Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about how much ammo you should carry on you when carrying a concealed handgun. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to break down some of the most common misconceptions about why people can't carry a concealed handgun. Some people get their concealed carry permits and then only carry 15-20% of the time when they could easily carry every day with a consistent plan. I wanted to break down the most common phrases I’ve heard people say over and over again throughout my time talking with people about carrying a gun. Let's take a closer look at some of the most common excuses not to carry.
“I Can't Carry That Many Places”
There are plenty of people out there who don't think they can carry anywhere if they can't carry at work. A girl I dated had her carry permit, but didn't carry because she couldn't carry at work, so she didn't take her gun anywhere else. Once you leave work, there are hours left where you are legally, and I would argue, obligated to carry. I’ve had jobs in the past where I couldn't carry my concealed handgun while working. In most cases, I would park on the street or go straight home after work to grab my carry gun, then run my errands.
I carried roughly 80% of my day, even when I was working at a place with no carry policies, because I would carry outside of work during my errands and every day activities. The truth of the matter is that you can usually carry in most of the places you go in public and the idea that you can't carry in many places is simply not true. Just because you can't carry at one place doesn't mean you can't carry at the vast majority of places you go in your daily life before or after work. You just have to find the right balance when it comes to carrying.
“It’s Just To The Store I Don't Need a Gun”
When people say I'm only going to the store or I'm only going out quickly, they begin to justify why they don't need to carry because it's a quick trip. The most important thing when trying to adjust to a new carry gun or even when you decide you want to start carrying, is the idea of consistency; being able to consistently put your carry gun on your person and have it be a part of the items you carry on a daily basis. I always make the argument that you wouldn't leave your wallet at home because you don't plan on purchasing anything. Almost everyone would take their wallet just in case they needed something, which is no different for your carry handgun.
The golden rule of having it and not needing it rather than needing it and not having it applies completely to this concept. There are certain items we just instinctively take with us every time we leave because we need them. Personally, I will take keys, my wallet, AirPods, my pocket knife and a handgun of some type. Those are the standard default items that I take every time, no matter what. Once you develop a consistent routine where you take the same items out of the house every single time, it just becomes normal. They say habits take roughly 21 times before they become a habit, so being consistent in carrying a concealed handgun will definitely take time. Just remember to be consistent and throw your carry gun even if you're just running to the store quickly.
“It’s Real Heavy, So I Left It This Time”
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is picking up a full-size handgun, which can be tricky to comfortably carry with a regular belt. Having the right carry gun for you is absolutely part of the equation to comfortably carry a gun every single day. I always tell people to start out with something like a Glock 43X or Glock 48, along with other options like the SIG P365 or Springfield Hellcat. Having a lighter-weight carry gun will allow you to throw your carry gun on and go on with your day without feeling fatigued or uncomfortable, like heavier full-size handguns can sometimes do. Having the right size handgun will be 90% of the reason you are either comfortable all day carrying or end up leaving the gun at home.
Overall Thoughts
There are plenty of other comments that are really popular in the gun world, but these seem to be by far the most common phrases I hear when people are explaining why they aren't carrying their handgun. What are some other common excuses you guys have heard people say why they aren't carrying their guns? Let me know in the comments section below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.
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