Do people you know hate when you carry?

The only people who know that I carry are a few of my closest friends who also carry, and my girlfriend. My girlfriend has said it actually makes her feel safe. It's funny, when out in public my friends and I never verbally ask each other if we are carrying, if a something happens that seems out of place all it takes is the head nod to know.
 
I do not carry yet as I haven't gotten around to getting my permit. Most of my family know that I am interested in getting it as I've been raised around guns and so have all my cousins, aunts, and uncles. My dad was the one that actually told me about the class that gets you legal for twenty something states even though he doesn't carry nor has he ever. My mother felt much better about me living in a bigger city when I picked up my first gun for home defense so I already assume she'll be absolutely fine with me carrying 24-7. As for anyone else friends wise if they don't like guns odds are we aren't very good friends and there is no way I'd let them know that I carry.
 
Both of my parents support the fact that I carry, as they carry as well. However, my grandmothers on both sides of the family don't appreciate it all that much. One of my sisters doesn't like it either, but the other two accept it, so she is in the minority.

I have a few cousins who don't like it, but I think I am starting to bring them around to my thinking.

I don't let anyone outside of the family know unless they are close friends that I know I can trust... but a person usually has only two friends that they can completely trust with their lives.
 
Like SKS, I carry on a daily basis but no one - or almost no one - knows. I live in a rural part of a pretty anti-gun state, and I suspect there are a number of other folks who are doing the same thing. No need for a lot of talk about it.
 
my parents are the only ones that had a problem with it at first but now they are asking about it for themselves.
 
funny story

My wife, a friend, and I were once driving through a crappy neighborhood. (It's Dallas, where historic homes and nice restaurants are next to projects so not a lot of chance avoiding them.) And these 4 guys pull up next to us, wearing matching colors; then start staring at us HARD - and my wife who doesn't see them because she's poking around the glove compartment but is licensed says
"Hey, did you bring my 19? I only see my Walther."

Note: Our windows are rolled down.

"No honey I think it's in the trunk."
"So are you telling me we are on Harry Hines at night, and all I have is a P22?"
"I brought my .45"
"And what? I can go squirrel hunting while you protect us?"
"This is like your phone, you're always forgetting your phone."

Those guys left: I think they were scared of my wife.
They have no idea.
 
im from Fort Worth and know exactly what your talking about the nice neighborhoods in the hood. I travel all over DFW so its in and out of nice and not nice places
 
My father is now working in Liberty City....I've armed him. Family support is like no other...

Just sucks when certain friends find out about it and don't stop whining..
 
A long winded background before my answer:

I used to carry every day in all situations. Then for over a decade I didn't carry at all. No explanation really other than laziness. I just kind of fell out of the habit and then my concealed carry license expired and I kept forgetting to renew it and eventually it never crossed my mind anymore, except on Super Bowl Sunday which was my designated gun testing and cleaning day after I had lapsed so bad that I didn't even bother to go to the range anymore. Each Super Bowl Sunday early in the am I'd take my two remaining guns several miles up one of the nearby logging roads and shoot a box or two of rounds. Then I'd come home and clean them both and put them away for another year. Then, about 4 or 5 years ago the state legislated away the ability to go out and shoot on almost all state land except for hunting purposes (I don't hunt). So then I left out the actual shooting part of the Super Bowl routine. I'd do a basic function check and cleaning and that's it.

One day last October I pulled out my 10/22 to shoot a nuisance animal (raccoon) that had been dumping my garbage and destroying my garden all summer. It was a close, easy shot at a nearly stationary target and I clean missed 2 times. I got him on the 3rd shot (he never moved. Just stood there looking at me until he fell over). I decided to go to the range. I had trouble finding one because many of the outdoor ones I had frequented in the mid to late 90's no longer exist and back then I never bothered with the few indoor ones because they were more expensive. Plus I could just drive up a logging road and plink away back then. I eventually found someplace to shoot the .22 and after a couple dozen shots I felt it all coming back. I left the range/shop that day with a very nice Sig P6 as well. I re-applied for my carry permit the next week (I got the permit in the mail 6 days later which must be some kind of record). After getting used to the P6 I've started to carry again in the last few months.

My problem is that my life has changed in the last 10-15 years. I work what would traditionally be considered a white collar job, except things are more relaxed now so I wear a polo shirt. Anyway, my company expressly prohibits the carrying of weapons while on company time. I have no desire to lose my excellent living so I comply, although the compromise is that the gun stays in the car, in my range bag. I coach youth sports, most of which are played on school fields. The schools are posted as "Weapons free zones" in my state and this applies to all except LEO's. The permit does me no good there. Bars in my state are weapons free as well, and all are posted. So basically for about 2/3 of my waking hours I can't carry anyway.

I subscribe to the "no one should know" approach. I make every effort to keep it concealed. I my state (WA) my permit actually is called a "License to carry concealed pistol". The only people who know I'm licensed to carry are my wife and brother. I don't announce when I'm carrying and when I'm not even to them. Hopefully I've done a good enough job in weapon selection, holster, clothing, etc that I'm not advertising it to the world. I'm in favor of the element of surprise. My brother and I are practically the same person mentally so he is not an issue. My wife has more issue with keeping a pistol in the house than with me carrying it. She stopped hassling me when I said I'd put it in the safe when not carrying it. My preferred home defense weapon is the 12ga anyway.
 
Only the women in my life know i carry, my mother and girlfriend. My mother hates and doesnt understand why i carry EVERYWHERE, i tell her because its my right, and crime doesnt make reservations. She hates the idea of me walking with a gun...but she reminds to check if my permit is in my wallet and if i have my gun... ironic or supportive? Any my girlfriend wont go out with me if i carry or she will drive if its in my car...so i bought a new iwb holster and know i even forget :D
 
Carry a concealed weapon in Maryland? No chance; it is one of the hardest states to get a permit in. I really need to move to Alaska where my brother lives. In Maryland I have to risk serious criminal prosecution, just to be safe. We can't carry concealed weapons, but there is no shortage of violent crime here. We are one of the more violent states in the nation with Baltimore's murder and assualt rate and of course we are too close to DC. If something happens in this state you have to pray a cop is close by or you say 'the hell with it' and are carrying anyway; of course then you will be prosecuted for the weapons violation::rolleyes:
 
Pretty simple, if you ask me. When in their homes respect their sensitivity. You do not walk with a stick of lighted cigar in your mouth into a home where they do not smoke nor tolerate smoking. Keep your precious baggage out of their homes. If you do not think you will be safe in their homes, then choose somewhere else to meet with them.

If you insist on carrying into their homes, their homes become a public place to you and you should conceal your weapon and obey all rules as if you were in a public place.

You do not walk into Wal-Mart letting every one know that you are carrying, do you?

Your responsibility also requires you being a good ambassador for gun rights and for advocates of concealed carrying.

Always, I will not abuse the hospitality of my host/hostess. I have been to homes that require I walk in without my shoes on and I comply.


HK 45 V1 variant.
Sig Sauer P226R DAK 9mm with mag safety.
Beretta PX4 Storm Type F 9 mm.
 
Last edited:
I honestly don't care at all what people say, I will continue to carry. My mom gets furious when I talk about new guns, shes wrong and I don't care.

My girlfriends mom would probably never let me in her house again if she found out I carried. Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. :D

My girlfriend is really the only one who understands, she gets nervous sometimes and says I wish you had your gun. ;)

CHL should be here fri, sat or mon. :cool:
 
I don't let folks know I'm carrying or not, none of their business. As far as taking it from car to parent's house, for safety, get a shoulder brief or something and put it in there, then on a shelf indoors. No need to advertise.

To the rest of them, try "Every citizen has an obligation to keep themselves and their community free from harm. Some folks rely on others to do that for them, without thinking if those others will be there when the need arises." That might make them think. Maybe.
 
my wife doesnt like when i carry, until one day the family went for a quad ride (with a trailer) on some hunting property. we stopped to talk a check out the view when all of the sudden this big coyote popped up about 30 yards in front of us. the kids (6 and 8 years old) thought it was cool, as so did I. we just stared at each other, then the wife asked softly"are you carrying?" i said "of course" she said "thank god" then the coyote took off. i told her never to question me about carrying again.
 
Very interesting thread. I've noticed that the received wisdom seems to be that people who are politically liberal are reflexively opposed to concealed carry. Take it from me, stereotypes are dangerous.

Very few of my friends and acquaintances will ever know that I'm carrying. Isn't concealment the idea?
 
Family and close friends, maybe, acquiantces no way!

Which is the part of the whole point of ccw, anyway! Another rant I have is badges for CCW holders. I mean, if you're gonna go to that much trouble to identify yourself as a "pistol packer", just either open carry or don't carry period!
 
Sort of Off Topic

...sometimes my girlfriend gets all weirded out...
Click to expand...

Are you sure that this is someone you want to date or be married to?

Just sayin'.

Please don't flame me, but I actually put that I was a gun carrier in my eHarmony profile so they knew up front.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top