If You Can Carry Legally, Do You?

[DeepintheHeart]

I recently completed my CHL class and sent in my paperwork. I must say, the class caused me to really think about what I am proposing to do. It's a lot of responsibility carrying a gun and being prepared to use it in the right circumstances. I work for an employer (IBM) who makes it a condition of employment that I NOT bring a gun to work. They also post a sign on the doors, but it does not conform to Texas state law. (Wonder how they missed that.) Despite the non-conforming sign, if I were found to be carrying at work I'd be fired. (I can keep a gun in my car while at work, since its in the parking lot.) My question is, how many of you who have a CHL actually do carry most of the time? When do you make exceptions? Are there folks, especially in states that have the "Castle Doctrine", that just carry a handgun in their cars and have one readily accessible at home? In Texas, that would no longer seem to require a CHL. The Castle Doctrine alone would cover those environs.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

I carry most of the time, though I often have to leave my carry piece in the car, or sometimes at home. I spend a lot of time in courthouses, municipal offices, banks and post offices. Not to mention local taverns.

 

[Blarelli]

I carry virtually all day. I go to school at 9 in the morning, gun goes with me. I get home from work at about 1 in the morning, guns still on my hip. Only time I don't carry is when I go to church.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I carry TWO at all times that it is legal for me to do so. I also spend 70% of my conscious time in places where I'd get "booted" if I was "made". I understand your situation, and I didn't "break policies" until I was completely convinced that I looked exactly the same while carrying as I did when I was not. My advice is to try different things around town until you get to that point. The trick is concealable guns in the right holsters in the right places.

Flat guns with short grips, in a tuckable holster are the key to IWB (inside-the-waistband) carry.

Small guns (all around) in a good pocket holster are the key there.

Light guns, longer pantlegs, and longer socks are the key to ankle carry (sock holds the whole deal further up your leg). You can also get a strap that holds it further up, but they're uncomfortable and don't work as well as well as a scrunched up sock.

Let me know if you want specific gun, holster, and carry location recommendations and I can post them here.

Also, congratulations on the decision and progress. It's a big responsibility, but being able to protect yourself and loved ones is an invaluable reward.

 

[DeepintheHeart]

Kind of Blued, thanks for your reply. I'm still waiting for the license, and I'm doing some thinking about what gun and what holster. I'm leaning to a Ruger LCP or Kel-Tech P-3AT and a pocket holster. At training, they recommended a Merlin "fanny pack" holster. I'm on the XXL side, 50 inch waist, and I wear suspenders. Any recommendations there? My current gun is probably too clunky to carry on a regular basis, a Ruger P89.

 

[Treo]

Only time I don't carry is when I go to church.

Cause bad guys never shoot up churches right?

To the question

Armed to the teeth baby, The list of places I can't carry is short in Colorado & none of them are places I have to go.

 

[geronimo509]

I carry all of the time! period! I dont when I go to the post office ( i dont go there) Or anywhere else that fed or state law says I can't. I live in PA, so I can go just about anywhere with my ccw/chl/chp(whatever you wanna call it) PA has a Castle Doctrine, however state law says you cannot carry in a car with out a chl (not sure what you meant by what your post says about the car)

ps. It is a HUGE responsibility!! But a very good one also

 

[rbernie]

I live in TX and have a TX CHL. My employer has a non-compliant 'no weapons' sign at the entrance to the parking lot and all building entrances. They could not charge me with criminal trespass, but they could fire me, if they determined that I had a weapon in the car. Essentially, it is legal to carry in my place of employment but my employer's policy colloquially forbids it.

It is entirely possible that some would be willing to risk that, because my employer is probably not going to provide an armed guard for their employees on their way to/from work. It is also entirely possible that some folk in my position would engage in off-body carry (using a modified DayTimer) when in the office.

Not that I'd EVER do such things and upset my employer, mind you - it's just that some folk *could* do it if they had a mind to, ya know?

It is a truism that trouble strikes at the oddest times. You can't schedule when you'll need a firearm, so as a general rule it's probably best to always have one handy.

 

[glockman19]

It's a lot of responsibility carrying a gun and being prepared to use it in the right circumstances.

YES it is. I take the act
of carrying very seriously. I hope to never have to use it. It will only come out when my life or that of a companion is threatened...and...if it does come out...my life IS in iminent danger.

I carry everywhere it's legal.

 

[wankerjake]

You left out 1-25%, which is where I fall. I can't carry at work or school, but I do carry on days off.

 

[Eightball]

I carry as often as I can, betwee school or my work (both of which are "no carry").

It's literally an "If I CAN legally carry, I AM legally carrying," but the % of the time that it's legal is the only real obstacle. If you wear clothes, you can CCW.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

I think I'd disregard any employer except government telling me I can't carry, assuming it isn't a criminal offense (such as at posted taverns). I'd prepare myself for the possibility of being summarily canned, which can happen at any time at any job and has happened to me before. And if and when denounced to the Big Boss Man, I'd tell them to shove it and put in for unemployment. Let the DOL figure out whether a weapon policy violation constitutes "for cause" dismissal. I'm guessing not.

 

[Blowby]

Still waiting for final CCW permit (57 days and counting) but I carry in my vehicle, home and work (private property I own). So I must leave my firearm in the vehicle at all other locations but will carry as a responsible US Law abiding citizen "at all times" in 33 more days.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I carry virtually all day. I go to school at 9 in the morning, gun goes with me. I get home from work at about 1 in the morning, guns still on my hip. Only time I don't carry is when I go to church.

I do too, but I carry in church as well. His Grace the Archbishop will have to re-consecrate the church if a murder is comitted or if a murderer is stopped. I prefer the latter.

LD

 

[Treo]

Wether or not you carry at work is your choice ( you alone bear the consequenses if you get caught so you alone make the call). And there are several concealment products out there that will pretty much allow you to conceal in a thong if you choose, so I'm not going there. I'm going to stress two points for if you DO decide to carry at work.

1. No matter what, under no circumstance and at no time do you EVER let any, ANY, ANY of your co-workers know that you carry, ever. The first one you tell will tell the whole plant in less than a week ( trust me on this I know)

If you choose off body carry do not ever let the concealment device out of your direct personal control unless you can lock it up someplace that only you have acess to ( I.E a toolbox if you're on the production floor) & even then only if you have no choice.

Depending on your style of dress concealmeant shouldn't be that hard. I conceal a full size auto loader under a sweater at work and none of my co-workers has a clue (see rule one)

 

[KC0QGL]

100% of the time. Two guns on me and one in the center consol of my BroncoII.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

You left out 1-25%, which is where I fall. I can't carry at work or school, but I do carry on days off.

I added an option for seldom. I hope that works, I haven't edited a poll before.

 

[jackdanson]

I have to go thru a metal detector at work soooo.... I usually just car-carry. Most of the places I go aren't "allowed". Bars, church, casinos, sports games... can't carry at any in my state.

 

[ants]

One outcome from this poll I hope we appreciate...

Those of you who can carry 90 to 100 percent of the time surely lead blessed lives, and we salute you.
Those of us who work in schools, airports, courthouses, and other prohibited places are doing the best we can.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

If You Can Carry Legally, Do You?



Yes.

 

[darkmark]

Those of you who can carry 90 to 100 percent of the time surely lead blessed lives, and we salute you.
Those of us who work in schools, airports, courthouses, and other prohibited places are doing the best we can.

I live in IL and I have a ccw from Utah, when i go out of state I carry.
But it's IL, so it is almost barely legal to carry in your own home
Let alone defend yourself.

 

[Clermont]

I fall into the 1-25 percent catagory. I was wondering if retired police officers, like myself, tend to carry less now than they did when they were off duty prior to retiring. Before I retired, I carried, off duty, at least 90 percent of the time.

 

[misANTHrope]

Those of you who can carry 90 to 100 percent of the time surely lead blessed lives, and we salute you.
Those of us who work in schools, airports, courthouses, and other prohibited places are doing the best we can.

I assumed, based on the title of the thread, that the poll was referring to the percentage of the time one could legally carry, rather than the percentage of total time.

Though in my case, the two numbers are about the same... I always carry when legally able, and being self-employed, I have no silly work restrictions to worry about. That may change in the near future, though... I'm hoping to get offered a job at a university soon, which will force me to change my habits dramatically.

 

[moooose102]

I'm on the XXL side, 50 inch waist, and I wear suspenders. Any recommendations there? My current gun is probably too clunky to carry on a regular basis, a Ruger P89.

i am a little smaller than you right now, but with the right holster and clothes, it really is not a problem to conceal a full size 1911. so your ruger really would not be much different. i have carried a taurus 24/7 45 acp double stack in everything but the hottest of months (when it is 90, and you are in cut offs and a t shirt, it is pretty tough to hide a full size pistol). iwb in the5 o clock or 7 o clock (in the back side of your hip) position is a really good place. it is comfortable to stand, walk, sit ,or drive in that position, at least for me.

 

[Slade797]

I recommend that you have more than one weapon for concealed carry. I usually carry a Springfield Armory XD9 Sub-Compact, and I have a Taurus Ultralite .38 and a couple others. This allows me to carry appropriately, as it were.