrying all the time. My DIL has even talked of getting her CCW permit. Most surprisingly, my oh so liberal daughter who moved to Texas is thinking about it.

The fastest growing demographic of gun owners is women, particularly young women.


ChattanoogaPhil said:
The overwhelming majority of gun owners don't carry.

Only about 10% of adults have a carry permit in Tennessee. My guess is that a majority of those don't carry much. New law allows loaded handguns in cars without a permit. I wouldn't be surprised to see fewer permits issued because of it.

Attitudes toward carry law has changed dramatically over the last quarter century with Shall Issue sweeping the nation. But the idea that one should carry a gun on his/her person as a matter of course isn't very popular.
Click to expand...
 
That would be great , but I'd be interested in seeing the statistics for TN , 10% would be by far the highest the US. The last I saw, 5% was in the upper eschelons for statewide numbers. I have been told by a friend from there that there is a specific County in Pa that has 10% .

The other related factor is what is/ isn't allowed in a particular state without a CCW permit. States that otherwise prohibit unloaded cased transport unless directly to an aproved destination and back , will have higher demand than those that allow carry in vehicles and/ or open carry. A substantial % of gunowners are satisfied with having their roscoe in their ride if needed , but not routinely carrying on their person. Not advocating that view , just reporting.
 
Biggfoot44 said:
That would be great , but I'd be interested in seeing the statistics for TN , 10% would be by far the highest the US. The last I saw, 5% was in the upper eschelons for statewide numbers. I have been told by a friend from there that there is a specific County in Pa that has 10% .
Click to expand...

As of Sept 2014 there is 477k permit holders in Tenn.

http://www.tn.gov/safety/stats/DL_Handgun/Handgun/Current_HG_PermitHolders.pdf

Population of Tennessee is 6.5mil
23% are under 18.

Tennessee QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

477k / 5mil (18 or older) is about 10%. If you changed "adult" from 18 to 21 (21 is required to get a permit) the percentage of course would be higher but I don't have an under 21 number.

Yes, you are right. Tennessee has a high percentage of permit holders but there are states with higher numbers.
 
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