Constant carry or part time?

[Kindsvater Flat]

I find myself not carrying all the time but usually is very close by. Ventures to the city I do carry but most of the time its in my pickup, along with a few other weapons. Normally I carry a shotgun, and 2 hand guns, one being a .223 encore.

Anyone who rides with me never questions it cause its kinda the way of life in the country. But when I do go down to the bay area my cousins friends say I'm nuts or thats illegal to have and then its time for the 20 minute talk so they understand. After that its either on me, holster, or in my fanny pack ready to wear.

Once in awhile I drive a friends sprint car hauler and the first thing he wants to know is if I am carrying and if I'm not to go get it. I found out why once when I went back to the trailer and some pretty grungy guys were going through the cabinets. I asked them to drop what they had in there hands and leave and they did so without any altercations. To me thats a big plus.

Fly fishing is a constant carry as well as any fire calls. My job banned firearms at the workplace. Someone informed them that I carry a pistol in my pickup and was called to the office. I simple showed them my permit and stated that I'm legally able to carry anywhere in the state. Subject was dropped and work continued as normal. Normaly shop work it stays in the pickup, service calls it comes with me but in my fanny pack.

Just curious as to what your routines are.

[CCWInstructor]

I hope when you leave your car that you guns are unloaded in a locked container per PC 12026.

A CCW, first word is carry, that means on your person or within reach. If not they need to be locked up. This is not a lisc. to stash loaded guns all over the place.

[newshooterinca]

I carry anywhere & everywhere that it's legal. End of story.

[Poogsdad]

Carry as often as you can and anywhere you legally can.

Once you have a CCW, carrying a firearm should become a part of your state of "Normalcy".

You should get to the point where carrying your firearm is a regular part of your routine.

The instances where you do not or cannot legally carry should become the exception.

As a CCW holder, going out of your way to avoid a confrontation should also become a part of your state of "Normalcy". By doing this those instances where you may actually need your firearm will become less and less prevelant because you have avoided them.

Consequently if the time should come that you actually do need your firearm it will most likely be at a time and/or place that you have not prepared for or were unable to avoid.

While carrying weapons in your vehicle that are not on your CCW may be generally accepted in your area, it does not change the fact that you are violating the law if they are not unloaded and properly secured.

CCW holders, as a group, are entrusted by the authority that issued their CCW and are in fact held to a higher standard with a greater expectation that they will not violate the law.

If one of us does not do the right thing it can reflect negatively on all of us.

Thanks,

[libertarian]

A wise man once told me "If I knew when I was going to need the gun, I wouldn't have to carry it, I just wouldn't go there."

[BonoVox]

Especially this time of year. Gets darker earlier now and all the thugs are out doing their Xmas shopping. "in your car trunk, backseat, occasional armed robbery" You Know.

[Mad Geek]

Something that I was a little surprised at during my CCW class that the Madera County SO put on, the instructor made the statement that each of us, upon being granted our permits by the county, will then have an obligation, and a duty as a citizen to carry. Not just for ourselves, but for our community. That put a different persecutive on my thoughts about concealed carry up to that point.

They have given us a very positive capability that comes with a great deal of responsibility that extends beyond our own personal safety and our family.

[Akzl]

As stated above my understanding is the same. I didn't go through the process to carry when convenient and with back issues it's not always comfortable. I carry everywhere that is legal.

[gjj]

Deciding to carry 24/7 is not about the threat level of where you are going. It is about who you are as a person. I will not leave my personal safety to chance. That is who I am. I take responsibility for my safety.

Bottom line, you can go anywhere you want in California and stand a 99.9999% chance you will return home safely. The most dangerous areas are statistically insignificantly different. So, in effect, you are realistically in equal danger where ever you go.

Just don't let your defense plan stop at the firearm. Use your brain. Know how to strike and grapple. Be in shape. Know how to use a knife. And most importantly, use your brain (mentioned twice for emphasis).

[SierraNevadaCCW]

Originally Posted by gjj

Bottom line, you can go anywhere you want in California and stand a 99.9999% chance you will return home safely.

That's probably a high percentage...walk down the street in any of the below cities and the percentage goes way down. LOL

1. South Central LA
2. WATTS
3. Pacoima
4. Hawaiian Gardens
5. Cottonwood
6. Baker Street
7. Parts of Oildale
8. I Street
9. South Sacramento
10. Oakland
11. North San Juan
12. Fresno
13. Arvin
14. Delano
15. Union Street
16. Bakersfield mall
17. Firestone
18. Longbeach
19. Bell Gardens
20. Compton
21. Paramount
22. Lynwood
23. Inglewood
Etc....etc...etc.

And crime is everywhere. Just playing devil's advocate on the sentence I took out of context.

[Kindsvater Flat]

First off I shouldn't post after 2100hrs. My post didn't make all that much sense to me even.

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

I hope when you leave your car that you guns are unloaded in a locked container per PC 12026.

A CCW, first word is carry, that means on your person or within reach. If not they need to be locked up. This is not a lisc. to stash loaded guns all over the place.

While at work the gun is stored in an electronic spring loaded lock box under the center of the rear seat. Purchased from Galls several years ago. There is also an electronic gun lock for my 870 under there also. Second electronic lock box stores ammo.

Originally Posted by Kindsvater Flat

I find myself not carrying all the time but usually is very close by. Ventures to the city I do carry but most of the time its in my pickup, along with a few other weapons. Normally I carry a shotgun, and 2 hand guns, one being a .223 encore.

Close by is defined by being in my door panel or fanny pack on the center tunnel as it is to uncomfortable to drive with either on.

Shotgun and .223 is carried strictly in the evenings and weekend while on the ranch. Shotgun is used for bird control and .223 is used for coyotes since the population is ever increasing.

Anyone who rides with me never questions it cause its kinda the way of life in the country. But when I do go down to the bay area my cousins friends say I'm nuts or thats illegal to have and then its time for the 20 minute talk so they understand. After that its either on me, holster, or in my fanny pack ready to wear.

Mostly noticed when I place it in the door panel before driving. These are the same people that visited the ranch and called the rice harvester a lawn mower.

Once in awhile I drive a friends sprint car hauler and the first thing he wants to know is if I am carrying and if I'm not to go get it. I found out why once when I went back to the trailer and some pretty grungy guys were going through the cabinets. I asked them to drop what they had in there hands and leave and they did so without any altercations. To me thats a big plus.

Fly fishing is a constant carry as well as any fire calls. My job banned firearms at the workplace. Someone informed them that I carry a pistol in my pickup and was called to the office. I simple showed them my permit and stated that I'm legally able to carry anywhere in the state. Subject was dropped and work continued as normal. Normaly shop work it stays in the pickup, service calls it comes with me but in my fanny pack.

Just curious as to what your routines are.

Sorry if there was a misunderstanding in how I posted that. I grew up with guns and gun safety. This is the same way I taught my son at a very early age. I remarried 4 yrs ago and my wife and step children have never been around them so my first purchase was a large gun safe. The wife and step-daughter have done a hunter safety class and the step-son will do his next year. Wife plans on getting her ccw next spring and just graduated with a BA in criminal justice the week before thanksgiving. Sorry for the rant.

[newshooterinca]

Originally Posted by libertarian

A wise man once told me "If I knew when I was going to need the gun, I wouldn't have to carry it, I just wouldn't go there."

Same here. This point was especially driven home in a CCW class in another state. If you feel that you "need" a gun, you *DO NOT* go there!!!

[SierraNevadaCCW]

Originally Posted by newshooterinca

Same here. This point was especially driven home in a CCW class in another state. If you feel that you "need" a gun, you *DO NOT* go there!!!

Define "need".

Kinda sounds like what someone who doesn't really understand. And "need" will work its way into the equation...but not the only aspect of "why".

Don't get me wrong....I get what you're saying.

It's the same reason I told the ex-girlfriend NO when she wanted to visit ATM machines at 2am in marginal parts of town.....and she said, "why not...you carry a gun..." Yea...but I don't want to use it.

Don't take that to the extreme or you'll be staying home most of the time. The philosophy in CCW should be the same as in martial arts...avoid bad situations, avoid trouble....fight as a last resort.

In addition, I would add some cop philosophy into it by saying..."all that's great, but don't let them get the drop on you". AND "crime is everywhere people are, don't get laxed".

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by newshooterinca

Same here. This point was especially driven home in a CCW class in another state. If you feel that you "need" a gun, you *DO NOT* go there!!!

I don't think that's the message though that should be relayed (if that's what was said). It'd a Murphy's Law principle for me: if you don't have something, the likelyhood of needing it increases logarythmically. If you are prepared you most likely will never need it and will in a way regret the preparation required to have it ready. This principle applies to everything in life.

As SierraNevadaCCW said: if you are 100% sure you will NEED it, then yes, avoid the situation. But on the flip side you never know when you MIGHT need it. This means that you probably want to have it in case you need it. Carjacking, store roberry, holdup, assault, random acts of violence can occur anywhere at any time. Best example of that is an article I read sometime within the past year about an assault (totally random) in front of the Seattle Convention Center. A man, just out of the blue starts hitting and kicking another man who turned out carries IIRC the victim ended up holding the assaultant on the ground at gun point till the cops arrived (lets not get into how he should have held him and restrain him cause that's not the point). So the point is that you can be walking in the nicest part of the neighbourhood, in broad daylight with people all around you and...... something happens.

So, I hope that I never ever will need it. But I want to have it with me in case I do.....

[hygyliac]

Originally Posted by Poogsdad

Carry as often as you can and anywhere you legally can. Once you have a CCW, carrying a firearm should become a part of your state of "Normalcy".

Originally Posted by Mad Geek

the instructor made the statement that each of us, upon being granted our permits by the county, will then have an obligation, and a duty as a citizen to carry. Not just for ourselves, but for our community. That put a different persecutive on my thoughts about concealed carry up to that point.

Originally Posted by SierraNevadaCCW

"why not...you carry a gun..." Yea...but I don't want to use it.
The philosophy in CCW should be the same as in martial arts...avoid bad situations, avoid trouble....fight as a last resort..

Originally Posted by rycerz

So, I hope that I never ever will need it. But I want to have it with me in case I do.....

These are some of the best explainations that I've heard. Each one is insightful from experienced people. These go beyond the point where the general population stops thinking about the responsibilities that go with having a CCW. Well done guys!!