Do you carry at home?

[Ransom]

I dont because my sitting around the house clothes are different than my going out and doing stuff clothes. Its hard to wear a paddle holster with sweats or boxers.

But I am in the "one close at hand" camp.

 

[R.H. Lee]

No, but there is always a firearm close by. I live on acreage in a semi-rural environment. That's not to say there is no threat, as I've notice some odd goings-on nearby from time to time.

 

[3rdpig]

My P32 is in my pocket when at home, simply because it's always in my pocket, if I"m wearing pants then I'm armed. Not that I'm worried about break-in's, I've got two Australian cattle dogs and nothing comes within 100 feet of my house in any direction that those two dogs don't know about and warn away. They speak to any would be intruder loud and clear, they say "This house is under our protection and we know you're out there, so run along and find another house to break into!". I just can't imagine any criminal that wouldn't respect their message, it ain't a subtle one. And if someone is that crazy, the dogs will make sure I have time enough to find something a lot bigger than my P32 to address the situation with.

 

[Mixlesplick]

If I lived in a place where I was that scared that I felt a need to carry a gun, inside my own home...., I'd move.

That would be nice but I live where I can afford to live. It is a decent neighborhood but I am only separated from the bad part of town by a four lane highway. Crackheads have been know to get high at the end of my road.

My house is hidden from the road but I sometimes carry in the house and always have a gun nearby "just in case." The same reason I carry everywhere else. By the way, I am not scared just cautious and prepared.

 

[MLH]

no flame here

But where I live the isn't much in the way of law enforcement. The last time I called it was two days before they could get there to take a report. And that was for two guys up to no good who didn't know I was home till they came around the bend in the driveway. I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn't been standing on the porch with a gun in my hand (shooting snapping turtles who were getting my baby ducks). They turned right around and took out my gate getting away (and ran my wife off the road!) TWO DAYS!!!

I always carry at home because there is no backup.

The only time I see LE is around election time, so it's been a couple of years now.

 

[280PLUS]

No dogs so no early warning for me.

I'm not living my life in fear, I just like having a gun handy.

Like Biker said, I've been carrying that way for so long I forget I have it.

 

[pax]

If I lived in a place where I was that scared that I felt a need to carry a gun, inside my own home...., I'd move.

There is a basic assumption in your sentence that simply is not true.

Assumption: People carry guns because they are scared.

Reality: No, some of us put our guns on as we get dressed, in exactly the same matter-of-fact way we put on a seatbelt when we get into the car.

"If I had to drive in traffic that was so dangerous I felt the need to wear a seatbelt every day ... I'd quit driving."

Um, no. You drive there because you believe it's safe, and you wear a seatbelt anyway because random disaster might strike. Ditto carrying the gun at home.

Me, personally? I wear a gun at home simply because in our safe rural neighborhood, the fastest police response I could reasonably expect, on a good day, would be 20 minutes or longer. More likely longer. My husband works late nights, leaving me alone in our country home with five young children. Only makes sense to have a home-defense gun under those circumstances, doesn't it? But I think it's downright foolish to leave loaded guns lying around the house, whether you've got kids or not but especially if you do have kids. And if you have a gun for home defense, but it isn't loaded or isn't accessible in an emergency, what good is it? Forget that! My gun is on my hip, loaded, every hour I'm awake. That's certainly easier and safer than any other solution I could come up with.

pax

 

[Rickstir]

Lucky me. I live on 80 acres six miles from the nearest town. I usually carry, open style. I have a couple of long guns in convienent places around the house and garage.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I don't carry at home but I might start carrying it around on my property. Moving to a condo in late August and don't expect to walk around the property empty handed. Need to get a good pocket gun. Maybe a S&W 638....

 

[dasmi]

C'mon folks. You can't live your life afraid of everything. You can't make yourself completly safe everywhere, all the time. You take reasonable risks all day and you also take reasonable precautions.

Yep, and a reasonable precaution is to have a gun in my pocket, or strapped to my belt.

 

[Glocker]

it all depends on who is looking for me at the time.

 

[P95Carry]

I as some know - carry all my waking hours - and yet, in the house or office - risk is all but negligable. So why do I carry there?

Not fear - not paranoia - just the simple fact that the piece MUST be where it belongs at all times. If and a big IF I did need it, anywhere at any time - it IS there. No need to grope and find thin air because I ''happened to forget it''. I am forgetful in some ways anyways - and sure don't want to have to ''tool up'' just because I am running down to the store!

I also I am afraid cannot subscribe to the adequacy of ''within easy reach'' - I'd all but guarantee that Murphy would ensure the one time things get nasty - ''within reach'' will become ''dangerously far away''.

Finally, tho not relevant for me personally - regarding safety, kids - even visiting kids - the gun is positively in its safest place when on the person - no mistakes.

Not trying to lecture but really folks - if you are committted to carry and protecting self and loved ones - WEAR it - ALL the time. As I say so often - there are no appointments to be made for emergencies!!

 

[Ransom]

If I lived in a place where I was that scared that I felt a need to carry a gun, inside my own home...., I'd move.

Ya know, if I were a career criminal I'd focus on robbing the "safe" neighborhoods since they are the most lax about security. Heck, that Discovery Show To Catch a Thief(or it takes a theif or whatever) is based on that principal.

 

[38SnubFan]

I can throw on a windbreaker or jacket, and quickly cover the gun so as not to freak out the Mormons, Mailman, neighbor kids, or whoever else might knock on my door.

Personally, I could care less about who I offend. Those who regularly come into my home already know I own guns and carry, and respect me for that. Those who don't....well....it is MY home, right? I've been at my neighbor's house downstairs (I live in an apartment building) when on two separate occasions a police officer stopped by for a noise complaint (first time was his fault - had the speakers up a little too loud, second time was someone else). The first one saw my openly carried gun and simply asked me to make sure it's covered up if I go outside. The second one actually asked what make/model of pistol I was carrying and asked to see it (he's a bit of a "gun nut" himself).

Of course, as I've posted before, I live in a town that, up until a few years ago, required all legally, physically, and mentally-able residents to keep and maintain a firearm in their homes. Most of those people still live here, so seeing guns around here is far from unusual.

Anyways....If I'm inside my home and wearing pants/jeans that accept a belt, my carry gun is holstered to it. Other than that, it's in the desk drawer while on the computer, under the sofa while watching TV, or under the bed while sleeping. Like others here, I choose to be prepared, and a gun is always within reach of me. Thus the old saying, "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

-38SnubFan

 

[DSRUPTV]

I almost always have a gun within arms reach. I don't always keep one on my person. After a lot of thought about it there seems no other reasonable way to prevent a sudden break in while I am in the house. I'd hate to face a situation where I had to try to make a break for another room to get a gun.

 

[MikeIsaj]

This has been an interesting response. Thank you to all who responded to my comments. I now have a bit more to consider. I still think there are those who need to ratchet down the alert level they live under. Holding on that tight for too long is tiring and inherently dangerous. I also understand that there are many reasons for constant carry. To be honest, I have carried around my house when the situation warranted it. I am a corrections officer and if I don't anger a BG each day, I'm probably not doing my job. I carry because although my chance encounters with ex-inmates have been peaceful so far, I realise this may not always be the case. When I found out a particularly violent offender had moved in a few blocks from my house and walked past it everyday, I carried in the house. I also took other measures to protect my family. When the immediate threat was removed, I relaxed. (He violated parole, hard not to when your being watched.)

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

According to the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 25% of violent encounters occur at or near the victim's home
(Ref:http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cvict_c.htm#place)

"In 2003 about a quarter of incidents of violent crime occurred at or near the victim's home"

And

Twenty-two percent of victims of violent crime reported being involved in some form of leisure activity away from home at the time of their victimization. Twenty-three percent said they were at home

(Emphasis added)

Data is not posted for other years, but there is nothing to indicate that 2003 was an anomoly.

So yes, I carry in my home (or have el Pistola within easy reach), because if you are attacked chances are one in four that it will be at home

 

[P95Carry]

I still think there are those who need to ratchet down the alert level they live under. Holding on that tight for too long is tiring and inherently dangerous.

Just chipping in again for myself. My alert level is not artificially raised thru constant carry - it is a comfortable yellow all time - with or without a piece. And - no, there is nothing tiring about it whatsoever and equally nothing is more dangerous because of it.

I have carried around my house when the situation warranted it

Now there you see is where we differ - in theory my situation does NOT warrant it - probably never will - but as I said in earlier post - for me, that piece must be there - and not a ''hoped for'' if the unlikely event occurred that would require it - maybe that once in a lifetime unexpected deal - for which I have no precognitive means of seeing.

Whatever is comfortable for the individual tho - as ever.

 

[runswithscissors]

I don't ALWAYS have the gun on me

but its close. Right now I'm breaking in a new shoulder holster

 

[fjolnirsson]

I don't always Carry in the house, but a gun is constantly within arms reach if not worn. I will have to start actually carrying soon, as my daughter is a year old now, and getting too active for me to leave a gun on a high shelf "out of reach". Not yet old enough for the "don't touch" concept to have sunk in.
Where I used to live, we had frequent home invasions in our city. The one time I left my guns locked up and went to the door, a crankhead was on my front porch. I always kept the gun out after that.
In regards to

I still think there are those who need to ratchet down the alert level they live under. Holding on that tight for too long is tiring and inherently dangerous.

,
That's true. I spent the last 4 years living in condition Orange 24-7. That was the price I paid for living where I did. It was a unique situation which we were not aware of at the time we purchased our home. It had a lot to do with my job at the time, as well.
It takes a toll. It caused health problems, and I'm sure it caused damage to my psyche. My wife says I'm beginning to be more like my old self, though. The important thing is, I kept my family safe. It's been six months since we left that Hell on earth, and I've slowly begun to relax. It still doesn't take much to put me back in Orange, and it's hard to come back down. But things here are a lot better.
I stll keep the gun out, just like the fire extinguisher.

 

[Double Maduro]

If I have my pants on, I have my Ruger P90 IWB. Saves having to go get it out of the safe every time I leave the house.

MikeIsaj,

I am not paranoid, I do not believe they are out to get me, no matter what the voices in my head tell me.

I believe in being prepared.

I do not look forward to the day when I can shoot a bad guy or two.

I pray every day that the time never comes when I have to defend myself or someone else with deadly force. But, if the time ever comes when I need to do that, I want a tool ready at hand to neutralize the threat. No place closer than IWB.

Do I think that bad things happen to good people? Yes. Do I think bad things happen in good neighborhoods? Yes.

I believe that The Lord best looks after those who look after themselves.



DM

 

[Ben Shepherd]

ALWAYS!! Everywhere exept the shower. Even then it is within 6" of the shower curtain.

This is why we have stainless steel and silicone cloths folks!!!

 

[cidirkona]

If I'm wearing it all day whenever I'm not going to get fired or arrested for it, why would I take it off when I got further into the ghetto (aka where I live.)?

-Colin

 

[cidirkona]

And - no, there is nothing tiring about it whatsoever and equally nothing is more dangerous because of it.

Well, it could go off if you caught on fire somehow...

The sad thing is, I'm sure an Anti has used that before... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

-Colin

(PS sorry about the double post, that was supposed to an edit of the last one...)

(PPS Just because you're paranoid, doens't mean they're NOT out to get you!!! )

 

[P95Carry]

Well, it could go off if you caught on fire somehow...

But Colin - you forget - I have the fire extinguisher open carried on my back - against just such a contingency!