First time CCW - felt weird

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ejfalvo

ejfalvo

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Got my CCW last week and carried for the first time today. LCP in holster in front pocket - couldn't see it there from any view in full length mirrow. Felt fine leaving house, all was well until......as soon as I ran into people I felt as if everyone was looking at my firearm. It was a very uncomfortable feeling.:(

So, when does the self-conscience feeling go away?
 
You'll get used to it very quickly and carrying will become second nature.

Even if you are "outed" just smile and say "hello, beautiful day, huh?" or something like that: whoever spotted you will respond according to how you act. If you make a big deal out of it they may as well.

One final thought. Do a weapons check every X amount of time. See the thread I started in the summer about carrying an unloaded weapon for a few days.

Welcome to the club, we're glad you're here.

Stay safe,
DFW1911
 
gun shy

Yes, you know you are a bad guy, and everyone you encounter knows it!

Is that the uncomfortable feeling?

Reassure yourself. You know that you are just another citizen that has taken it upon themselves to be responsible for their own immediate safety and that of their loved ones.

Soon, you will discover, just how common place CCW is where ever you are and go, and then that sensitivity will dwindle.
 
Be careful. Soon you will be so comfortable with it you will forget you have it with you.
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This is a fact, before long you have the following thought. O'Crap I'just took my pistol in the Post Office:eek:............ WHOOPS
 
I agree...the Walmart walk is a must!

When I first started carrying I felt weird too...but it was a good kind of weird. I felt like I had a heightened sense of situational awareness. This is one of the best psychological side effects of carrying for me. Good luck, and stay safe. --Stork
 
The feeling you have described is totally natural. It will go away in a few days or a few months, depending on how naturally self-conscious you are about such things.

If you ever wonder if you're being "made", think about how few times (if any) you ever spotted a person concealed carrying before you got yours. People simply don't look for concealed guns. Unless you're printing really badly, no one will notice.
 
My first CCW was strange, too. I was carrying a S&W M-66 no dash w/four inch barrel. I kept thinking it was just going to start going off by itself and start shoot some passersby and I'd be liable.

Funny what the imagination can do.
 
If you carry every day, pretty soon it should get to the point that you feel that kind of strangeness if you leave home without it.
Congrats.


Jim
 
i carry every day, took about a week to get over it and now i could care less if i print sometimes, not saying that when i carry a full size like i do most of the time im wearing a skin tight shirt, but once in a while when i twist or bend the grip will poke out. if someone wants to raise their blood pressure over it let them.
 
Yup. When I was 21 I got my CCW. I felt a little odd, but only when there were people everywhere. After a few weeks, it wore off. After 15 years, it's REALLY hard to be out without it.
 
My first time CC was weird too, I carried a PT92C IWB at 4 oclock,i was afraid i will shoot my ass off if i sat down! Couple times after you carry all day you will get used to it and think of it as an everyday carry tool.
 
FoMoGo said:
If you carry every day, pretty soon it should get to the point that you feel that kind of strangeness if you leave home without it.
Congrats.


Jim
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This was my first hand experience as well.

When you acquire several handguns one of the best problems to have is the indecisiveness that comes with picking the piece that u want to carry each day.
 
I'm curious what our state/town may be like soon. Our legislatures just passed the first stage of a bill that would allow concealed carry WITHOUT requiring a CCW permit. They believe the 2nd amendment already gives us the right. GOOD FOR THEM. Just like Vermont. It's got a couple more hurdles before being voted into becoming law. They will still issue, if you want one, a CCW permit. This way you'll have reciprocity in other states. Most states don't recognize vermont being they don't have any prerequisites. Anyway, I regress. It will be interesting to see what's going to happen if they allow everyone who is allowed legally to own a gun, to carry one concealed.

There won't be any laws broken if it's exposed, because you can already open carry. But I'm curious how many people we'll be able to spot carrying a pistol. I doubt there will be as many educated carriers.

What really worries me, is how many merchants, banks, stores, etc... are going to put up "No Firearms Allowed" signs in their windows. Currently, it's like Bill Clinton's "Don't ask - Don't tell". But if it's law that everyone can carry, and private business owners have the right to restrict business, will they start trying to restrict concealed carry. Should be an interesting next couple of months.
 
Carne Frio said:
You need to CCW in a Walmart. It is a right of passage kind of thing.
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ACCCCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know who got this going, but please don't do this. Feeling like you have to go somewhere to walk around armed cheapens what carry is about and makes gun owners look like strutting peacocks, deeply insecure, swelling with strap-on confidence.

"I'm going to go to Wal-Mart and walk around with my gun." Everyone to whom I've mentioned this practice has laughed. Carry because men ought to be armed, not to pump yourself up.
 
Feeling like you have to go somewhere to walk around armed cheapens what carry is about and makes gun owners look like strutting peacocks, deeply insecure, swelling with strap-on confidence.
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I don't feel this to be true in any way whatsoever. The reason it is sugested is simply ro aid CCW'rs in getting comfortable carrying. The reason Walmart is suggested is that...for better or worse, its someplace many of us go on a frequent basis. It isn't about boasting, insecurity, or "peacocking" its about somoene who has the legal right to carry getting comfotable doing so in public. I've been known to carry in Walmart, and anywhere else I'm legally allowed to. Its not about being tough, being insecure, or anything else that you mentioned. Its about me exercising a right that may someday save my life. You may not want to carry in Walmart, but don't insult anyone else who chooses to. Its certainly not very high road of you to insult people just because their beliefs may be different than your own. I want poeple whop carry to be comfortable doing so. If that means a stroll around Walmart or the mall before deciding to carry "full time" I have absolutely no ikssue with that, and I can't for the life of me figure out why you take offense to the practice.
 
I think they just use Walmart as an example because there's one near practically all of us, most of us visit it at least once in a while, and there's usually a lot of people inside. If you can feel comfortable surrounded by hundreds of strangers in all directions and cameras overhead, you'll probably feel comfortable just about anywhere else it's legal. Makes sense to me.
 
The feeling that everyone is looking at your firearm is normal at first. I have been carrying for 2 years now, and that weird feeling lasted a few weeks. You just have be confident in the rig/style you have chosen to conceal the carry with and after while as others have mentioned you will forget you have it on, and at times it may feel strange if you leave home without it.
 
brausso said:
The funny thing is, you'll get to the point that you feel weird with out it...
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Aint that the truth. Just this morning I was walking to the car to go get coffee (my coffee maker just quit) and I couldn't help the feeling that I had forgotten something. Checked for my wallet/ID and as I reached for it I realized my IWB 9mmComp was missing. I guess I'm kinda clueless without my coffee and a few minutes to wake up. I turned the car around and returned for the 9mm.
 
This is a very natural feeling at first. When it wears off depends on you. It took about a month before I felt really comfortable, then again I was trying to IWB carry a glock 17 lol. Since you are just pocketing an lcp you should have no fear that even someone who both knows how to look for guns and is looking at you would even notice it. Eventually you will feel off without the gun.

Walmart was the first place I carried, not by choice. I felt surrounded and paranoid, but it was good for me, it helped me get over it.
 
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