Concealed Carry

[mark s]

Took a concealed carry class with the wife this past weekend. Pretty interesting ... and MN law still requires you to run in the face of a threat even in your own home. When the instructor asked what you do if the assailant runs away I replied "Lead him a little." Got a good laugh from the class but I'm not sure the instructor liked it all that much.

.40 glock was a lot of fun at the range. Now I have a new hobby ... cuz I like target shooting and I can't allow my daughter to shoot better n me even if she does shoot expert as a USMC MP.

[iowafire34]

I took mine a couple years ago. I live out in the country and have a make shift range set up for me, my boys and neighbors. We have a lot of fun shooting. Unfortunately I handed my sharp shooter trophy to my oldest son a while ago. Never seen a 13 year old boy shoot as accurately as he does. He out shoots everyone that come out.

[Dave.Scott]

Been Concealed / Carry for about 20 years.
A favorite story in Montana goes, " get stopped by an officer while driving. He asks if you have any guns in the car, you say no, so he gives you a couple".

A CC instructor out here who is an Officer says regularly, if someone threatens you, you truly fear for your life, and you shoot him. Always remember to keep one shot so you can put it in the ground in front of his cold dead feet and say that you fired a warning shot.

[Omni Cubed Larry]

In California, we have to renew every two years. So you have to pay something like $100 for the class and waste half a Saturday just to shoot 12 shots at paper at different distances to qualify... and then watch a boring PowerPoint presentation. Oh well, at least we get to shoot, and "shoot the breeze" with like-minded people.

[Omni Cubed Larry]

Mark,
If your daughter doesn't shoot better than you now, she eventually will once you have trouble focusing on that front sight.
I have two daughters 4.5 and 2.5 years old. It won't be long before they outshoot me at the rate I'm aging.

[Kowboy]

As a Concealed Pistol Licensee in Michigan, we were trained that you had to identify if pulled over by police. I'm licensed in Florida now, but even though that rule isn't in effect here, I still think it's good business. Cops are human and they like all the information they can get. Plus they immediately know they've not pulled over a criminal.

Each time I was pulled over in each state and identified I was let off with a warning, although I'm not saying correlation is causation.

[ageless]

I've had my concealed handgun license for over 10 yrs. I'm sure you've all heard about Texas gun laws.....shoot first and ask questions later.

While in Italy, Tony and I sat with Beau at a Cereser dinner. Beau thought it was outrages that Tony and I said we carried 24/7 when back at home. I guess that's why he hasn't visited me! LOL! Damn Canadians must be vegitarian!

[topshop]

In NC the police want you to keep your gun on the front seat of the truck next to you whether you have a conceal carry permit or not. They don't like your guns hidden. A lot of people in NC just carry it in plain sight on their hip like the old west if they do not have the conceal carry permit.

Quite the contrast to CT where they never want anyone to see your guns. People flip out in CT at the sight of a gun. I had a conceal carry permit in CT but haven't bothered to get one here in NC yet. Its not like I ever carry it anyway. I needed the permit just to buy a hand gun in CT.

[Omni Cubed Larry]

.......While in Italy, Tony and I sat with Beau at a Cereser dinner. Beau thought it was outrages that Tony and I said we carried 24/7 when back at home. I guess that's why he hasn't visited me! LOL! Damn Canadians must be vegitarian!

[mark s]

I've been told the best behavior is to keep both hands on the wheel when the cop approaches and let him know early in the discussion that you have a firearm. Legally you are not obligated to do so but they get upset if they find out later

[ageless]

Here in Texas they pretty much know if your licensed as soon as they run your plates. The times I've gotten pulled over I do as Mark has said and keep my hands on the steering wheel until the officer ask me for my information.

Ive had an officer pull me over and as soon as I gave him my DL and concealed license he asked where my gun was. I told him holstered on my right hip. He hands me my DL and says slow down then walks away. Pretty sweet. All others have wrote up a warning except one. He was a captain and wrote me up then proceeded to have a conversation about my carry pistol.....really nice guy if he would have just given me a warning. Lol!

[Richard R.]

CCW for Indiana can be purchased for lifetime (approx $175.00). A little different here, no classes, just paperwork, a valid reason and a background check. Same rules, hands on the wheel, and it is recommended to present your CCW with your DL.

[Brian Briggs]

Hands on the wheel and tell the cop where my gun(s) are at. My wife and I have carried since we were of legal age to get a permit.

We were on a cruise sitting at a table eating with 2 elderly Canadian women and a couple from Texas. The Canadian women almost spit their food out when the 4 of us started talking about carrying guns everywhere we went

[Kowboy]

Legally you are not obligated to do so but they get upset if they find out later

This rule varies from state to state, so it's best to make sure where you are.

[topshop]

Kind of backwards and scary but NC passed a law last year to allow people with a carry permit to bring their guns into a bar.

[oatesgranite]

Enhanced concealed carry here. Concealed carry only requires background check and 90 day wait, the enhanced endorsement requires an eight hour class. With an enhanced permit in Mississippi just about no place is off limits but police dept. or courtroom. Everyone is different but most officers I know prefer you let them know you are carrying when stopped. A large number of states recognize others permits but rules for those states might differ. It is good to check each state before traveling but if you don't get stopped who will know anyway.

[Kowboy]

Kind of backwards and scary but NC passed a law last year to allow people with a carry permit to bring their guns into a bar.

I'm not seeing the problem. If you're carrying, you can blow an .02 on a breathalyzer. What difference does it make if you're in a bar or not?

Wyoming has the right idea: https://www.nraila.org/articles/2015020 ... sses-house

[ash20ash]

i carry as well. And shoot as much as I possibly can. Very relaxing to forget about stress from the day by concentrating on form and trigger pull. I have even been playing around with a pellet pistol, and airsoft 1911 this winter when its too cold to go outside. Shooting stuff is just plain fun.
Was easier when the sight was not soooo blurry

[Kowboy]

Was easier when the sight was not soooo blurry

Ouch. True dat.

[Alex DiPietro]

Blows my mind you all have guns... I have no need for a gun. Seems so Wild West in the country...

[ageless]

Their must be zero crime in NY!

[Ken Lago]

I never owned a gun and only shot one a couple of times and I must say it's a powerful feeling holding one, that is probably what draws people towards them. I have gotten this far without one and probably will continue that unless I see an absolute necessity.

[Dan R.]

Alex, you did well shooting @ Jean's workshop!

Ken, the unfortunate truth of waiting until you absolutely see a necessity, is that it is usually too late to be prepared.

The very thought that there may be armed resistance is a great deterrent to both petty crime and violent crime. Most criminals (like an predator) look for easy prey.

I feel the beauty in firearms, is their mechanical workings paired with the craftsmanship and artistry. I view guns to be very similar to watches in their utility, craftsmanship and collectibility.

I do agree with Ken, that guns can be empowering.
Ash is right on about relieving stress, while having fun at the range.

[Ken Lago]

This is my opinion.
You can compare it to martial arts, the better you get at the art the more you understand how to avoid confrontation and actually use it. If you are a "wanna be" or a "new era black belt" or just being a good shot on the range then its a false sense of security and probably going to get you or someone unintentionally hurt.
Necessity is based upon accessing what reasonably insures survival in a situation or place you choose to put yourself in. Being aware of your surroundings is more vital than weapons in a survival situation. Again I fault no one for having a full toolbox.

[Dan R.]

Excellent post Ken, situational awareness is the best tool!

When you posted that you have gone this long without needing one and have gotten on okay without a gun, I immediately thought that is how I feel about sushi!