First time to carry

Congrats on the chl.
The more you carry your weapon , the more it will feel like a part of you.
Like others said , it will become as normal as putting on your pants, watch, keys etc ...
Proper fitting clothing helps & also finding a holster type & carry weapon that is the most comfortable to you.
Get used to reading door entry signs regarding wether or not you are permitted to carry inside their busniess.
Keep up with current laws regarding carrying or gun laws in general. :cool:
 
Maybe I'm the odd pup in this pack, . . . but I carried for the first time somewhere in the late 60's, . . . and I am still not so used to it that I forget I have it with me.

I guess to a certain extent, . . . maybe I am up a half notch on condition if I am carrying. :confused:

I can tell you for sure that I am more relaxed and generally have lower blood pressure when I am carrying.

Kinda like the old question & answer:

"Hey dude, carrying that big old 1911, what are you afraid of?"

"Long as I'm carrying my 1911, I ain't afraid of nothin'."


May God bless,
Dwight
 
Locations

Just to follow up to ncpatriot's post. The places you cannot carry vary by state. In Florida we can carry into banks. We can go into places that serve alcohol although weirdly: you can carry into a restaurant in the "food" section but not the lounge/bar. You can even have an adult beverage at a food table and it's ok (although that's prob a bad idea). Ncpat's post is accurate but just be sure you check state law where you are.
 
Thongs

I carry, even at Lowes and Wally World. Forget it's even there. The only thing I notice while shopping is the occasional reach for the bottom shelf by a lady wearing a thong. I don't spend much time looking for fellow CCW friends. Please take a carry course before trying it out if your not comfortable and 100% sure. Court fees can add up quickly.
 
It took me about a month to feel "natural", but I've never really forgotten that I'm armed. After a while, that grew to also feeling odd when I wasn't armed. I also found myself scanning areas I entered & deciding whether the people were too dense for me to shoot a BG safely.

As a newly armed person, you'll have wakeup calls when:
  • a gun-fearing family member hugs around your holster
  • you bump into something and your gun makes a conspicuous "clunk"
  • you accidentally flash your piece or your spare ammo

Despite a few awkward moments, I find I now feel free when I'm packing. I can protect myself & my loved ones, so fears I didn't even know I had have dropped away.
 
Quote:
How long will it take me for carrying to feel natural?

Anywhere from twenty minutes to a couple weeks would be the normal range, I'd guess. You'll soon feel naked without your gun, which is a good thing.
Click to expand...

That's about right. When I first started pocket carrying my S&W 642 more than 4 years ago, it was rather awkward for the first week or so. After 4 weeks though, not only did it feel natural, I didnt' feel right when not carrying. Like leaving the house without a watch on (God I hate that :o).

In fact, the size of my carry guns has generally increased in size and weight over time, to the point now where my S&W Model 28 (pictured at top) carries more comfortably to me today using an IWB holster than my 642 (bottom) did during the first week of carry in my pocket.


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The trick is to not become complacent. I started feeling comfortable after a month or so. However, I am always more cognizant of things around me when I carry.
 
People don't look; and if they do, they don't see.

Think about it. How often do you happen to look at the small of someone's back looking for a weapon? How often do other people? People are getting into incredibly higher numbers of car accidents because they can't even be bothered to pay attention to the road and it's contents of life-threatening death machines over their texting conversations.

We, as a community of gun-carriers, tend to have an incredibly higher level of situational awareness than the vast majority of the population. It comes with the territory. And with everyone carrying their techno-crap on their belts in "holsters" these days, chances are no one will be the slightest bit suspicious if they see you printing under a cover garment. How often do you see someone whip an iPhone out of their belt holster a week? Would you give it a second thought if you did? There you go, most people will think your properly holstered weapon is an iPhone. All guns are iPhones.

Wow this cold medicine is strong...
~LT
 
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