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I would change the "thrill" to more of a "relief" that I could actually legally carry a loaded firearm in public for the defense of myself or my family. Adding to what a few others have said regarding complacency, you also don't want to pretend that your shiny new license is carte blanche for going to places that you would normally consider risky, like an ATM machine in a bad neighborhood at 11:00 pm. and so on. Avoidance will get you out of more situations than your firearm ever will.
When my interview for getting my CCW was over our conversation went pretty close to this: I told the issuing officer that I probably wouldn't carry it for a couple of months or so. He got this perplexed look on his face and said, "Why?" With a smile on my face, I told him that it would probably be my luck that this would be the day that I got robbed while having to get gas on my way home from here.
Judge: "So Mr. mprp, how long did you have your CCW when this took place?"
mprp: "Uh, well Your Honor, about 18 minutes." :embarassed:
He chuckled and then looked at me with a pretty serious look on his face and said, "No, you carry that damn thing with you everywhere you go starting today."
So the "thrill" is pretty much gone for me because I'm under a direct order. :smile:
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To the OP...try turning your "thrill" and your "excitement" into a "thirst"...A thirst for knowledge...A thirst for knowing the law, how the law can be applied in certain situations. Knowing your weapon, why you chose it, mastering it's use to the utmost of your ability. Know your carry options, why you chose them, the pros and cons of your decision. Know the great responsibility which is on your shoulders...Responsibility for yourself, your family, perhaps others based on your choice to carry. Know what Situational Awareness is, the various levels, why it works, what is necessary for you to hone and refine yours. Know, that in an emergency/critical situation, you will default to the highest level of training which you have "mastered". Know what will affect your reactions and how they affect them.
I could go on and on and on. Once you've embarked on the journey, you can choose to just "be satisfied" or you can choose to "quench your thirst" and learn/achieve as much as possible so that your "thrill and excitement", which hopefully you turn into a "thirst", will now become a "comfort", each and everytime you "weapon up"...Train Sir! TRAIN SOME MORE SIR! Never stop learning and training. JMO
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never been a thrill to me. just a restored right since wisconsin passed it ccw. putting my gun on is just like putting my keys and wallet in my pocket.
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Throughout my journey to my CCW, my feelings ranged from excitement, to anxiety, and finally peace. The excitement of the learning and receiving my license was soon replaced by the terror and anxiety of the reality of carrying a deadly weapon. I spent many weeks carrying my unloaded P238 (cocked and locked) around my home, even "trying" to make the unloaded gun accidentally "go off." After I realized that couldn't happen, I finally overcame my fears and began carrying "live." The first few times I carried in public were very short trips (gas station, coffee shop, pizza carryout) until I overcame the anxiety of my newly acquired awareness and responsibility. After just a couple weeks, I've found that anxiety replaced by a sort of peace.
I'm generally a very passive type of person, but knowing I can also become the most dangerous person in the room (God forbid a situation arise) is a truly comforting feeling.
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I'm not sure exactly when strapping on my daily carry firearm became about as exhilarating as putting on a clean pair of socks...but, at some past point in time that did happen. :biggrin2:
