I'm still warming up to this notion....that my firearm fully becomes part of my daily routine everywhere I go, except my workplace because I cant. I carry about 75% of the time but cant seem to commit 100%. I have a mental stigma attached to carrying ALL the time. For instance when I take my 1 year old the the local playground (my neighborhood is very low crime), family get togethers, etc. I talk myself out of it because I assure myself there is no need to carry there.
That's where I feel you should carry just the same. They don't rob places that are as crappy as their homes. They go to the nice areas to get the nice thing and people with that old mentality that you USED to have. Carry all the time.
Anyways I find myself having a lot of internal conflict over this argument...which is WHEN DO I LEAVE IT AT HOME? I am finding that I am basically setting rules for myself so I dont question the same darn scenarios over and over....week after week.
When do you leave it at home? Never. You are creating rules to justify some odd reason not to want to carry at certain times. Don't worry brother, it's okay. Carry all the time. You'll eventually always have it on you and always be used to it. Just make sure you're within where the law tells you you can and can't. Remember, crime doesn't make an appointment.
For those of you out there who carry 24/7 is there EVER truly a time that you say to yourself there is no need to pack your sidearm...other than sleeping and showering?
I never say there is no need to pack my firearm. Funny you mention..One of my first threads on this forum was about how I'm packing in the shower..Yes, sits right on my toilet seat as I shower. You're most vulnerable where you think you're most safe. Showering, sleeping..etc. I always have it on my waistband or within a 2 foot radius. When I am home, cooking, eating, mowing the lawn, working on the mustang..anything at home. It's on my waistband at 3 or 4 o'clock. Never an issue.
Also, I cannot move beyond my comfort level of having my firearm loaded with a round chambered. I carry my G26 which obviously has no external safety....just a trigger safety and common sense. I have convinced myself that taking a second to rack the slide in a situation doesnt weigh as strong as having an accident with a loaded pistol.
There is no other way to carry than cocked, locked, and ready to rock. All you have to do is draw, "aim", fire. With your Glock...There is no way your Glock will ever fire on it's own unless you squeeze that trigger. No safety to sweep..Nothing. With me? In the police academy, I was trained with a Glock 22. I'm trained for draw and shoot. No sweeping of the safety or nothing. That trigger finger of yours is your safety and so is the one between your ears. Keep the booger hook off the bang switch and you're good. I promise. Cock it, chamber a round. There is no other way. Israeli style? They rack the slide with their belt. The rear sights of their gun is what they use to catch on their belt. Doubt you want to do that or stake your life on racking a round in that way. Unnecessary for this day and age with modern firearm technology.
I would like to be as comfortable and safe as possible while carrying. Anyone have advice to weigh in with on either side? Does it basically boil down to personal comfort...or is there a STRONG opinion as to why a person should carry a loaded, chambered pistol 24/7?
Read everything I just said. If you need any more reassurance I can say more that I don't really want to publicly share. You can and you should. We're the good guys.