CCW or leave it in the car?

I carry everywhere legal and I follow my work firearms policy.

What that means is if I go in my office, in a bank, restaurant that serves beer, movie theater, county or state gov't building, and a few other places, it stays behind in my truck in a locked floor safe.

I can't go onto the grounds of a school or post office, or some other gov't locations with one even in the car.......

When I do have to go to the PO, I use the one downtown near my office where there is on street parking nearby. When I have to go to my daughter's school, I either make my wife meet me at her mom's house (1 mile away) and we leave my truck there and take her car, or I park my truck at my church which is directly across the street from my daughter's school. When she moves to middle school in a couple years I'll need a new plan......

In addition to the gun I'm usually carrying (most often a pocket .380 or .38), I keep an 8+1 .45ACP with two spare mags locked in my truck in a safe.
 
Lots of people who have permits either don't carry, usually don't carry, or carry extremely rarely. A lot of folks just like having the option to do so.

You are right. Many don't carry because they don't feel that there is much likelihood of attack. Others don't do it because it is inconvenient for them.

The bottom line is that not everyone with a permit is vigilant, nor do they want to be.

As for me, I carry whenever I can.
 
You also have the types (my sister is one) that doesn't have a CHL, doesn't plan on getting one but keeps a loaded, concealed handgun in her car within easy reach (which is legal here).

I've tried to talk her into getting her CHL, even offered to pay for everything but she just doesn't want to. At least she keeps one in her car though, I guess it's better than nothing.
 
Get something small enough to carry all the time

I bought a Kahr MK9 and it is small enough to pocket carry. I just place my wallet in front of it to break up the outline. I carry a lot more than I used to since it is so cncealable and reasonably comfortable. I guess that's why people say it's better to have a mouse gun on you than a cannon at home. I'm planning on getting PM9 or PM40 though since the MK gets pretty heavy.
 
The mess is hitting the fan everywhere and NO place is truly "safe". If I leave my home, I'm armed. Period. End of story.

If I have it and don't need it, cool. But if I need it and don't have it, it'll be the last mistake I make.
 
IMHO if you have a concealed handgun license you should carry your pistol on your person and not leave it in a vehicle. . . Aside from the obvious, better to have it and not need it, than need it and have it in the glove compartment or console.

I have had my car broken into once in 35 years, and that one time the crooks happened to find a J-Frame Smith under the front seat. I had left my car in front of my house, went to bed and woke up to find that half a dozen cars had been broken into along my street.

There's a reason that the bumper sticker "S(&(& Happens" is relevant. I would say that if you can carry legally, you should always carry.
 
Really depends on where you live/where youre going. If you don't sense danger, there's no sense in bringing it with you.
 
If you don't sense danger, there's no sense in bringing it with you.
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That reasoning doesn't make sense... If you sense danger, why would you go there in the first place? Having a CCW is for those times you either don't sense danger, or sense it too late.
Bad things happen anywhere.
 
That reasoning doesn't make sense... If you sense danger, why would you go there in the first place? Having a CCW is for those times you either don't sense danger, or sense it too late.
Bad things happen anywhere.
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Correct, and bad things WILL happen to everyone, regardless of what weapon they carry or how hard they try to prepare. Having a pistol on your hip every time you go out because you think something bad may happen at some random point in your life is delusional. I even go as far as to say it's DANGEROUS.. when I think of people like that, I think of senile mom and pops firing shotgun rounds in their front yard because someone was walking on their grass.

"why?" - This world is getting worse, and there already are times where we have to place ourselves in situations we would rather not be in (bad neighborhood, secluded place at night, etc..). In those instances I think we should carry, but I see no reason to otherwise. I would say "life isn't much without taking risks", but not carrying a pistol isn't much of a risk at all.

Just doesn't justify the means.. Carrying a pistol on your hip to make you .000001% safer from the one BILLION things that could happen to you at any given time.
 
mmm... im gona have to disagree with you there amigo.

Having a pistol on your hip every time you go out because you think something bad may happen at some random point in your life is delusional
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Does anyone really go out expecting something to happen to them? Bad things can happen at random times, not just when you expect them to.

when I think of people like that, I think of senile mom and pops firing shotgun rounds in their front yard because someone was walking on their grass.
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Well that's unfortunate you feel that way, but I must point out that that is a feeling and in no way a fact or correct representation of those who carry 100% of the time.

I even go as far as to say it's DANGEROUS
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Dangerous to carry a CCW? That's a big statement, so I'll give you the opportunity to back it up first...

Just doesn't justify the means.. Carrying a pistol on your hip to make you .000001% safer from the one BILLION things that could happen to you at any given time.
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Well that certainly is a personal opinion, which has its merits, but not one I specifically subscribe to. I beleive the apparent drawbacks (that you say there are) do not outweigh the benefits.
 
I carry whenever and wherever it is legal to do so.

There is only one reason my CCW is left in my vehicle: I am entering a building where I am not legally allowed to CCW. Post Office, Court building (which in my area is defined as library and other municipal buildings adjacent/attached to the courthouse :rolleyes:), establishments correctly posted, etc.
 
I prefer to leave my CW in the car in the cases where I can't take it with me (visit daughter's school, etc.) rather than leaving it at home entirely. I don't like leaving it in the car. I don't like leaving it at home. Given the choice of the two I leave it in the car.
 
In response to the OP.

I have two choices:

1) Carry Gun where legally able to do so

2) Leave Gun in vehicle

I pick option 1, as that way I know my gun isn't being stolen, to later be used in a crime. Carry your gun, or leave it at home in a safe. You do have a safe don't you? I have a lockbox bolted to the floor of my truck, but I very seldom use it.

Biker
 
I agree with KLRANGL. A friend told me recently she was going to carry "only when she felt like she might need it". My response was, "if you think you might need it, don't go there!!!"

Crimes are almost never committed when we expect them... that's the whole point.

I fail to understand eskimo's logic.. what makes us dangerous for assuming that something bad could happen at any point? It could.

I carry 100% of the time I am legally able.
 
I don't know why one would have a CHL and not carry the weapon.

You have health insurance all the time since you never know when you'll get sick.

You wear a seat belt all the time since you never know when you'll get in a car wreck.

You carry your concealed handgun all the time since you never know when you or a loved one will be attacked.

Makes sense to me.
 
Apples and oranges

Is the main point of the thread about leaving the weapon in the car as a matter of preference, or leaving it in the car because one of your stops is in a "gun free zone?"

That really makes a big difference in the answer.
 
Crimes are almost never committed when we expect them... that's the whole point.
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Right, the criminals are bright enough to know that attacking expectant targets has a much lower probability for success than attacking unsuspecting targets.
 
Eskimo said:
Having a pistol on your hip every time you go out because you think something bad may happen at some random point in your life is delusional. I even go as far as to say it's DANGEROUS..
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:rolleyes: Well, I guess I'm delusional then, because that's exactly why I carry. In fact, if I was positive nothing bad would ever happen to me at some random part in my life, I would have never applied for a CPL. I would go as far as to say I don't think anybody would, as there wouldn't really be a reason for it now would there? As far as it being dangerous? Yeah, I deeply hope so, dangerous to any perpetrator of evil against my person, or against those that I love.
 
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