Carrying "less" in a "good" area. Nope, no thanks.

Being retired from LEO-ing, I will adjust my weapons, based upon the permissiveness of the environment. As an active LEO, I packed quite heavy, during personal time, usually a full-sized duty handgun, often with a secondary five-shot revolver, or, during my most-recent revolver-centric period, 2002-2006, it might be multiple medium-sized revolvers. Nowadays, with no metal badge, and with my honorably-retired ID hidden much more deeply than I carried my police ID, I have to be careful, in several of the environments through which I often move.

I had a notably worrisome moment, already, in one place, where a private citizen, with a carry license, would have been prohibited, and where the LEOSA may well have not covered me. An employee’s eyes went to my hip area, and I could see, in his eyes, that he knew, and he was trying to decide what to say, or do.

In another place, where handguns and weapons were prohibited, indicated by a sign that, itself, had no legal effect, in Texas, but where I could have been made to leave, regardless, if found to be carrying, an employee's eyes were aimed right at where a tailored sport coat was being bulged by a 4” Ruger Speed Six. Nothing wrong with either the weapon, or the sport coat, individually, but the two of them do not play well, together, at least if the sport coat is buttoned.

Arkansas Paul said:

I want to get to this place, but I admit I'm not quite there. I'm doing better.

As far as what to carry, I picked a carry gun that was small enough to conceal with any outfit and that is comfortable enough to carry that I won't leave it at home. Since I've gotten it, I have done better about carrying more often.

As far as rather having something else if a situation goes down, well of course I'd rather have something besides a pocket .380. But I know me.

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I carried a full size 45 for a few weeks, and actually got pretty used to it. I then switched to a shield9, and it's almost not noticable. Tee shirt conceals fine, and I hardly worry about it.

I carry the same thing all the time regardless of what kind of "area" I am in.

Arkansas Paul said:

I want to get to this place, but I admit I'm not quite there. I'm doing better.

As far as what to carry, I picked a carry gun that was small enough to conceal with any outfit and that is comfortable enough to carry that I won't leave it at home. Since I've gotten it, I have done better about carrying more often.

As far as rather having something else if a situation goes down, well of course I'd rather have something besides a pocket .380. But I know me.

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Just make sure you train( practice) as much as you can with the gun you carry. You or your family's life may depend on it some day. Hopefully not.

CDW4ME said:

View attachment 916210

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Not mad, probably bad emoji choice but this 'thread' has come up more than once...now 'again'...

Been shooting since a kid, shoot often, at least once a week. I have been EDC now for 15 yrs. Started off with a Compact. Evolved to a 380. or Snubibie. Shoot them often and feel totally competent with them. I do own a number of Micro 9mm's, love to shoot them, but the small guns go out about 90% of the time. And I love shooting them.

Jeff White said:

The best information available says that the best handgun to carry is in a caliber .38 special or larger in the platform that one is most skilled with. It boils down to having a handgun in an effective caliber that you have developed unconscious competency with. Auto v revolver, Glock v 1911...it's all immaterial and a waste of good electrons discussing. Choose a platform .38 special or larger caliber that fits your dress and lifestyle and train, train and train some more.......

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Maybe, but if/when these boards and their attendees choose to have the discussion, and differing opinions are put forth and politely debated, it is interesting for many and educational for some.

For those who have tired of the threads on calibers, platforms, which gun for this or that, should I buy/sell/trade this or that, et al, it’s is certainly their choice not to read or participate.

But as long as folks feel there is value reading and/or replying, and keeping it respectful, I for one enjoy the differing points of view.

Here's my undoubtedly contrary viewpoint... I carried 24-7 for 22 years during waking hours when I was a cop on or off duty... with very rare exceptions. Like many, my personal weapons changed over time. My first off duty sidearm was an S& W airweight J frame 38 ( a five shot revolver that needed serious grips to be able to hang on to when firing....). Gradually over time I wanted and carried larger handguns that were more likely to actually be effective if needed. During my last ten years on the job my off-duty sidearm was, in fact my duty weapon (a high cap 9, then finally a Sig 229 40 cal...). I even carried those medium frame autos on an ankle holster if needed (and to this day, all these years later still have some marking on the inside of the ankle those heavier weapons left behind..). To provide a glimpse of my mindset... while on duty I always thought a handgun was what you resorted to when you didn't have a shotgun in hand. On any weapons calls (or suspected weapons calls) I always relied on a shotgun first, if at all possible...

When I retired out (1995) a concealed weapons permit was part of my retirement package - and I've maintained it to this day in case I had to take a job that required a sidearm - but I haven't carried a gun on my person even once since I retired out. I'm not a complete fool, I do keep weapons nearby - but I long ago decided that I wouldn't ever be carrying a gun again if at all possible. Over the years I've always thought it was a great decision and that I've personally benefited from it. If I've made a mistake - I'll certainly be the first one to find out...

In general I approve of the armed citizen movement. It did not exist here in Florida when I retired out - but for me the choice not to carry a sidearm was an easy one. If you ever find yourself publicly accused of murder (I was on duty at the time) it's not something you're ever likely to forget...

lemaymiami said:

Here's my undoubtedly contrary viewpoint... I carried 24-7 for 22 years during waking hours when I was a cop on or off duty... with very rare exceptions. Like many, my personal weapons changed over time. My first off duty sidearm was an S& W airweight J frame 38 ( a five shot revolver that needed serious grips to be able to hang on to when firing....). Gradually over time I wanted and carried larger handguns that were more likely to actually be effective if needed. During my last ten years on the job my off-duty sidearm was, in fact my duty weapon (a high cap 9, then finally a Sig 229 40 cal...). I even carried those medium frame autos on an ankle holster if needed (and to this day, all these years later still have some marking on the inside of the ankle those heavier weapons left behind..). To provide a glimpse of my mindset... while on duty I always thought a handgun was what you resorted to when you didn't have a shotgun in hand. On any weapons calls (or suspected weapons calls) I always relied on a shotgun first, if at all possible...

When I retired out (1995) a concealed weapons permit was part of my retirement package - and I've maintained it to this day in case I had to take a job that required a sidearm - but I haven't carried a gun on my person even once since I retired out. I'm not a complete fool, I do keep weapons nearby - but I long ago decided that I wouldn't ever be carrying a gun again if at all possible. Over the years I've always thought it was a great decision and that I've personally benefited from it. If I've made a mistake - I'll certainly be the first one to find out...

In general I approve of the armed citizen movement. It did not exist here in Florida when I retired out - but for me the choice not to carry a sidearm was an easy one. If you ever find yourself publicly accused of murder (I was on duty at the time) it's not something you're ever likely to forget...

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Great post. Not something you see on gun forums, but certainly something to think about. A couple of things. I started shooting as a kid and shoot now all the time. But shooting was and is. for myself, the enjoyment of the sport. I shoot pocket gun and snubbies on a regular basis. I shoot them a lot because I find them enjoyable and challenging, yet I know many that totally dislike them, disparage them for all kinds of reasons etc. . Carrying one for self defense is not a big deal as they are so easy to carry. But there have been many times when I have wondered if just having a CCW could get me in more trouble than out of it.
Internet forums can go far to the right just as Anti-2A's can go to the far left.
And there has always been the internet experts that will always assume, that jut because you carry such and such gun that you do not have experience. Simply not true for many.

Carrying a firearm is a huge and serious decision. I see reasons for and against. What weapon they carry is a individual choice and not to carry a firearm the same. Thank you for a very thoughtful opinion.

My standard carry is a high capacity 9mm, with a spare magazine. I live pretty rural so there is not a whole lot I can do in my little area besides a pizza place, gas station etc. For runs into my small town or when I don't want to carry 3ish pounds worth of gun and ammo, I will use a firearm with less capacity such as slim 9, lightweight 1911 etc.

My take on this, is if carrying, carry something that other people will not notice.

I'm smaller and skinnier then the man in the picture, and there is no way I do CCW with service guns given my size. Something small from NAA? Well sure but...

I hear ya. Way too big for me. Get claustrophobic just looking at that big thing sticking a pair of pants. Use to carry big, but now a 380, Snubbie or Micro 9mm. If I had to carry a duty gun, I hate to say it, I just would not carry.
Thankfully there are other options.

If I do carry IWB it is with one of the small light weights or the Snubbie without holster. Just a trigger guard.

whm1974 said:

I'm smaller and skinnier then the man in the picture, and there is no way I do CCW with service guns given my size. Something small from NAA? Well sure but...

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So am I, but I can keep a G19, a 1911 or even a Ruger P89 under wraps....

I CC a Walther PPS in church. Around town or on the road it's a G27.

M

mcb said:

I honestly don't carry all the time. If I am carrying in public (not the woods) it's almost always a J-frame. I could carry more, have in the past, but choose not too. The gun is not the only part of my general survival plan. YMMV

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I agree with this. And I’ve seen instances where having a firearm - even a lawfully owned firearm - got an innocent citizen detained and hassled by law enforcement. If you think bad cops don’t exist and wouldn’t toss a baggie of illegal narcotics into your vehicle during a traffic stop - in other words plant illegal evidence to screw with a civilian, you’re living under a rock.

CDW4ME said:

My carry philosophy is: Of the concealable pistols I own, carry one I would prefer in hand if I had to defend myself.
There is nowhere I would prefer to defend my life a 38 snub/LCP rather than a Glock 19/23 (or 1911) and I carry accordingly.

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I tried to parse this, but have no idea what the OP is saying, so I went with the title.

It makes no sense to vary what one carries into categories of "light" or "heavy". Unless you are John McClain trying to retake the Nakatomi building from Hans Gruber and his band of renown robbers, what you do choose to carry will probably be fine.

Anchorite said:

I agree with this. And I’ve seen instances where having a firearm - even a lawfully owned firearm - got an innocent citizen detained and hassled by law enforcement. If you think bad cops don’t exist and wouldn’t toss a baggie of illegal narcotics into your vehicle during a traffic stop - in other words plant illegal evidence to screw with a civilian, you’re living under a rock.

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Oh, geez... gimme a break.

Why carry at all, then? Heck, why even own a gun? Why not get rid of them just on the 1 in 1,000,000,000 chance that some rogue cop might hassle you?