To Pack Or Not To Pack?

[Snaggletiger]

Well, maybe more along the lines of how to pack heat. The debate on guns is obviously the hottest topic out there, next to the dreaded, "Fiscal Cliff".  Do we have to name every potential economic crisis?  A lot of gun enthusiasts on the board so I'm looking for some input.  Back in college and a few years after, I was an avid hunter.  Owned rifles and shotguns for everything from hunting squirrels to shooting from mountain top to mountain top.  Loved it, but got out of it once I got married and moved away from all my hunting buddies.  The only firearm I own now is a .38 that I keep at the house for protection.  But I've never been into handguns and know only the basics about them. 

Having said that, events in recent years, culminating with the recent school shooting, have made me rethink the whole idea of carrying a firearm. For whatever the reasons may be, people snap more often these days and it just seems to be "fashionable" to go out in a blaze of glory while you take as many innocent lives with you as possible.  Bottom line, I'm ready to arm myself...or at least be more prepared.  But here's the problem for me.  How do you go about carrying a concealed weapon?  Let's say I go down and fill out the forms and get approved....permit issued.  Okay, what's the best avenue to go down now?

What do some of you who carry a firearm do?  Do you carry when you go in a mall or a restaurant?  If so, where do you keep it?  Typical day at work, I'm wearing dress kakhi pants and a button down.  Typical day outside of work, I'll have on shorts and pullover.  Where would I "conceal" a firearm.  I hear the argument to these shootings all the time..."Well, if people would arm themselves, this could have been stopped."  I agree, but does the average Joe on the street like me normally carry a gun into the Mall? 

If you do carry a handgun, what kind?  And how often to do you have it?     

 

[wesfau2]

Pancho was a bandit, boy
His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel...

[Snaggletiger]

Pancho was a bandit, boy
His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel...

Wait...is he really talking about his gun here?

[wesfau2]

Wait...is he really talking about his gun here?

Wyatt Earp-style.  Dare any motherfucker to skin that smokewagon.

[WiregrassTiger]

The permit thing is a point of contention. A judge told me that as far as he could tell, permits are just a money maker for the sheriff. But I think they can prevent a lot of hassle.

I carry a 32 a lot. It prob won't knock a crazed meth addict down but a properly placed 32 hollow point should get his attention. I think my kel tek shoots 8. It's small enough to put in a big shirt pocket and go unnoticed.

For home, I love me shotgun with buck and a 357 mag with hollows. Killed many a man with this combo and put em in the wood chipper.

[Saniflush]

Wyatt Earp-style.  Dare any motherfucker to skin that smokewagon.

You just gonna stand there and bleed?


Personally I do not carry in malls, restaurants, etc.  I keep it in the car.  When I come into work it comes in with me and goes in a holster mounted under my desk.  God help the son of a bitch that starts shooting in here.

[Snaggletiger]

You just gonna stand there and bleed?


Personally I do not carry in malls, restaurants, etc.  I keep it in the car.  When I come into work it comes in with me and goes in a holster mounted under my desk.  God help the son of a bitch that starts shooting in here.

This is what I'm thinking.  I definitely want one at work.  We deal with some crazy ass people and there's been many a time when we've discussed a particular client...defendant....whatever, where we've said, "That dude is crazy enough to start shooting".  I don't think it's practical to carry one everywhere I go and honestly, don't think I want to.   

[dallaswareagle]

I’ll cover what I know at least from a Texas perspective:

1.   You just don’t fill out a form and get a CHL-You must take class (8 hrs) and pass a test which includes shooting a weapon at a range. Once you get a CHL it is noted on your record. The first thing you better tell a cop if you get pulled over is that you have a CHL and that you are or are not in possession of a weapon.
2.   I carry a firearm for protection from the nut cases out in the world. As has been said before “Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six”
3.   You see the signs in restaurants and place about this being a “No Firearm” area. Yea right, I can count in any restaurant the number of people who have weapons.  I don’t carry all the time, but do in my car. I don’t have one on work site but can get to the one in my car within about 5 seconds.
4.   They make purses for women where you can place a firearm. For guys you have ankle holsters, shoulder holsters (under a jacket or shirt). Some bars I know the bartenders and they tell me they have protection behind the bar.
5.   The average Joe does not carry weapons, the above average person will and it’s like being a 40 degree black belt in jujitsu/karate/fung shway. 99.9 percent of the people will never use it but the ability to use it makes you a more aware person.
6.   I have a 9mm that I carry in my car and a 380 auto on my person.   

[Saniflush]

This is what I'm thinking.  I definitely want one at work.  We deal with some crazy ass people and there's been many a time when we've discussed a particular client...defendant....whatever, where we've said, "That dude is crazy enough to start shooting".  I don't think it's practical to carry one everywhere I go and honestly, don't think I want to.

Of course there is another option in Alabama.  You can do what one of my brothers does and carry a loaded long gun in the cab of his vehicle.  You do not need a permit to carry a rifle/shotgun.

[CCTAU]

I have a CWC in GA so I can get to my gat ASAP!

In GA you can carry in the car so long as it is in plain sight of in the console/glove box. Those are considered extensions of your home. In public, everywhere, I carry on my belt. Sometimes under a pullover. Sometimes in plain view. I am looking at getting a .380 with a holster that makes the gun look like a wallet. Then I can carry with shorts.

Right now I carry a 9 or a .45. I have to wear  a stout belt, but that is usually not an issue.

I am a large brash individual but would do everything possible to avoid using.

The last resort is pulling a weapon.

I practice about once a week. My son and I shoot in a .22 pistol league. A lot of fun and good competition.

The secret to carry is practice. Practice. Practice!

[Ogre]

Seeing as Snags and I are practically neighbors now I can answer this one.

You don't have to have a permit to buy a handgun.  I bought a Glock 17 9mm a month or so ago and after a 10 minute background check I walked out with the gun, a conceal carry holster and two boxes of hollow points.  Now the tricky thing is, if you are going to carry a gun in your car you must have a concealed carry permit.  I didn't have one at the time I bought the gun so I just put it in the trunk and took it out as soon as I got home.

For you, all you have to do is go to the Sheriff's office and fill out a one page form.  It takes all of 2 minutes (3 if you don't know your SSN).  The nice lady at the window will tell you to come back next week with $20 and pick the permit up.  When you come back, they'll take your $20 and give you a piece of paper that you'll sign.  You will want to stick it in your wallet and just like that, you are legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon.  No classes necessary.

I love my 9mm but I'm probably going to pick up another pistol strictly for concealed carry - I'm thinking about a Smith & Wesson MP40 Shield:

[Saniflush]

Seeing as Snags and I are practically neighbors now I can answer this one.

You don't have to have a permit to buy a handgun.  I bought a Glock 17 9mm a month or so ago and after a 10 minute background check I walked out with the gun, a conceal carry holster and two boxes of hollow points.  Now the tricky thing is, if you are going to carry a gun in your car you must have a concealed carry permit.  I didn't have one at the time I bought the gun so I just put it in the trunk and took it out as soon as I got home.

For you, all you have to do is go to the Sheriff's office and fill out a one page form.  It takes all of 2 minutes (3 if you don't know your SSN).  The nice lady at the window will tell you to come back next week with $20 and pick the permit up.  When you come back, they'll take your $20 and give you a piece of paper that you'll sign.  You will want to stick it in your wallet and just like that, you are legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon.  No classes necessary.

I love my 9mm but I'm probably going to pick up another pistol strictly for concealed carry - I'm thinking about a Smith & Wesson MP40 Shield:

Also note that most all state have reciprocal carry rights.

http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

Click on the state and it will show you who honors whose permits.

[Token]

Glock 27, snags.  .40 caliber, holds 10 rounds.  Great weapon for carrying concealed, fits perfectly under pant leg on ankle. 

[AUownsU]

This is what I carry unless I'm just headed to and from work. If its me and the family going somewhere eat, to the mall, wherever I usually have this guy on me (.380). Easily fits in my backpocket behind my wallet when walking around.






At keep this guy at home (9mm). Mine came with two 16 round clips.

[GH2001]

Seeing as Snags and I are practically neighbors now I can answer this one.

You don't have to have a permit to buy a handgun.  I bought a Glock 17 9mm a month or so ago and after a 10 minute background check I walked out with the gun, a conceal carry holster and two boxes of hollow points.  Now the tricky thing is, if you are going to carry a gun in your car you must have a concealed carry permit.  I didn't have one at the time I bought the gun so I just put it in the trunk and took it out as soon as I got home.

For you, all you have to do is go to the Sheriff's office and fill out a one page form.  It takes all of 2 minutes (3 if you don't know your SSN).  The nice lady at the window will tell you to come back next week with $20 and pick the permit up.  When you come back, they'll take your $20 and give you a piece of paper that you'll sign.  You will want to stick it in your wallet and just like that, you are legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon.  No classes necessary.

I love my 9mm but I'm probably going to pick up another pistol strictly for concealed carry - I'm thinking about a Smith & Wesson MP40 Shield:

with all of the cons people talk about in re to Alabama, this is def one of the pros about this state.

[WiregrassTiger]

Seeing as Snags and I are practically neighbors now I can answer this one.

You don't have to have a permit to buy a handgun.  I bought a Glock 17 9mm a month or so ago and after a 10 minute background check I walked out with the gun, a conceal carry holster and two boxes of hollow points.  Now the tricky thing is, if you are going to carry a gun in your car you must have a concealed carry permit.  I didn't have one at the time I bought the gun so I just put it in the trunk and took it out as soon as I got home.

For you, all you have to do is go to the Sheriff's office and fill out a one page form.  It takes all of 2 minutes (3 if you don't know your SSN).  The nice lady at the window will tell you to come back next week with $20 and pick the permit up.  When you come back, they'll take your $20 and give you a piece of paper that you'll sign.  You will want to stick it in your wallet and just like that, you are legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon.  No classes necessary.

I love my 9mm but I'm probably going to pick up another pistol strictly for concealed carry - I'm thinking about a Smith & Wesson MP40 Shield:

This really depends on who you ask. Most lawmen say yes but to my knowledge, there is no law that says this. And, if you have to buy a permit for concealed carry, wouldn't that lead us to believe that you don't have to have one if you don't conceal it? I heard the police chief in Montgomery answer this question one time and he basically said, yes that is right. You don't legally need to have a permit if you aren't concealing the pistol. Then he went on to explain that if he or any of his officers saw anyone with a pistol on their hip downtown they would bust their ass. So, in essence, you get your ass thrown in jail for not breaking the law. Damn coppers.

[Token]

Alabama is an open carry state.  So long as you aren't in violation of a local ordinance, or on the property of a business which does not allow weapons, you will not go to jail for open carry.  And no, you do not have to have a permit to open carry.  BUT, unless you are walking or riding a horse to town, you do have to have a permit while riding in your vehicle.  So, if you're going to carry, might as well spend the money for a permit.  Much less of a hassle. 

[WiregrassTiger]

Alabama is an open carry state.  So long as you aren't in violation of a local ordinance, or on the property of a business which does not allow weapons, you will not go to jail for open carry.  And no, you do not have to have a permit to open carry.  BUT, unless you are walking or riding a horse to town, you do have to have a permit while riding in your vehicle.  So, if you're going to carry, might as well spend the money for a permit.  Much less of a hassle.

Do you know the specific law that supports this?

[GH2001]

Do you know the specific law that supports this?

seeing as how he is a law enforcement officer of this state, I think he is familiar.

[WiregrassTiger]

seeing as how he is a law enforcement officer of this state, I think he is familiar.

I'm asking because I would like to know. Not to be a smart ass. I've been told by a few people whom I would think would know (albeit a few years ago) that no law exists. Regardless, as he said, it would save a lot of hassle to have a permit. Who wants to go to jail and prove a point.