How many actually carry after permit arrives?

For the better part of the last 20 or so years...Always, except for occasional visits to military installations...They seem to frown upon such things...That calls for plan "B", on those occasions...Other than that, it's usually Mr. Kimber, or Mr. Glock as my trusty companion...

Right after I got my permit, I went out to my car and loaded my pistol. I haven't looked back. I carry anywhere and everywhere legal, provided I am not drinking.

I actually didn't intend to carry. I got my chp so I could carry a loaded pistol in my jeep. I also knew Little Rock police routinely take firearms from law abiding people even when it's lawful to have an unloaded pistol in their vehicles. I don't go there often but Little Rock is the kind of place you actually need to carry. Since I got my license I'm surprised because I carry regularly in the town where I live and especially in Little Rock.

I'm not going to spend the time and money ($70-$90 for the class, $115 for the permit), only to then not carry. That would make no sense.

I carry all the time. No if's and or butts about it.

Frequently Carry

I have had a license in Arkansas and now a permit in Tennessee and always carried when legal, even before getting my license in Arkansas. I started carrying a loaded concealed handgun in Arkansas when I was 18 without a license (completely legal) when I would travel from Little Rock to other parts of the state to visit family and friends. I decided to get a license in Arkansas so I could be legal when not on a journey and also for reciprocity with other states, such as Tennessee...where you must have a license no matter what to have a loaded handgun on you....no exceptions for travelers. I also hiked, hunted, and fished carrying a handgun all the time, especially in the summer for snakes when i was 18 in Arkansas...again legal there without a license.

I carry every day since I got my permit. I also carried in the truck before they ever talked about having a CCL. You could carry concealed in you truck in Texas under certain conditions before they issued CCL.

I got my permit because I was concerned about doing work in some suspect areas. I carry during those times. Always have a loaded firearm in my truck which is illegal in my state unless you have a permit. It may do me no good what so ever in the event I needed to defend myself. But I accept the risk. Only carry maybe 20% of the non-working times and my job frequently brings me in contact with felons or X-felons on a regular basis. I figure the X-felon's have paid their price to society.

I carry 99.5% of the time with a XD 40 Sub compact and an NAA380 or a LCP as backup.

I generally carry 90% of the time it is allowed. My work frequently takes me to places where firearms are forbidden. I've got a lock box for the vehicle (mine) where I can stash the pistol. If I have doubts about where I am going or if I will be in a company truck (with another person) I usually go unarmed.

It's a tale that only time will tell. Don't go by me, I carry most of my life, but new guys and gals, I would bet only about 10 to 15% end up carrying after the first year or two. It's too much of a headache for most folks. Between work and the Gym, and the Bar, well you get it. When you carry, you have to change a lot of things to fit your lifestyle.

Daily

My permit came today and when the wife and I went out to dinner I carried. I debated with myself for about 20 minutes whether to or not. The deciding factor was asking, Why did I get the permit? I got the permit, pardon the negative waves Oddball, because I think things are going to get worse before they get better, if they get better. She didn't know the permit came, I didn't tell her, and if she noticed, she didn't say anything. I am going bow hunting in the morning so by law I can't carry. but, other than situations like that, I plan to carry.

i carry about 50% of the time, but i have a pistol in reach 90% of the time... nightstand, truck (between seats or the like) iwb holster on me ect....

All the time except at work (not allowed).

If legal, I'm usually armed. If I'm going somewhere that doesn't allow it (courthouse, etc), I strap on my holster, however I still have my car gun in the vehicle.

I don't frequent places in which I am not allowed to be armed.

I rather be armed than drunk.

I know several people who have a license so they can legally carry in their vehicle. I carry everywhere except work, and of course those places where it is "illegal" to do so.

i can see no reason NOT to carry once you have the permit, other that going to the hospital (to visit someone), or church on sunday. everyone that i know that has a permit carries. i suppose some people might do it simply as a political statement. but to me, that does not make much sence. if you are going to go through the process, and pay all the money, you might as well get something out of it. of course, you would never see in print where a person with a cpl was attacked, while not carrying. the anti-gun media could never report such a thing. it might actually make someone think that they may be safer with protection, that with their cell phone.

3yrs and counting, I carry everyday.

Well, this post is an attempt to

avoid an endless cataloging of what our personal carry habits are. We can spend bandwidth better than that, I think.

When mousegun responded to my query earlier--about whether or not his teaching included an overemphasis on the carry-er's "awesome responsibility"--he said


I am now wearing my (former) educator's hat and I'm picking up hinky undercurrents, so to speak. It does seem to me that your approach to your teaching this subject has two characteristics to it that are not necessarily desirable: The first is that you are focussing on a very abstract concept--'awesome responsibility'--that is also very subjective. In doing so, you are really emphasizing personal judgement of an educational 'goal' and not objectively evaluating a student's performance criteria.

The second element in your teaching style is that it does sound like you are teaching what is NOT satisfactory instead of what is. Oversimplifying it, you are saying something like "...if you don't understand this (responsibility), then don't do that (carry a gun). You are (inadvertently) reinforcing their reasons NOT to carry. Add to that the (probable) generally-negative image of lethal self-defense naive / new gun owners have from the MSM reporting, and what they have gained--besides basic proficiency, hopefully--is a mindset that emphasizes "no" as a response to this activity. So, being anxious to begin with (they are new to this), 'awesome responsibility' only increases their anxiety--and they avoid the activity (carrying).

Note that my comments do not deny the validity of the notion of "awesome responsibility"--that's true enough, I share that understanding with you. However, that's a decision made early on in the whole process of becoming a carry-er, and one that a responsible user revisits only infrequently.

So, think about your teaching style some more. Look for a way to 1) acknowledge the awesome responsibility early on, perhaps in the your introductory comments, and from then on 2) focus on the objective criteria--firearm familiarization, basic proficiency and a rudimentary understanding of how to achieve satisfactory response to a lethal threat.

IMO. FWIW.

Jim H.

I received my permit over a year ago. I carry almost everywhere but work, where it's not allowed.

I got my carry permit solely for buying pistols, here in Florida there is a 3 day wait if you don't have one.

My wife and I got our permits because we perceived a genuine need to start looking out for ourselves a little better as things continue to deteriorate in our society. That need has not lessened; we predict the need will increase. So once we found handguns and holster that really worked for us, we just got into the habit of carrying all the time. She is a good shot too and I'm glad to have her with me ... nice backup.

I wonder (only because it was true for us) if people who eventually give up carrying do so primarily because they try to carry / or feel the need to carry "too much" gun. We've got full sized weapons for around home, but none of these work for us as carry weapons and were we to try and carry them it would be just cumbersome enough that we would no doubt fall out of the habit of carrying at all.

But we found what not only worked, but was perfect for us. And yes, I'd feel better if I were carrying a shotgun with 00 buck, our S&W 637 Ultralights with CT grips are weapons we can both carry .... and they are so comfortable that we often forget we even have them with us ... so they are with us ALL THE TIME. We don't even have to think about it.

I carry when/where legal to do so on a daily basis.