Either Always Carry Or Never Carry

[Trunk Monkey]

(with the obvious caveat where legal)

I carry because I’m not clairvoyant, I don’t know what’s going to happen next so when I got my permit I just made it a rule to carry every where I’m legally able to.

To me there’s more worrying about “what if?’ involved with only carrying some times. Why carry some times and not others? What is it about whatever you’re doing now that makes it so inherently dangerous that you feel the need to carry this time? If it’s so dangerous that you feel you need a gun why are you doing it?

When I first started carrying I was the victim of an attempted mugging. A minute before it happened I would have told you the odds were a million to one. I was able to stop it because I was armed and I was armed because I made it my habit not to leave my home without a gun.

The morning I almost got mugged wasn’t any different than any other morning, I didn’t see it coming, I had no warning and no “Spidey Sense” I woke up, put on my sweats, put my wallet and a .32 in my pocket and went out for my run. Didn’t even think about it that was just the drill. That day I needed it. Haven’t needed it since but it sure was worth having it that day

 

[beatledog7]

Let's say I'm about to depart my house, and I have a number of stops over the next several hours:

--post office, campus, church, grocery store, then back home--

I can't carry in the post office, can't even legally have a gun in the car in the parking lot. So, no gun. Unless I come back home and get it, I'm now unarmed all day.

So I go home and get my gun, and then I'm off to campus. Oh wait, I can't carry there, so I have to leave it in the car. But wait, I hear that's irresponsible. So I don't go get it, and I'm still unarmed.

So after I teach the class I can go back by the house and get my gun. But next stop is church, and carrying there is not exactly encouraged either (though I'm working on that), and once again I'd pretty much have to leave it in the car, so I don't go by the house and get my gun, and I remain unarmed. After church I need to pick up a few groceries, and it's on the way home, so there's no point in stopping by the house first to get my gun, so I go to the supermarket unarmed.

I spent the whole day unarmed, even though I really didn't want to.

This is my reality.

 

[Sam1911]

Carry when you can, as you can, and don't let any aspect of your safety preparations make your life unpleasantly complicated.

Carrying a gun is just one (of many) ways to improve your odds of getting through the day safely. There's lots of things that can harm you or kill you or screw up your happy existence that a gun can't fix. Keep your head on a swivel, be attentive to what you're about, do the best you can and try not to worry. You don't get out of this alive anyway.

 

[beatledog7]

Sam, I agree 100%, especially that last part. Nobody survives his own life.

 

[Rule3]

Hasn't the rule on having a firearm in your car while at the Post Office been changed.??
I believe it is legal in the parking lot of the Post Office.

 

[beatledog7]

Might be true, but it doesn't really change anything.

 

[Rule3]

Might be true, but it doesn't really change anything.

You stated you were not armed as you had to go to the Post Office. If it is now allowed than it does change everything.

I had to travel to two States that do not honor my CCW, I went unarmed for weeks, I survived

 

[beatledog7]

No, it doesn't. If you listen to the "OMG you left your gun in the car!" crowd, being able to have my gun in the PO parking lot is still a bad plan even if it's legal (I'm not part of that, just playing Devil's advocate).

And given all the other places I also have to go, it effectively changes nothing.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

redacted for Sister Dominatrix sake

 

[JAshley73]

Carry when you can, as you can, and don't let any aspect of your safety preparations make your life unpleasantly complicated.

Carrying a gun is just one (of many) ways to improve your odds of getting through the day safely. There's lots of things that can harm you or kill you or screw up your happy existence that a gun can't fix. Keep your head on a swivel, be attentive to what you're about, do the best you can and try not to worry. You don't get out of this alive anyway.

Can we get a "Like button" in here?

 

[orionengnr]

No, it doesn't. If you listen to the "OMG you left your gun in the car!" crowd, being able to have my gun in the PO parking lot is still a bad plan even if it's legal

Au contraire.
Leaving your gun in the car for 3-5 minutes once a month (or once every several months, in my case) is an entirely different proposition from leaving your gun in the car in the parking lot all day, every day...or leaving your "truck gun" in your vehicle 24/7, year round.

The latter is irresponsible, IMHO. The former is a very occasional and necessary evil.

I am in the camp of one of our local TX CHL contributors. His sig line is "Carry 24/7 or guess right." Within the limits of the law, I do exactly that.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I think if you apply a little common sense instead of trying to prove you’re the smartest guy in the room the idea I’m trying to communicate is pretty clear.

Obviously I can’t carry every where I go (actually, I haven’t been anyplace that was posted since early May) but where I can I do.

As I stated in the OP I don’t know when I’m going to need a gun and if I knew I was going to need a gun I wouldn’t go there but barring circumstances beyond my control ( wouldn't want anyone to be confused about my meaning)my default setting is armed. If I go someplace where guns aren’t welcome on the premises but mere possession isn’t a crime I have a lock box cable locked to my car and I leave my gun there.

 

[beatledog7]

We get that, Trunk Monkey. But in actual truth, all your circumstances are within your control if you choose to make them so. Mine are as well. I could choose not to teach and go to church, but I won't stop doing those things just so I can carry 24/7. I wish I could do both without breaking the rules, but I can't.

I have a locking device like you describe in my car also, and I use it from time to time, but it would only serve to slow down and not thwart a determined thief. I would have to leave my gun in there for several hours nearly every day if I left home with it. I'd rather not do that, especially if I will have only a relatively short time during that day when I actually can carry. It's a matter of weighing risks--leave a gun in the little "safe" for several hours, or pop into Kroger unarmed.

My point was not to split hairs but to describe the day-to-day challenges that I (and no doubt others) face as I decide whether or not to carry. Everyone's situation is different, and every day brings with it the potential for a previously unforeseen carry challenge.

To put it in perspective, on non-teaching, non-church days, I carry. However, most of my days are one or the other at best.

 

[MedWheeler]

My most-recent carry-complications were during a trip to North Carolina. Far more prohibited places than here in Florida, and, as a typical sightseer, I was going many places each time I left my hotel room. I hear they're working on that up there.

But, yes, I don't willingly leave home without a gun. I carry to and from my no-carry job site, but am "less-armed" during my actual shift. It's rare I go anywhere else that is off-limits to armed citizens here in Florida, maybe a handful of times a year. I don't sweat leaving my firearm in my vehicle during those short durations.

 

[Sam1911]

My most-recent carry-complications were during a trip to North Carolina. Far more prohibited places than here in Florida,...

LOL! Yeah, NC will get you paranoid, that's for sure! Last time I was there I discovered at about 1:00 am that the hotel I was scheduled to stay in was ON a college campus, and every other place I was supposed to go was prohibited. :banghead: Their list of "no-nos" is pretty wild!

But, yes, I don't willingly leave home without a gun. I carry to and from my no-carry job site, but am "less-armed" during my actual shift. It's rare I go anywhere else that is off-limits to armed citizens here in Florida, maybe a handful of times a year. I don't sweat leaving my firearm in my vehicle during those short durations.

You know, most of us made it until at least 21 years old -- and most of us quite a bit longer than that -- before we ever carried a gun out in public, let alone every day, everywhere. We mostly survived. That's real good. Nothing magically changed the day you got your permit that makes you any MORE vulnerable or a bigger target. In fact, most of us have spent the time since that day becoming more mindful, more aware, more mentally prepared for danger. (Uh, hopefully!) Focus on the fact that your MIND is the weapon, the gun is just one of your tools.

While I don't leave home without a sidearm if I can legally and reasonably carry it that day, I do try not to use it as a mental crutch or security blanket/talisman. It is the very last line of defense. There are any other ways to prevent/avoid violence and I want to focus on them first, second, third, etc... That has worked for me perfectly up to this point and I hope to finish out my days in the same manner.

 

[HexHead]

If you listen to the "OMG you left your gun in the car!" crowd, being able to have my gun in the PO parking lot is still a bad plan even if it's legal

Are you going to listen to every idiot on the internet?

 

[beatledog7]

Hexhead,

I see you haven't read the entire thread. I later stated that I don't follow that advice; I was simply noting its existence and prevalence.

That said, I would still rather not leave a firearm in my car for long periods of time.

 

[huntsman]

I was able to stop it because I was armed and I was armed because I made it my habit not to leave my home without a gun.

This should be emblazoned across the top of the board for all to see.

When someone starts a thread slamming mouse guns they should be made to write the above 25 times.

But in actual truth, all your circumstances are within your control if you choose to make them so. Mine are as well. I could choose not to teach and go to church, but I won't stop doing those things just so I can carry 24/7. I wish I could do both without breaking the rules, but I can't.

This is the issue with our current RKBA climate we're not in control that's an a illusion, he is no more in control than you are than any of us are. Until we have a true unencumbered carry we're all just hedging bets until we've reached the conclusion that my inalienable right to defend myself supersedes the State's right to infringe and control.

 

[two gun charlie]

I always carry , always concealed , if the gun can't come then neither can I

 

[Sam1911]

That's a useful approach if your local laws allow. I don't know how SA treats the issue. Here in the 'States, there are always places where guns are prohibited -- even in the best of states. And some of those places (courthouses, schools, federal buildings, etc.) can't always be avoided.

At the extremes, this discussion threatens to devolve into "what gun to carry under my gown when going in for heart surgery?" There are times and places we just can't avoid being armed to a lesser degree than perhaps we'd like.

 

[Mainsail]

I was an occasional carrier for the first few years after I got my CPL. I would carry whenever I was going to sketchy areas or similar. Then we had the Tacoma Mall shooting.

It occurred to me that the bad folks among us don't look or act much different than the rest of us, and most importantly, they don't respect the 'borders' we've set up in our minds. After that I carry whenever I'm out.

I've never once come home and kicked myself for carrying a handgun for protection even though I didn't need it. I don't ever want to come home and kick myself for having left my handgun at home when I did need it.

 

[Mainsail]

Here in the 'States, there are always places where guns are prohibited -- even in the best of states. And some of those places (courthouses, schools, federal buildings, etc.) can't always be avoided.

In some states it's much easier though. Here in WA you can carry *to* the courthouse and the courthouse is required by law to provide storage for your sidearm while you conduct your business there. You can carry *to* a school (if you have a CPL) if you're dropping off or picking up. Taverns are off limits, however restaurants that serve alcohol are OK as long as you stay out of the defined 'bar area' proper.

Good laws (reasonable?) are out there, we just need to get them enacted in other states. Our laws here seem to have been written with the understanding that law abiding citizens carrying firearms is normal (for lack of a better word) while some states treat carry of firearms by citizens to be peculiar or limited to very specific times (like hunting or sport shooting). That's the mentality we need to change.

 

[Sam1911]

In some states it's much easier though. Here in WA you can carry *to* the courthouse and the courthouse is required by law to provide storage for your sidearm while you conduct your business there. You can carry *to* a school (if you have a CPL) if you're dropping off or picking up. Taverns are off limits, however restaurants that serve alcohol are OK as long as you stay out of the defined 'bar area' proper.

Oh, indeed! Here in PA the courthouse rule is the same. (Texas is MUCH better though!) And we have no bar/alcohol/drinking prohibition. K-12 schools are off-limits...sort of. The law is unclear and the way the statute is enforced seems at odds with the way it is written.

But regardless, there are still places you might have to go that you can't go armed. It happens.

 

[X-Rap]

I'm still amazed that people get all wound around the axle regarding leaving a gun in the car. If it weren't in the car it would be in the home and surely not every gun owner has a safe.
Pocket carry, paddle holsters, clipdraws, and snap on make it difficult to not be able to carry on a fairly regular basis if you wish.
There is certainly much work to do before we get proper clarity and freedom to carry in currently prohibited places and some states are worse than others All the more to avoid some kind of federal intervention in carry laws.

 

[MedWheeler]

Sam1911 Writes:

You know, most of us made it until at least 21 years old -- and most of us quite a bit longer than that -- before we ever carried a gun out in public, let alone every day, everywhere. We mostly survived. That's real good. Nothing magically changed the day you got your permit that makes you any MORE vulnerable or a bigger target. In fact, most of us have spent the time since that day becoming more mindful, more aware, more mentally prepared for danger. (Uh, hopefully!) Focus on the fact that your MIND is the weapon, the gun is just one of your tools.

..to my

But, yes, I don't willingly leave home without a gun. I carry to and from my no-carry job site, but am "less-armed" during my actual shift. It's rare I go anywhere else that is off-limits to armed citizens here in Florida, maybe a handful of times a year.

I should have been more clear. Yes, it's true that I rarely go to places that are off-limits to armed citizen (other than my work site), but the reason is not out of principle-based refusal. I just don't have the need to go to such places very often.