CCW'ed for the First Time Today

[AnklePocket]

I've joined your ranks. I recently got my Florida Permit and spent the day working in Pennsylvania (they reciprocate). Put my trusty Kahr PM9 in my pocket holster (after crossing the bridge) and was on my way.
It was very weird. Not once did I have a sudden urge to hold up a Wawa (regional food mart) or rob an elderly couple. I actually felt empowered to be as lawful as was humanly possible with the extraordinary responsibility of honoring our Founding Fathers trust and confidence in the law-abiding citizen.
Not once did I have a single evil thought all day. Actually knowing that I was taking full personal responsibility for my safety made me kind of happy-go-lucky.
Well, that's about it. I'm back in New Jersey right now where many will want to slap me on the wrist for having free thought, but who knows, maybe there is a future for Constitutional Rights.

[RTFM]

WOW I'm first tor reply!. Not bad for the new guy.
It is strange for a while, but in a real good way huh?
I gave up alcohol when out and about. Now if I have a beer, it's at home only. FWIW.

[Hkmp5sd]

After I got my CCW, for about a week, I'd swear that everyone around me could see the gun and I was very cautious not to let it print. After a while, it became like carrying a wallet. Don't even know it's there until you reach for it and when it's not there, get the feeling something just isn't right.

[Airwolf]

Whenever I pack it always ramps up my caution levels and my desire to keep to the "straight and narrow". I find that I can't be too casual while CCW'ing, there's too much responsibility during those times (which I gladly accept).

As the saying goes: “An armed society is a polite society”. I think that's the most accurate description I've ever heard. Since I have an AZ CCW and carry when visiting, I know that just about anyone around me could be packing as well, I try and be on my best behavior.

:cool:

[PATH]

Welcome to the world of exercising your rights. Feels great though. eh?:D

[Don Gwinn]

Congratulations from one of the six or seven places left where no CCW is possible.

[Standing Wolf]

Congratulations! Both you and the nation are now a little safer.

[DRC]

Welcome to the realm of legally packing heat :) I must say you have good taste in pistols too. I carry a Kahr K-40 I love to shoot the thing every chance I get (at the range, not at people). Great pistols in my opinion.

Isn't it amazing how when you go to all the trouble and jump through all the hoops to get a CCW how one becomes more aware of the consequences and more law abiding and not the opposite? The anti's should be made to go through the courses and then I believe they would calm down a little about CCW's; they shouldn't judge until they know something about it.

Don Gwinn,

You can get a non-resident CCW if you wish (if you don't already have one) Granted you can't carry in your home state but you can in the state you get the license from and in the states that offer reciprocity. You probably already know that but just in case you didn't...The more CCW's the merrier.

Take care,

DRC

[OF]

Packin' heat is good for you, good for your neighboors, good for your family and good for the country.

Packin' heat. Do it for the children.

- Gabe

[CZ-75]

Some reason why you don't live and work both in a CCW state? The PRNJ doesn't sound like it's worth staying for, esp. when you've already got a job on the free side of the border.

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Congrats!

Where did you get fingerprinted?

- pdmoderator

[WonderNine]

It was very weird. Not once did I have a sudden urge to hold up a Wawa (regional food mart) or rob an elderly couple. I actually felt empowered to be as lawful as was humanly possible with the extraordinary responsibility of honoring our Founding Fathers trust and confidence in the law-abiding citizen.

I've been CCW since I was 21 (with a firearm). I don't know, I've just never had that urge to hold up a liquor store either. Perhaps we're unusual? Still working on getting my CCW permit....whenever I can afford the $75 + whatever other fees and have time for the B.S.

After I got my CCW, for about a week, I'd swear that everyone around me could see the gun and I was very cautious not to let it print. After a while, it became like carrying a wallet. Don't even know it's there until you reach for it and when it's not there, get the feeling something just isn't right.

What kind of gun do you carry? I know what you mean about "something not being right". Every once in awhile I go unheeled just to remind myself. Last time I did there was a really suspicious weirdo I ran into, I don't think I'll be going un(fire)armed again for a long time.


Whenever I pack it always ramps up my caution levels and my desire to keep to the "straight and narrow". I find that I can't be too casual while CCW'ing, there's too much responsibility during those times

Funny, I'm usually the exact opposite. It's like when I'm unstrapped I can't be myself and I feel all dorky and "straight and narrow" just trying to avoid everything. But when I'm CCWing I can be myself. And don't get me wrong, it's not because of an inferiority complex, I'm not a small guy :cool: , just too much angling in my head all the time about what other people are up to.

Isn't it amazing how when you go to all the trouble and jump through all the hoops to get a CCW how one becomes more aware of the consequences and more law abiding and not the opposite?

I'm gonna call B.S. on that one. Any intelligent person knows that there are consequences to their actions. Some people are just less worried about the consequences than others.

Congrats!

Where did you get fingerprinted?

At the County Court building two years ago, after I payed my $50 fine for accidently writing a bad check for $18.

[Hkmp5sd]

What kind of gun do you carry?

At the time, it was a S&W Model 59. Nowadays, it's a Glock 17.

[WonderNine]

Where do you have problems concealing it? Out in public or at work? I would never try to carry a full sized handgun at work, not even a compact. But in public a full sized is no problem for me.

[Hkmp5sd]

WonderNine,

I don't have trouble hiding it. I was paranoid about people seeing it when I first started out carrying concealed 15 or so years ago. :) I'm good enough at hiding them now that people that know I am carrying a gun cannot locate it.

[AnklePocket]

pd:
I got fingerprinted at my local police department and they were glad to do it. It took a few minutes and I think it was $5, but I forget.

[Newton]

Where did you verify that your out of state Florida CCW is DEFINITELY valid in Pennsylvania.

Please don't tell me it was www.packing.org.

Newton

[Hkmp5sd]

Newton,

Would you believe the State of Florida's Division of Licensing website (http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/concealed_carry.html) ?

[Newton]

That's what I was looking for.

Now maybe I'll fill out my application, it's been sitting on my desk for 3 months.

[concerned citizen]

Hey AnklePocket...congrats..

What kind of pocketholster did you use?

[AnklePocket]

You can find a real good one at www.hedleyholsters.com . I ended up with one from www.andrewsleather.com . Both are great and the winner was strictly personal preference. Also tried the DeSantis Nemesis which was exceptional, but not as "secure" in the pocket.

[concerned citizen]

Thanks..how long was the wait?

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Thanks, ap. I've had the Florida forms sitting on my desk for better than a year now, but decided that I really didn't feel like I needed to CCW in Pennsey. (Lived in Free Pennsylvania for ten years and the worst problem I had was some kid throwing a pomegranate at me. If I was living in Philly again I might feel differently -- and I'm not totally defenseless now, either.)

Cheers,

- pdmoderator