Conceal Carry Confessions and Dirty Little Secrets

[MamaMaria]

With the recent threads of honest admissions of complacency leading to ND, or discomfort with carrying with "one in the pipe," I've been inspired to confess a few not-so-correct, irrational, and humorous conceal carry issues I've encountered in my CC experience:

1. I tell people I picked the Springfield XD9 over the Glock 19 because of the grip angle, but it really is because of the XD's grip safety (irrational fear of Glock Leg)
2. I will turn my body if my 3 year old is standing in line with the muzzle of my holstered gun (even when it's in a full coverage leather/kydex holster).
3. I am amused by the 6'+ 225#+ guy to my right at the LGS talking about trading in his Ruger SR9 for a LC9, cuz it was impossible to conceal such a HUGE gun, as I am 3 feet away, concealing a gun twice the size, on a body half his size.
4. I like telling same guy what I'm carrying, and enjoy breaking the stereotype that little ladies like and need little guns.
5. The first time I understood I was likely the most "dangerous" person in the room, I felt empowered and appalled at the same time.
6. That one time I squatted down in the checkout lane to grab the soda from the bottom of my cart, I know that couple behind me saw my gun poke out and print in the most obscene way. But I don't care, in fact I'm kinda glad you saw it, you stopped your annoying bickering at each other, and could enjoy my checkout in peace.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Crowman]

Bingo on number 6......

[gunslingergirl]

LOL - Maria, if you are ever in AZ let me know and I'll buy you a drink!

I loved the SR9/LC9 analogy, I own and carry both, sometimes at the same time.

And +1 on #4 - This old lady carries an HK45, and I sometimes think about moving up to a Desert Eagle .50.

[RoadRunner71]

#3 made me choke on my coffee!

We've all seen it before. This huge guy at the LGS or range proudly pulls out a micro SC pistol and states that it is the only thing that can be carried all day without being too uncomfortable or printing too much. As a fairly big guy (who carries a service sized pistol) I laugh. I can only imagine how humorous it is to you smaller ladies.

[GH]

Great confessions! Now get a bigger gun & sin no more, lol.

[sixgun]

Nice list. But you broke #4. I dont tell anyone when or what Im carrying. Its none of there buisness. Carry on.

[MamaMaria]

Nice list. But you broke #4. I dont tell anyone when or what Im carrying. Its none of there buisness. Carry on.

Nah, I generally do not share (always carry, never tell, right?). However, in this case, I'm acquainted with this man; we've shot next to each other at the local range before. Heck, he's seen me practicing my draw, asked me a few questions about the XD. I think he was surprised that I was actually carrying that gun, lol.

[raytracer]

5. The first time I understood I was likely the most "dangerous" person in the room, I felt empowered and appalled at the same time.

Now that's a profound truth right there!

[velo99]

#3 & 6. Been there done that. 6'3" 240. Carry full size 9. I would feel silly carrying a pocket rocket as a primary. Had a guy at Walmart look at me and made a shirt tail gesture after I bent over on that soda/chip aisle grabbing a 12 pack.

[BekahM]

With the recent threads of honest admissions of complacency leading to ND, or discomfort with carrying with "one in the pipe," I've been inspired to confess a few not-so-correct, irrational, and humorous conceal carry issues I've encountered in my CC experience:

1. I tell people I picked the Springfield XD9 over the Glock 19 because of the grip angle, but it really is because of the XD's grip safety (irrational fear of Glock Leg)
2. I will turn my body if my 3 year old is standing in line with the muzzle of my holstered gun (even when it's in a full coverage leather/kydex holster).
3. I am amused by the 6'+ 225#+ guy to my right at the LGS talking about trading in his Ruger SR9 for a LC9, cuz it was impossible to conceal such a HUGE gun, as I am 3 feet away, concealing a gun twice the size, on a body half his size.
4. I like telling same guy what I'm carrying, and enjoy breaking the stereotype that little ladies like and need little guns.
5. The first time I understood I was likely the most "dangerous" person in the room, I felt empowered and appalled at the same time.
6. That one time I squatted down in the checkout lane to grab the soda from the bottom of my cart, I know that couple behind me saw my gun poke out and print in the most obscene way. But I don't care, in fact I'm kinda glad you saw it, you stopped your annoying bickering at each other, and could enjoy my checkout in peace.

Nice to hear about women carrying a bigger gun! I'm starting off with a M&P Shield, and I'm still worried about printing! Havn't gotton my ccl yet, but I figured I can start practicing around my house/property. Most the women in my family carry, but they carry in a purse and I'm going to carry on body. Don't like the idea of purse carry.

[Camjr]

Great post!

I have been making more an effort to carry a full size XD-40 IWB rather than my normal J Frame in a pocket holster. I'm not a small guy (5'10", 220#), and don't have any trouble concealing the larger pistol - it was usually just convenience that always led to carrying the J Frame. When out shopping yesterday, I had the XD under a denim shirt cover garment until it warmed up. I took off the cover garment and just concealed it under the white t-shirt I was wearing. I went into a local Hobby Lobby, and decided to hit the little boys room, and noticed that if I was looking, I could see the black grip of the pistol through the lightweight white fabric of the t-shirt. So what. People are oblivious, and I could see it because I was looking for it. My wife told me she could see it if the light was right, but she knew to look for it. Carry on. No worries.

Cheers.

[MamaMaria]

Nice to hear about women carrying a bigger gun! I'm starting off with a M&P Shield, and I'm still worried about printing! Havn't gotton my ccl yet, but I figured I can start practicing around my house/property. Most the women in my family carry, but they carry in a purse and I'm going to carry on body. Don't like the idea of purse carry.

I started off carrying a much smaller gun. I think for women, especially, there's a learning curve in overcoming the self-conscious feeling of actually carrying. With time, you'll begin to realize that the average person doesn't notice. The only ones who do are likely CC'ers themselves. Before I carried, it never dawned on me to stare at people's waistbands, scanning for (gasp...Ermahgerd...a gun!)

[Lish]

I too started off carrying a smaller gun, I still don't carry a big one - now I carry an XDsc, but its considerably thicker than what I started with.

[KBSR]

"The first time I understood I was likely the most "dangerous" person in the room, I felt empowered and appalled at the same time."

I've been called "Armed and dangerous" a couple of times. I just reply with "Armed and Safe, and so are you as long as I'm in the area." LOL

[dukalmighty]

5. The first time I understood I was likely the most "dangerous" person in the room, I felt empowered and appalled at the same time.

I feel the same way after eating a Super Burrito