I was told that I am part of the problem with guns

[Alk8944]

A couple have touched this, but I will reiterate, concealed means concealed! It also means to keep your mouth shut and don't tell everyone** in sight that you carry, it's none of their business on every level you can think of! Sounds like it's too late and you have already "Let the cat out of the bag". If you hadn't told them they wouldn't have known.

** This includes other gun owners and CCW holders, (and your wife!) unless there is some reason for them to know, and you know you can trust them to keep their mouths shut!

 

[madracr07]

Well I think part of my problem would be, that I actually think it's an honor to be able to carry concealed, and I am happy that at this age I still meet the qualifications to do so. But yall have valid points, and I should not let them know.
I enjoy talking about my new hobby with others who do the same.

 

[westy39]

I too am a retired Police Officer, I have carried for about 30 years concealed as well as open, when on duty. My family knows I carry all the time and just about no one else. The primary reason I carry is to defend me and mine. Be safe and take the time to practice with your concealed defensive firearm of your choice. Remember that concealed means just that. I would profess that it is not your duty to notify your friends that you are packing, but it seems that most new concealed carry people like to let others know about their choice NOT to be a victim. I prefer to remain under the radar. I want to be forgettable and unnoticed, but that is just me. Be safe and realize this choice you have made is one fraught with many twists and turns, be safe and be aware.

 

[hoc9sw]

CC discussions are like the soap operas. If you say anything, there is always someone just around the wall who hears, and tells the wrong people what was said. Speak not of it, lest it show up 30 episodes later in your life, and always at the wrong moment.

 

[Smoke]

Well I think part of my problem would be, that I actually think it's an honor to be able to carry concealed,

Yup, that is definitely part of your problem.

I enjoy talking about my new hobby with others who do the same.

How's that workin' out for you?

In the past 6 months or so there have been two threads started by people that decided to start conversations about guns with people they didn't know and neither conversation ended well.

In one the OP starts a conversation with a salesman in his office who clearly doesn't know a whole lot about guns and at some point in the conversation the salesman asks him "Are you carrying a gun now?" (Because gee no one saw that coming) and when the OP doesn't say "No" fast enough the salesman correctly concludes that the OP is carrying a gun.

In the second the OP starts talking guns with some half drunk person he met in a bar and tells this random stranger that he is armed( yeah, because that couldn't go wrong). The random stranger then proceeds to start a fight and ask the OP if he can borrow his gun to settle the score (Again, did not see that coming).

People I don't know well don't need to know the details of my life; there just isn't any reason for it. My experience has been that the less most people know about me the better off I am. As for friends I've mentioned previously that I've had some really bad experiences that were directly related to telling a "friend" who really wasn't a gun guy that I had a permit. He then proceeded to share my business with a bunch of people I don't know.

If I can keep that kind of hassle out of my life by simply keeping my mouth shut I'm all for it.

There are very few people I'll talk guns with in the real world, most of the time if I want to talk guns I come here. I don't give strangers any reason to assume I might be armed. I don't start conversations about guns at work and if people around me do I don't participate.

 

[SMSgt]

I think we can all agree on that point.

When I instruct a CHL or other shooting class what I tell my students, if they hear such foolishness, is to use one of the following as a reply:

A gun is like an insurance policy. You never want to use it but you're glad it's there if the need arises.

Do you keep a fire extinguisher in your house?

The only alternative is to just ignore the idiot. HE is part of the problem.

D you realize white font is much easier to read than blue?

 

[ColbyBruce]

To the OP, I see what your real problem is. You are only carrying one gun. You need a second one.

 

[AR_Black]

I have been dealing with some people that no matter what you say they are right and you are wrong. Now that I have my CHL, I have been slowly but surely learning where I can and can't carry. How to carry, who should know and who shouldn't.
Well one of these type people has told me that I am stupid for carrying my gun into the movie theater when we go. They said that I am too paranoid, and will cause more harm than help if I should have to use my weapon.
Also told that if I am paranoid enough that I can't leave my house without carrying, then I should stay home.
In my years past, I have been mugged, beaten, and been stolen from. I am 46 years old and took all of this without carrying a weapon.
I guess I should just keep it locked up in the safe, and hope that the police is close by when I need them. SMH.

I am glad, that I was able to get my CHL, and wish I had of done it sooner.

You are not part of the "problem".
You ARE part of the solution.

 

[madracr07]

To the OP, I see what your real problem is. You are only carrying one gun. You need a second one.

You never know

 

[Cal44]

Well I think part of my problem would be, that I actually think it's an honor to be able to carry concealed, and I am happy that at this age I still meet the qualifications to do so. But yall have valid points, and I should not let them know.
I enjoy talking about my new hobby with others who do the same.

In my opinion, collecting is a hobby, hunting is a hobby, reloading is a hobby, and target shooting is a hobby.

But carrying a weapon isn't a hobby.

It's about defending yourself and your family is not a hobby. It's serious business.

Keeping the element of surprise is critical. Stay under the radar.

 

[bopilar]

I would try to point the conversation towards something else. If they were to continue be jerks I would get away from them. Also, If I couldn't tell my wife I have a CCW then I wouldn't be married to her. But opinions may be different.

 

[wx7b]

Liberals are like alcoholics, they only see the light when they hit the wall of life. So are most when they are mugged or robbed, then they become gun owning converts. Pure hypocrites.

 

[Doug M.]

The fewer people with whom you discuss firearms, the fewer IQ points you will lose. That doesn't even include the risk that these idiots present to you because they might say something at the wrong time, or skyline you in some circumstances in which being undetected and discreet is important.

Most of my friends are from backgrounds that mean we are all armed almost all the time; it is just assumed. My wife knows I am armed at all times. Most of my family does not know. Some of the people at work would assume it; some would not know. The rest of the world can FOAD.

 

[Smoke]

Also, If I couldn't tell my wife I have a CCW then I wouldn't be married to her. But opinions may be different.

My wife and I took the class together so that's a moot point but I agree with the intent of your post

 

[silentflyer]

So how is a law abiding citizen who has been vetted by the local police department in the area where you live a problem? Does your "friend" think the tugs have been given a permit by the local judge, sheriff or whom ever you have to be approved by?

I would "rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6"....

 

[rwsmith]

Naw....

Maybe get some new friends who aren't liberals?

Just friends that can think for themselves and are open to other peoples ideas.

 

[AKAI]

Keep Calm And Carry

 

[wrhk33]

I feel a movie theater is a high risk venue and one of the few places I need to carry. It is going to be harder if they start using metal detectors. The parking lots of these places at night is also high risk area.

 

[John R]

If I find out any friends are liberal, I dump them in a hart beat, life's too short to hang with stupid people.

 

[pittpa]

I feel a movie theater is a high risk venue and one of the few places I need to carry. It is going to be harder if they start using metal detectors. The parking lots of these places at night is also high risk area.

Those parking lots will be higher risk if they use metal detectors in the theaters. We know a metal detector won't stop determined bad guys. Who's going to protect the guy manning the metal detector?
My sister-in-law asked me, "you wouldn't carry in a restaurant, would you?" (It's legal here). She's a retired teacher. I suggested she ask Richard Baumhammers' victims about that. He drove past my office twice on a killing spree, on his way to paralyze one Indian grocery store employee (who later died) and kill a customer, shoot up two synagogues, kill two employee at an Asian restaurant in front of customers, and kill a karate student. While that was a racial killing spree, there was apparently nobody of any color in a position to stop him until he crossed paths with the police. Nobody in my office was armed, if they were following company policy.