CCW Licensing


 
LMichaels

LMichaels

TVWBB 2-Star Olympian
Not wanting to open a debate on whether right or wrong on this. So if the intent of a response here is to do so please don't
Daughter, wife and yes even myself given how bad things are getting are considering going through the lessons to become CCW.
If you are CCW I would like to know a couple things
First is have you ever had to actually "use" it? What happened? Do you carry any special insurance i.e. like liability on your car? How/where do you acquire it? Did it actually protect you?
Understand I am really torn on it. I used to be vehemently against it. Now...................given recent things happening close to home up to and including hearing gunfire right in our area (an area where until recently I never had to lock my house or car) I am beginning to think more about it.
It sickens me that I even have to give this thought or that my wife and daughter feel enough fear to consider it. But here we are.
So please no politics I just want to know factual/practical information from people who actually do.
 
I fully understand your feelings about the “need” and share them. My neighborhood has become “louder” with gunfire. I’m kind of in the same boat. I will watch this thread with interest.
I do know in the state of Michigan you need to declare whether or not you are carrying if you are stopped for anything. Not a huge hassle but, something that must be considered anyway.
 
Same here in Illinausea as well. I have also thought about simply moving away to a lower risk area. Sadly in the last 18 month though I have invested close to $30k in my home I would NEVER see on a resale as it was infrastructure improvements. While nice not value added. At least not in the way a new kitchen or bath is. It makes me so sad to think I even am forced into thinking about this.
I am doing a lot of research so we shall see. But yeah the declaring thing while a given also makes me wonder. Remember that poor guy in MN who was totally legal and in the car with wife and little girl? Did not go well for him
 
I carry, have for years. I have a CHL but I carried long before that, in Texas you can carry in your car without a CHL. As for insurance this is what I use:
https://www.uslawshield.com/member-...-MOt5L_wCLdSApp1K-aSKZ7bZUUUKqlhoC1vIQAvD_BwE

There is too much crazy stuff going on out there. I used to carry because I handle some decent amounts of cash through work, nowadays I just feel safer. I grew up shooting guns, my dad had a very large collection and we spent a lot of time at the range growing up . If you are going to carry you need to be familiar with your gun and how to use it.

Oh, I've never had to use it. I escorted my neighbors off my property once, but my gun was holstered the whole time.
 
I have a CCW permit, but rarely carry.
Not long after getting my permit we became a permitless carry state.
"Open carry and concealed carry are legal in Missouri for anyone 19 years or older who can legally possess a firearm, with or without a concealed carry permit (CCP). "
 
Here in Arizona it's perfectly legal to carry concealed if you're 18 years or older no permit required. So far it doesn't appear to be a problem. The only time I CC is when we go down to Phoenix. It's also fine to carry a holstered weapon, you see people with those in the stores sometimes.
I don't shoot that much anymore so I don't feel as comfortable as I used to and only take my weapon out locally when we walk the dog's out in the fields as we have many coyotes that are getting more aggressive.

For home protection I have larger semi-autos which I'm more comfortable with, but not easily concealed.
 
I have my permit but haven't drawn my weapon in public, just at the range. Every person that gets a permit does it for their personal reason. I'm getting old and feel I need an equalizer. I hope I never have to use it. As I considered getting mine I did a lot of reading. My favorite author for armed defense is Mas Ayoob. His book "Deadly Force" is an excellent read for individuals considering concealed carry. If you do it commit to training with your weapon.
 
I have had my permit for years. Rarely carry on me. I do keep one in the car. Here in Florida you take a short class 2-4 hours depending on the instructor. Then to the range to show you know how to shot. I fired one shot. When I took the class there was a charge $20 to $25 I think. I see some offered for free now. Never had to use it.
 
I used to carry regularly, starting shortly after I was jumped by 6-8 people...I came out unharmed (good stories from the friends who watched) but I lost faith in humanity for a while.

I was never as scared as when I carried though.
 
Lots of interesting viewpoints and advice. Keep it coming. Like I said just looking for personal experiences so I can give it further thought. Was just talking to my buddy who's son is a police officer in a town here in IL and his son is prodding him to get trained and licensed
Of course here in IL you need both a FOID card and then a separate CCW permit. The range I go to has the CCW class for $60 with a local police officer as trainer
 
The choice is yours.

The only thing I will say is take a firearms safety course if you have not done so already.

And reiterate
"If you do it commit to training with your weapon."
 
Jason in CA said:
The choice is yours.

The only thing I will say is take a firearms safety course if you have not done so already.

And reiterate
"If you do it commit to training with your weapon."
Click to expand...

Definitely will as I would have to buy a suitable weapon for myself and my wife, and of course daughter would require her own as well. It's a big decision. Much more than simply keeping one in the house for protection.
 
This is definitely a personal decision, and something that you need to feel very comfortable with. Here are a few points that I have mulled over in my head:

1. As others have said, if you commit to carrying then proper training is necessary. How to draw the gun, how to handle the gun, accurate shooting, etc. are all critical to effective use of your weapon. Training in NC consists of attending a 2-day course with a test at the end (open book) and a pretty easy shooting requirement. It's definitely not proof that someone is ready to carry and use their weapon. Insurance is also a very good point that I haven't pursued, but based upon this thread I'm going to.

2. If someone pulls their gun then they need to be prepared to use it. Once a weapon has been drawn it ups the ante quite a bit.

3. Some think that carrying a weapon makes them a bad*** and start acting a little cocky. Bad idea. I don't think anyone commenting here would do that.

4. It's critical to know when and where you are legally able to carry/use a weapon and when you are not. Here you can't shoot someone if they threaten to punch you. If someone pulls a knife/gun, if you witness someone being sexually assaulted, or if someone is trying to kick in my door....you can. Also, in NC you cannot store your gun in a car where a passenger w/o a CCW can access it.

5. The two benefits I see in holding a CCW here is 1) personal protection, and 2) it allows one to purchase a handgun without going through a permit and waiting process. I'm not against a permitting process, but being a law-abiding citizen I don't want to go through the red tape if I don't have to.

I have had a CCW for 8-10 years now and I can count on one hand how many times I've carried (with fingers to spare) and I've never been in a situation that I wished I had. I just don't feel like I have trained enough to make a life or death decision or action against a perpetrator or risk the safety of an innocent bystander (If someone tries to invade my house....that's another story). But, we've had a record-setting homicide rate this year in the city where I work and that we frequent so I might need to pursue that training. Lastly, our society is going downhill as if on skis.

Good luck with your decision - it's not an easy one. However, you can choose to get the CCW and just not carry until you know you're ready. You don't commit yourself to anything.
 
I live in a state where you can open or concealed carry if you have a permit, but the permit is obtained by paying a small fee and filling out a simple form. No training required. It's almost too easy.

The laws here are pretty liberal about when you can carry and what constitutes your legal right to shoot someone. Here are some things you might want to consider.

First of all, you shouldn't carry because you want to be a tough guy. From what you say, that doesn't seem to be the case. Do NOT own a gun unless you are prepared to kill someone with it. Never threaten someone with a weapon. When it comes to using a weapon, you have to expect that somebody will be shot and killed. Think about that and have your wife and daughter think about it too. If they aren't willing to shoot to kill, then having a gun might just get them killed when the bad guy takes it away. Will your daughter spend the required time to not only learn firearm safety, but also how to respond properly in a tactical situation? How will she feel if she discharges her firearm and accidentally kills an innocent bystander. Will she guard her firearm properly so that nobody can take it and cause harm either on purpose or accidentally? Is it safer for her to wear a holster or keep a pistol in her purse? Will she ever put her purse down and leave it unattended even for a few seconds with a firearm in it? You can't make up the answers on the fly. You MUST think about everything ahead of time and know in advance what you're going to do to stay out of trouble. Otherwise, buying a weapon might be the worst decision in your life.

Think long and hard about who you're willing to shoot. My state allows me to shoot a guy in the Walmart parking lot because he's beating up some hooker. Sorry gals, the best you'll get from me is a phone call to the cops as I'm leaving. I decided long ago that I would never shoot someone to solve a strangers problem. I'm also allowed to shoot some dude stealing my lawnmower, but I'm not going to do that either simply because if you kill someone, you're going to be in a law suit sooner or later and lawyers don't come cheap. Don't expect the ACLU to save you.

However, since I'm an old man, I am not willing to give some punk a chance to beat the crap out of me before I respond. These days, I expect to lose in any physical altercation possibly to the point of being killed; therefore, I take steps to avoid boxing matches. The best action is to get away if at all possible, running like a frightened little girl if need be no matter how humiliating that might be. But when my life is truly in danger, don't expect me to fist-fight my way out of a bad situation. I don't want to find myself literally in a life-and-death situation wishing I had a gun available.

Your situation will be different from mine, but please realize that buying a weapon, getting a carry permit, and packing heat is not all there is to it. There is no one-size-fits-all answer and some of the answers (even if you can figure them out) aren't as easy or as clear-cut as you might wish. But I suspect you're finding that out already.
 
Yep I totally realize all above points. And yes being in the "senior" camp now unless the altercation is with another codger or a toddler I'm in a lose lose. Daughter not so much. I pity anyone who were to get in a physical altercation with her. She's strong. REALLY strong can pick up my well over 200lbs and walk around like nothing. But she also has that little guy in the photo to protect as so myself and wife not mention ourselves.
The issue of protecting ourselves in the home has never been in question. I have a huge yard. You step foot in my home or attempt to and they'll never find your body.
But outside is what I agonize about. Having the insight to know "yes" protection is needed and should be used there is no other escape. Thankfully the place we would take the course is done by a police officer who actually does tactical and defense training. So that part I feel better about. Also I don't think I would ever constantly want one with me but I would like the freedom to do it if something compelled me to
 
I have carried concealed for several years now. The more you do it, the less awkward and more natural it feels. We do and extensive amount of traveling, and for me and my family, (my wife carries as well) it works for us. As stated above, different states have different laws, and it’s the responsibility of the individual to know these differences. My belief is this, once I remove my weapon from its holster, a lone has been crossed that A) I take very very seriously, and B) I can never reverse. We all have our own opinions and beliefs, and know what we think is best for our families. I have loved to shoot and have always been around firearms, so for myself it was an easy decision (albeit one I didn’t and still don’t take lightly) to carry concealed.
Good luck, the decision is not as simple as some would like to make it. But as someone stated above, those that are reading this conversation aren’t reall the ones that make these decisions without fully thinking them through.
Tim
 
One thing to consider if you don't have a firearm already what you are going to use will make a difference. I have arthritis in both wrists and racking a semi auto is pretty painful so I went to a S&W airweight which is a lightweight 38 hammer less 5 shot 38. It's easy to conceal but definitely not a fun gun to shoot especially if you load it up with +Ps. and with it's 2" barrel you better be up close. Because of it's light weight and short barrel its loud and the recoil even with regular 38 ammo is pretty nasty.
Don't know about your location but here in Arizona a lot of the shooting ranges have guns you can rent, that's how I found my airweight. Being very comfortable with your firearm is very important when you are in a stressful situation and being comfortable with your firearm comes from practice, practice and more practice.
Also by taking a CCW course you will learn when it is permissible to use your weapon which varies from state to state.
 
My carry choice is a little Ruger .380 LCP loaded with Defender hollow points.
Some will say it's not powerful enough, but my thinking is that if I have to use it, the situation will probably be up close and personal.
 
Was thinking IF I do it I may go with Ruger LCP in .357 Magnum. I figure that gives me the flexibility to go down to a 38 special if I want or the slightly hotter .38P I think it's called but I am well used to 357 and can shoot it very well as can my wife and daughter.
 
Yep, a 357 will get the job done. My Colt 357 is a beautiful gun and a great shooter but weighs a ton, it's my range plinker. I use .38s in it 90% of the time it's little easier on the old wrist. Home defense is a Ruger P95DC 9mm with a 15 round clip, it's butt ugly but as reliable as a stone, I've had it over 20 years and it's never stove piped once.
 
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