Thinking of carrying concealed? Read this-

[RoeBear]

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34838&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

"As someone pretty new to the world of CCW, I look to places like THR for CCW insights and ideas from the many "pros" who are nice enough to share their vast knowledge.

I think that with more and more states offering CCW permits, this information would be very useful and greatly appreciated by the many Americans who may be carrying a CCW for the first time.

With that said, what tip or tips would you offer someone who is new to CCW (other than, of course, having the proper training to use and carry a firearm)?"

[Trajan]

1. AH .... thehighroad.org ...

Some thr posters grab DU ID's, and post anathematic pro-gun commentaries here on liberal DU ... Some actually do so knowing they arent actually liberal, progressive, or even democrats ...

Cant imagine such a thing happening ....

[OpSomBlood]

2. Yeah, any "pro-gun Democrat" must obviously be a right-winger in disguise.

Or, maybe some of us think we should be allowed to own guns.

[Bowline]

12. We KNOW we are allowed to own guns...

...now we just need to get our government to understand this.

[T Town Jake]

13. Haven't you heard....?

...all us pro-gun Democrats are just figments of our own imagination...we're ghosts typing at keyboards while the owners aren't home, just like Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in the movie Beetlejuice! And right-wing ghosts pretending to be Democratic ghosts, at that!
/Sarcasm

[slackmaster]

6. Ah, the open mind of the "progressive, liberal" Democrat

It must be nice to be able to relieve yourself of the burden of considering someone else's ideas because of the hostname of the forum on which those ideas are presented.

So much easier than reading, analyzing, thinking, and discussing rationally.

[Trajan]

8. Puffery ...

designed to obfuscate the reality...

I have read the posts at thr that spell out EXACTLY what I said ...

It isnt hard to spot here : a laser-focus on pro gun positions without any corresponding positions that reveal a liberal, progressive OR Democratic party worldview ...

Other than YOU, Slack: MOST pro-gun J/PS posters never leave there ... and they never expound a liberal position on anything ...

I know for a fact that what I asserted is true ... and you know it too ...

It insults our intelligence to deny this ...

THR has been vehicle for right wingers to infiltrate DU and spread their pro-gun messageL I have read for myself the posts in THR that acknowledge this ... this doesnt mean that ALL pro-gun posters are RW ... but without a record of taking ANY sort of liberal position whatsoever: we have a RIGHT to question the liberal 'credentials' of those who post patented RW talking points ...

Yea; some progunners ARE 'liberal', yet I think it is fair to believe they only exist in the same percentages as seen nationwide ...

Even less so here: since THR actively promotes DU infiltration ...

[Sindawe]

9. It does?

I've not seen it. Can you provide citations/urls of the posts that advocate DU.com infilration on THR.com? I've found the most of THR.com is about guns, not politcal activism. (Sad, cause I like both)

And just to be fair, I've not seen posts here at DU.com (though I've only been here a short time) that advocate THR.com infiltraion on DU.com

[slackmaster]

10. I don't know about active promotion, but some THRers have openly bragged

about their infiltrations of DU forums.

At least Trajan acknowledges that not all pro-RKBA people are necessarily right-wing. Perhaps some progress is being made here after all.

As for me, for the record, I have never posted anything on THR forums. The few threads I've read there were in response to comments on DU or elsewhere.

[FeebMaster]

11. I've read a few threads there

on the advice of MrBenchley. One was a mandatory national service/draft thread. It was pretty much like reading a mandatory national service/draft thread on DU. Lots of support for mandatory national service with a non-military option, of course. A few people opposed to it on principle. It was pretty much like reading a mandatory national service/draft thread on DU, only with a different message board format and more "it will make a man out of you" posts.

[JayS]

14. Let's just say that we pro-Second Amendment types...

...put the Progress in Progressive. :)

[Sindawe]

3. I don't have a CCW license, and I'm not a lawyer.

But just off the top of my head, I think one of the most important things you MUST have when you do carry (either CCW or open carry) is a cool head. You sorta need to have a Vulcan-like detachment from personal insults and silly macho games that both genders play sometimes. Don't get pushed into using, brandishing or even commenting on your CCW. It is supposed to be concealed after all, right?

The other things you should have are a good grasp of the laws pertaining to self defense and use of force for your state. Some states have a "Duty to retreat", even in one's own home IIRC. Some, like Colorado, do not. Its YOUR repsonsabilty to know the laws. A good idea is to also have the name of a good CCW knowledgable legal counsel WITH you should you have to use deadly force to protect your life and the lives of others. Better if you have the counsel on retainer IMAO.

Third, have a backup gun. Not one you carry, but another example in the same model/caliber of your carry weapon, or a close copy. If you are involved in a shooting (good or bad), it is very likely the weapon will be seized/conficated by the police as evidence in the crime (either the attack the promted the shooting for a good shoot, or your unwarrented use of deadly force in a bad shooting). You may have your CCW suspended in either case until things are all worked out to the satifaction of the authrorities, but that does not mean you should be rendered unable to defend yourself, 'specially in your home.

[slackmaster]

5. Good comments, maybe you SHOULD be a lawyer

I have a minor bone to pick with your suggestion about having a backup weapon of the same type that you normally carry:

Check state laws to ensure that you can actually carry such a backup legally.

In California (where we have no duty to retreat BTW) a concealed-weapons permit allows you to designate no more than three specific guns for lawful carry. Your permit bears the make, model, and serial number of your one, two, or three designated guns. Even if your permit is not suspended, if you are caught carrying a gun not so listed, even of the same model, is a crime and your permit may not provide a definitive defense if you get into a brandishing or shooting situation.

OTOH it is as you say a good idea to have a similar backup gun for home defense use, because of familiarity with the weapon.

[Sindawe]

7. Sorry for the confusion, still early/drinking java.

I was not suggesting that one carry w/o current CCW if state laws do not permit such. Only two states that I know of do not require a CCW license to carry conceiled, Vermont and Alaska. I was thinking in lines of home defense.

[OpSomBlood]

4. My advice:

- Get a holster that is comfortable when you are standing or sitting. There is an excellent chance that the first one you try won't be the keeper.
- Know your state's CCW laws, and where it is illegal to carry. Some of these places might surprise you.
- Know everything there is to know about your gun.
- If you carry inside-the-waistband, you may want to invest in a few pairs of pants with a larger waist size than you're accustomed to.
- Never carry into a bar or when you're drinking (even just one drink).
- Always ensure that your gun is completely concealed from plain view. It's easy for a pant leg or shirt tail to ride up and expose what's underneath, and you won't know unless you check.

[TexasMexican]

15. www.packing.org

is your friend aswell.