First Day Carrying!

[Picard]

Well if you had seen from the thread title, today is the first day that I officially exercised my 2nd Amendment right of bearing arms in public. Nothing really exciting happened, but coming from the dictatorship that is Illinois, it was a big step for me.

I had received my non-resident Pennsylvania carry permit earlier this week, and thought that I would carry while going blueberry picking with my family in Indiana today. I didn't have a holster, so I carried my CZ P-01 in a cargo pocket on my shorts. It fit pretty well and, I didn't feel weird at all having a firearm on my person. I actually forgot that it was their for most of the time.

I would have open carried if I had a holster for it. Next time I probably will open carry.

Well, to anyone who cares, I was excited. This is a new beginning for me. Do any of you guys have any interesting stories from your first times carrying?

Here's a blueberry bush. There were so many blueberries, it was like picking grapes.

 

[FCFC]

Congrats to you.

Someday, you'll be ale to do it in your home state.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

MY FIRST TIME WAS A STRANGE FEELING
having a gun on me around the public, now its like that dang cell phone, dont feel dressed with out it

 

[MedWheeler]

Soo... did you go to Wal-Mart?

 

[BruceRDucer]

LOL!

Picard, are you happier than a pig-in-slop or what? LOL!

Congratulations. I'm happy for you too!

 

[Picard]

Soo... did you go to Wal-Mart?

Negative. I didn't really have the opportunity to.

MY FIRST TIME WAS A STRANGE FEELING

The only time that it felt strange was when I walked briskly. Having a 2 pound piece of metal in a cargo pocket will bang against your knees pretty good.

 

[bensdad]

I felt strange my first day-or-two. I carry IWB appendix. Now, like most others, I feel wierd w/o the darn thing.

 

[Lumpy76]

I'm in the same boat as you. Just got my PA permit a week ago and have not had the chance to use it yet. Good job.
I'm very angry at my state lately!

 

[AR2A]

Congratz Picard! Glad to hear it

 

[Treo]

You haven't officially carried until you do the Wal-Mart walk.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

Just curious, what does Wal-Mart have to do with anything?

 

[Treo]

There's a thread in general hand guns called "The Wal-Mart Walk" search it.

Basically it's a rite of passage for CHP holders. It's a way to get over the first day jitters, and prove to yourself that you can go out in public W/out some soccer mom screaming " oh my God he's got a gun".

Traditionally you walk through WM W/ your CCW buy a box of ammo and some nachos while you get used to walking around W/ your piece

 

[Ltlabner]

I thought you couldn't CCW in Illinois period?

I just checked handgunlaw.us and it shows that even with a PA permit no CCW in IL.

Am I missing something?

 

[ASM826]

Yes, Ltlabner, he said in the OP that he was carrying in Indiana.

 

[Ltlabner]

Yes, Ltlabner, he said in the OP that he was carrying in Indiana.

Dur. I totally missed that. Thanks.

 

[Picard]

I feel like the Wal-Mart walk doesn't mean anything unless one is open carrying. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do that too this summer. Maybe a few of us can get together and do a group thing.

I think it'd be nice, especially for us Illinois Highroaders that haven't done anything like that before (*hint* Lumpy *hint*).

 

[El Tejon]

Nothing really exciting happened, but coming from the dictatorship that is Illinois, it was a big step for me.

Exciting? Indiana? You got the wrong state, buddy!

Ah, yes, tis the season for picking blueberries here. Which county?

Welcome to Indiana, hope you enjoyed our state.

 

[pitbullman]

I've done the walmart walk open carrying lots of times and never had a head turned my way i think ppl dont pay attention as much as you think they will.

 

[Picard]

Ah, yes, tis the season for picking blueberries here. Which county?

We were in La Porte County. I thought that I'd be disarmed while there since we took 94 all the way to Michigan, then when we got off the highway, we crossed the state line again, putting us back in Indiana, the land of the free. That was my joke for the trip. Every time we'd cross the border, I'd load up my firearm, because I could.

Luckily, the blueberry farm was in Indiana, allowing me to carry there. The rest of the day was spent in Michigan (I was disarmed ) on the beach. We all had a great time. There were 5 foot waves coming from the lake, making it really fun to swim in. All in all, it was an excellent day.

 

[El Tejon]

Picard, yes, that's Indiana in a phrase: fruit, veggies and guns.

Beach in Michigan? Was that New Buffalo? I learned to sail near there near the home of our Chief Justice, Long Beach, Indiana.

Got to watch those Lake waves. They come out of nowhere sometimes and swamp your boat and destroy your sandcastle.