Guns, concealed carry, and home defense

Quote: pacomartin

Are these things really useful for self defense? What if you some kid runs up to you and grabs this gun out of your belt. Are you responsible?

Well, a belt buckle knife looks like a belt buckle until you snatch it off. Is this made to be worn facing forward?

Belt buckle knifes are also illegal in many places.

I prefer something like this with baggy pants.

Quote: EvenBob

I prefer something like this with baggy pants.

I couldn't imagine. Probably good for concealment, but I'd never be able to bring it into play from way down there.

I holster carry when out in the sticks with an OWB retention holster. When in town, I almost always pocket carry; in the hoody pouch when cold, in my shorts pocket when warm.

Ankle holsters rock for getting to your gun while sitting/driving.

Ankle holsters are good because after you hit the floor from being shot its easy to get your gun out. :)

Whatevs, dude. I wouldn't want it to be my primary but it's a solid carry location for a back-up gun.

I definitely lost my steam for buying a gun - I was all gung-ho about it last spring/fall, in fact it was right about this time last year that I took my intro to handguns course.

Anyway, I'm trying to be more disciplined about following through, so I've added "Buy a gun safe" to my list of to-dos and given a due date in the near future. Once I do that I will move on to getting the gun. Think I've settled on a Glock 17, so I'll just need to shop around the shops here. Would love to get 3 magazines with it.

Don't overlook the Glock 19. Quite possibly the perfect pistol. 17 is a solid choice as well. 19 is easier to carry.

I thought everyone was full of crap when they told me to buy more gun safe than I thought I would need. They were right. Listen to them.

Caught in a downpour in Tuscon, AZ, I took refuge in a pawn shop and wandered up and down the display case of revolvers, belt buckles and automatics until I became somewhat suspicious of the category assortment and went back to take a closer look at the belt buckles. In Arizona's open display culture I'm sure they would be legal but I've no idea about how effective they might me.

Derringers and the like were often sleeve and purse guns where the user knew it would be at close range or not at all. Seated at a gambling table a card sharp might have a chance simply because he was first to draw and fire. I understand that most were one shot or two shot pistols. I doubt the weapons were suitable for anything that might be described as a sustained gun battle. The victim might eventually succumb but would mainly be annoyed and distracted while a getaway might be made amidst the resulting confusion and hesitation.

In our society the hassle from cops and rentacops would not be worth having a toy self defense weapon. Street punks and home invaders often use very large pistols for their intimidation effects. A homeowner desperately going for his belt buckle would probably kill intruders by making them laugh to death.

Quote: QuadDeuces

Don't overlook the Glock 19. Quite possibly the perfect pistol. 17 is a solid choice as well. 19 is easier to carry.

Damn it, now you've got me wavering. I've barely shot the 19, but I remember it being not much smaller than the 17. I do have a CPL, but I don't plan on carrying much, if at all, in the near future.

Since it's been a while, I suppose I should go back to the range and do another round of test shooting :).

Quote:

I thought everyone was full of crap when they told me to buy more gun safe than I thought I would need. They were right. Listen to them.

Yeah, I would love to get something with enough space for a couple rifles/shotguns. Space *may* be an issue, but I think I've got enough in my closet to handle that big. We'll see.

I've watched a few YouTube videos about 3speedholster for what is known as "deep carry" holsters. Seems like a good idea. Not much use having a gun in your home if you are out somewhere else. You don't have to go hunting trouble but if you happen to encounter it, its best to be armed at the time.

I'm currently considering a Wilson Combat CQB Full Size 1911 Pistol.

Anybody around here spent around $3,000 for a pistol?

Quote:

Anybody around here spent around $3,000 for a pistol?

Nope. If you ever actually use a pistol in a defensive situation, consider that the police may want to hold it as evidence until you are cleared of any wrongdoing. Just my $0.02, but a $3000 pistol might be more likely to get lost while in custody than would a run of the mill $500 Glock, Sig Sauer, or Springfield.

For range time or competition, the Wilson is probably a pretty sweet piece though I admit I've never held one, let alone fired one.

The weirdest I have ever felt. I arrived at the RIO at 10am and I am carrying my off-duty, concealed. I want to begin my vacation and have fun. I want to enjoy an adult beverage but with carrying a firearm i want to bench my weapon before I begin to imbibe. I approach the security desk and inform them that I am carrying off-duty and want to begin enjoying my trip to Vegas and would like to bench my weapon until I can check into my room. In the middle of the casino, security tells me I can draw my weapon, unload it, and pass it to them. I follow their instructions. That was weird in a full casino. The next day I go down to the same security booth, they pass it to me, I reload the weapon and conceal it and take it up to me my room safe. It felt weird to have a loaded and exposed pistol in a casino.

Quote: HowMany

AcesandEights-

Perhaps you should pop into the Concealed Carry thread and give us an update on what you ultimately decided to do. And welcome back.

Sure, although I'm shocked you remember I ever posted in this thread!

I ended up never buying a gun. Part laziness, part I knew my wife was uncomfortable with it. She wouldn't have outright prohibited me from doing it and with enough training and appropriate caution taken she would have been fine eventually (we bought a safe partly for this purpose).

Now I live in a new state so my concealed carry license is no longer good. I may still yet pursue it here, but I'm pretty busy with work and stuff.

Quote: A&8

Now I live in a new state so my concealed carry license is no longer good. I may still yet pursue it here, but I'm pretty busy with work and stuff.

Have you checked or are you just assuming? Unless you live in NY, NJ, or other authoritarian regimes, there's a chance your new state has reciprocity with your state of issue.

If you're feeling lazy, hit me with former and current states and I can find it in no time

Quote: Face

Have you checked or are you just assuming? Unless you live in NY, NJ, or other authoritarian regimes, there's a chance your new state has reciprocity with your state of issue.

If you're feeling lazy, hit me with former and current states and I can find it in no time

Old state - WA
New state - MA
Massachusetts is on the authoritarian side of the coin, but based on my quick google search they do issue permits. I'll let you dig up the reciprocity if you really want to, but I would want to get a new permit here eventually anyway. My WA CPL expires in May of 2017 anyway (5 years from issue).

Quote: AcesAndEights

I'll let you dig up the reciprocity if you really want to,...

Is no hassle. Most of this stuff is already in my biologic hard drive anyway.

MA has reciprocity with no one, so yes, you'll be getting reissued. It's $100 for 6 years, assuming residency.

Like NY, you'll likely need to communicate reason for a concealed carry (as opposed to a license to possess). Things such as previous threats, line of work, or frequency of carrying large amounts of cash are the go-to's. I used my lengthy response time from 5-0 as well as frequent predator encounters to get mine, and had no issue.

You'll need to do this, otherwise your weapon can only be carried unloaded and for purpose, such as hunting or competition. If you carry with the base license and get nicked, you're looking at minimum sentencing of at least a year.

Get cracking. Here if you need me =)

Quote: AcesAndEights

Old state - WA
New state - MA
Massachusetts is on the authoritarian side of the coin, but based on my quick google search they do issue permits. I'll let you dig up the reciprocity if you really want to, but I would want to get a new permit here eventually anyway. My WA CPL expires in May of 2017 anyway (5 years from issue).

Offhand, that sounds like your 1st mistake, swapping residency in WA for one in MA. Don't get me wrong, MA is a great state in a lot of ways, but if you line up all the ways they compare there needs to be a sizeable financial or personal consideration. Money isn't everything, prolly 3rd or 4th on the list... But if you made all those choices correctly, correctly for YOU, I would still recommend pursuing measures to increase your, and your families, personal security. Hell, take up Ju-Jitsu or something ;-)

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Offhand, that sounds like your 1st mistake, swapping residency in WA for one in MA. Don't get me wrong, MA is a great state in a lot of ways, but if you line up all the ways they compare there needs to be a sizeable financial or personal consideration. Money isn't everything, prolly 3rd or 4th on the list... But if you made all those choices correctly, correctly for YOU, I would still recommend pursuing measures to increase your, and your families, personal security. Hell, take up Ju-Jitsu or something ;-)

I agree with you overall on the two states, but it was for personal/family reasons and it's working out fine so far.

The cost of living is slightly higher and salaries are slightly lower for some reason in the tech sector, but I kept my old job (I now work remotely) and wife starts a new job tomorrow. We were doing fine on a single income so 2 incomes will just be gravy. We don't succumb to lifestyle inflation so that extra cash will be saved and invested and will enable fewer years of working in the future.

I'd prefer a sister living in a whorehouse to a brother living in Massachusetts.

Quote: Sabretom2

I'd prefer a sister living in a whorehouse to a brother living in Massachusetts.

Massholes are their own unique breed. Haven't had any serious run-ins, yet.