I'm starting this thread just to expound a little on my first few months experience carrying, and looking to hear other people's stories as well.
I'm 22 years old and since graduating high school I've lived in 8 different states for one reason or another. Simply put, I didn't spend enough time in any one place to get a carry permit. Plus most states draw the line at 21, unlike Indiana.
I came back to Indiana last September and decided to get a LTCH. It was pretty simple, and doing the electronic finger printing I got the permit within a week. I studied up on gun laws and self-defense laws and bought a G19 from another INGO member. Thus began the adventures.
My brother carries sometimes and we have a life long friend that carries as well. Both of them CC, so that's how I started out. It took awhile to get used to it. Every time I went somewhere my mind would always be on keeping the gun properly covered and hoping nobody noticed. I did find that I was more courteous and friendly to people, and while not changing my normal behavior, I was looking to avoid conflict. I only wanted to pull the gun when it became absolutely necessary. I learned to keep an observant eye on people and typically avoided high crime areas (I live in Indianapolis).
By the time winter rolled around, I didn't leave the house without my trusty glock. Most of my friends didn't know I was carrying and I preferred to keep it that way. The few times I had to go somewhere I couldn't carry, thus leaving my gun at home, it felt very uncomfortable, physically and mentally. I had gotten used to having the gun on me, and mentally it was a little disturbing knowing that my only line of defense were my fists, so to speak. I had yet to have a single person say anything of noticing my glock.
This spring, after doing a lot of reading and considering, I started to lean towards the idea the CC is pointless. Along with all the CC/OC debate on INGO, I was reminded of a few things.
1. Criminals can't see the concealed gun either. I wrote a research paper once that basically dove in to the idiocy of gun control, and a few of my major points were the studies and interviews with criminals that all basically said the same thing: Criminals are afraid of guns. Whether it be an armed citizen, armed house owner, LEO, whatever...the extreme large majority of criminals will not willfully put themselves in a position against another armed person. With that in mind, it just started to make sense to me to have some deterrence, and I have no doubt that BG's will avoid an OCer more often than a CCer.
2. I also realized I no longer cared if people knew I was carrying. I'm not breaking the law, I'm not crazy, and I know I have a reason to carry. Plus I'm not the type of guy to worry about making someone uncomfortable. I would rather be the person that makes something, like guns, more comfortable to a person that hasn't had much exposure to it.
3. It is unbelievably more comfortable to carry a G19 OWB. I don't care which way you slice it, I couldn't make CC with an mtac minotaur nearly as comfortable as an itac paddle holster.
These days I pretty much OC at all times, unless I have to go somewhere that has a policy against carrying. In those times, I make the sacrifice and pull out the IWB holster. I hear a lot of bad stories and experiences from people about OCing...problems with cops and what not. I've had some security guards at grocery stores, and cops look at me funny, but never said a word. So far the worst I've gotten is being asked to leave my gun in the car when I walked in to a waffle house at 1am a few days ago. I didn't feel like arguing with the guy, even though it took him 2 minutes to find the sign that said no guns allowed. I was on my own, so I walked out and ate somewhere else. -1 for waffle house on I-70 and Post road...
Anyway, now that I've babbled on for awhile...I can say that most of my experience carrying has been very positive. INGO has been a big help, with ideas and discussions that have helped me become comfortable with carrying, to the point that I truly prefer OC now. I don't see myself not carrying anytime in the future. Its a responsibility I take seriously, but I wouldn't give it up. I firmly believe that every responsible gun carrier in this country is a positive force.
I'm interested in reading some other stories, so lets hear it
I'm 22 years old and since graduating high school I've lived in 8 different states for one reason or another. Simply put, I didn't spend enough time in any one place to get a carry permit. Plus most states draw the line at 21, unlike Indiana.
I came back to Indiana last September and decided to get a LTCH. It was pretty simple, and doing the electronic finger printing I got the permit within a week. I studied up on gun laws and self-defense laws and bought a G19 from another INGO member. Thus began the adventures.
My brother carries sometimes and we have a life long friend that carries as well. Both of them CC, so that's how I started out. It took awhile to get used to it. Every time I went somewhere my mind would always be on keeping the gun properly covered and hoping nobody noticed. I did find that I was more courteous and friendly to people, and while not changing my normal behavior, I was looking to avoid conflict. I only wanted to pull the gun when it became absolutely necessary. I learned to keep an observant eye on people and typically avoided high crime areas (I live in Indianapolis).
By the time winter rolled around, I didn't leave the house without my trusty glock. Most of my friends didn't know I was carrying and I preferred to keep it that way. The few times I had to go somewhere I couldn't carry, thus leaving my gun at home, it felt very uncomfortable, physically and mentally. I had gotten used to having the gun on me, and mentally it was a little disturbing knowing that my only line of defense were my fists, so to speak. I had yet to have a single person say anything of noticing my glock.
This spring, after doing a lot of reading and considering, I started to lean towards the idea the CC is pointless. Along with all the CC/OC debate on INGO, I was reminded of a few things.
1. Criminals can't see the concealed gun either. I wrote a research paper once that basically dove in to the idiocy of gun control, and a few of my major points were the studies and interviews with criminals that all basically said the same thing: Criminals are afraid of guns. Whether it be an armed citizen, armed house owner, LEO, whatever...the extreme large majority of criminals will not willfully put themselves in a position against another armed person. With that in mind, it just started to make sense to me to have some deterrence, and I have no doubt that BG's will avoid an OCer more often than a CCer.
2. I also realized I no longer cared if people knew I was carrying. I'm not breaking the law, I'm not crazy, and I know I have a reason to carry. Plus I'm not the type of guy to worry about making someone uncomfortable. I would rather be the person that makes something, like guns, more comfortable to a person that hasn't had much exposure to it.
3. It is unbelievably more comfortable to carry a G19 OWB. I don't care which way you slice it, I couldn't make CC with an mtac minotaur nearly as comfortable as an itac paddle holster.
These days I pretty much OC at all times, unless I have to go somewhere that has a policy against carrying. In those times, I make the sacrifice and pull out the IWB holster. I hear a lot of bad stories and experiences from people about OCing...problems with cops and what not. I've had some security guards at grocery stores, and cops look at me funny, but never said a word. So far the worst I've gotten is being asked to leave my gun in the car when I walked in to a waffle house at 1am a few days ago. I didn't feel like arguing with the guy, even though it took him 2 minutes to find the sign that said no guns allowed. I was on my own, so I walked out and ate somewhere else. -1 for waffle house on I-70 and Post road...
Anyway, now that I've babbled on for awhile...I can say that most of my experience carrying has been very positive. INGO has been a big help, with ideas and discussions that have helped me become comfortable with carrying, to the point that I truly prefer OC now. I don't see myself not carrying anytime in the future. Its a responsibility I take seriously, but I wouldn't give it up. I firmly believe that every responsible gun carrier in this country is a positive force.
I'm interested in reading some other stories, so lets hear it
