How often do you carry a gun in public? (1 Viewer)

[opensourcebeer]

These are all great suggestions. Thank you for posting.

I’d add:

#5- Be prepared to kill a person. If you freeze, someone you love could get hurt.

Be prepared to "stop" the threat that you reasonably think will harm you or your family.  I think you meant this, but the "kill" vs "stop" is a really important distinction.

 

[dozer]

Be prepared to "stop" the threat that you reasonably think will harm you or your family.  I think you meant this, but the "kill" vs "stop" is a really important distinction.

I mean… you’re probably gonna kill em if you shoot em.

Just sayin…

 

[opensourcebeer]

I mean… you’re probably gonna kill em if you shoot em.

Just sayin…

You might or might not.  My limited understanding is that some handgun wounds are survivable.

My point is your goal is to stop the threat and not kill.

 

[dozer]

You might.  My point is your goal is to stop the threat and not kill.

An admirable goal to be sure.

 

[opensourcebeer]

An admirable goal to be sure.

To clarify, from my training this is an important distinction for  numerous legal reasons.

 

[dozer]

To clarify, from my training this is an important distinction for a numerous legal reasons.

There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip…

 

[[icon]]

Voted "Rarely".  I live in a safe place.  I do carry when I think I might be traveling thru or to some sketchy places.

When I do carry my typical load out is a 9mm M&P Shield using 124g Speer Gold Dots in a couple Taren extended magazines carried in a CompTac holster/belt. I also carry a Streamlight ProTac handheld flashlight.

[icon] is dropping the knowledge in this thread.  I'd add/reiterate a couple things.

1. If you do buy a gun, please familiarize yourself with the gun safety rules and follow them closely.  

2. If you do buy a gun, please get training.  I don't meaning training like from your uncle who likes guns, I mean actual formal training.  Don't be afraid to ask for references and what the trainers experience is.  I've had good luck with law enforcement guys who train other law enforcement for living and doing civilian training as a side hustle. 

3.  If you buy a gun, please store it securely.  There are so many needless deaths caused by unsecured or poorly secured guns.

3. If you want to carry concealed, please buy a good rig to carry it with and get familiar with the laws in the area you will be carrying.

4. If you intend to use your gun for home protection, please think through what that means.  Stuff like: is your securely stored gun in a ready state and is it easily accessible by you, where are your family members at in the house/what will you have to do to get them to safety, and how are you ID'ing the threat and/or idiot teenager child trying to sneak home after curfew.

great points. Simply buying a gun doesn't mean you're going to be able to safely/effectively use it. 

For those who concealed carry, I can't recommend Laser Hit strongly enough. Comes with an app, a "bullet" with a special laser, and special targets.

Point a phone at the target and practice drawing. Incorporates an audible shot timer. Scores accuracy while tracking time to draw and get shot on target. 

Great cheap way to practice. I've cut my draw time in half using this. 

 

[opensourcebeer]

great points. Simply buying a gun doesn't mean you're going to be able to safely/effectively use it. 

For those who concealed carry, I can't recommend Laser Hit strongly enough. Comes with an app, a "bullet" with a special laser, and special targets.

Point a phone at the target and practice drawing. Incorporates an audible shot timer. Scores accuracy while tracking time to draw and get shot on target. 

Great cheap way to practice. I've cut my draw time in half using this. 

That link goes to a site about COVID.

 

[[icon]]

You might or might not.  My limited understanding is that some handgun wounds are survivable.

My point is your goal is to stop the threat and not kill.

Your understanding is very correct. A LOT of handgun wounds are survivable. And you absolutely shoot to stop the threat. 

Now, nobody under duress is "shooting then in the knee" or something dumb like that. You're shooting center mass. But a LOT of folks survive handgun wounds. 
 

 

[[icon]]

That link goes to a site about COVID.

Fixed! Odd, my cut/paste in Chrome doesn't work sometimes. 
 

Thanks for the heads up GB 

 

[PhillipPhoto]

That link goes to a site about COVID.

Icon, hard right on guns, hard left on covid.  Too bad you cant just shoot covid. 

 

[[icon]]

Icon, hard right on guns, hard left on covid.  Too bad you cant just shoot covid. 

I'm not left or right. I'm do what I think is right, party be damned. I'm also pro choice. 

 

[PhillipPhoto]

I'm not left or right. I'm do what I think is right, party be damned. I'm also pro choice. 

It was a joke.  Not as funny as I'd hoped. 

 

[[icon]]

It was a joke.  Not as funny as I'd hoped. 

All good, I smelled what you were stepping in

 

[opensourcebeer]

Your understanding is very correct. A LOT of handgun wounds are survivable. And you absolutely shoot to stop the threat. 

Now, nobody under duress is "shooting then in the knee" or something dumb like that. You're shooting center mass. But a LOT of folks survive handgun wounds. 
 

Yeah, great clarification on the center mass comment.

That's another thing that formal training will do...unlearn you from all kinds of "folksy" stuff about guns.

 

[BassNBrew]

Rarely, meaning 20 times a year, either to and from the car or in the deers woods on public land or behind bird dogs on public land.

 

[pinkham13]

I have a permit but don’t carry it unless I am traveling. If you are new to guns I highly suggest learning to grip it properly. Also spend time watching safety training on you tube before going to the range. I hear of accidents at the range because of the number of new people who mis-handle the weapon.
During the lockdowns the only thing open for fun for a while was gun ranges. I taught all my lady friends how to shoot at home. Dry shooting at paper targets and practicing proper grip helped these women get comfortable. When we got to the range they were already hitting bullseyes.I suggest dry shooting often and practicing your grip. You want it to feel like second nature. Muscle memory is real.

Smith and Wesson has a nice .380 EZ model with a light slide pull. Great little starter gun. Just don’t get the side safety add on as it tends to flip on when you are getting a good grip. It already has a built in hand grip safety so two are unnecessary.  Keep hollow points for home defense as they tend to not go through walls and hit unintended targets. 
 

 

[Yenrub]

Never carry out in public. My weapon is for home protection only.

 

[dkp993]

I'm not left or right. I'm do what I think is right, party be damned. I'm also pro choice. 

I knew I liked you.  A man after my own heart.  Post more around here please. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

If I ever felt the need to carry a gun in public, I would take that as a sign that it's time to move.

This is exactly what I tried to suggest to one of the board’s most vocal gun proponents. 

My dad carried a Walther PPK  (James Bond’s gun) on him most of the time. He was a small business owner, and worked in a less than ideal place in town. So it was possibly warranted, though he was also miserable and paranoid. No thanks.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I don't even own a gun.

Guess I'm weird.  Only gun I've ever shot in my life was an over/under shotgun at a Quail shoot years ago.  That's it.

Your stance on gun ownership isn’t weird - less than half of households own a gun.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I asked this question in one of the hundred gun related threads…I have never in my life recalled a situation where I wish I was armed. Have lived in big cities, in the country, currently live in a big city, have traveled all around the US and other cities around the world some which are pretty dangerous, do normal stuff, do plenty of dumb things.

Is this unusual?

Absolutely not. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

IMO suppressors are borderline essential for home defense. . 

Can you elaborate?

Oops. Nm.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Threads like these tell me a couple things....

I don't have a lot in common with many on this forum.

As out of touch and some of the "conspiracy right" is, the left is just as out of touch, and it's getting worse.  The question we should all be asking is why are people becoming more extreme in their beliefs on both sides?  

You can not share much in common, but still get along. And not be “extreme.” 

 

[Shula-holic]

Would be a never today, sometimes in the past.  I used to have situations I'd have a fair amount of cash on me for business purposes and there were people who knew that I had that cash on me at certain times, not all of whom were the most upstanding citizens.  There wasn't any way around it or to hide it or maybe I would have chosen differently.  However, as doing business in cash became less frequent I got rid of it.  My wife wasn't a big fan of it and it freaked her out to have it in the house with our daughter when she was born so I just got rid of it. 

I personally wouldn't be freaked out having it at home, I grew up in a house with guns, handled safely, but she didn't.  Even after I got rid of mine, when my dad passed away I inherited a small arsenal, but sold those as well.  We compromise I guess and have had big dogs for pets.  The current one is about 80 lbs and 18 months old and while good to our kids could present a massive problem to someone in the right circumstance.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Great information thanks.

What would you suggest for home defense for a non-gun enthusiast like myself who will not be using the weapon for hunting or recreational purposes. My father-in-law, a very responsible gun enthusiast and Vietnam special forces veteran suggested a coach gun.  His thoughts were it’s easily broken down and put back together again quickly, high ease-of-use for your average person and strong visual deterrent.  

Thanks for your thoughts. 

A dog.

 

[dkp993]

A dog.

Have one.  80lb boxer

 

[Terminalxylem]

Fixed! Odd, my cut/paste in Chrome doesn't work sometimes. 
 

Thanks for the heads up GB 

Sounds like a virus.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Have one.  80lb boxer

Better deterrent, and safer than a firearm. 

Although nobody thinks it will happen to them, multiple studies support the risk of homicide, suicide and accidental death increasing in homes with guns. 

ETA Boxers are great dogs for many reasons, including protecting their masters/family.

 

[dkp993]

ETA Boxers are great dogs for many reasons, including protecting their masters/family.

For sure.  My third.  Awesome dogs.  

 

[Godsbrother]

If I ever felt the need to carry a gun in public, I would take that as a sign that it's time to move.

This is where I am at.

I avoid confrontations, if someone cuts me off while in traffic I shrug it off and if some mugger demanded my wallet I would hand it over.

I generally try to avoid carrying anything with me, even my wallet and phone when I can avoid it.  I would absolutely hate having a gun strapped to me.

If I lived or worked in a high crime area I might feel differently though.  
 

As for the situation that BladeRunner mentioned, not having a gun in case of civil unrest, he is absolutely right that it is a risk and I have certainly thought about it.  I guess I just figure I’ve gone 60+ years without one and am hoping I can squeeze out another 20.

 

[Max Power]

I carry an LCP 380. 

I had one of these and upgraded to a LCP Max. This was one of the best upgrades I've done.

Shoots a bit softer and smoother. Much easier to rack and you basically double the capacity with the 12 rd mag. 

Its just a much better all around gun imo. 

 

[Max Power]

I keep two loaded. 

Daily Carry: (Glock 26 w/ Extended G19 magazine and a Trijicon RMR optic - Stays loaded with Federal Tac HST or Sig VCrown 9mm JHP)

"Bedside" Rifle: (Knights Armament SR-15 Rifle in 300 Blackout with SilencerCo Omega300 Suppressor - Stays loaded with Barnes TAC-TX 110gr Black Tips)

IMO suppressors are borderline essential for home defense. 
 

Rest stay stored away with loaded magazines and ammo stored separately. 

Finally ordered my first can. I have land to shoot on now, but didnt want to annoy the neighbors too much.

The wait times dropping as much as they have also motivated me to pull the trigger on it. 

Totally agree they need to take these out of the ATFs purview. 

 

[Max Power]

Taurus judge is a good weapon. It's a revolver that uses both 45 shells or 410 shotgun shells. Got it in case Im not around my wife would have no problem using it. With the shotgun shells all she has to do is just point it in the general direction of the bad guy and she should be able to ruin his weekend. 

I've got the judge on my radar. Seems like the right mix for when I'm roaming my property or the woods nearby. Good power and spread to take care of anything I stumble on. Easier to move around with than a shotgun. 

Right now I'm walking around with some 9mm shell shot rounds, but they dont cycle a slide and dont seem like they'll do much damage. 

 

[rustycolts]

@Max PowerHow have you been brother? Are you transitioning to  civilian life ok?

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

I have a shotgun at home but no handgun.  I'm very fortunate to have never lived in areas with bad crime where I have had to consider this.  Imo, people like me shouldn't be the ones telling people that do live in dangerous areas, how they can/can't protect themselves.