[brett30030]

There is an "embarrassing carry moment" thread going on here, and one person posted that "I was trail riding (dirtbike) w/ some friends of mine (one of which didn't know I CCW)" . It made me think, am i the only one who does not share that i carry with anyone but my wife? I have friends for years that have never seen me unarmed, but they don't know that i was ever carrying. Just curious as i consider unarmed people (who know i am carrrying) a danger to me and my families safety (their actions could compromise mine) if we are ever in a situation that would/could require me to pull my gun.

[jamz]

I only know of one other guy.

[ball3006]

assume I am carrying because they are...............everyone else has no business knowing.....chris3

[skinewmexico]

At least 30-40. I think everyone I shoot IDPA and 3 gun with has a CHL.

[Hoppy590]

most know i have a license. none know when/if i carry.

[Dustinthewind]

Since I had to go to the police dept. to send in the paperwork, I would imagine that the whole police force knows, then there are the people that the A.G. mistakenly sent my permit to, other than that, close friends and closer family.

[RungSat65]

Most people who know or have heard of me know that I am armed in one way or another. Most are not sure what I have ---knife , pepper spray , handgun or all 3. I like it that way.

[Boulder]

one.

[Hkmp5sd]

Everyone I know.

[Javelin]

most know i have a license. none know when/if i carry.

+1

:)

[TexasBen317]

Really? it is no bodies business, and I "know" of one other only because he mentioned it, and I have know him since about 1958 or so..

That's why they are concealed.. :rolleyes:

[kd7nqb]

It no secret to most of my friends and Co-workers that I have a CHL and believe strongly in the RKBA. I dont feel the need to inform anybody when I am carrying. I do generally tell the girl but its no surprise since she is generally carrying too.

[TBT]

I'm to vocal about the benefits of carrying a weapon for my closer friends not to know. The benefits of speaking up and sharing with them and educating them outweigh any possible negative it might gain me.

[ArchAngelCD]

It's nobody's business but my own. Other than immediate family nobody knows, that's why it's called concealed.

[Thernlund]

There are people that don't? Nawww... you're joking.


-T.

[possum]

all my family, the only exceptions being random family members that i don't see often etc.
99% of my co workers

[mrreynolds]

My friends call me Rambro because I have six CCW permits but I reside in New York, NY they don't understand me..call Dr. Phil.

[FranklyTodd]

My wife knows I have a permit, but not if/when I'm carrying...

Others - nope.

[brentwal]

About a dozen or so, must of them carry too.:D

[sandwich]

My mother, my father, my sister, my grandparents, two friends of mine, and the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office. That makes seven, not counting the ACSO of course.

[chris in va]

My roommate's daughter (who lives here too) always has her girlfriends over. I try not to make a show of it, but I usually have *something* on my side at all times.

I'd say probably 10 or so.

[eyebrows]

Some family members and some friends know I'm generally armed. Most of those who know also carry or into firearms, so our disscussions often pertain to the guns on our hips.

My neighbor across the street might know as well. Once I forgot and walked outside with only a under shirt on and my Sig226 in the waistband, neighbor was in his yard and looked at me but I'm not sure he noticed.

[ADKWOODSMAN]

My grown kids knew I always had short barreled .357 or .44 Mag. when we were hiking, walking, fishing, etc. or at hunting camp. They know I would not have changed my habit.

My wife usually knows I have some gun when we travel in state. It's just my style.

[gym]

In my state I assume any and all. I owned a Gym and just about every young man and many women carried guns. The reason I brought up the gym, is that people always feel comfortable talking to me, and many woud ask if I would lock up thier weapon for them. They say that 80% of folks that live in FL, have a handgun, so I would assume that everyone may be armed, and be right 80% of the time. In NY, I felt that a lot less people were armed, I was the only one of my friends who was legally allowed to carry a gun. So no one except my close friends, not even girlfriends knew, unless it was a long term relationship. I think it depends more on where you live. The South has a lot more relaxed attitude towrds guns in general. The first gun show I went to down here I was in shock. All these folks had guns? Holy cow, old, young, doctors, lawyers, ladies, poor folks, rich folks, yep this must be the South, God bless America.

[LaneAtomic]

So who wants to move me out of the People's Republic of Illinois so I -CAN- carry? ;)

When I was an armed guard, it was obvious when I carried. Other than that, what's legal carry? :/

[WVMountainBoy]

Most of my regular bunch of friends, mainly because we shoot together and a lot of us took the CCW class together. My co-workers know, because we compare notes on rounds and such. (I'm a dispatcher for the WVSP) and I try to let anyone who's home I'm going to be spending time in know, just in case it bothers them. (Its their home, I try to respect it)

[HM2PAC]

The majority of my close friends, and anyone who has hunted with me. My wife and my children. The kids are so used to seeing them, they think everyone carries.

My co-workers have an idea, but everyone knows not to ask. Strange un-written rule.

One of my hunting buddies is really strange about sidearms. He won't own one himself, and admittedly is afraid of the things. However he always makes sure I have mine when we are out and about. One day while out fishing he found large cat prints near a stream. Probably lynx or bobcat, but there have been lion sightings these last few years. The only thought he had was "Why isn't HM2PAC here now?"

I don't know if I believe there are lions in Maine or not. But I always have a .45 with me.

[Conqueror]

Probably 6-10 people know I have a CCW.

[gcrookston]

I guess only my wife and maybe a couple of gun store owners know I carry. It isn't something I advertise with a sign plastered on my back that reads "he has a gun"

[Grizzly Adams]

I don't anounce it but most people that know me know that I'm an avid shooter and gun owner. That being said it's probably come up in conversation.

[Joe Gunns]

5 = wife and two friends and, I have to assume, their wives. But wait-- there are the 10+= the employees and clerks at gunshops and sporting goods stores where I have used the CCW to avoid the three day wait. 12 = the number of folks in the carry class. Hmmm,and however many have read this site, work in the offices of the WAC and TRRC and some of the guys I have done FTF deals with. IOW, a heckuva lot more than I thought at first.
James

[brett30030]

Not to get off my own topic, but i stopped by a quicky mart the other day on the way home from work for an adult beverage. The clerk asked for an ID (I am nearly 21 X2), and i pulled it out to show her. She saw my permit and asked about it. An older, matronly, grandmother type lady came up as i was telling her how to go about getting one. The older lady said "yes, and the look like this" and whipped her permit out. "Everyone should have one, know how to use guns, i'm glad my father taught me and my sisters to shoot, and everyone should own 2 or 3 guns" she said. It was very comforting to know that there are still women who feel this way. I came home and told my wife, and she just rolled her eyes (I guess some people will never get it).

[TallPine]

Probably quite a few, since I open carry a lot in the summer. ;)

I did wonder what our neighbors' friends from Germany thought when they walked by one day ... though maybe they never even noticed because they wouldn't be expecting such a thing.

When the fellow that bought the place behind me was here last summer, I was up there at his place helping him figure out some electrical problems - OCW as usual. He and his girlfriend and I were chatting while waiting for the power company, when he disappeared for a few minutes. I stepped out to find him and then he was wearing his revolver now. :)

[Intrepid Dad]

Except for the guys who work at my gun club, I don't know anyone who carries.

As a side note, I used to attend New Life Church here in Colorado Springs and didn't know anyone who carried, although I assumed in a congregation of 7,000 people I couldn't be the only one.

[glockgod]

Q-"Why do you carry a gun?"
A-"Cause a police officer is too heavy":)

[grimjaw]

A few of my immediate family members know, and a couple of friends. I know I'm not the only one, because I've traded horses with several folks in WA state who had CPLs. I don't publish the fact that I carry, but I do talk about the right to carry with people.

jm

[Arkady]

A fair number of my regular customers at work know--at my shop, "Carry Gun Show-and-Tell" usually works out to be at least a weekly event amongst the regulars.

Combine a cigar shop, an oversize coffee pot, and close proximity to an army base, and these things start to seem normal.

[Richmond]

Lets see:


everyone who works in my law office (about a dozen people)
everyone who works at my friendly local gunstore, where I buy guns and ammo for carry use
most of my advanced martial arts students, who I cross train by teaching basic firearms skills and safety
many people who take the CCW class in this part of the state, as I recorded a video on the law and self defense that some instructors use to comply with the course requirement. I mean, I imagine most folks watching the video figure it out! ;)
most local law enforcement - since I work in the criminal justice system and shoot with some of them, and it is available on the computer when calling up DL info

[brett30030]

Richmond,

Congratulations You Win

[tblt]

About 10 people

[jdorian]

Once I get my CCW, only my two friends that I am taking the class with and a few close friends will know, and thats only if they decide to get close enough to me to feel the gun.

The CCW in my state is mostly to ease the gun purchase process, not for carrying purposes, but the legal right to carry makes it worthwhile.

[rj112275]

About 5 guys (and gals) in my church group know I carry, because we all went through the CCW class together. My wife went to the class because 3 other gals at church were going too. I'm so proud of her.

[1911 guy]

My wife and folks know, a couple friends, a couple other family members. I really don't make a secret out of it, but I don't bring it up, either. Some folks are skittish about guns, I'm content to let them be willfully ignorant. If they want to know more, we'll discuss firearms. If they want to learn about CCW, I'll share my experiences and help them when I can.

[CAS700850]

The people I would trust with that same gun in their hand.

[fletcher]

I know of a number of people through shooting groups, but considering family/friends, it's only 4.

[mokin]

My wife and a her brother know I have a CCW but probably not when I carry (pretty much all the time). Also the sheriff and a few others involved in issuing the permit (although I doubt they'd recognize me on the street). I imagine a few folks I shoot with suspect I carry as I suspect they carry (I know of two who carry). Many other friends know I have guns but as a topic of conversation it is avoided. I believe most of the people I work with would be shocked to find out I carry, and even to know that I own as many firearms as I do. I see discretion as the first step in concealment.

[The_Shootist]

....but they live in Canada so I guess they don't count.

Heck, none in my family even know I OWN firearms and certainly don't know I carry - for about the last 10 years! I make it a practice not to discuss with any work collegues or anybody outside of those I meet at the range.

[Mat, not doormat]

I don't keep it a secret. I keep it covered because the law says I have to. That said, I don't exactly broadcast it, either. If guns come up in conversation, then the fact that I carry one sometimes comes up, too. If someone shows up at my house, then either they'll spot it on my hip, or they need to have their eyes checked. Either way, it's not a big deal to me.

~~~Mat

[rainbowbob]

Although I only recently obtained a license and a CC revolver (at age 56), at least four of my closest friends have carried for years. I have discussed it with those friends, but not many others.

Which brings up a related issue that I wonder if others have a problem with. My wife is not comfortable around guns. I have convinced her that it makes sense to have a gun locked in the bedroom when we are sleeping as a defense against home invasion. She does not want me to carry when we are together outside the home. I know, it isn't logical. I don't know about the women in your lives - but mine reacts emotionally to most things - not logically. We've been married 32 years, and that's just the way it is.

My reason for carrying has a lot to do with my desire to be able to protect her if need be. My intent is to make her feel more secure. But she insists she feels less secure. She agrees that I am a responsible, loving husband - so it's not me she is afraid of. I've read all the arguments about how we are safer if I am proficient and armed. But as I said - logic is not going to win the discussion.

We are a team that tries to make decisions we both can live with. For the first 30 years of our marriage, I had not expressed any particular interest in carrying a gun. So I have agreed that if my carrying causes her to feel less safe and less secure, I will not carry when I am with her unless and until she agrees that it is a good idea.

Unfortunately, that makes it hard to reconcile my position with her feelings. Carrying without telling her is not an option, because we both consider mutual trust to be important. Anyone else with this problem? Any suggestions?

[1911 guy]

RainbowBob, you've got a bad position there. The bottom line is that your wife is giving in to an irrational fear of an inamimate object, ignoring the cheapening of life that surounds us in our current culture and denying you the means to keep her safe from those elements of our society.

Don't put it to her that bluntly, but that's about the bottom line. Preaching to her will only distance her from a logical conclusion, ignoring the problem won't make it go away. Only you know how much pressure and what form of it your wife will take and actually think about things. Exceed that limit and you'll undo any progress already made.

What worked for me may not, and probably won't, work for you. When we got married, I told my wife it was now my job in life to make sure nobody hurt her (and our son when he came along) and the most effective tool for stopping bad people is a firearm. No discussion. She considers it abnormal for me to get dressed and not put on a handgun.

[Myrdhyn]

All of my friends, my immediate family, and a small handful of extended family (funny how that works). I know I'm probably in the minority, but I honestly don't care who knows I carry.

As far as how many people do I know that carry? I know 6 personally that have permits and a seventh that is getting hers, of those 6 only one I know of does not carry and I know the seventh will as soon as her permit arrives.

[rainbowbob]

The bottom line is that your wife is giving in to an irrational fear of an inanimate object, ignoring the cheapening of life that surrounds us in our current culture and denying you the means to keep her safe from those elements of our society.

1911 Guy:
I have put it to her that bluntly and you're right...it only distanced her from a logical conclusion. If I had been armed when we met (in 1974), it would have been understood that I would continue to carry. She could have made her choice to be with me based on that information. Actually I'm not sure if it was even legal to carry back then in Washington State. Ironically, one of the first times we spent the night together, we were rudely awakened by an idiot friend of a friend who thought it would be hilarious to burst into our room brandishing a handgun. Not funny. That incident probably didn't help with her fear of guns.

My strategy now is to show her that I respect her feelings, continue to train and carry when I am not with her. I also point out incidents in the news that had a good outcome because the good guy was armed, or would have had a better outcome if the good guy was armed. As we all know, these news stories aren’t hard to find. And they have a very profound emotional impact on her. I think she will come around eventually if I am patient and respectful.

[bikerdoc]

my old lady, who also carries, a few close friends who who also carry and for any one else (work etc) its none of thier business

[Jeff F]

Very few. Some of my family knows as does my wife.

[tiko_joe]

a couple of guys that i served with overseas, the wife, my son, and my parents. i pulled it once so i guess the other couple we were with too. but i dont broadcast it but everyone knows i am an advid gun collector so they can think what they want. one hunting buddy but he carries to.