Newbie CCW

[Chuck]

Sorry if this seems like a silly question. Bt I just wanted to hear some differant opinions. If you are a good,law abiding citizen,who has a CCW, it is obviously perfectly allright for you to carry whenever you want. So why do we have to be so sneaky and careful not to let anyone see that we are carrying? I know guys who carry, and when they are going out of their way to keep from flashing, it sometimes makes them look suspitious. Thanks for your thoughts!!!

 

[ball3006]

In Texas it's because it's...

the law. If a cop sees your gun or a citizen sees it and complains you loose your license to carry.....chris3

 

[BerettaNut92]

So why do we have to be so sneaky and careful not to let anyone see that we are carrying?

Several reasons.

1. By nature, many of us don't like to draw attention to ourselves.
2. In some jurisdictions, having a loaded concealable weapon (at least in CA) is a no-no and may be 'brandishing' = illegal = bad = no more CCW.
3. We don't like showing people our cards. Projecting force is for po-po, military, politicians, professional wrestlers, criminals and tv and movie actors.
4. In less informed crowds, people in general think it's illegal for anyone other than the po-po to have a gun, so if you're not a po-po, you're a criminal, and may call the aforementioned po-po (see #1 about not drawing attention and possibly friendly fire).

Hope this helps. Welcome to THR!

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for the quick replys! I guess I should also add that I don't have a ccw yet. I never wanted one before, but I'm starting to seriously consider it. It just seems to me that a criminal would be trying to hide it. Not someone who is carrying legally. But I do understand your points. They make a lot of sence. Maybe if we could carry more openly if we wanted to, we could spot more "bad guy's" by noticing the people who are trying to hide the fact that they have a weapon. But that theory gets shot down after considering the reply about people not wanting to draw attention. For some reason, I find this subject very interesting. I could see this may have a lot of differant viewpoints!

 

[Drjones]

Hello and welcome, Chuck.

Since you are a newbie, I strongly suggest you start at www.thefiringline.com

A list of some of the best threads is here: http://www.thefiringline.com/Misc/tflthreads.html

Browse around TFL for a while, and you'll learn more than you want to know.

Ball made only a semi-valid point. In many states and localities, exposing your firearm, even printing, will get you busted for "brandishing."

As to whether such laws are legal and moral, well, the answer is obvious.

Skunk made some good points, and I'll throw this in:

If you were a crook and were about to commit a crime, who would you first direct the brunt of your aggression towards: Little old lady, Joe Schmoe, or the guy with a gun on his hip?

That's what I thought...

 

[BerettaNut92]

I was about to add what the good doctor did.

Open carrying is good for everyone collectively, but bad for YOU.

If everyone was known to be carry guns, there's a lower chance of a crime occurring, but if one were to happen, it would make YOU the first target. Let others fend for themselves, you and your family are enough to worry about.

Cruise around and for Godssakes don't ask 9mm or .45ACP for CCW

 

[Standing Wolf]

All other things being equal, I'd rather carry openly than concealed. You can pack more gun more comfortably, and I believe it would do everyone good to see how many law-abiding armed American citizens there are.

 

[itgoesboom]

Simple. Concealed means concealed.

I.G.B.

 

[nemesis]

Chuck says.......

So why do we have to be so sneaky and careful not to let anyone see that we are carrying?

Well, the law that permits us to carry (let's not argue that here) says that we must carry concealed. More importantly, carrying openly just makes you a target.

 

[cordex]

Simple. Concealed means concealed.

So what does "License to Carry Handgun" mean?

Chuck,
Welcome to THR! I'd encourage you to pick up a carry license. They're very simple and inexpensive to get here, and there's no reason not to have one if you're going to even own a handgun (whether or not you plan on carrying it). Indiana carry permits allow for any safe carry style, so you get to make the choice.

Skunk covered your question pretty well, I thought.

Personally, I conceal because packing a gun is not a status symbol or something that needs to be flaunted. It is the ace up my sleeve (so to speak) in the unlikely event that I'll need it. Advertising it eliminates the element of surprise and can be offensive to some of the simple-minded people out there that we all have to deal with in our day to day lives. I've tried open carry, but prefer to keep it hidden.

YMMV

 

[Bainx]

Hey Chuck, what are you waitin' on? Go get some training and your CCW.

 

[itgoesboom]

Cordex,

Chuck asked about a CCW. CCW = Concealed Carry Weapon. Hence my comment, Concealed means concealed.


I.G.B.

 

[C. H. Luke]

One reason that hasn't been covered {?} yet is that there
are "people" out there that do not have anything close to the Moral standard that you possess. They would have no qualms about getting the jump on you and violently mugging you for no better reason other than to use your gun {against you too possibly!} to rob some one for $10 or sell it to get drugs, etc.

The less the uninitiated are aware of the better it is for all of us...

 

[Drjones]

One reason that hasn't been covered {?} yet is that there
are "people" out there that do not have anything close to the Moral standard that you possess. They would have no qualms about getting the jump on you and violently mugging you for no better reason other than to use your gun {against you too possibly!} to rob some one for $10 or sell it to get drugs, etc.

No offense, but your post didn't really make sense.

"violently mugging you for no better reason other than to use your gun {against you too possibly!} to rob some one for $10 or sell it to get drugs, etc"

This is a perfect argument against open carry; you make yourself a target, as I said above.

But anyone who tries to disarm you is clearly threatening your life. Any reasonable person would assume that they are going to shoot you after they take your gun.

As such, any attempt to disarm you is an attempt to murder you.

To expand on what Luke said, there are people in this world who have killed and would kill for 10 or even 20 bucks.

Remember when there used to be a problem with people killing each other for "Air Jordan" shoes or those stupid "Starter" brand jackets?

Those are the sort of people Luke is referring to.

And those are some of the people who give us reason to want to carry.

But don't get confused: It isn't the property you are defending. It is your life.

Look at it this way: A guy comes up to you with a knife and demands your wallet. If you shoot him, many, many people (even most people here) will say "why the hell didn't you just give him your wallet? That's all he wanted!!! I can't believe you shot some guy over your WALLET."

But they are looking at it wrong: He had a KNIFE. (Deadly force)

By threatening you with a knife, he implies, "give me what I want or I will hurt/kill you."

Thus, an attack with a weapon is an attack on your life and should be treated as such.

Do you see? Am I being clear?

Anyhow, I hope we have been of help.

Also: If you are confused or unclear about carrying such as when you are justified in using deadly force, etc., you may want to postpone carrying until you educate yourself further.

This is an order: YOU MUST get and read "Gravest Extreme" by Massad Ayoob. It is only around $15, and worth many times that.

It is a short book that anyone and everyone should read when they decide to carry.

Heck, that reminds me; I should review it!!!



Drjones

 

[C. H. Luke]

"This is a perfect argument against open carry; you make yourself a target, as I said above."

You assumed my post was referring to Open carry....
It obviously was not.

 

[Captain Bligh]

Chuck, as a fellow Indiana resident please note that Indiana does not have a "CCW." We have a "personal protection" handgun license. I believe if you search www.packing.org and/or Indiana statue, you will not find the kind of language that there is in other states about keeping weapons concealed or suffering penalty of law.

That said, I believe other arguments are valid. If you don't keep it concealed, you may draw some attention/concern from the citizenry and may subject yourself to LEO scruitiny screening. You may also advertise to the criminally inclined that they should shoot you first.

All in all, I think concealed is still better.

RJ

 

[Drjones]

You assumed my post was referring to Open carry....
It obviously was not.

No. I understood perfectly well that you were not talking about open carry.

However, since the topic had come up, I thought your post was a good example of an argument against open carry.

They would have no qualms about getting the jump on you and violently mugging you for no better reason other than to use your gun {against you too possibly!} to rob some one for $10 or sell it to get drugs, etc.

How would someone know you have a gun if you aren't carrying openly?


Unless you are doing a piss-poor job of concealing, which is another important thing to remember: Make sure your carry system WORKS, conceals well, and KEEPS it concealed.