First Time Out w/CCW

[TheCracker]

Nervous? Not at all. But I have lived in Texas all my life and guns are a way if life for a lot of ppl here.

Frankly, it makes me slightly nervous in certain situations when I am not carrying! Not that I am paranoid or anything.

A few weeks ago I was in San Antonio for a convention and could not carry because the convention center forbids concealed weapons. So the 1.2 mile walk o the hotel made me very nervous especially when I went through all the packs of homeless and drug addicts.

The only thing that forbidding concealed weapons does is protect criminals! I would have walked right through them with confidence had I been packing.

 

[wankerjake]

When you first starting CCW'ing, were you nervous?

Not nervous to be carrying, but it was kinda weird cause I could feel it there but nobody could see it. I got used to it pretty fast, now I don't even think about it.

I was about two blocks from home and I spot a dog walking towards us. I am thinking ...great!, my first day of CCW and I shoot a dog. I wonder how that will look to the sheriff?

I bet it would not look good at all, slinging lead in a neighborhood at a dog. I encounter dogs in my neighborhood when I'm out walking, but I'll kick one hard in the face before I shoot it. I have never even thought about reaching for my pistol for a dog in the neighborhood. A pack of feral dogs that are going to attack, ok but how often does that happen? A neighborhood dog or a stray heading my way down the sidewalk...wouldn't even raise my eyebrows. Easy there hoss...

 

[dkk73]

Nervous is a good sign. IMHO, a sign of intelligence, of responsibility. For those who haven't carried before as LEOs or in the military, it is indeed a new experience. It's great if a person is confident or is so accustomed to guns that they had them in a crib... but I think carrying a weapon, as a weapon, is not a small thing.

From a practical standpoint, it's just your brain telling you you're in a new situation and you need to become accustomed to new habits. Post office? Nope. Bar in WA state? Nope. Stare down that rude-but-harmless idiot? Nope. A different calculus if you're unarmed.

First date, first surgery, first flight solo. Think those people might be a bit nervous?

Anyhow, it is kind of funny how one imagines everyone else has x-ray vision when starting out with CCW. You'll find a rhythm and "personal minimums (ie. limits)" very quickly.

My 2 cents.

 

[True Grit]

Man I'm scared to go to Wal-Mart now! I didn't realize everyone there had a gun

 

[kyletx1911]

I'm glad someone brought this topic up! Haha.. I'm currently waiting for my phone call so i can go pick up my CCW permit and I'm already nervous! This must be a common syndrome. I guess after awile it will be just like putting on your pants in the morning =]

yep i was nervous about carrying and printing not now. never been made that i know of.

Now as soon as the pants go up the 1911 goes on

 

[kyletx1911]

I live in an area where, the first year I was up here, some guy next to me in a shop leaned over and dropped his pistol from his shoulder holster.

Clatter! Thunk!

He got a number of amused glances, rolled eyes, and some shaking heads. The attitude around him was, Dude! For God's sake, put that thing away and fasten the damned holster! Were you raised in a barn?

Now, when I lived where you currently live, it wasn't quite like that. Dropping a pistol in public would get you more than a harsh look. Yeah, I know, your state isn't all that bad, but things are a lot more relaxed where guns are concerned once you get out of Clark County.

BTW, did they ever resolve that mess with the officer-involved shooting up on the northwest side, at that CostCo? I mean, that guy didn't even drop his. All he did was expose it, and a store employee freaked out.

Well done on getting your CCW.

Make sure you get some training to go with it.

dont care who you are thats funny

 

[TheCracker]

Nervous is a good sign. IMHO, a sign of intelligence, of responsibility. For those who haven't carried before as LEOs or in the military, it is indeed a new experience. It's great if a person is confident or is so accustomed to guns that they had them in a crib... but I think carrying a weapon, as a weapon, is not a small thing.

I guess I'm not very smart then because I really don't know why someone carrying a weapon legally for self defense would have any reason to be nervous. On the other hand I could understand a criminal that is about to commit a crime getting nervous. Maybe it could be the fact that you are doing something that previously would possibly get you time in prison? Maybe a guilty conscious because you were raised in an anti-gun environment.
I do take carrying a weapon very seriously and don't go out feeling like John Wayne looking for a brawl. It just makes me feel more confident that in the very slight chance that I would need it I had it.

 

[Nushif]

A neighborhood dog or a stray heading my way down the sidewalk...wouldn't even raise my eyebrows. Easy there hoss...

Yupyup. Big 'grats on your CCW. Now uh ... don't follow the fallacy that because you have a hammer everything is a nail. 8)

 

[sdj]

Also having grown up in restrictive states, the first times out were a bit nerve-wracking. It was quite foreign and for me, required many weeks (months, really) before full integration came about. Also very challenging was the correct gun and holster combination. Like many other folks, I tried many holsters and firearms before I found what worked for me. It takes time, but it is rewarding. Good luck.

 

[Rich223]

yah, now it's just second nature that you understand, that in ur pants, there's two powerful devices. One of them just happens to fling rocks out of a tube at the speed of sound. The other, well, you know. BE SAFE

 

[Mac's Precision]

Sure, for about the first week back when I was 21 and newly licensed. I was convinced that I HAD to pack in an IWB holster. I was SO worried about my jacket flying open or hiking up. Time passed...and I began to think....WHY. I HAVE a carry permit. I am NOT a criminal. The permit gives me expressed permission to carry concealed. I HAVE the legal right to open carry...so if I flash a tad bit of holster under my coat...well...so what. Nowadays...I don't give a squat if someone notices it. All the local LEO's know me and my gunsmithing business logo so that isn't an issue. I pack a Glock 20 or a 29 in a Galco Concealable from the time I wake up....till I go to bed. If it is cold out....I wear a coat. If it isn't cold I wear a flannel shirt...untucked. If it is 90 F outside....I go into tourist dress mode with cargo shorts and Hawaiian shirts. If the wind blows my cover shirt open...oh well. IF it is too hot...I open carry.

As for Walmart. I bent over to get something from a low shelf. It was a hot day and I was wearing a cotton shirt to cover my Glock. Clearly it printed. There was a guy nearby dressed in the typical Wallymart attire. He came over...and said..."Are you a police officer?" Nope. "Are you carrying a weapon?" Yep. "Do you have a permit?" Yep. "Can I see it?" Nope. "Why?" You aren't a cop. "I am loss prevention!" Good for you. If you are worried about it...call a Deputy. If you need to find me....I'll be here pushing my cart....Have a nice day. And I walked away.

Keep in mind.....IF a place of business doesn't want firearms in the building it MUST be posted CLEARLY on EVERY point of entry. Aside from that you must abide by the LAW with regard to places you may NOT enter. Judges chambers, places that serve alcohol, Mental health facilities / places that treat the mentally ill, Jails, schools. You are NOT required to present your permit to anyone aside from law enforcement agents. The issue of NOT showing your weapon is simply out of the lack of desire to have to explain for it or be verified by a LEO...that was called by some paranoid freak. That is the only REAL reason. Carry permits are simply a card that makes it more acceptable to the general public....so they won't be all freaked out by a guy with a holstered gun. In places I know to be "ok" with it....I open carry. If I was living some place that didn't issue permits...but allowed open carry.....I would simply open carry. I pay the permit fee...so I don't HAVE to deal with people asking "is that a gun?" Yes...it is....No you can't play with it.

It may be different in other places...and surely my connections with local LEO help me not care about my armed status. Perhaps in some locations the permit implies a MUST HIDE YOUR GUN AND NOT CREATE PUBLIC UNREST situation. But quite honestly .....My focus is on my surroundings NOT my cover garments. Clearly a knuckle dragger, wearing a Galco belt...sporting 2 clip knives in his pockets...wearing a "Glock Shooting Sports" hat....or similar gun related clothing advertising Sig, Speer, Colt, S&W etc....is PROBABLY a gun guy. Therefore....I don't worry about it.

Cheers
Mac.

 

[killchain]

When I got my CPL in 2006, I wasn't nervous about carrying the pistol. At the time I was carrying a firearm for work everyday, and spending 24/7 with it, almost all of it outside the wire. Ah, the days of carrying a 92FS in the 1 o'clock.

I still conceal, carry and train with that 92FS a lot.

Now it's 2011, and I've gone from a full 92FS to a Keltec 380. It's in the pocket, and no one asks and I don't say.

 

[ChCx2744]

killchain said:

Ah, the days of carrying a 92FS in the 1 o'clock.

Yeah, those were the days. Unfortunately, my young and dumb Skywalker-ness learned the hard way one day: I sat down too fast and the weight of the 92 dropped directly on my right little "buddy." Ouch.

 

[True Grit]

Yeah I think thats its because we have to go threw the classes, paper work, back ground checks, and finger printing just to have this privilege that may make us nervous because you can get in serious trouble getting caught with a concealed weapon with out a permit and maybe this is still stuck some where in the back of our minds...

 

[riseagainstforme]

What small town in Nevada do you live in? I'm in Vegas. I was kinda nervous the first time. There's some tricks to carrying concealed well. When i have to kneel down I don't bend over but put my gun leg forward and knee down on that leg so my gun leg and torso don't bend, the other leg does though.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I guess I was a little apprehensive at first but now its just a comfort. Its kind of like the difference between walking around with an empty wallet or one with plenty of cash in it. When your wallet is empty you wonder what you'll do if you need the money but when you have money in your wallet you just don't worry about it.

 

[Iam2taz]

Yeah, kind of like the first day at a new school.... Goin to Wallyworld.... LOL

 

[dkk73]

I guess I'm not very smart then because I really don't know why someone carrying a weapon legally for self defense would have any reason to be nervous.
(snip)
I do take carrying a weapon very seriously and don't go out feeling like John Wayne looking for a brawl. It just makes me feel more confident that in the very slight chance that I would need it I had it.

Not trying to insult your intelligence or assert that you are a "cowboy".

I think being nervous is usually a sign of awareness of what could happen. Often when this comes up people take "nervous" to imply that there is something fearful or unconfident or unmanly. My point is that there are also good reasons to be nervous.

I think most people are nervous when they do new things with big consequences. Some aren't. Might be a temperament thing. But a lot people I consider pretty cool characters (more colorful description omitted) have no problem admitting their initial nervousness in some of these situations. So I haven't really seen a correlation with confidence or ability for the most part... Familiarity might have something to do with it. As for your hypothesis of a guilty conscience, I don't know. Makes sense I suppose, but is probably at least as judgmental as anything I said about intelligence!

Anyhow, for most people I would think it dies down to a higher level of whatever-you-call-it-that-sounds-better (awareness? tension? edginess?)

Personally I hope I never lose a little "edginess" when I'm armed:

IMHO, regardless of how calm you are and how much training you have, things can go sideways. Look at all the scenarios and news stories people post in S&T. Consider the guy who got shot recently in one of those big box stores (can't recall which, I kind of recall Costco). Someone shouts "gun!" and someone overreacts. You get into an altercation with a plainclothes officer in a parking lot due to mistaken identity, then get made, all the time you don't know he's a cop. Don't laugh too hard... A guy who claimed to be a plainclothes cop chased down my wife's car and intimidated her one day for obscure reasons... Sounds like he had some anger mgmt. issues. Man, talk about a chance of something accidentally escalating; someone aggressively comes up to my window in that neighborhood... I guess my point is that there are things that can evolve which will require you to be "on" beyond simple bad-guy scenarios and so a higher level of tension makes sense to me as the stakes are high.

Who knows, maybe we're saying the same thing.

My 3 cents by now.
Cheers, DK

 

[lizziedog1]

I carried most of yesterday. Being that we are going through a cold snap, I am able to wear a heavy jacket. So imprinting is not likely. I even went grocery shopping. I am getting ess nervous about it. Tomorrow I tackle the "big" city.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I would walk around the house, doing everyday things, to test the security and unobtrusiveness of your rig (holster, belt, etc.)

I had one of the elastic belt type holsters that carried a 5-shot .38 and two feed strips quite well (hidden and comfortable) hiking on the mountain, exploring an abandoned rock quarry, etc. I tried carrying a .38 derringer around the apartment in it, and the derringer would work its way out, while the revolver always stayed in place through some strenuous outdoor activity.

 

[Buck Snort]

Come on, the employees there are not that bad.

Do a web search for "These People Really Exist" and check out some of the CUSTOMERS at Wal-Mart.

 

[Buck Snort]

i remember my first time, i was in the basement, i was scared, it was dark and i was alone...........

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! I know how you feel, that's the way it was for me too!!

 

[lizziedog1]

First big day and I survived. I went to WalMart, then stopped at Jack In The Box and finally went to my favorite gun shop. I had my revolver on me in all three places. I did remove it on my last stop and left in the car. I went for a hair cut. No one said a thing, I don't think anyone noticed anything. By the end of the day I was almost starting to forget I had the thing on me.

By the way, they had a Ruger LCR at the gun shop. I realize that hammerless revolvers serve a purpose, but I just think they are goofy looking. Without a hammer, revolvers just don't look right to me. It is sort of like a bald woman. Most of the interesting parts are still there, but can't get pass the chrome dome.

I think I am going to get semi-auto qualified on my CCW. I am waiting for Nevada to make auto carry the same as revolver carry, qualify for one and you can carry any. The gossip at the gun shop was that the bill has serious chance of passing.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Permit Qualifications

If they pass a bill that removes the requirement to list your carry pistols on your permit, that would be awesome.

And then, if they can get Clark County to ditch that stupid blue card registration requirement, they'd be ready for the final step . . .

. . . Constitutional carry, a la Vermont, Alaska, Arizona.

But, for the time being, I'll take whatever ground we can gain.

 

[lizziedog1]

I realize some of you live in states with better laws then we have here in Nevada. But coming from California these laws are like heaven to me. Its like I have gone from peanut butter sandwiches to steak and potatoes. Hopefully we can move towards even better laws, or rather lack of laws. Steak and lobster if you will.