Does anyone have one of these. We are seeing an increase in our state for these permits as well as an increase in gun sales. I'm sure it has a lot to do with all of the recent attacks where multiple killings have been committed as well as the increase in crime and random shootings in most parts of the country. People are afraid and frankly fed up with these increased multiple shootings where they are defenseless. My son in law is a police officer and does not approve of citizens carrying concealed weapons. He feels even with proper training there are too many risks involved with carrying a weapon including accidentally harming an innocent victim. What are your thoughts.

 

I feel as there is no need to carry a concealed weapon. My life has very little risks and I feel as though I might make a mistake if persuaded to use the weapon. I do though have a weapon for home defense.

gary

 

One of my best friends is a retired State Police Lt. who has been in gun battles and has a permit but he does not carry. It's a personal choice. Since I live in an area where we leave the garage doors open I've never felt the need to be "packing" when I go out. I have not shot a gun since being in the military and hope I never will have to again. Fear spreads fear, and the media can't seem to get enough of it these days.

 

My sentiments exactly. I've always thought it interesting that in my immediate family there were 6 males who served in the military. Three of us saw combat, my dad [WW II], older brother [Korea] and myself [Vietnam]. The 3 of us who saw combat never owned a gun after our military service. My 3 brothers who were in the military, but did not see combat all owned guns after their military service. Just my observation within my family.

 

Both my wife and I have had concealed carry permits for several years. We're both proficient. There are times when we carry and times when we don;'t. It's become a second nature to both o us, we don't notice it's there.

fltsfshr

 

Both my wife & I carry...not all the time, but most ... The State Patrol, Cincinnati Police Dept, Sherriff's departments, ALL encourage carrying in this state ...!!! We have attended numerous profiency classes, and both belong to several ranges..fact is, a very good friend & I spent more than 10 hours on the range today...
Probably shot up more than a hundred bucks worth of various ammunition today..I gave most of my Arsenal, a very good workout today...

 

I also have a handgun in my home, locked with ammo in in a separate area. I pray I never need to use it but these days I feel safer knowing it is accessible. I was in the military and I hunted and am proficient with a pistol, rifle or shotgun. I have mixed feelings on carrying a concealed weapon.

 

Grant, we are coming to Naples again this year around End of Feb to mid April. This would be a good discussion over coffee at Bas Ass coffee. I'm buying.

 

Self defense is usually required without notice. Locked up gun is a useless gun. Ammo in a different room? Even more useless. I normally have a holstered loaded pistol on my body. You can't carry concealed (or even carry) in most places without a permit. But carrying remains your choice. Self defense shooting is more about gun handling than marksmanship.

Your (or anyone's) military experience and "proficiency" is almost universally inadequate for serious self defense. Not to worry, a good 3-day professional basic course will bring you up to date. I smugly took one after my retirement from the Army and was shocked by what I didn't know. I take one every couple of years now.

So-called practice without professional training merely reinforces bad, inefficient, or made-up habits. Watching Youtube videos and mimicking the truly gifted shooters in the world rarely works either as you don't have the time to practice. Some of the worst gun handlers in our courses are policemen. They leave, like I did, with much improved skills. Not sure about Delaware but Ohio requires "training" to get a CHL (concealed handgun license). 8 hours of training. A ticket punch as there's no proficiency gained in the training.

For the very same reasons I intend to take a professional high performance driving course at Mid-Ohio next spring. Sure I know how to drive, just like I knew how to shoot. But, like most of us I'm self-taught. Heck, I'm not sure I have the seat in the most efficient position!

-- Chuck

 

Chuck S,

As a non-gun owner myself, I find your comments/recommendations about professional training to be extremely relevant and important for those who make the choice to carry. The driving analogy also drives [pun intended] home your salient points very well. Further concur regarding basic military weapons training. Obviously, there are exceptions within the military, e.g., Special Forces, Navy Seals, etc.

Not to put too fine a point on my military comments...which were only intended to express non-combat vs combat experiences within my family and the subsequent gun ownership choices each of us made. Said comments were not about the causal relationship between the military and the ability to handle a weapon.