Am I Alone in This????

[Werewolf]

I have a CCW permit. For the longest time I have not left my home without carrying - until yesterday.

My wife asked me to take her to the grocery store - I put on a pair of jogging pants, a wind breaker and out the door we went.

About half way to the store I realized that I didn't have my gun with me and for about 30 seconds I experienced feelings of both anxiety and fear. I got over it by saying to myself "self - you went unarmed for years - you didn't feel scared then".

Once I got home and thought about it I started asking myself whether or not carrying had actually made me more fearful instead of less. Had carrying made me so situationally aware of the world around me compared to when I didn't carry that being fearful when unarmed is justified? I'm still thinking about it. I didn't particularly like feeling anxious and fearful when I wasn't packing yesterday.

Am I alone in experiencing these feelings when not packing.

 

[BluesBear]

Nope

It's not just you.

 

[J. Parker]

I've had my CCW since '94. I carry all the time. If I didn't it would feel strange I'm sure. I'm headed to California in the spring on vacation.......it will be weird not packin'........hmmmmmm.

 

[RLadd21]

Nope, I feel the exact same way. I keep having to explain to my wife that you never know when something is going to happen when she asks me if I'm going to take it to "just go to the grocery store". She has sort of changed her tune after learning that a friends parents were attacked by someone a while back. I used to feel naked if I forgot my watch. Now I feel naked if I don't have my primary ccw, my backup, and my knife.

 

[Gus Dddysgrl]

I have my CCW permit, but don't always carry. I can't at work and feel weird carrying them when delivering stuff to hospitals. So for work I don't, but I often do other times. Also if I am going somewhere right after work I don't always take it with me. I am still very situationally aware of all that's around me, but am not too scared/anxious because it's not the fact that I'm carrying a gun that makes me safe; it's my mindset and my awareness.

Sometimes when not carrying I do feel anxious, but only if I know I should be carrying. I know that if something comes up I still have some training to get out of it. If you are used to carrying 24/7 and then don't carry I'm not surprised you feel anxious. When you are used to having something with you and then it's not there, it's not unsual to feel anxious.

The feelings you have are normal. I think. Hope you feel better now.

 

[Jim March]

I'm that way with cutlery.

I call it the "Custer Syndrome". Custer decided that a couple of new bangtoys he'd just gotten were too heavy and clumsy to bring along on his last outing. So I would venture to guess his last thoughts at the Little Bighorn were NOT "wow, look at all these Indians!" as is commonly surmised - no, it was more like "DAMN I shoulda brought along those two towed Gatling Guns with 10,000 rounds each!".

I don't want to face that same feeling upon being mugged.

I've had four "glad I had major cutlery handy" moments in the last 20 years. Not a terrible record, two were canine situations and the other pair involved two-legged rattlesnakes. No bloodshed necessary, which is how I like it.

(Note: I believe that Custer was an all-around jerk and that HE PERSONALLY met Karma square in the teeth at the hands of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and their compadres. I doubt that his men "had it coming" to the same degree, or at least not all of 'em.)

 

[oldfella]

So, can it be simply said -"it's all in your head"? I live in a relatively small community, hardly any crime - at least not the type that would prompt you to carry all of the time. I've had my CCW for some time, and I seldom carry... and I don't feel any anxiety, either way. It should be noted, however, that when I do carry I am more aware of my surroundings... that's weird! - it should be the other way around.

 

[Jim March]

Yes, to a degree, it's "all in our heads", except even in the best of areas, problems occur that require a firearm. In rural areas, stray/feral dogs are probably the most likely problem but there's also rabid animals, etc.

We're different, but we're not crazy.

What's really happening is that we who leave the house armed every day are "a different sort of critter". We're aware of the potential for trouble, we are LESS afraid of other people, we're more willing to help out in an emergency, we believe that "waiting around for the cops" when somebody's life is on the line is both silly and a poor excercise of civic duty, etc.

The classic comparison is between animals that are armed versus unarmed. Raise a dog that grows to an adult size of 5lbs in a loving home, and you'll still get something that's fearful and skitterish around strangers or esp. larger dogs. This fear often translates to "yapper". Raise a ferret of the same size in the same home and it'll go try and play with anything or anyone it encounters - it'll jump up on a stranger's lap, roll over and want a belly-rub. NO other small animal I've ever met shows this degree of utter trust of strangers or will try and make friends with literally anything from kittens to horses.

Why the difference?

Because ferrets are armed. A 5lb ferret can easily kill a 50lb dog. I've heard of one very small female fert barely over a pound defending her human owner from an aggressive Great Dane of 120lbs...the ferret came out uninjured, the dog is missing half it's nose .

*We* are ferrets in a world of toy poodles and the like. Bet your butt the "poodles" misunderstand us!

 

[cratz2]

Well, there are really a couple questions lurking here.

Have I ever left home to later find out that I was accidentally not carrying? No... never.

Have I ever left home not carrying? Of course, but not very often.

Do I feel much different not carrying now than I did when not carrying before I had a CCW? Not really. I think I'm slightly safer with a CCW. I'm not into the bar scene but would avoid seedy type joints even more if carrying, even legally. I feel any more or less safe driving through 'bad' neighborhoods with or without a gun.

I guess I'm a believer in always be prepared. As prepared as you can be. I can carry to almost anywhere, so I do. If I didn't have a gun, I have a larger knife. If I feel tension in the air, my hand will be on the knife. Just try to be as prepared as curcimstances will allow and you're several steps ahead of most folks out there.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Famous last words:

"I'll be right back."

 

[P95Carry]

There's an element of the ''seatbelt syndrome'' for me .. it matters not whether you go to corner Mom and Pop .. or a long haul .... if you follow ''Expect the unexpected'' .. and ''don't assume'' then the requirement for need is totally unpredictable.

I carry all day long, even tho I work from home ..... and the area is basically low risk .. but only this morning in the paper, discoved that a vehicle in my street (other end I suspect, where one or two low-lifes hang out) had all its gas syphoned out. Minor event but ... I know there are some punks around.

Unlikely that just walking out to mailbox is very hazardous but ... my piece is still on board .... and as also mentioned here .. always the chance of a rabid something ... any number of things.

Probability? VERY low .... but provable as IMpossible? ... no way. I feel very bare without my piece .... not paranoia at all ..... just very uncomfortable. Like when I go down to MD!!

Having said that .. when out and about and carrying, I do not feel in the least ''super powerful'' or protected ... as usual the ''trouble avoidance'' approach to life kicks in even more. I sure as heck never want to have to use my piece.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I started to take out the trash Sunday evening, only to realize I'd forgotten to drop my revolver in a pocket. I set down the waste basket and bag of garbage, crossed the room, pocketed the revolver, picked up the trash, and continued with my task.

Good habits are worth maintaining.

 

[Moparmike]

I cant wait until I can get my permit. I havent carried even around my house yet (because I usually sit 2ft away from a loaded shotgun), but I am sure that it will feel weird when I do, and weirder still when I get used to it and dont.

It sucks working on campus, and going to school with laws like that. Even though crime pretty much doesnt happen unless its in a frat house.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
---------------------------------------------------
"DAMN I shoulda brought along those two towed Gatling Guns with 10,000 rounds each!".
-----------------------------------------------------

No offense, but whenever this comes up, I always ask, "What mission would you assign those guns?"

And I have yet to find that the person who thinks Custer should have brought Gatling guns who knows HOW to assign a mission to such a weapon.

 

[Archie]

Werewolf...

I went out last Sunday night for about an hour. For some reason, I didn't take a gun (got rushed or something.)

Nothing happened. But I felt like I wasn't wearing underwear or socks or hadn't combed my hair or something.

I've been carrying a gun for the last twenty -six years. I really feel nekkid without one.

 

[Boats]

Gasp if you want to, but I seldom carry, though I have had the ability to do so for most of a decade. Much of it entails my job as an attorney. I can't carry anything to a courthouse or administrative board and suits are generally bad news with all comfortable carry belts.

Conversely, I at least have a Benchmade 806D2 anywhere outside of a metal detector controlled space, a Beretta Jetfire in my desk drawer at the office in case a client ever goes postal at arm's length, and carry my beater 1911 in a clip on/off IWB in the lockable center console of my car which usually isn't locked since my car is well insured.

I'm also 6' 8" and 270 pounds, people don't seem to mess with me for some reason.

 

[JPM70535]

The question of whether or not to carry is a non issue for me. I have been carrying for over 25 years, both on and off duty. Retirement changed nothing in that regard. I still put on my carry piece just as I do my shirt and pants. I don't generally go places where ccw is forbidden so I rarely have to disarm. (Post Offices excepted)

All kin folk are located in reciprosity states so no problem there with exception of Sister in D.C.. I just don't go there, she comes here.

Really wouldn't know how to dress without CCW, and don't want to find out.