Decision Fatigue With First Concealed Carry

[Shootingfish]

Pardon if this was already covered and I just missed it....were you going out of state, and if so, were you going where your CC is honored? Cause Bog forbid you'd be traveling to say, Illinois.....this place doesn't recognize anyone else's permits..... you've no doubt checked on such things, but worth mentioning. And why was it unloaded, may I ask ?

Yes we carried out of state, GA to FL which does have reciprocity for GA CCL. FL has a 3-step law about guns in the car— ammo and unloaded gun separate. Which, if I understand correctly, means you would have to load the gun before carrying it inside Q-trip. (I guess that is where speed loaders would come in handy.) It was unloaded most of the time as most of our trip was spent in the car. We did have ammo with us, but we are learning. I guess we should have gone into Walmat. hahaha

The purpose of our trip was to see my quilt on display in an International Quilt Show in Daytona at Ocean Center. We weren't sure if Ocean Center had metal detectors and if they did, would they throw me out and I would miss the whole point of the trip. After Daytona we went down to West Palm (which is a terrible area in places) to visit family. Family doesn't CC but do keep loaded gun in the house.

Lots of good suggestions in this thread. I see we need to start dressing to carry especially when not together. Hubby is a very fit (ex Spartan Racer) and he will have to quit wearing his tight shirts! We also need a safe in the car and secured to the seat.

That's another good question - if you and your wife both carry, do you both carry if you are together? Or just the one's that's the best shot?

 

[bigwheelzip]

..... if you and your wife both carry, do you both carry if you are together? Or just the one's that's the best shot?

In our case, neither of us leaves home without our carry, unless one of us might have a drink. Then the other carries and doesn't drink.
We always back each other up, right down to answering unexpected knocks on the door.



Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[glenwolde]

Let's not forget leaving it on the floor under the bowl when you exit.... Or maybe hanging it on the hook of the door and.....

A friends son is a restaurant manager for a large and very busy location of a national chain. They get 1-2 handguns turned in per month that were left in the restrooms. He speculates some are found and kept occasionally as he gets inquiries about ones that did not get turned in.

Corporate made him install a small bullet trap for clearing and they had an NRA instructor come in and "certify" all the managers on how to clear handguns and the use of the trap.

It's picked up some since "Constitutional Carry". Boy there's a joke in there somewhere....going for your morning "Constitutional".....?

 

[ladder13]

I don't let clothes get in the way of my carry method. Don't need to look at my wardrobe. Same light handgun every time in my pocket. LCP MAX or Seecamp 32.
With deep pockets a P365.
No 1911's, N frames or even a K frame. My .02

 

[RobzGuns]

Amazing how simple armed life is with a small firearm in a pocket holster.

Unfortunately, a majority of women's pants/jeans do not have 'real' (functional) pockets. most are barely large enough to hold half a cellphone.

Until you actually need it.

and you, most likely, have not found the right pants.

 

[mikerjf]

Shootingfish, not sure that that Florida law would apply to those with an honored permit.

Before I had a permit in FL I used to keep mine in the car unloaded in a "secure" (zippered gun rug is good enough) case on the floor in front of me, and a speedloader pouch on my belt.

Many other states allow you to have a loaded gun in the car, but not concealed on your person and not carried into bathrooms etc during stops. The car is kind of an extension of your home. Depends on the state of course.

With your GA permit reprocity I think you'd be fine carrying loaded and concealed in FL at all times. I'm not a lawyer of course, that's just my understanding of it, so check into it.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Same light handgun every time in my pocket.

With deep pockets ....

If that's advice for the female OP rather than a simple statement, it seems your unaware of most clothing designed for females.

Since this is an oft repeated, less than helpful comment, let me show y'all what my sub-compact SIG P238 looks like in my deepest jeans pocket. Other jeans have no real pocket at all, with the pocket opening sewn closed.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Buford57]

sit it on the T.P holder and walk away forgetting it?

Michigan State Police trooper did exactly that about 5 years ago. His issued weapon was next seen 2 years later when the local Sheriff removed it from the possession of a convicted felon.

 

[Buford57]

As you have learned, it takes practice and experimentation. Don't be discouraged. Don't assume the gun is the problem. It isn't. Your 642 is very concealable. The holster might be part of the problem. That's the experimentation part. I have a box of J-frame holsters in the garage that I wore once or twice before returning to the Galco pocket holster I started with.

Your main hurdle is the fact that you are self-conscious about it for now. That's ok. You should be aware that you are armed, but in time it will become second nature. That's the practice part. I do agree with those who say you gain nothing by carrying unloaded. Your S&W is a model of safety in a proper holster.

There is specialty clothing for female concealed carriers and may their tribe increase (the clothiers and the carriers) and even making pocket depth a criterion when buying non-specialty clothes makes a difference. My wife has managed to find lady's jeans and khakis that work. Carrying concealed does mean dressing around the gun, even for those of us who pocket carry, but that is all part of preparedness. It's worth it. Don't give up.

 

[sigp220.45]

What do you do with the darn thing when you have to use a public restroom...?
p.s. This is just a rhetorical question.

J.

There's a reason Fish, who was always headed to the john, wore a shoulder holster.

 

[LCC]

ConsoleVault is hard to beat, have them in both our vehicles.
And might consider using a ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band for carry, use one frequently, very easy to draw, easily covered, secure mine just under the ribs with handgun left of center, makes for a very easy right hand draw.
More important than how you carry it is how much are you practicing?
Is it enough to that you are comfortable with the handgun, and not 'scared' of it.
Have a friend who refuses to carry a handgun, an ex-combat vet who battles PTSD since Iraq.. Instead he carries bear spray, small spray bottle when out and about, bear sized mounted in his truck. It can be a solution for some.

 

[Moo Moo]

What do you do with the darn thing when you have to use a public restroom...?
p.s. This is just a rhetorical question.

J.

James Yeager had a YouTube video about this. I can't find it at the moment. He would take his handgun off, sit on the toilet, and place the handgun on his pulled down pants and underwear. Not sure about hygiene issues however you can not forget your gun as you won't be able to pull up your pants otherwise.

 

[pharmer]

I've been carrying since before I got my FL permit in 1988. At first, tiny guns, .22's, .25acp. After 1988 several years with either a 3" model 65 (heavy) or a 2" 60. In 1994 I got a 6906 and carried it just about exclusively until this year. Wanting to "modernize" I settled on a CZ P07. Even though similar in size, I notice it more, 3 oz heavier and wider. It will be months (and losing 10 lbs) before "I don't know it's there" like the 6906. Carrying a gun is like a fire extinguisher: you could go a lifetime without needing it but if you do you will never need anything else more. Be patient with it, it is not a "natural act." Joe

 

[Old cop]

I admittedly didn't read all of these posts but my overriding concern is you're carrying an empty gun. That could get you seriously hurt, or worse, and still result in criminal prosecution. If you have justification to display a firearm it better be ready to go. It's not a magic talisman that will automatically strike fear in the heart of a bad guy. That said I still support your efforts to carry & suggest searching Youtube for ways to carry concealed & some of the best weapons for that purpose. My choice, as a handicapped, retired LEO is a J Frame revolver or subcompact LCP. Loads of excellent advise on this Forum, good luck.

 

[Execpro]

First thought. Go to Handgunlaw.us to find which States honor your permit.
There is also other important info covered on this site and they are really good at keeping updated.
Second thought. Google the heck out of CCW carry methods and holsters for women ! There is a wealth of information out their. Spending time doing this can save you a lot of money on holsters. Also don't believe all the add hype on holsters. Example: I carry from AIWB (12 o'clock to 1:30) depending on the gun I carry, but the Vedder holster for this can be worn IWB from 9 to 3 o'clock. Pocket holsters are the worst. Get the wrong size and the holster comes out with the gun every time.
Went to Google to check out videos for "Carrying concealed for women" and there are a ton of them. The ONE thing that stuck with me was you need to find the gun you feel comfortable with and can shoot well before deciding on a holster or method of carry! There are many good suggestions above on what to do with your 642 to make it easier to shoot/handle. Go to a gun range and rent different guns if you can't get the right fix for your 642.
As mentioned above, in time it will become second nature. Everyone when first starting to carry concealed that has not carried a gun for a living has concerns. It's normal. JMO

 

[Gene L]

Yeah, I don't see the point in carrying an empty gun. It does get easier, of course, and I've toted a gun for years and never got made for it that I know of. I don't much like pocket carry because for me, it's slow if I'm wearing bluejeans. The gun wants to rotate out of place. Loose pants it's not a problem. One advantage of a woman carrying a gun is no one expects a woman to be armed so odd angles in clothing aren't automatically evident as a gun.

 

[Echo40]

I would also like to take this opportunity to recommend the Ruger LCP.

I've carried a Ruger LCP since 2019 and it goes with me everywhere I go. It's just so lightweight, so compact, and so absurdly easy to carry that it take more effort to leave it behind than it does to carry it along with you. You just tuck it into your pocket with the included pocket holster, and forget that it's even there.

Definitely worth looking into.

On a side note, just in case you noticed and were bothered by it, pay no mind to the fact that this thread is rated poorly. There seems to be a few curmudgeonly users on this subforum in particular who just one star every thread for some unfathomable reason. So don't take it personally, if you look at the front page of this subforum alone you'll see that most threads are one-starred, it's just something that happens here.

 

[lrrifleman]

@ Shootingfish,

For how women should carry concealed, I will defer to the ladies!

When I carry (where my non-resident permit is honored) I normally carry either my Glock 42 (pocket holstered) or my P365 IWB with an oversized shirt. IWB is kept close to 4 o'clock, spare mag(s) at 10 o'clock. On the rare occasion when I carry a revolver (usually a 3" S&W), it is carried at 4 o'clock and my speedloader pouch is at 5 o'clock, also under an oversized shirt.

Being disabled and a little overweight, I (too) was self-conscious when I started carrying, very concerned that I was printing.

 

[COFFEEMUG]

FYI (guys) use the toilet with a door, why have your back turned when your most vulnerable to attack. now if your in need of sitting put your gun in your underwear that way you won't for get it when you get up off the bowl.
I'm serious.

 

[smithra_66]

Hubby and I carried a gun for the first time on our trip this past weekend. We left Friday morning and by Sat morning I was exhausted worrying about that gun and what to do with it. Every time we stopped to get gas, we took turns leaving the car. The hotel did not have a safe. He wore the wrong clothes to conceal. I carried in my cross-body handbag most of the time. Sometimes we said *** and left it in the car shoved up under the seat. 10 hours on the road Monday and constantly concerned when we stopped. The gun was never loaded but we acted as if. Hopefully CC will get easier.

If you're in the room, no need for a safe. When you leave the room, the gun gets carried.

No problems. I conceal with jeans and a button down shirt no problems.

What's the point of carrying an unloaded gun?

 

[tops]

Many people do not understand that or are not willing to do it. Until they do there is no help for them. Larry

 

[Echo40]

What do you do with the darn thing when you have to use a public restroom...?
p.s. This is just a rhetorical question.

J.

I rarely use Public Restrooms unless it's an emergency, but when I do, I leave my gun in its holster where it belongs, and I use the Handicapped Stall so that I don't have to worry about some wimp in the stall beside me seeing it on my belt then messing themselves as they flee in terror.

 

[ironhead7544]

Yes we carried out of state, GA to FL which does have reciprocity for GA CCL. FL has a 3-step law about guns in the car— ammo and unloaded gun separate. Which, if I understand correctly, means you would have to load the gun before carrying it inside Q-trip. (I guess that is where speed loaders would come in handy.) It was unloaded most of the time as most of our trip was spent in the car. We did have ammo with us, but we are learning. I guess we should have gone into Walmat. hahaha

The purpose of our trip was to see my quilt on display in an International Quilt Show in Daytona at Ocean Center. We weren't sure if Ocean Center had metal detectors and if they did, would they throw me out and I would miss the whole point of the trip. After Daytona we went down to West Palm (which is a terrible area in places) to visit family. Family doesn't CC but do keep loaded gun in the house.

Lots of good suggestions in this thread. I see we need to start dressing to carry especially when not together. Hubby is a very fit (ex Spartan Racer) and he will have to quit wearing his tight shirts! We also need a safe in the car and secured to the seat.

That's another good question - if you and your wife both carry, do you both carry if you are together? Or just the one's that's the best shot?

I believe the FL 3 step law went out in 1982. I used to live down there but have been gone a while. Check to be sure.

 

[Claymore33]

CARRY on PERSON

The gun will do you no good in a purse or in a car. You must carry on your body.

 

[haywood]

Early on I read, learn to dress around your gun. I have not tucked a shirt in since 2004. I carry Two guns daily plus reloads. One in a pocket and one in the waist. I also carry pepper spray, knife, flashlight, and multi tool plus the every day stuff wallet phone etc. you can tell there is stuff on my belt but, you never see a gun. I have never been asked except by friends in the know that want to know what I have today.

 

[sotexas]

Hubby and I carried a gun for the first time on our trip this past weekend. We left Friday morning and by Sat morning I was exhausted worrying about that gun and what to do with it. Every time we stopped to get gas, we took turns leaving the car. The hotel did not have a safe. He wore the wrong clothes to conceal. I carried in my cross-body handbag most of the time. Sometimes we said *** and left it in the car shoved up under the seat. 10 hours on the road Monday and constantly concerned when we stopped. The gun was never loaded but we acted as if. Hopefully CC will get easier.

As with anything new there is an adjustment period. As long as you are legal stop worrying and start feeling confident in your carry. You will probably need to make a few minor wardrobe changes but learn to be as confident in carrying as you are in the rest of your daily life.

 

[pharmer]

The gun will do you no good in a purse or in a car. You must carry on your body.

That's an important point. I got pulled over 20 years ago and the Hiway Patrol got all sideways because it wasn't on me. Joe

 

[Cal44]

Amazing how simple armed life is with a small firearm in a pocket holster.

True, and pocket, with holster, is how I usually carry.

But I'm a guy. Often women's clothes don't have pockets or the pockets they have are too small.

 

[Echo40]

Early on I read, learn to dress around your gun. I have not tucked a shirt in since 2004. I carry Two guns daily plus reloads. One in a pocket and one in the waist. I also carry pepper spray, knife, flashlight, and multi tool plus the every day stuff wallet phone etc. you can tell there is stuff on my belt but, you never see a gun. I have never been asked except by friends in the know that want to know what I have today.

This is good advice. Before I really got into EDC, I used to dress much more relaxed, and wore lighter clothing, mostly tank tops, jogging pants or draw string shorts, but I quickly learned that my everyday attire was insufficient for EDC. Now I wear cargo pants/shorts, can carry all of my gear with ease, and as a fringe benefit, I look like less of a bum while I'm at it too.

I don't know how well this will work with ladies fashion, but it's just something to think about. If it's hard to carry with your current attire, you may want to experiment with a new style which is more carry friendly.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

In our case, neither of us leaves home without our carry, unless one of us might have a drink. Then the other carries and doesn't drink.

I think the whole "don't carry while drinking" thing is silly. Do you unload ALL your guns at home (wherever they are) whenever you decide to have a beer?