How often do you carry?

[Tireshred]

I work in the Belfort/Telephone rd area, so I know what you're saying.

[Oldgringo]

Cabela's has an underseat lock box on a cable for $30. Check it out.

That's the one I have but I'm not all that thrilled with it.

Would you care to elaborate on your lack of thrill; e.g: won't hold 1911, won't fit under seat, lock doesn't work, ugly or what?

[rmoraes]

B"H THank G-d for today!
24/6.

[WEC]

Carry always when possible. I have to keep it stored in my car at work but it is 14 seconds away from a sitting position in my office to in my hand ( I timed it).

When I read this, I thought of this scenario:

Dan sits at his desk, imagining a crazed gunman busting through the front door of his office. He looks at the stopwatch in his hand, takes a deep breath, and thinks, "GO!" while his thumb hits the button. Like a blur, he is up and out the nearest exit. His co-worker Eddie sees Dan sprinting out the door and wonders, "Wow, where's he going in such a hurry?" Outside the office, Dan's arms are pumping as he's in a dead sprint towards his car. In a deft move, he reaches into his pocket and finds the keyless entry button (he's been practicing in his back yard), timing it so that the door unlocks just as he's reaching the car. He yanks the door open, jumps in and slams the glove compartment open, grabs the handle of his gun and then slaps the stopwatch against his leg. Panting, he looks at the time. "14 seconds," Dan thinks, "Not bad. Not too bad at all..."

I think I have an overactive imagination.

[smokindragon]

Carry everyday....

All - day....

[Dan20703]

Carry always when possible. I have to keep it stored in my car at work but it is 14 seconds away from a sitting position in my office to in my hand ( I timed it).

When I read this, I thought of this scenario:

Dan sits at his desk, imagining a crazed gunman busting through the front door of his office. He looks at the stopwatch in his hand, takes a deep breath, and thinks, "GO!" while his thumb hits the button. Like a blur, he is up and out the nearest exit. His co-worker Eddie sees Dan sprinting out the door and wonders, "Wow, where's he going in such a hurry?" Outside the office, Dan's arms are pumping as he's in a dead sprint towards his car. In a deft move, he reaches into his pocket and finds the keyless entry button (he's been practicing in his back yard), timing it so that the door unlocks just as he's reaching the car. He yanks the door open, jumps in and slams the glove compartment open, grabs the handle of his gun and then slaps the stopwatch against his leg. Panting, he looks at the time. "14 seconds," Dan thinks, "Not bad. Not too bad at all..."

I think I have an overactive imagination.

It's not quite that bad but I like your descipition better than the real thing. If I do what you imagine I bet I can do it under 10 seconds. A NEW CHALLANGE!!

[ELB]

I carry as much as possible, including in the house, doing chores, etc, for two reasons: 1) Self-defense; 2) In my holster on my body is the safest place to have my pistol. When I bed down, the pistol is in specific spot in a specific orientation with my flashlight, where it won't get knocked on the floor by the cats, earthquake (don't laugh -- I've been awakened by earthquakes before), etc. I put it in the same place when I take a shower, because it is right outside the bathroom door, well away from the doors and windows of the house.

As for self-defense -- I think it unlikely that I will be attacked in my home, bush-hogging around the house, etc. I only carry the gun because I might be wrong, and the consequences of that are bad. If I thought it LIKELY that I would be attacked, I either wouldn't be there, or I would have my rifle out, my wife armed, all my cats and dogs armed, and be calling the cops.

Consider the following email I received from John Farnam yesterday:

10 Mar 09

A student emerges victorious from a dangerous confrontation:

"Back in 2000, you provided handgun training to a large class, including me. I had been a target competitor for many years, but your class changed my paradigm to serious, tactical application, rather than casual recreation. Two things stuck with me most: (1) Spin your OODA Loop quickly, and (2) when a fight is unavoidable, be stitching and moving!

Thank you! That philosophical shift saved my life this last February!

Late on a weekday afternoon last month, two home-invasion suspects kicked in the front door of my home, as I sat watching television. I was alone in the house at the time. There was no warning, nor did I have any reason to suspect such a thing would happen to me that day, or any day. I remember being astonished as I saw the bottom of a foot still raised as my door lurched open, amid a shower of splinters!

The door-kicker, and an accomplice, burst in, and, seeing me, rushed toward me. I was wearing my G38 (45GAP) in a Comp-Tac holster. It was loaded with WW 230gr Ranger ammunition. I sprung to my feet and drew my pistol simultaneously. At a distance of less than eight feet, I found my front sight and began firing at the closest suspect, while I was still in motion.

As it turns out, I fired seven shots. All seven struck the first suspect (the door-kicker). His accomplice was behind him and immediately fled, unharmed as far as I know. In fact, he fled in such haste that he abandoned his getaway car, leaving the engine running! Police subsequently found much stolen property in the car.

The suspect I shot stumbled backward and fell in the doorway, never moving after he went down. I scanned, reloaded, took cover behind a corner, and checked myself over. When police arrived, they found the suspect I had shot, DRT. The second suspect has not been arrested as far as I know. I was unhurt.

Of the seven hits on the first suspect, one in the neck and one in the chest proved fatal. I was told that either of those two shots would probably have been fatal by itself. Being cold at the time, both suspects were wearing heavy clothing, and multiple layers of clothing frustrated expansion, and penetration, of the other five. They may have been effective, but I'll never know.

Here is what others among your students can learn from my experience:

(1) When at home, stay armed! If my gun had been locked in a safe, or even in a drawer and unloaded, I never could have reacted effectively in time. Be armed all the time, no matter where you are!

(2) Multiple shots from your pistol will probably be necessary to stop any fight decisively, no matter what caliber or brand of ammunition you're using. As a category, pistols are poor fight-stoppers. Accordingly, pistols that hold lots of ammunition, and that can be reloaded quickly, represent a real advantage!

(3) Be prepared to react instantly! Sometimes, there are warning signs. Sometimes, there are none! In order to live through your next lethal encounter, you'll have to be able to spin your OODA Loop fast.

(4) Finish the fight! Don't relax too soon. Scan, reload, get distance, get cover. Be prepared for anything!

(5) Whatever you do, it won't be perfect! Don't worry about being perfect. Just act decisively, without hesitation. Do what has to be done, with grace and enthusiasm. Don't look back, and don't worry about what might have been!"

Comment: I'll add:

(5) Use ammunition that penetrates adequately! Your bullets may have to plow through many layers of clothing before ever reaching flesh, as was the case here. There are many fine, high-performance rounds available, but Cor-Bon DPX tops the list, because it penetrates and expands, without fail! It's what I carry.

My student is a real hero. He dared, and he won.

Victory!

/John

As for the safety of my - gun -- when I have it on me, I then know where it is, what its status is,

[RHZig]

I carry my gun EVERYWHERE except the secure area of an airport and penal institutions. That's IT!!
If I'm wearing clothes, outside of swimming trunks, I'm toting a pistol.

[frazzled]

Codicil to the initial question. To those of you with children, how often do you carry?

[will381796]

Codicil to the initial question. To those of you with children, how often do you carry?

I have a child, so please refer to my previous answer. My carry piece is always easily accessible in a hidden compartment next to my bed when I'm sleeping. My other weapons are locked up in a quick-release gun vault.

[Dan20703]

Codicil to the initial question. To those of you with children, how often do you carry?

Always. Especially when at home. I am responsible for defending my family if a BG attacks.

[Sangiovese]

Codicil to the initial question. To those of you with children, how often do you carry?

I have three children (7-15 years old). They are part of the reason for my answer earlier in this thread - I carry from the time I get dressed in the morning until I crawl back into bed at night.

[frazzled]

Interesting. I am giong to start another thread on this.

[LittleGun]

I carry every day, everywhere the law allows. I also carry at home.

[03Lightningrocks]

100% of the time (not counting when I'm asleep in bed).

What he said...except at very rarely visited prohibited locations.

Same here.