Does anyone here carry a firearm everywhere they go?

[spin]

29. I obviously do not carry when I enter a restricted area...

In Florida those areas are:

any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05
any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station
any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse
any courtroom*
any polling place
any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district
any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof
any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms
any school administration building
any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption*
any elementary or secondary school facility
any area technical center
any college or university facility*
inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport*
any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/possession.html

When I visit a doctor and that visit may involve a physical exam, I do not carry a firearm into his/her office. Some of my specialists are 30 or more miles from my house so I do carry to and from their office and leave the firearm in the car while in the office. My GP is two blocks from my house, so I don't bother to carry. (I'm retired so now I don't have to worry about company policies that forbid firearms in the workplace.)

Otherwise it's very rare for me not to be carrying. I went through the expense and the time to get a concealed weapons permit in order to be able to carry a firearm; therefore it would be a waste of time and money not to leave my handgun home in the safe.

Originally when I first got my license 15 years ago, I will admit that I rarely carried. A co-worker who had a permit talked me into getting one. He knew that I have a lead foot when I drive and I always have a loaded handgun in my car which is legal in Florida without a license. Although I am a professional speeder I had to agree with him that there was always a chance that I could be pulled over. He mentioned that if a cop were to ask me if I had a firearm in my car, things would move along much more smoothly if I also had a carry permit. His argument made sense but since at the time most of my handguns were large and heavy I rarely carried concealed.

After several years, I decided to buy a much lighter and more compact handgun which would be far easier to conceal in the Florida heat and more comfortable to carry. S&W came out with a new version of their Airweight snub nosed revolver that was rated for .38+P ammo. I bought the double action only version which is designed primarily to be carried in a pocket holster as it lacks the hammer of other models that might snag while being drawn from your pocket.


S&W Model 642

One time after practicing at the range I had a conversation with the range master. When he asked me how often I carried I replied, "I carry mainly when I travel into bad areas."

He proceeded to chew my ass. He said, "The state of Florida in its wisdom has decided to grant you a permit to carry a firearm. It wasn't just because you've got money or connections like in so many other states. You and any honest person who can pass the background check, has the training and pays the fee can get a permit. That's why it is called "shall issue."

He continued, "The state wants more honest people carrying concealed firearms in public to cut down on the crime rate and it has worked in Florida. But it only works if those with the permit carry everywhere they legally can."

He finished by adding, "Now I have watched you shoot that little revolver and I'm confident that you could use it accurately if necessary. I don't want to pick up the newspaper and read that you were shot and killed and were unarmed and I don't want to have you come in here and whine to me about how you could have saved your ass or another person if only you would have had your gun with you."

That's why I carry.