When to carry, and when not to carry

[Vector]

Several months ago I participated in the thread regarding carrying during ones wedding. It seemed odd to me unless the groom needed to be able to shoot his way out if he got cold feet.

In all seriousness, several posters made it sound like they carried every minute of every day. So I threw out a few situations where they couldn't or wouldn't due to practicality, or it being prohibited. Some of the responses seemed a little , but I dropped the subject so as to not derail the threads theme. Now that it has popped back up, I decided to start a thread about when to carry, and when not to.

I'll start the discussion off by bringing up several examples where it would be against the law, or impractical. If you disagree, let me know why and how you would deal with such a scenario.

So for those who feel compelled to carry at all times, what do you do when you go to places like the beach?

What about at the birth of your child in a hospital for instance?

BTW - Someone asked if I carry, and the answer is yes. However I do not carry all the time, and typically assess the likelihood of needing to be armed before I choose which weapon(if any) to take with me.

 

[Mags]

What about at the birth of your child in a hospital for instance?

That one is coming up soon for me. As most hospitals are the one we are going to is downtown and not in the best locatiion. Unusual as it may be this hospital is not posted and i would not be violating any laws by carrying.

Here is the kicker I must be sanitized and wear scrubs to witness the birth of my son. I do not plan on packing because I don't want some overzealous doctor or nurse spotting my piece during sanitation and ask me to leave, thus causing me to miss the birth of my child. This particular hospital does provide a safe and I may utilize that to hold my gun after my walk into the building.

BTW in my state if asked to leave or if a location is posted I am considered trespassing and could have my CCW revoked on the spot by a LE officer.

 

[SSN Vet]

I don't usually carry at home, as I have Gun Vaults strategically located on two floors to provide rapid access if needed.

I don't carry at work because it's prohibited

I don't usaully keep my piece in the car while at work, because I drop my daughter at school on the way to and almost always drive straight home from.

I don't want to keep a piece stowed regularily in my car, as I think it's less than fully secure.

I try to carry the rest of the time.... but reality is, I don't get out much.

I keep the condition of my carry piece the same all the time. It's loaded with one in the pipe and the manual safety on, in it's holster. It goes from the Gun Vault to my belt and back. I've been considering keeping it in the car more often, and even fabricated a nice custom fitting foam insert for the center console of my car. But I find that the extra handling involved getting the piece to and from the car throws off the simple and uniform habit of handling that I have established. I've tried both a clip draw and a clip on holster in the past, but was dissatisfied with both. Shoulder carry may be a viable solution, where I could keep the empty holster on my person throuout the work day. So untill I figure something out, I'll not be armed M-F from 7-5:30

 

[Bullnettles]

I carry everywhere I go besides bars or prohibited areas. If I'm ever on the news, I don't want to be the picture shown; I want to be the one talking to the reporter.

 

[CoRoMo]

what do you do when you go to places like the beach?

No beaches here, but regardless, I'd go armed.

What about at the birth of your child in a hospital for instance?

I carry. Two kids, and I was holding the wife's right leg during each delivery. There was a gun on my hip both times.

Any other question?

 

[M-Cameron]

i personally dont leave my house without my kevlar vest, at least 2 handguns, and a 6" tanto........if i think something serious might go down, i may sling my rifle over my back before i head out......i dont take any chances.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I carry wherever I can legally, which is when I return to NY from PA. I do not carry based on assessing a perceived threat because If I believed there was anymore danger than normal I would not go at least not without a longarm. My handgun is for when the situation is normal and a sudden issue pops up.

I change my carry based on what I can carry. Anywhere from a Glock with 15 round mag and a spare when concealable to a Glock with a ten round. I can also go to a KT P3AT with spare to just the P3AT when home for the night.

 

[Bubba613]

If I'm out it's pretty much a guarantee I'm armed. I carry a cell phone all the time too. To me they're about the same.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

i carry any were it is legal to do so . and anytime I'm awake .
and sometimes when I'm napping

i would Rather have it and not need it then to need it and not have it
all places like T-R-U i don't / wont shop there.

remember back about 10-15 years ago in Californian i think it was.
a lady was going to meet up with her mom and dad at a MC Donald's and there was a no guns allowed sign on the door, so she left her permitted to carry gun in her car.

a crazed man came in and killed 26 people it think it was. the woman that left her gun in the car got to watch her parents get murdered.

she just testified before congress a few years back about the right to carry .

now she wonders if she could have made a difference if she had not obeyed the no gun sign.

here in FL no guns in
places that sell alcohol for consumption on premises
government buildings
post office
hospital's
1000 feet from any school not ,even on private property unless the owner says its OK. this means not even across the street off school property.
or anyplace posted no weapons

 

[Bullnettles]

That sounds EXACTLY like the lady in Texas when the guy shot up Luby's . I wish reason won out when people's lives are at stake.

 

[jon86]

I used to live in Florida. I don't always go to the beach to swim. Sometimes I go just to take a walk with the wife. Sometimes I go to do some running. Sometimes I go at night with the wife. If I'm not at the beach to tan and get in the water, then I'm packin. I carried at my wedding. I've carried at other people's weddings. What's the big deal? You do put your seatbelt on every time you get in the car right? Or just when you get on the interstate?

Ok, now I do not carry at the gym.

 

[rozziboy18]

hey vector,
i was the op on that post, i agree with you you cant carry everywhere.

i dont carry at:

beach- sand sucks
most resturants- unless they know me
banks- i forgot once
were prohibited

i do carry everywhere else i can, because it gives me piece of mind.

oh i also dont carry at gander mnt, on principle, due to there sign

 

[Vector]

No beaches here, but regardless, I'd go armed.

I carry. Two kids, and I was holding the wife's right leg during each delivery. There was a gun on my hip both times.

Any other question?

Yes, my first question would be why you felt the need to carry during the birth of your child? My guess would be that you did not deliver in a hospital as most if not all prohibit firearms. As another poster pointed out, he would not want to risk missing his child's birth because he was told to leave the hospital.

As far as the beach goes, maybe you are not picturing how you would carry in a swim suit. You certainly would not want to leave a loaded gun on the beach while you were swimming. For that matter, what do you do when you go to a water park?

 

[CHEVELLE427]

discreet carry this is in my pocket

 

[Mudinyeri]

This reminds me of an old joke/question from when I was in the Army. What are the only two times you can be carrying too much ammo?

When you're swimming and when you're on fire.

Other than when it's not legal, why not carry? When would you not carry your wallet, car keys, cell phone ...?

 

[Sam1911]

So for those who feel compelled to carry at all times

Don't know if I feel "compelled" to, especially as I work in a non-carry state, but I do at all times when legal.

what do you do when you go to places like the beach?

I've carried off-body (in a backpack). Not optimal, but life is full of compromises, right?

What about at the birth of your child in a hospital for instance?

I've never had attended a birth in a hospital (one in a birth center and two at home) but hospitals are not prohibited places here in PA, so I undoubtedly would. There have been some bad public shootings in hospitals. Wouldn't want to go unarmed there without a major need.

and typically assess the likelihood of needing to be armed before I choose which weapon(if any) to take with me.

I wish I could tell when I would need to have a gun with me. It would make life so much more simple. Who knows, I might even just avoid going someplace if I knew I'd need the gun. Sort of the ultimate in situational awareness, right? Just check your calendar and see if you're scheduled to need your gun today. Tell you one thing, If my calendar ever does say that today I'm going to need a gun, I'm bringing a 12 ga!

So often I see folks say, "why would I need a gun in a x,y,z" which place may or may not be a reasonably secure site. But that seems to ignore the logistics of leaving your home, traveling via vehicle, parking in a lot or parking garage, traveling via foot, etc, which all are vulnerable points not covered by your perception of safety when within that "x,y,z" location.

 

[sig220mw]

Concealed carry laws in Texas don't allow us to carry in hospitals.

Evidently some states do allow it.

 

[kingpin008]

Yes, my first question would be why you felt the need to carry during the birth of your child?

A few months ago, there was a shooting in one of the major hospitals here. A man who was angry with a percieved lack of care for his ailing mother pulled a pistol and shot the doctor point blank in the abdomen. The shooter then barricaded himself in his mother's room, where he executed her and then suicided.

My sister is a nurse at the area's largest trauma center. She works with the same type of patients every day. That doctor who was shot could very well have been her, or anyone else on the floor at the time that fella went ballistic.

So yeah, there's a need to carry in a hospital. Violence can and does happen anywhere, at any time. Being prepared to react and possibly save your life is not an unreasonable thing.

 

[CoRoMo]

Yes, my first question would be why you felt the need to carry during the birth of your child?

Same reason I'm carrying now. Same reason you do, when you do. Same reason I put on my seatbelt, same reason have fire extinguishers in my house, same reason I lock my doors, same reason I have a saving account, same reason I put my kids in child safety seats... (is this really that hard to understand?).

My guess would be that you did not deliver in a hospital as most if not all prohibit firearms.

You are bad at guessing. Both times at a hospital. It wouldn't matter if they prohibited firearms or not, their policy doesn't hold any legal water in Colorado. FWIW, the hospital did NOT prohibit carrying.

As far as the beach goes, maybe you are not picturing how you would carry in a swim suit.

Wearing a swim suit was not part of the original scenario. You asked about going to the beach. Now that we're onto a different question though, I never said I would be carrying, I said I'd be armed. See Sam1911's answer.

You certainly would not want to leave a loaded gun on the beach while you were swimming.

Why not? My wife is a very responsible person, and she can watch over it just fine.

For that matter, what do you do when you go to a water park?

No real difference from the beach. I go armed. Do these few and similar scenarios qualify as "several examples where it would be against the law, or impractical"?

I... assess the likelihood of needing to be armed before I choose...

I wish I could tell when I would need to have a gun with me.

Me too. Please rent this crystal ball to me. Please.

 

[BP Hunter]

I carry practically everywhere it is legal. I even carry at home. My wife used to make fun of me when she sees me tucking my gun in my IWB holster at home, then stopped when she got used to it. I ever carry at church. By WA State law, I can carry in the hospital unless it is a designated mental health facility. My 9 year old girl knows I carry whereever we go. She doesn't mind. My family has accepted totally my view of gun ownership and defense of family. No nos to banks, federal buildings (including post office parking area), mental health facilities, schools unless you are only dropping off your child, areas where liqour is served, and concerts.

 

[X-Rap]

With the small 380 pistols available there are few times I can think of that I am not armed at least with one of them. With fall now I can move up to a bigger gun. Unless its illegal I don't see the difference of church or the hospital and unless there is a metal detector who is going to know anyway.

 

[docnyt]

I don't understand the naïveté behind the OP's reasoning. Either you carry or you don't. The gun you train with is just a tool, and as many have pointed out, is just like remembering to bring your cellphone, carkeys, wallet, credit card, etc. You don't always need every single item, but what if you did?

To answer the OP's question, yes I did carry at my son's birth and the TV was showing "Top Shot" at the time. And yes, I usually bring a smaller BUG at the beach when an adult can stay and watch our stuff.

I'm sure that if you ask any civilian involved in a successful violent encounter whether they regret carrying at the time, you would know the answer.

 

[oldbanjo]

I carry all the time, always have, sense mid 60's. Don't take gun in Fed bldgs, Court Houses. Carry in Banks not in Hospitals or Doctors Office's. If there is no sign I carry.

 

[kingpin008]

My guess would be that you did not deliver in a hospital as most if not all prohibit firearms.

Look - you can assess a place to be "safe" all you want - that doesn't mean it is. Carrying a weapon, be it a knife, strong cane, gun, or otherwise is no different than carrying a cell phone with you - it's there in case of emergency. Hospitals deal with all manner of people, day in and day out. Not everyone gives a crap about silly things like "laws" that are supposed to keep them from being bad apples. Many of us understand this, and choose to arm ourselves in order to be prepared for worst-case scenarios.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I carry whenever I legally can. And I don't carry when I legally can't. That approach pretty much takes the guess work out of it.

I just don't want to be getting into the business of trying to decide whether or not I should carry or whether I might need a gun where I'm going. First off, if I think I might need a gun, I ain't going there. Second, I'd really hate it if I made a decision not to carry, even though I could have, and that turned out to be the one time in my life I really did need to have a gun.

So if it's legal for me, I carry. If it's not, I don't.