I've been concealed carrying for a little over a year now...

[rudeguy]

...and its definitely been a learning experience. I thought I would share for those that are interested in the subject. Please feel free to add your own thoughts and experiences.


My first time out carrying it was to the grocery store. It was a really busy store and I was paranoid like never before. I thought everyone was staring at me and my gun and I thought for sure at any moment a flood of cops was going to come in and put me on the floor at gunpoint. Turns out no one noticed or if they did they didn't care. I still have a hard time remembering that if someone does catch a glimpse of my gun, the worst thing that will happen is I'll get to talk to a cop. But I've never had anyone notice.

I am much more polite while I am carrying. I let more cars in front of me, I hold more doors open, I say thank you and please a lot more as well. This isn't something I do intentionally, it just happens. I think its the fact that I want to avoid confrontations. Confrontations are never fun...when there are guns involved confrontations can turn very bad, very quick.

On that subject, I've only had one real confrontation. I was getting some work done on my car and some guy was causing a fuss. He was cussing up a storm as he was leaving the store. I have a natural reaction to people being pissed off: I laugh. Apparently this guy didn't like that and he started cussing at me. This made me smile even more because he had no reason to be mad at me. Then he stopped heading outside and started heading towards me, still cussing. As he took a couple steps I felt my thumb go under my shirt on my right side, readying to draw. This made me consciously decide that if he took one more step in my direction, I was going to draw and keep him at a safe distance. Before that did happen, an employee told the guy to GTFO and he did. I don't think he'll never know how close he came to having a life changing experience.

I've had many road ragers cuss me out, flip me off, cut me off...but I've never thought about drawing on any of them. Thought about ramming them...but not shooting them.

The more I carry, the more I shoot, the more I touch guns...the more I am scared of having an accident. I've always been a safety nut but now its almost OCD how careful I am around guns.

A good belt and holster really are important. Having a cheap holster could cost you dearly and having a cheap belt could end in a bunch of people knowing you have a gun. That's not a good thing.

I know a lot of people that carry, who you would never guess they are gun guys/girls. It turns out normal people like guns too.


So those are the main things I can think of at the moment. Please feel free to add your thoughts and questions. Let's keep this civil please.

 

[luv2liv]

let us know who the first person you killed
i get the feeling this is gonna be an awesome thread

 

[silverpig]

I have a natural reaction to people being pissed off: I laugh. Apparently this guy didn't like that and he started cussing at me. This made me smile even more because he had no reason to be mad at me. Then he stopped heading outside and started heading towards me, still cussing. As he took a couple steps I felt my thumb go under my shirt on my right side, readying to draw. This made me consciously decide that if he took one more step in my direction, I was going to draw and keep him at a safe distance. Before that did happen, an employee told the guy to GTFO and he did. I don't think he'll never know how close he came to having a life changing experience.

So you laughed like a jackass at a guy having a bad day, then smiled like a smartass at him until he took a few steps towards you before you reached for your gun.

Bravo.

 

[rudeguy]

So you laughed like a jackass at a guy having a bad day, then smiled like a smartass at him until he took a few steps towards you before you reached for your gun.

Bravo.

I din't reach at all. My thumb went up the inside of my shirt, that is all.

But your other points are right on. Its a natural reaction I have, its a character flaw. It happens at work when people cuss me out. I just don't have a mute button in real life to avoid having to explain it.

 

[Baked]

I know some asshole wrote or said that smiling is the best way to disarm somebody. I totally disagree. I think it will only further agitate the subject. This is way I always keep a stone face in front of my employees. However, this causes the employees to think I'm disrespecting them. Fuck my life...

 

[mnewsham]

So you laughed like a jackass at a guy having a bad day, then smiled like a smartass at him until he took a few steps towards you before you reached for your gun.

Bravo.

It's more of an uncontrollable action, you can try and stop but that usually makes it look weirder.

 

[Lifted]

I din't reach at all. My thumb went up the inside of my shirt, that is all.

But your other points are right on. Its a natural reaction I have, its a character flaw. It happens at work when people cuss me out. I just don't have a mute button in real life to avoid having to explain it.

So you're going to pull a gun on somebody you pissed off, and continued to piss off, because he was walking towards you.

You are an epic pussy and should not be carrying. Can't wait to read about you in the paper for shooting some old lady who swung her cane at you.

It's more of an uncontrollable action, you can try and stop but that usually makes it look weirder.

Sounds like the sign of an immature mouth breather.

 

[velillen]

.My first time out carrying it was to the grocery store. It was a really busy store and I was paranoid like never before. I thought everyone was staring at me and my gun and I thought for sure at any moment a flood of cops was going to come in and put me on the floor at gunpoint. Turns out no one noticed or if they did they didn't care. I still have a hard time remembering that if someone does catch a glimpse of my gun, the worst thing that will happen is I'll get to talk to a cop. But I've never had anyone notice.

Haha the first time is always like that it seems. I know mine i thought everyone was going to notice. Nobody seemed to or cared at least.

Only had one time with a cop and it was more just weird than anything. Went to get gas and pulled up and turned the truck off and was writing a couple texts back to people before i got out (since i wont text and drive period). Well during that minute or two a sheriff had pulled up and gotten out to fill his patrol car up. No big deal i hop out and start filling mine. Right after i set the little auto fill lever and step back the cop heads my way. All i could think of is crap he can see my gun and is going to give me crap for it. Well instead he just came up asking me about my truck, how i liked it, if i had towed anything, ect. Let him look inside since he was curious on the interior. Nice guy and was nice to talk to. Finished up and he came closer and just told me quietly " if your going to concealed carry you should make sure your shirt covers the gun all the way when you get out of the turck". Then he walked off with a smile. Little had i know that i guess when id undone my seat belt and hopped out my shirt and lifted a bit and got caught on the holster leaving the bottom half exposed. Was just a weird experience but overall pretty good.

 

[rudeguy]

So you're going to pull a gun on somebody you pissed off, and continued to piss off, because he was walking towards you.

You are an epic pussy and should not be carrying. Can't wait to read about you in the paper for shooting some old lady who swung her cane at you.



Sounds like the sign of an immature mouth breather.

Please tell me how I pissed him off? What action did I take that warranted him threatening me and then then coming towards me?

Again..I never drew. I only decided at what point I would draw. I left myself plenty of outs.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Nothing wrong with carrying a gun. I know lots of people who regularly open carry. You probably shouldn't be thinking of drawing on everyone who looks at you crossways. You also shouldnt be patting yourself on the back for not drawing on people who cut you off in traffic. Just something to think about.

 

[Imp]

So.. you were willing to turn a threatening stance of dominace or maybe a fist fight into a gun fight... Okay.

No way would it be reasonable to think about adding a "walk away" and "hey buddy, I don't want any trouble", or "dude, sorry, let this one go" infront of "I was going to draw and keep him at a safe distance".

 

[mnewsham]

So you're going to pull a gun on somebody you pissed off, and continued to piss off, because he was walking towards you.

You are an epic pussy and should not be carrying. Can't wait to read about you in the paper for shooting some old lady who swung her cane at you.

So you're saying if I smile when some douchebag throws a hissy fit he now has the RIGHT to get pissed at me and possibly assault me?

Lol riiiighhhhht...

 

[Lifted]

Please tell me how I pissed him off?

Mouth breather laughs at guy already pissed off about something to do with his car. Genius move. Oh sorry, you couldn't control it.

What action did I take that warranted him threatening me and then then coming towards me?

Again..I never drew. I only decided at what point I would draw. I left myself plenty of outs.

Awesome. You left out the part where you said "Sorry, wasn't laughing at you." before you were getting ready to pull a gun on an obviously irate person who may have been carrying himself.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Nothing wrong with carrying a gun. I know lots of people who regularly open carry. You probably shouldn't be thinking of drawing on everyone who looks at you crossways. You also shouldnt be patting yourself on the back for not drawing on people who cut you off in traffic. Just something to think about.

Seriously, in none of those situations would I even think of needing a gun. Talk about being paranoid.

 

[Lifted]

So you're saying if I smile when some douchebag throws a hissy fit he now has the RIGHT to get pissed at me and possibly assault me?

Are you retarded?

Why yes. Yes you are.

 

[SKORPI0]

Too bad, IL does not allow CCW.

 

[amdhunter]

So you're saying if I smile when some douchebag throws a hissy fit he now has the RIGHT to get pissed at me and possibly assault me?

Lol riiiighhhhht...

Only if you have a hoodie, Arizona Iced Tea and Skittles.

 

[sourceninja]

I've had a few people notice I'm carrying, but only one person every make a big deal about it. I was kicked out of buffalo wild wings. They have a no guns policy apparently. I don't eat there anymore out of respect.

I never worried about the police, I did used to worry a lot about people seeing it and thinking it would be fun to try to grab it. I've gotten really good at controlling space on my gun side due to that little quirk.

 

[Mxylplyx]

So since you started carrying, you are more paranoid in public and always afraid you are going to have an accident with your firearm? Please leave your gun at home and carry a pocket knife instead.

 

[Corporate Thug]

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that all the daily gun carriers live in nice safe neighborhoods...because if you open carry in the hood, you'll get waived instantly.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i wish i could cc. i know if i did and i happened to be in that theater in aurora, there would be 11 less deaths that night.

 

[Zorkorist]

Takes a pretty special person to Conceal Carry today.

They pretty much swear off women, drink, drugs, etc.

Their todays new "Priests."

Self inflicted, of course.

-John

 

[SandEagle]

OP, i can still kick yo a##

 

[Gerle]

I was kicked out of buffalo wild wings. They have a no guns policy apparently. I don't eat there anymore out of respect.

Respect? I'm assuming you mean self respect, I'd never give them my business after they'd denied me the means of self defense. Do they allow armed law enforcement officers in there? They better not, if they didn't want your business...

 

[blankslate]

This is way I always keep a stone face in front of my employees.

Maybe if you nodded when they say stuff.