Have your opinions on Concealed Carry/Self-Defense changed over the years?

[Echo40]

Just something that has been on my mind lately that I thought might make for an interesting topic of discussion.

Over the years, it seems as though the push for Gun Control has become increasingly aggressive, and subsequently, so has anti-gun rhetoric.
However, I have actually become increasingly pro-2A, pro-gun, and pro-SD. That's not to day that I was ever anti-gun, merely that I was less passionate/supportive of Self-Defense.

My exposure to firearms in my youth was mostly positive. Police carried guns and used them to protect people, US Soldiers carried guns and used them to fight for freedom, and hunters used guns to feed their families, such was my adolescent understanding of guns, so needless to say, guns were okay with me, and some of my favorite toys were either guns or action figures who came equipped with guns like G.I. JOE. Yes, I was aware that bad guys also carried guns and used them for villainous purposes, but even as a small child I understood that firearms were inanimate objects, tools with no will of their own, and therefore guns in and of themselves couldn't be bad. Besides, good guys used guns to stop bad guys, so I was more inclined to view them in a more positive light.

However, as I grew up attitudes towards guns shifted and they were often times portrayed in a more negative light by the media, which did rub off on me to some degree, which resulted in me adopting a bit of "Fudd Logic" (for lack of a better term) such as that no honest or law-abiding citizens needed "high capacity" firearms, fueled mostly by the fact that police were still by and large carrying 6-shot revolvers and the military had only recently transitioned away from the 8-shot 1911, which was still in use by many branches of the US Military, whereas criminals more often carried double-stack semiautomatic pistols, rifles, or SMGs.
This foolish, naive ideology remained with me well into my early 20s, in which the most I carried for Self-Defense was a pocket knife with a 3" blade, until crime in my area was on the rise and there were nightly reports of numerous atrocities being committed not-very-far from home, and a number of horror films were being produced about psychotic killers. Yes, ironically, the same media that had influenced my beliefs towards guns was at it again, albeit in the opposite way they intended.

I purchased my first firearm at age 28, a Walther PPK/S chambered in the diminutive .22LR of all things. I was ignorant of the effectiveness of cartridges at the time and was pretty much operating on the simplistic logic that any gun was potentially deadly, that 10 rounds were better than 7, and that Self-Defense was about stopping the threat rather than killing them. It was small, relatively lightweight, had virtually no recoil, and was extremely accurate, so I felt good about my choice. Also, it's worth mentioning that at the time, I was hearing a lot of exaggerated overzealous comments regarding how powerful and hard-kicking 9mm Luger was.
Within a year of buying it though, I was convinced that .22LR wasn't an adequate choice for Self-Defense, and since I had already become familiar with the PPK/S, I bought another one in .380 ACP. (Some would argue that .380 still isn't adequate, but keep in mind that I was working under the belief that 9mm Luger was a powerful, hard-kicking round.)

Shortly after getting my first firearm, I discovered the sporting/recreational side of shooting, and my whole outlook on firearms shifted. Even in my youth, I had never really thought that shooting a real firearm could be fun, although I owned a Red Ryder BB Gun since I was 6 and had shot it throughout many summers for fun, go figure. But after my first trip out to the range with my PPK/S .22, I knew that I enjoyed shooting. Since then, I've become something of a recoil junky, the more it kicks, the more I like it, which is funny considering that going in I had started with a .22 followed by a .380 because folks had me believing that 9mm had snappy recoil.

Fast forward to today. Now I own 6 firearms, and would own many many more if I could afford to. Nowadays I carry two guns, a Smith & Wesson SW40VE and a Ruger LCP. The SW40VE holds 14+1 rounds of .40 S&W, so obviously I've overcome my naive preconceptions regarding "high capacity" firearms and serves as my primary carry gun, while the Ruger LCP is a backup gun, but during the hottest days of Summer it rides solo.

What about the rest of you? Have your opinions on Firearms, Concealed Carry, and Self-Defense changed over the years? And if so, how?

 

[AManWearingAHat]

No not particularly. My old man was a Firearms Instructor for a number of years and a staunch Second Amendment advocate and my stance on firearms and self defense has always been pretty solidly "Shall not be Infringed".

 

[Lostaro]

Grew up with firearms in the house. Hunted with and shot them from a very early age (7-8?)….they were "fun" tools.

Always had several around for "defense" needs but didn't put much thought into that aspect of their use. Figured having a gun...any gun was pretty much 99% of that equation. Was never military/LE so carrying a firearm in public didn't enter my thought process until much later in life.

Now that I regularly carry concealed I put a great deal of effort into what I carry and my capabilities with it. Carrying in public is a serious responsibility and I treat it as such.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I don't know if my opinions have necessarily changed, but may have been tweaked over the years.

I grew up around guns. My dad was a gun owner, though he never did a lot of shooting. He took me shooting a couple of times when I was around 9, with a .22 rifle. At the time I didn't like the noise, despite having hearing protection, so I switched to archery through my teen years. As a young adult I started getting into handguns. Even though I hadn't liked shooting, I still read all my dad's gun magazines, and even subscribed to a few on my own, so I wasn't exactly lacking in knowledge. Around this time I also started doing security work, including working as an armed guard. My first gun was a Beretta 92FS, which I still have and fills a home defense role after some 25 years.

For most of my life I've lived in cities and/or states where gun ownership was heavily restricted and carrying a gun was seen as more of a privilege than a right, i.e. if you were politically well-connected or had the willingness/ability to jump through the required hoops (well, except for armed guards, but lots of restrictions on that). I won't go into details, but as a teen I was the victim of violent crimes on more than one occasion, so I know firsthand how it feels to be a "victim" with no means of defending myself.

Even when I finally made it to a free state, it was several years before I got around to getting a carry permit. Mostly I just told myself it wasn't worth it since my employers never allowed guns on their property and many places I frequented prohibited guns; I'd only be able to carry when going to the grocery store or the shooting range. Eventually I did decide to get my permit.

Now I live in an even free-er state, with Constitutional Carry, so no permit required unless I decide to travel across state lines. I also have fewer restrictions on where I can carry.

For a time I decided to go revolver-only, but eventually went back to including semi-autos.

Another tweak has been with technique. When I started with handguns in the 90s, the Weaver stance, and it's variations, was still popular and what much of my formative training was based on. I was also studying a style of Japanese jujutsu that was probably closer to aikido than Brazillian jiujitsu or MMA grappling. Over time, I started shifting towards the KISS principle, Keep It Simple, Student (as one of my instructors put it). So now I focus on simple, but effective, techniques that don't require a lot of training to maintain, working with my natural instinctive reactions instead of trying to overcome them. It's also one of the reasons why I've come to prefer DA guns without manual safeties for self defense purposes.

Apologies for the novel.

 

[Watchdog]

Have your opinions on Concealed Carry/Self-Defense changed over the years?

I'll keep it simple. No.

It remains a toss up on any given day as to which I'll carry...a revolver or a semi-auto. Caliber hasn't changed in years and years.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Echo40]

@ContinentalOp
That was exactly the sort of detailed response I was looking for, actually. Besides, my opening post was very large, so I'd have to be a complete hypocrite to complain about the length of your post.

I neglected to mention this in the original post, but my father was a hunter and owned a few rifles/shotguns as well as a .38 S&W revolver. Also, I had shot his Winchester 62 and his revolver in my youth, but like you, I didn't like the noise, so I wasn't into it.

 

[Farmer17]

With all the mass shootings involving rifles I'm thinking a lot more of keeping a rifle handy in the truck since a handgun is no match for a rifle, especially with optics at longer range. ARs are so cheap I built a second one and I drive a Ram Quad Cab and have heard there's a way to hide a rifle behind the rear seat. You loosen the rear seat bolts and put some washers under the bolts so the seat barely hangs on the hooks at the back of the cab and an upward jerk on the seat will let it fold forward to expose a hiding place for a rifle.

 

[ContinentalOp]

You loosen the rear seat bolts and put some washers under the bolts so the seat barely hangs on the hooks at the back of the cab and an upward jerk on the seat will let it fold forward to expose a hiding place for a rifle.

I'm neither a mechanic nor an auto safety expert, but to me that sounds like it could be potentially dangerous in a traffic accident, which is probably more likely than needing quick access to a rifle.

 

[STCM(SW)]

No one in my family was into guns, just me.
Hunting with a shotgun at 16.
After discharge the first time from the Navy, got into NRA Bullseye shooting.
Things just went on from that. When my brother became a cop. I trained
him how to shoot a hand gun & gave him one of my Colt Python's & a
Baby S&W Chief.
Oh well, now I have so many I don't get to shoot many now with the wife
after her massive stroke. Can't leave her alone for long.

 

[lrrifleman]

My maternal grandfather was a farmer and hunter that had a Model 12, a Savage Springfield sxs, a Browning A5, a Winchester 22 semi-auto, and a S&W 32. He introduced my father to hunting, and in 1957 they were given a pair of Browning A5s for Christmas. As a result, I grew up around hunting shotguns.

About 1965 I was introduced to shooting at the grand age of 8, and was quickly knocked on my keister by my grandfather's Browning. In 1968/69 I was given my first gun, an Ithaca 49 and joined a Jr Rifle Club, learning quickly that my rifle was inappropriate for target shooting. Over the years, I was exposed to a number of target rifles, but yearned for a 1911. In 1976 I purchased a used Colt MkIV Series 70 with the help of my dad. When I turned 21, I started acquiring pistols for NRA 2700. I then wanted to try IHMSA matches and bought a long barreled Model 27.

Compressing my spine in a skiing accident ended my smallbore rifle shooting, and I leaned towards pistols for a while. In 1988 I got a hankering for high power, and bought an 03A3 NM and entered the wonderful world of high power. In 1992 I purchased a Garand, had it built up as a match Service Rifle, and enjoyed 14 years of Service Rifle matches, earning my Master classification (XTC) and my first leg using an AR.

In 2007 my world and outlook changed due to an MVA with the prospect of being confined to an electric wheelchair. After 2 months in the wheelchair, I proved my doctors wrong and took my first steps. In 2012, I reentered the world of high power, and after a year and a half, I accepted that I couldn't physically shoot position matches. I eased into F class matches. By 2016 I decided to get back into pistol shooting after meeting a gentleman that felt that I was the type of person needing a carry permit (despite the fact that my state is a may issue state). He ran me through the Utah class. I honestly felt like I had a neon sign over me identifying me as a willing victim.

With the issuance of a CCW, I broadened my shooting experience, to include: F class rifle, NRA 2700 matches, and the occasional IDPA match. This past November, I participated in the Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit, which was an IDPA -style match with instruction for disabled shooters. My outlook on shooting and gun ownership has radically expanded.

This year, if the shooting season ever gets started with the corona virus pandemic, promises to be a hallmark year: expansion back to sling rifle matches, NRA 2700 matches, participation in a PPC league, some more IDPA matches, a number of GSSF matches, and another Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit. I love my precision rifle and pistol matches, but I feel the need to develop a higher degree of mastery of combat pistol shooting despite the fact that I am permanently disabled, since I see a personal need for self-defense when traveling in light of how society seems to be fragmenting and becoming predatory. IDPA -style matches are quite the challenge when you have two significantly damaged legs and a bad arm.

 

[roguegamma]

I was lucky to get introduced to firearms at a young age pheasant hunting with my dad. My first handgun, and the first firearm I bought for myself at age 13 or so was a Ruger Mk. II bull barrel. A few years later my dad gave a a 70 series Colt Lightweight Commander. In my early twenties I bought a 2.75" Ruger Police Service Six in .357 Magnum. On the Eve of the 1994 "Assault Weapons" ban I bought a new-fangled Glock in new-fangled .40 S&W. I guess what is changed for me is that I relaxed a little on what I considered a "real" handgun. There was a time when I viewed anything short of .357 Magnum in a revolver or .40 S&W in an auto as beneath the manly ideal that I was trying to cultivate. Much of that was in reaction to the B.S. spewed by gansta-rap music in the nineties what with all the references to "nines" and such by alleged hardened criminals turned musicians. Over time I softened some. I now own fifty-two firearms, including a good number .38 Special J-frames, 9mm autos and even a .380 and a .32 auto. If anything, I now appreciate that a .38 in the hand trumps a .44 Magnum in the safe.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

There are pictures of me me as a little boy wearing holsters and guns, etc. Toys at the time. I was fascinated by guns since I was a toddler and loved them forever. Growing up in Brooklyn didn't give me a lot of firearms experience but my dad had a F.W. Heym .22 single shot rifle that I still own.

Once I was old enough to understand the right to keep and bear arms I was a dyed in the wool Second Amendment supporter. I always understood the problem of the application to the states and I was very happy when the SCOTUS applied it the same way as the other Bill of Rights amendments.

But for concealed carry, heck, I was doing that WAY BEFORE Texas passed those CHL rules. I couldn't do it in NYC but I did it forthwith in when I moved to a free state. Semi-free, I guess. Back then.

I moved to Texas owning five firearms, three NYC legal rifles and two NYC illegal handguns that became legal the day they arrived in Texas. LOOOOOOOOONG story. The point is, to answer the OP's question, I have been a passionate supporter of the RKBA since I was a child and especially since I understood it, I joined the NRA when I was barely legal to vote, and I have never wavered in my commitment to the RKBA.

 

[Goldstar225]

My positions and opinions haven't really changed over time. I grew up hunting and shooting with my dad. His income wasn't much and after providing for a family there wasn't much left for guns. He had a shotgun, 22 rifle, and a 98 Mauser that he and our preacher modified into sporting rifle. He usually had a detective special or S&W model 15 as well. As you can see, he didn't have much but he was an exceptional shot, much better than I am. I got my first gun, a Stevens 94 20 gauge at 9 YOA and a Remington 870 12 gauge at 14. We hunted each weekend during season.

Although it wasn't a topic of much discussion, it was plain in our home that in addition to hunting, guns were there for the defense of self and family. It wasn't talked about, just an accepted fact of life.

As I've made my way through adulthood, serving 20 years in the military and later 23 years as a cop, there has been nothing to change my perspective on the responsible ownership and use of guns for recreation, hunting or personal defense. My taste and preference in firearms has changed a bit over time.

 

[mmb617]

I can remember my dad taking me shooting with a single shot .22 rifle when I was maybe 9 or so. I always liked that and when I was older he took me hunting a couple times but that wasn't really my thing. I liked shooting but wasn't into hunting. I did get the chance to shoot his deer rifles and also learned that a 12 gauge has a bit of kick to it.

I didn't have a gun of my own till I was in my early 20's. At that time I was a bearded, long haired guy who rode a chopper, and at that time the general public thought guys like me were all outlaw bikers. This would have been the early 70's and I did actually for the first time fear for my safety, not only from some of the real outlaws who saw guys like me as posers, but also from the public who sometimes saw me as a target since I was riding alone.

I didn't know a whole lot about guns but I did jump through the hoops that were required to get a carry permit in those days. I then bought my SD weapon, a single action 6 shot .22 revolver. I figured a gun was a gun, and any gun was better than no gun. I only carried it when I rode as that's when I felt threatened.

A few years went by, I guess I settled down, got married and sold my bike. I didn't feel the need to carry a gun anymore so I let my permit expire. I was still interested in shooting though and bought a 10-22 for some plinking. Back then we used to go to the abandoned strip mines and shoot cans and bottles for fun.

Many years went by during which I hardly shot at all, although I kept both my old revolver and the 10-22. I also got back into riding and bought a Harley, but the entire environment had changed and I didn't feel the least bit threatened riding. Well other than by idiot drivers who weren't intentionally trying to harm me, they were just inattentive.

Last year my wife died. We had been married for 42 years and the change without her was dramatic. I needed something to keep me occupied as I'm now retired and had too much time on my hands. I thought getting back into shooting would be a good hobby. I didn't exactly start out planning on carrying again but since I needed a permit to legally transport handguns in my car I got one. I also wanted to exercise my 2A rights while I still had them as I could see that a certain faction was working to diminish those rights.

I'd never fired let alone owned a semi-auto handgun so I bought a .22 Compact, figuring the ammo for it was cheap and it would be a good starter pistol. Then I saw how cheap the 1.0 Shields were going for as the 2.0 was out and everybody wanted the newer model, so I bought a 1.0 in 9mm. I'd never fired a handgun in anything but .22 and immediately loved the 9.

About that time I took a hard look at the world around me. As with most places drug related crime has skyrocketed in my small city over the last few years, so I decided it was time to start EDC with my Shield.

Before long I wanted another handgun, so I bought a Compact 9 and right away preferred it to the Shield so it took over as my carry gun.

I could blather on about the next hand gun or my deciding that I really needed an AR, but you guys already know how all that goes.

Now I have 5 handguns and 3 rifles (so far) and have started into reloading. I belong to 3 different clubs with outdoor ranges and try to go shooting every week. It's a sickness that I don't want cured.

 

[federali]

Changing Times

While I always enjoyed revolvers, I've become a semi-auto guy starting around 1985 when my agency transitioned to autoloaders.

As I age and acquire more wisdom than can fit in my brain, I find myself more mindful of the potential legal and financial ramifications of a shooting. Yet, I'm also aware that under compelling circumstances, I would still go to the aid of a crime victim. I'm just not too sure if saving the contents of a cash register drawer ultimately belonging to a multi-million dollar corporate empire is worth the risk.

I'm a courteous driver, assertive when I have to be but never aggressive. I don't earn obscene gestures from other drivers and I will never be drawn into a road rage incident. Talk about legal minefields!

I'm aware that the nature of criminality has changed. The day-time burglar is still out there but he'll most likely flee upon meeting effective resistance. Today we have the ideologically driven terrorist that is all too happy to die for his cause and hopes to take as many infidels with him as he can. No breaking and running for him: it's a fight to the death. I no longer visit malls unarmed.

Now that I have five grandchildren, four of which are rambunctious young boys, everything I own is in a safe. Even my go-to gun is under lock in key. I'll take my chances on the slight delay in getting to my primary defensive arm but I will not ever be the cause of an accidental shooting among family members.

 

[keith44spl]

I've evolved somewhat over the last five decades.

From shoulder holsters and pocket carry, to owb holsters and gunbelts.

Casual concealed carry (no deep concealment) and calibers that start with a '4' something.

As far as self defense goes,
I will protect my family and defend my life to continue to serve them.

.

 

[skwchock]

Carry well

I am a recent collector. I look at some guns (like S&W) and see them as both weapons that are designed to protect/defend and also as works of art. They are designed for a specific purpose-- and designed exceedingly well. They operate and function as advertized and perform well. Your choice of EDC and backup are well suited. I like a S&W revolver for my EDC and carry a Beretta as a backup. I like the point and shoot of a revolver. Just my opinion.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I carried my 642 in my right front pocket for many years. Last year I switched to Shields 9/40/45. and carry an extra clip. Guns ride in a belt slide under my shirt. I don't like IWB holsters "becuz" there is already enough of me IWB.

 

[NYlakesider]

I would have to say my views have changed a bit mostly due to age and our draconian laws my peoples republic state imposes on us.

Living in the city and its adjoining large suburb I carried where legal if the situation warranted it. Started in the early 1970s and as time went on I carried more.

Now living out in the boonies on a large lake I always carry when out of the house if legal. Instead of carrying a "major" weapon, for my convenience for the most part I stick a Ruger LCR .38 with holster in my pocket. Note at age 74 not so great health there is no way unless I get real lucky am I now going to win a hands on battle. Yes I'm street wise but prudent also. "a mans got to know his limitations" I will if forced to go out of my comfort zone go to my XDs.45.

Its still a bit small and sort of easy to conceal, but I do my best to stay away from places I need a more serious weapon. If a real SHTF situation occurs I will upgrade to my full size 1911.45!

 

[Ziggy2525]

Grew up with .22 rifles and shotguns. Hunting rabbits and pheasants. Kept that into adulthood. When I wanted to get into pistols, the city I live in has (still has) draconian pistol ownership/registration ordinances.

Or you can get a state CHP permit that preempts the city rules. No registration. Permit substitutes for NICS check. Purchase happens right now, no city waiting period. No special rules for transporting pistols in cars. Free pass for accidental uncovering of a concealed pistol. Same rules apply across the state. Easy button. I saw somewhere probably 80% of the people with a permit in my state did it to simplify ownership, not to carry. I was in that group.

Not too long after I got my permit there was in uptick in random violent crime moving from the inner city to previously "safe" suburban areas. Since I had the permit it only made sense to start carry all the time.