I’m planning to fill out the paperwork Tuesday. I’ve no intention of carrying a firearm, as even in South Central L.A. I’ve never been afraid of being attacked. But it will make it easier to avoid the waiting period on handguns when I want to expand my collection.
Who has a CCP/CCL? Why do you have it? Do you carry? Why?
I have a concealed carry permit. It’s not terifically useful: I got it as the result of taking several pistol safety/handling classes with my local shooting range, and was encouraged to get one by the fellows down at therange.
In general, if I’m going to wear my gun in public, I’m not going to bother concealing it. The permit does allow me to keep it in my backpack, or to legally carry a pistol in the passenger compartment of my vehicle (very useful when you’re driving a truck).
Yes. Yes, I do.
Because there are crazy people in the world.
Some of them being Exes.
I hadn’t thought of that. My Jeep is all passenger compartment. (At least, the cargo area is easily accessible from the seating area.) Of course I never carry loaded firearms in it. Still, a CCL might provide an extra layer of protection/validity on the way to and from the range.
Why would you wear a gun in public? And why would you wear it openly?
FWIW a couple of guns I’m looking at for my collection are too big to conceal. But as I said, I don’t feel a need to ‘carry’ anyway.
Around here there’s no waiting period and a CCW won’t change the background check at purchase. I have one so I don’t have to worry about getting in trouble for carrying a concealed handgun.
Yes, I carry. Why? So I’ll never need to use it.
I have the permit. I haven’t carried a gun in several years, except on the way to the shooting range. I was worried about encountering random ruffians on the street. I thought if I were carjacked, it would be better to kill the jacker. Now, I not so sure about that.
Many people are nervous when they notice an armed man in the room. I don’t feel good about being the guy who makes them nervous. That’s where I am right now. I could prattle on about my feelings, but I don’t think anyone wants to hear it.
I have a CCW license (Ohio). I have a S&W M&P compact in 9 mm that I carry on occasion.
Well, I think it’s pretty obvious why some people choose to walk around public with a gun on them. As far as open carry vs. concealed carry goes, I prefer concealed carry as it keeps the “stare factor” down. FYI, there is no law against openly carrying a handgun here in Ohio, and I fully support those who choose to do so. But I would much rather carry concealed.
The only reason I’ve ever worn a gun in public was on the way to or from a shooting event. If there was a situation where, for whatever reason, I felt that it was a good idea to carry a gun around, I wouldn’t want that fact to be disguised.
Furthermore, I couldn’t stand the thought of tucking a gun into my waistband, which would be the only concealed option I can think of without having to buy a special holster. I’d be far too worried about stumbling and blowing off my delicates.
[Maxwell Smart]
Missed it by that much.
[/MS]
I let my permit expire a few years ago. I mainly had it to transport a pistol in my car. I used to go plinking on occassion, but haven’t done that in years.
I originally got one because VA has no exceptions for transporting concealed weapons to and from a shooting range or competitive event. Open carry is unregulated. Concealed carry does apply to an unloaded gun, in its case, on the front seat. I either had to put it in the trunk, where it would probably bang around or (actual suggested solution) put it on the dashboard in plain sight.
I will carry on occasion. My wife would usually make comments about it until I started asking her if she knew I was carrying in this picture or that picture one evening. She couldn’t tell at the time and she couldn’t tell in the pictures. She hasn’t mentioned it since.
The same reason I read whatever books I want? In public. Openly!
I have a CCW permit and I carry a S&M snub nose 357 magnum in the glove box of my car and occasionally on my person. I deliver prescription medications, including controlled substances, to nursing homes. I have two stops in very bad neighborhoods and I carry the gun on my person at those two places. I also sometimes carry the gun when I walk my dog at night.
I have a CCW because I used to work for Loomis.
I have yet to carry concealed on my own time, but I won’t rule it out, especially on long distance travel. Most states have reciprocity agreements and I would most certainly check before entering any of them. I already know that South Dakota, being one of my more common destinations, is one of them.
For the most part, the primary value I’ve seen since leaving Loomis is that I can pull it out of my wallet and stuff it down the throat (figuratively speaking) of people who go off on how frightened they are of permit holders and how the whole thing is just WRONG because no one should be allowed to carry guns.
Permit holders do not commit gun crimes.
I thought the whole point of a concealed-carry permit was so you don’t tell people about it! 
Please educate a non-American.
When I think of the US and guns, a couple of mental pictures come to mind. One would be a truck full of good ol’ boys with a rifle rack, and another would be slightly scary guys in suits with concealed pistols. But are there places where you have guys just walking around with pistols in holsters, cowboy-style? Is it possible to see a suburban mum or dad openly packing heat when they order a burger? Does this happen in parts of the US where I, as a foreigner raised on stereotypes, might not expect it - Boston, say?
TLD: I was born and raised in California. In the '80s it was common, out in the Mojave Desert (Antelope Valley) to see people with gun racks in their pick-ups; and often they were occupied. In the later-'80s and '90s they seemed to disappear. Of course this was northern L.A. County and there was a bit of a migration as housing prices in L.A. and The Valley went up. Probably more laws were passed too.
I have seen a couple of people walking around with a sidearm, but for the life of me I can’t remember where. Nevada? Arizona? Oregon? In Louisiana I saw handguns on dashboards. (It was explained to me that if one carried a handgun in a vehicle in Louisiana it had to be in plain sight.) But generally speaking, someone openly carrying would raise eybrows in most of the places I’ve been. The places, other than shooting ranges, where I’ve most often seen ‘open carry’ have been pawn shops and (surprise!) gun stores.
Personally if I were to carry a firearm I’d want it to be concealed because otherwise it may frighten people.
Incidentally, you’d probably be interested in one of the guns I’m looking at to add to my collection. A .455 Webley revolver.
I have a concealed handgun permit.
I was part of the campaign that pushed to change Virgina from a “may issue” to a “shall issue” state, and having spent that much energy to get the law chnaged so I could have a permit, I felt I should GET a permit.
I very very rarely carry.
Thanks for that, Johnny.
I must admit I had to Google the Webley (unless you mixed me up with Martini Enfield 
). It’s a nice looking piece though, I must say. Do let us know if you pick one up.