My first day carrying

My GFL arrived in the mail today, so finally my Bersa gets to leave the house.

Anyway, I've fired this gun on the range a few times already and familiarized myself with its controls and operation. I will be saving to get enrolled in a carry class ASAP, but I at least wanted to take a short trip CCing today.

My first destination? IHOP, followed by Walmart. The IWB holster took some adjusting until I finally felt comfortable wearing it. I didn't feel different on the inside like some people do. After the first few minutes of making sure I wasn't printing too much, I kinda got over it entirely. I knew the gun was there, but I didn't feel like everybody was looking at me or at my gun. I also didn't feel any more "empowered."

Don't get me wrong. I am glad to be exercising my 2A right, and I didn't feel anything negative on my first day of carry (except the IWB holster did make my pants tighter). I just didn't feel the dramatic difference that some people have described.

I have found carrying to be more of a hassle than anything, what with my gun dragging my pants down and all but I expect that should the need ever arise I will be more than repaid for my trouble P.S. its kinda hard to feel empowered while you're pulling up your britches

Haha. I was afraid I was the only one who was actually annoyed by my gun and holster when I first put it on. IWB is not the most comfortable thing in the world for all body shapes, I guess. I'll be needing to wear a tucked in undershirt to keep the holster from rubbing against my body. I'll need a good belt to keep the gun from pulling my pants down.

Welcome to the Club!
My first day of carry, I was so worried that I was printing. My GF finally told me that I was fine and even though she knew it was there, she could not see it. IWB carry is kind of a pain, but it's all I've got right now.

My GFL arrived in the mail today, so finally my Bersa gets to leave the house.

Anyway, I've fired this gun on the range a few times already and familiarized myself with its controls and operation. I will be saving to get enrolled in a carry class ASAP, but I at least wanted to take a short trip CCing today.

My first destination? IHOP, followed by Walmart. The IWB holster took some adjusting until I finally felt comfortable wearing it. I didn't feel different on the inside like some people do. After the first few minutes of making sure I wasn't printing too much, I kinda got over it entirely. I knew the gun was there, but I didn't feel like everybody was looking at me or at my gun. I also didn't feel any more "empowered."

Don't get me wrong. I am glad to be exercising my 2A right, and I didn't feel anything negative on my first day of carry (except the IWB holster did make my pants tighter). I just didn't feel the dramatic difference that some people have described.

I'm glad your carry experience went well. My carry experience seems similar to yours--I really didn't think of it. Well, maybe there is a little adjustment to the fact that you know you're carrying a weapon, but that's it.

By the way, the people who feel "empowered" when they start carrying shouldn't be carrying in the first place. A gun is just a tool to defend yourself with--its job is not to make you feel tougher or more bad ass.

What kind of Bersa do you have?

I think there was a time in my life when carrying a gun would've made me feel more "empowered," but then I grew up. :)

These days, I'm a happier, more confident person. I don't need a gun to make me feel tough or to make me feel good about myself. I just carry it as a tool that can give me options beyond cowering and hoping for the best if I should ever be in mortal danger.

Ok to answer a little more seriously I do IWB as well W/ a CZ75B I have a gluteus minimus so I literally have to use suspenders. The coolest thing I remember about the day I got my CHP , was the letter I got that said that I was a responsible ,law abiding citizen. other than that I actually don't think my schedule permited me to carry for a few days after I got my permit anyway. When I finally could carry I walked around wal mart & it felt like everyone stared at me. now I sometimes forget I'm carrying

I was pleased to see that you didn't feel "empowered" on your first day of carrying. I really hate to hear someone say that they CCW because it's "cool".

I've legally CCW'ed for more than 35 years, as a LEO and now as a retired LEO. Back in 1965, I was 18 years old and living in Los Angeles when the Watts riot broke out. My dad handed me his S&W model 14 revolver and ORDERED me to carry it while the riotting was hot and heavy. I did so, but with extreme caution. It wasn't "cool", and I didn't feel "empowered", so maybe carrying that revolver illegally was a good lesson for me. It sure made me steer clear of trouble spots!

Glad your first day went well for you. When I first got my CCW, I felt like everybody around me somehow knew I was carrying. I knew nobody could see it, but I couldn't stop having that feeling. Thankfully it went away soon enough, and carrying feels as regular as wearing pants.

Congrats on the first day. I would encourage taking your class, and btw, a good stiff belt will make carry much more comfortable.

I just hope that "good stiff belt" isn't Wild Turkey. Sorry, couldn't resist...

There are many ways to carry. WB carry is popular these days, but it has some serious drawbacks. I really like pocket carry with the little Galco holsters. Shoulder carry is underrated these days, mostly because of current doctrine claiming it's too slow. There is no perfect solution for everybody. You have to experiment and see what works best and fastest for you. Ideally it should be something you hardly notice, that cannot be seen, but that allows quick access when needed. What works best for some champion shooter may cause your lumbar to seize up and be a constant annoyance.

Double thick dress belt - 1.5 high and .25 thick. Have a good look at The Belt Man (http://www.thebeltman.net/).

Trying to hang a heavy gun on a department store belt is like trying to use a wet spaghetti noodle to lift a rock. The belt is even more important than the holster.

Welcome to the club! Always carry, never tell.

Sounds like a call to the beltman is in order

www.thebeltman.net

+2 on getting a good belt. I wear a Bianchi Garrison Belt to hold up my pants with a three-inch S&W Model 13 in a Kramer Horsehide IWB #2 on the right and a Taurus 85SSUL in a Bianchi Minimalist on the left. One more thing - IWB requires one more inch of waistband in your pants or you'll feel like a burrito with a string tied too tightly around the middle.

ECS

IWB only works for me and my pants because I've been losing weight, so my pants that are now too big for me are perfect for IWB carry days.

I don't like IWB carry mostly because it's uncomfortable. I carry a J frame revolver in my front pocket and forget it's even there.

Wow, it seems it didn't take long for your CCW to come in. I'm at the 2 month point waiting in Cobb county and they told me to expect 3-4 months. Even though GA law says 60 days, I don't think a lot of counties pay much attention to that. I also can't believe it takes that long for my background check as I'm retired military and currently a federal employee with an active security clearance. Oh well, I'll be joining the carry crowd someday...

NGIB, I'm on the complete other end of the waiting spectrum. It took 6 days for my CCW permit to reach me via mail (Camden County, Active Military with security clearence). I would raise a ruckus with your county's probate court (or whomever issues it in you county).

Back to the subject, though, it was a change for me. I'm used to carrying in the open and no one giving a second glance. Around civies it changes vastly. You have to make sure the mags (or spdlrs), holster and/or butt aren't printing or showing. Definately a shift for my best friend and I (we go most places together, and got our CCW at the same time).

Good luck and I hope you never have to use it.

Regards and Semper Fi!
-L7

You may want to invest in a GOOD pair or suspenders. I find them helpful when I'm not carrying and absolutely necessary when I am. The best ones I've found are sold at Walmart (where else). The hook under your belt and will not come off unless you take them off. I guess it really depends on how you are built, but I've found them essential.

Isn't CC in walmart the first requirement of every permit:)

The Georgia Firearms License isn't just a CC permit. It allows open carry too. I normally CC because it's smarter and less likely to cause me problems, but today I semi-CCed at the grocery store. I had both Bersas OWB with a "busy" print Hawaiian shirt and a windbreaker on.

So far, the list is:
IHOP
Walmart
Kroger
McDonalds

"Isn't CC in walmart the first requirement of every permit"

Not necessarily - here on the Mexican border Walmart, HEB Grocers, and many restaurants post signs that only "Licensed" may cary and your CCW/CPL don't qualify as "Licensed"

Not necessarily - here on the Mexican border Walmart, HEB Grocers, and many restaurants post signs that only "Licensed" may cary and your CCW/CPL don't qualify as "Licensed"
If you are talking about the US side of the border then those signs mean NOTHING. They can't legally stop you from carrying a handgun in their store. BUT, they can ask you to leave because it's private property and if you don't you can be charged with Trespassing. In any event, any store which posts a sign like that doesn't get my business anyway. I refuse to spend my money with people like that.

I get stared at no matter what, I could walk around with a sawed off 12 gauge, with or without, i would get stared at!! I am not paranoid, I catch them staring at me!! Oh, I am 6'4" tall and about 300 lbs. OH oh, oh...my wife is 4'9" and 95 pounds.

Yeah - the gun doesn't empower you any more than it doesn't guarantee your survival. It's not a magic talisman. Rather, it's presence helps you to remain cordial so that no situation becomes escallated (if you can help it). In the worst case scenario it helps level the playing field and gives you some recourse to survive. It gives me no power but the burden of responsibility.

Also, nobody carries because it is convenient to do so. I figure that I carry for the same reason that I have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in my house. I don't expect to have a fire today and I'm not paranoid of fire; but just the same I'd like to be prepared.

Shoot safe - and welcome to the club :)

My firearms instructor warned us that here in Colorado you must respect all "no firearm" signs on private property. It IS the law that the wishes of the establishment owner are respected.

A little while back several people watched a Jaguar at the Denver Zoo kill one of the workers in the big cat house. I wondered if that situation might have been different if the Zoo didn't have a "no firearms" policy. Then again, very few people exercise their right to "bear".

In CT, they can post no firearms signs, but you can still legally carry until they specifically ask you to leave, at which point it is trespassing if you don't. Since they don't allow (notice i said "they," not the law... different topic there...) open carry, they should never know the difference anyway.

I started carrying last summer, and for the first few weeks, I could swear that people were staring at my gun. Most of my close friends know that I carry, and after a few months of them having to ask me if I had my gun on me, I knew I was concealing it well.

the IWB holster did make my pants tighter

No, you just came from IHOP. Get on the bike for 30 minutes and you will be fine. I think there is a thread floating around here somewhere about how to carry on a bike...

I'm wondering if the guy who first said, "God made man. Sam Colt made them equal" was of the opinion that the gun wasn't an empowering force in his life.