Carrying to a Gym?

A

abrahamsmith

New member
I live in an absolutely-no-CCW state (WI), so I'm unfamiliar with the habits of carriers.

I got curious about something when at Aikido practice today... Tell me: for those of you who go to a gym or rec. center or whatever, how do you stay concealed?

In a large locker room, it would seem difficult to change without someone seeing you reveal a holster, no matter where it is. Also, how much do you worry about putting your gun in locker with a whimpy little padlock on it?

Though I find it hard to imagine a need to do so unless you had unloaded or something, I would think the sound of a slide would resonate in the cement and tile... (I suppose this might be considered "brandishing" or something)

so? how do you do it?

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Abe Smith,
President of UW-Madison's
Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility
 
Even though I disagree with the law in WI, I'd be tempted to either follow the law, or lock the firearm up in a vehicle before going in. Or, keep it in your gear bag.

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"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
Use a small lock on the zipper of your bag and use a bicycle lock to secure the bag in the gym/dojo/training area you'll be working in.

If there are lockers, use those instead. Just remember to unholster your firearm in your car before you enter the gym. Keep the weapon in a soft case to minimize size and noise (and damage to your gun).
 
Ditto, plus "off body" CCW - fanny packs, day-planner holsters, or, with a small enough gun, go with in-the-pocket carry. Just don't fold your pants upside-down.
 
Definately the gear bag. Your towel, water bottle and valuables go with you to each station as you work out. I have also used a fag bag with a Walkman in it to justify it being there.
 
This may not be an option for you, but I don't change clothes at the gym. I just bought an ankle holster to use under some baggy sweats. Depending on your activity and attire, the P-32 I have clips nicely to the waistband of same sweats.

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"Any world that I'm welcome to.....Is better than the one I come from"
 
In your situation, I would be tempted to leave it home. I belong to a gym (weightlifting), and I carry in my butt bag. I generally keep the bag with me while lifting, but sometimes I lock it in the locker room.
 
I used to carry concealed into my local Bally's gym, however I have stopped that practice. While dressing I was approached by an off-duty Fairfax County (VA) police officer after noticing my reattached my paddle holster and G23. He cautioned me about leaving my handgun in the locker, even locked with a Master combination lock, because of a number of thefts in the lockeroom. I was pleasantly surprised he was not complaining about my carrying concealed, but looking out for protecting a valuable handgun.

Now whenever my wife and I go to the gym, her jewlery and my handgun are securely locked in the car truck. I remove my paddle holster and G23 while reaching for our gym bags. No one has yet to notice what I'm leaving in the trunk. The chances of needing the handgun, I pray, are next to zero.
 
No disrespect, but how many incidents do you know of where people were robbed, taken hostage, or whatever where you would need a gun at the gym. My point is that chances are, you won't have your gym bag actually with you and hence it won't do you much good. This is akin to the practice of carrying a gun in one's car. Very few people actually get mugged, raped, or held hostage in their car. The incident usually takes places outside of the car and so the gun does them no good in the car. You need to have it on your person and not in a butt bag (as mentioned previously) if you are hoping to use it for defense.
 
Thanks for your comments

a clarification: I don't personally carry and don't plan to begin carrying any time soon, for the simple reason that I live in WI and it's not worth it here. The penalties are too great, and the part of madison that I live in is really quite safe, and the only concern is having some drunk guy pissing on your shoe after a Badger game..


As for the car thing: I can see why it would make sense to leave it in your car when going in, but what if (like me), you walk to the gym?

In this case, it's quite possible to be attacked en route.

But, yes, it's quite unlikely that someone would be attacked inside the gym. I find it hard to believe that anyone would be stupid enough to attack a large group of people when they're practicing throwing each other across the room..

Again, thanks for your comments

------------------
Abe Smith,
President of UW-Madison's
Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility

[This message has been edited by abrahamsmith (edited October 26, 2000).]
 
My NAA mini-revolver comes with an inside-the-waistband holster which carries surprisingly well on underwear elastic. Shorts or sweatpants cover it well, and it is still rapidly accessable. But I'm in NY with a carry permit; no way I'm leaving that tool in a locker.
 
Even though I hate carrying in this manner, going to the gym is the only time I use a fanny pack. Looking at my girth lately shows I probly need to utilize the fanny pack errr.. go to the gym more often. :D


Rick
icon15.gif

The "Incognito Bandit" at work
 
"The incident usually takes places outside of the car and so the gun does them no good in the car"

I disagree with this, in that the biggest chance of encountering trouble for me, is when I get home(I live in the country). If a robbery was in progress when I arrived home, having a gun conveniently place in the car would be very helpful in case a confrontation arose. In fact, there are many places one goes, where having a gun in the car could make a difference.
 
I don't think anyone has needed a gun in a gym yet either, but no one needed in one in a law office, post office, Luby's, or school either until the first time somebody went in and started shooting up the place. As far as carrying in a car, I think that car jackings are a very real problem in some areas, but the gun will do you no good in the car if you aren't, so when you get out to pump gas you should take it with you. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gopher .45:
No disrespect, but how many incidents do you know of where people were robbed, taken hostage, or whatever where you would need a gun at the gym. My point is that chances are, you won't have your gym bag actually with you and hence it won't do you much good. This is akin to the practice of carrying a gun in one's car. Very few people actually get mugged, raped, or held hostage in their car. The incident usually takes places outside of the car and so the gun does them no good in the car. You need to have it on your person and not in a butt bag (as mentioned previously) if you are hoping to use it for defense.[/quote]

True, but it's better than not having it. To each his own.

Roadrunner, the BG may not know that you're putting a gun in your trunk, but they know it's something important to you :).
 
If you worked out at the Ballys I used to work out at you would have wanted your gun. Packs of armenian youths who looked like Auschwitz victims would roam around, acting tough, trying to stare down anyone who weighed more than 97 lbs (jealous
 
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