On a typical day, are you usually carrying?

[GEM]

For the poll:

Don't carry as too many sensitive places or private property bans make it impractical.

 

[The Bushmaster]

The only problem , bearcreek, is in bed with the wife. She always worries that it will go off when she least expects it. (Chuckle)

 

[herrwalther]

Times I am unarmed:

Showering
Sleeping
In any building with a metal detector.

 

[RikSors]

Always.

If it’s not with me, then it’s always within arms reach. That’s Shower, sleeping and the other S (ends in x)

 

[scaatylobo]

Running errands, shopping, restaurant, trip to the store, walk around the neighborhood, are you usually carrying?

YES,YES,YES !!
As in 24/7 365.

 

[bearcreek]

YES,YES,YES !!
As in 24/7 365.

What carry method do you use when bathing and sleeping?

 

[scaatylobo]

What carry method do you use when bathing and sleeping?

" bathing" is the .44 Charter arms in bath next to shower [ like to keep it dry ].

Sleeping its at arms length [ to me that is armed ].

 

[bearcreek]

" bathing" is the .44 Charter arms in bath next to shower [ like to keep it dry ].

Sleeping its at arms length [ to me that is armed ].

So, not 24/7/365.

 

[scaatylobo]

So, not 24/7/365.

In my not so humble opinion = YES

 

[bearcreek]

In my not so humble opinion = YES

Perhaps we need to define the terms we're using. My understanding of the term "carry", means that the item is actually attached to or being held by, the person. It does not mean that the item is simply near the person. You disagree? When I'm at a gun show, there are many guns near me, but I'm not "carrying" all of them.

 

[mavs]

I have a permit to but I never do carry.

 

[Tilos]

Question ? When would you pull your gun when confronted by an unarmed person that looks a little sketchy and is approaching you ? When would you shoot an unarmed person ? I think everyone that carry’s needs to ask themselves that question and know the answer . The answer is probably different depending on the state that you live in .

Answer
I also carry pepper spray for those scenarios...
It's usually in my hand before an approaching sketchy person gets into bad breath range.
jmo,
.

 

[Terry G]

My guess is some may think it unnecessary in the "good area" where they are going to the store, walking, or whatever.
But... when they go to a "bad area" or area of perceived greater threat then they carry.
That philosophy apparently thinks "bad" people are immobile, you have to go to them.
Or perhaps there is a crystal ball or budding psychic ability that allows them to know the actions of others in advance.

I live in a "good area" but in FL people have cars (or they could steal one) and show up uninvited and unexpected on a little field trip of mayhem in my "good area"; its low odds that might happen on a given day, but if it does I'd rather be carrying than not. So, lacking a crystal ball and psychic ability I just carry whenever I'm dressed and keep a pistol handy otherwise.

What he said. I've preached against the "just going to the store" routine the whole eighteen years I was a Federal Firearms Instructor. I carry always. Safe area? They don't exist.

 

[Smokin Gator]

If I'm just making a quick trip to the local store I'll just usually pocket carry. If I'm going out for the day I'll carry, usually a full size, in an owb holster. Picking up a CZ compact soon that I plan to be my main carry.

 

[fastbolt]

Keep in mind this 'poll' is occurring on a firearms enthusiast website. While I hung up my instructor hat for LE and private CCW licensees a few years back, I stopped being surprised at the relatively low numbers of both private citizens and off-duty/retired cops who chose to be armed, even though they could. (Barring specific circumstances where restrictions against carrying firearms existed, of course.)

In the 10 years when I helped teach or taught classes for private citizens, I occasionally asked licensees in classes how often they carried a concealed firearm. The answers were typically very few, and not often. Matter of fact, I've not spoken with many cops or CCW licensees who knew websites like this existed, let alone spent much time on them. The membership of such sites probably isn't representative of a large swath of gun owners, let alone gun owners who lawfully carry.

In the street survival /tactics classes I attended in the first dozen years or so of the 21st century, the answer seemed as though it might depend. By that, I mean that people choosing to attend the classes typically resulted in the majority of the cops claiming they carried all the time on their own time. Unsurprising, as they obviously had an interest if they were actively signing up to attend such training, right?

On the other hand, in other first responder training venues I also learned that larger (nationwide) polling of active LE indicated that only about 20% of LE carried weapons on their own time. I don't remember hearing of such polling for retired LE, but then they wouldn't usually be the ones attending such classes, right? I did after I retired, but that's because I was kept on as a reserve and remained an active trainer for several years in that capacity.

I can offer that when I was helping qualify retirees, and then later talked with instructors who continued to qualify retirees for both normal retired CCW and LEOSA, there seemed to be a local uptick in the numbers of retirees scheduling qual sessions each month. Many substituted arranging a qual for ID renewal and annual LEOSA quals elsewhere, if they'd moved far away.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I carry when outside my residence. I don’t always carry around the house but have guns “around at the ready”..

I work on federal property and cannot carry. I could apply for a permit to keep it in the truck but haven’t yet…

When we go out, I’m carrying unless we plan to go to one of the local military bases…then I don’t. Those trips are less frequent…

I don't carry around this house, it's sufficiently hardened that I can easily get to a gun before anybody could get in. In my old house I carried everywhere except I didn't take the gun into the bathroom when I showered, I put it in the linen closet that was just outside the bathroom door, and I still had my ARK knife.

Outside the house I carry everywhere except the post office, but I wear my ARK knife there. I'm not comfortable leaving my gun in my car.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I see, and know from those who have legit worries or carry for a living:

Medical procedures
Medical imaging
Court, when not LE in the course of their duties
Etc etc etc.

No one living in normal society carries literally 100%. I am comfortable with wide interpretations of "usually."

Thankfully my doctor, dentist, and optometrist are all unposted, and IIRC so are the imaging center and lab test place I go. I guess if I was getting an MRI I wouldn't take it, I think you can't bring any metal into the room.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I keep mine in its holster on the belt in my pants, at night, its on a chair by the bed, within arms reach, and I take my clothes into the bathroom with me in the morning, and get dressed in the light** in there after my shower, so its within arms reach in there too. So effectively, Im never really "unarmed".

** Learned a long time ago its best to get dressed in the light at 0400 so you dont put your long johns on backwards getting dressed in the dark, and come to regret it in the porta-potty a couple of hours later after a couple of cups of coffee dressed for 20° and come to find the hole ain't where its supposed to be and your back teeth are floating.

You take it in the bathroom while you shower? You're not worried about the moisture?

 

[bearcreek]

You take it in the bathroom while you shower? You're not worried about the moisture?

I don't have mine in the bathroom with me when I shower, but if you have the right weapon, moisture shouldn't really be a concern. Mine sees a lot more moisture from sweat, dirt, rain and snow than one would from moisture in a bathroom. Most decent quality, relatively modern types of handguns, (even ones that are 30+ years old, like a Glock) won't have issues with that sort of thing, assuming you're keeping up with basic maintenance on it.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I don't have mine in the bathroom with me when I shower, but if you have the right weapon, moisture shouldn't really be a concern. Mine sees a lot more moisture from sweat, dirt, rain and snow than one would from moisture in a bathroom. Most decent quality, relatively modern types of handguns, (even ones that are 30+ years old, like a Glock) won't have issues with that sort of thing, assuming you're keeping up with basic maintenance on it.

I probably take longer showers than most people.

 

[bearcreek]

I probably take longer showers than most people.

Maybe. I'll bet they're not as long as my days working and hunting in the rain and sweating on my pistol.

 

[trackskippy]

You take it in the bathroom while you shower? You're not worried about the moisture?

No, its never been a problem. Im really not in there all that long anyway. And as bearcreek mentioned, it gets subject to more moisture being carried than it does when Im in the shower.

 

[MedWheeler]

I can't legally carry at work, but I do when traveling to and from. At any other time that I have enough thread on my body to hold a gun, it is.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I carry everywhere it's not prohibited by Federal law. [edited by Mod]

 

[Yamifrk]

Mine is on the nightstand, I like others put it on when I get dressed and it stays on until I get home. If I’m staying in the house it sits on the nightstand. I don’t worry about being “unarmed” when I’m home. My wife has us covered. She has a snub nose revolver that sits next to her on the couch, goes to bed with her under her pillow. Carries it all day. Has a Glock 48 in her pickup and a M&P in her bag. So she usually has 2 guns at most times if not 3. That’s what she likes and I don’t argue. So I too say that I carry all the time.