When you forget your conceal piece...

[wulfman92]

Ever been on a schedule and realized you forgot your piece at home? What a feeling of helplessness! I traveling in my home town and still had a piece in the car, but it stayed in the car when I went into places. So I still felt helpless part of the time. Very comparable to Samson with a fresh buzz cut, I’d suppose. You watch the crowd very differently when you know you’re equals or perhaps even worse, lesser. I’m reunited now and doing good. Perhaps before the never haves jump in, I forgot my cell phone at home a few days ago too. It is, perhaps considered by some, pretty darn important in a safety aspect as well. So I guess I’m losing it or living on the edge. Anyways, been carrying since my 18th birthday, so I’m so used to the feeling that sometimes you forget in the subconscious to differentiate carrying and not carrying. Maybe?

[Beagle333]

Yes. Only a week or so ago, I thought mine was in my gym bag and when we got to town and I went to pocket it, I realized I had taken it out of the bag (which was so odd that I forgot it) and put it elsewhere in the house. I actually had to go into a movie theater and watch a movie with the Missus without having a piece on me. It just didn't feel right. I had my truck gun with me for the ride, so I hadn't looked for my other gun earlier, but I can't carry my big ol' 6" Iver Johnson Buckhorn .44 mag in my pocket like I can my .44sp Bulldog Pug.

[dk17hmr]

I can’t carry at work so I don’t have a habit of putting on a gun in the morning...there’s usually something in the truck though. If I for some reason don’t have my pocket knife I feel more naked than if I don’t have a gun.

[Tom W.]

I have to be careful because I can't carry on Ft. Benning without the very real chance of getting locked up. If we need to go to the school on post I just carry a rather large Kershaw pocket knife, which is always in my pocket.
I don't like going across the river unarmed. Columbus has a lot of crime, although it's mostly in the seedy parts of town. We tend to not go to that section of the city.

[lightman]

Yeah, when you grow accustomed to being armed you feel undressed when without. On the rare occasions that I'm unarmed I slip a pair of Linemans pliers in my pocket when doing things like getting gas. My tool bag is always in the back seat of my truck. I also have a walking stick in the back of the truck that does double duty as a head knocker. But nothing beats the feeling of having a trusted pistol close to hand.

[bedbugbilly]

OK . . . someone here has to "rock the boat" . . . :-)

Seems to me that the first thing that was always hammered in when being trained was that it was my job to know where my weapon was at all times . . . . . just sayin'. Hopefully when you forget to put it on, it is in a safe location where no one else has access to it . . kids, etc.

That said . . . it's easy enough to leave home without it when you've got a lot on your mind or in a hurry.

[GhostHawk]

A I really do not like the thought that I have to be armed to feel safe in Fargo North Dakota.

B I do carry a 3.5" assisted opening knife daily.

C There is a small .22lr 10 shot semi auto pistol in a zippered bag in each cars driver door pocket.
Pistols are unloaded, but magazines are loaded. I figure 30 seconds to slide home a mag, pull the slide and be ready.

D The rest is on me and my situational awareness. In the last 2 years I have yet to reach for the pistol.


E I do understand, about once a month I manage to walk out of the bedroom without the knife.
Nothing feels right until I go get it.

Am I lucky that I live in an area without a lot of crime and violence, yeah, probably so.

[Mytmousemalibu]

It doesn't happen often, pretty infrequently actually but yes, I hate the feeling of being unarmed. If im out in public you can bet that 99% of the time, I have a couple options on me. My S&W 442, my assisted Kershaw and a couple speedloaders. I even keep several firearms on the ready in my house in strategic places. I feel pretty comfortable with that in mind.

[RED BEAR]

I must say I have never forgot it (knock on wood ). I usually have my main 41 mag and some backup. To gosthawk i wish I did feel safe around here but it ain't n dakota. Have had robberies and ubductions only a couple blocks from my house. Gunfire at night is not uncommon anymore. This was a great neighborhood 25 years ago when we moved in. You can't leave a gun in your car or you wount have it long. On the bright side if i ever were to forget mine the wife is well armed and shoots at least as well if not better than me. I will blame that on bad eyesight i know it is not the best excuse but it's all I got.

[Mal Paso]

Yeah, when you grow accustomed to being armed you feel undressed when without. On the rare occasions that I'm unarmed I slip a pair of Linemans pliers in my pocket when doing things like getting gas. My tool bag is always in the back seat of my truck. I also have a walking stick in the back of the truck that does double duty as a head knocker. But nothing beats the feeling of having a trusted pistol close to hand.

Speaking of electrical solutions I have a 16" 4/0 copper cable laying across the console of my truck.

I was cutting wire for a 600 Amp electrical service and a 36" loop of 500 MCM copper cable fell over and barely tapped me on the kneecap. Took 20 minutes to get back on my feet.

[lightman]

OK . . . someone here has to "rock the boat" . . . :-)

Seems to me that the first thing that was always hammered in when being trained was that it was my job to know where my weapon was at all times . . . . . just sayin'. Hopefully when you forget to put it on, it is in a safe location where no one else has access to it . . kids, etc.

That said . . . it's easy enough to leave home without it when you've got a lot on your mind or in a hurry.

Got to agree with this, but sometimes its not about forgetting. Things like traveling across multiple states that don't recognize your states CCW or going to multiple places where its not allowed. I do agree that part of the responsibility of carrying is knowing where your piece is.

[lightman]

Speaking of electrical solutions I have a 16" 4/0 copper cable laying across the console of my truck.

I was cutting wire for a 600 Amp electrical service and a 36" loop of 500 MCM copper cable fell over and barely tapped me on the kneecap. Took 20 minutes to get back on my feet.

I used to carry a 12-14 inch piece of 500 MCM copper on the floor of my truck! I expect 4/0 would work just as well. My walking stick is a grubbing hoe handle and rides on the lip of my toolbox, right over the fuel tank door.

[therealhitman]

... about once a month I manage to walk out of the bedroom without the knife.
Nothing feels right until I go get it.


I too automatically feel helpless without my knife. It's really about the lack of tools. Guys that are not "handy" don't even consider the possibility, upon an equipment failure or situational challenge, that they should attempt a troubleshoot or repair. That ain't me. Seeing the solution but having no tool to get it done is the worst.
A few years ago I discovered this Kershaw with a built in fold out screwdriver.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IVPKOU/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A221TL1U44XUWK
Four bits can be stored in the handle and it has seen more use than any multitool I have ever owned (though I still always have one in my EDC gear). I have so many folders in my knife box, used to grab a different one depending on my mood...but unless I am hunting or standing next to a tool box this guy is pretty much the only knife I carry anymore.
No gun feels weird but no knife feels downright useless.

[Tom W.]

I did manage to obtain a swing blade handle when I worked at the sawmill many years ago. The man that was using it shattered the blade and brought it up to me to see if i could weld it with the MIG welder. Well, of course not.I took the metal off of it and replaced the bolts just in case i might get another blade assembly for it. It has ridden in my cars and pickups for years now. I suppose if I ever hit anyone with it I'll be arrested because the bolts are still in it.....But they aren't coming out.

[bdicki]

When you forget your conceal piece...
When I read this I thought of the people that have left it in the rest room.

[Boaz]

I forget it as much as I forget my wallet...Not very often . I lays by my wallet on my chest of drawers with my keys so gets loaded daily . Worst mistake I ever made was leaving my Ruger LCP in my pants pocket and washing it in the washing machine .

[wulfman92]

I forget it as much as I forget my wallet...Not very often .

Yeah I don't very often either. However, I have pulled up to the pump without my wallet before. I'd say maybe a once a year or two average. Anyways, it happens. I knew where it was at, but just didn't have it with me!

[Edward]

I suppose I could forget,being forgetful however its never happened yet and going on 69 yrs old ,the only time I get separated from it is at the post office and then the wife babysits what I carry that day . Do not go anywhere my gun is not welcome and sleeping I have it within reach same in the shower and comes right down to it as it is a very important part of me I tend to keep it close 24/7 ,if I started getting in the habit of leaving it anywhere I know I would get to wondering where it was and I would not rest till it was close again (like the wife) Ed

[Boolit_Head]

After carrying off duty for a few decades I've developed a bit of a different attitude. Your concealed piece is nothing more than a tool, without it you are more limited than with. What is more important it to carry a brain and be aware of the situation around you, situational awareness is more vital than the carry piece. Often I see folks armed but completely lacking in situational awareness. Even unarmed if you are surprised something happened you must not have been aware of your surroundings. They used to teach this in courses like street survival and tactical awareness, it a mindset shift.

[marlin39a]

I keep a hi cap pistol in the truck at all times, so no problem. I never forget to conceal when going to Phoenix.

[rockrat]

What is bad is when you think your CCW expires next month , to find out it expired last month and you CAN'T carry!!!!

Problem solved though

[Remmy4477]

Mines part of the morning ritual of getting up.

Cannot carry at work, but have on numerous occasions turned around at the front door to put my pistol in my truck, totally forgetting I have in on. I get too use to carrying it at times, if there is such a thing?

I carry a very large old Buck fold over while working, route driver. Lots of shady areas on my route. At times kind of scary.
Kind of thinking on something a little smaller pistol wise and keep it with me full time.
I figure my lifes a bit more important than the job if trouble comes.

[Hossfly]

On security team at local church building, where the saints meet. Just hard to wrap my mind around why this has to be. Carry while at church, these times a changing, can’t let your guard down at any time. Have installed cameras all around building just to watch for who is up to what. It’s a pain but has to be done. Law was changed to not have to get extra training to carry at church, but we still train on our own. Can’t forget to carry even on Sunday.

[Duckiller]

I live in a small city in Los Angeles County. My Sheriff and Chief of Police are NOT going to issue me a concealed carry permit, PERIOD. Gangs have shot people about 1-2 miles away from me but I feel safe. There are places in the County that I will not go on small side streets. Probably places I shouldn't go on major streets. Freeways are reasonably safe. Do you people live in areas where you feel you have to carry to be reasonably safe? Not picking on anyone just trying to understand where and how others live. In all honesty if as planned i mmove in the next year or so it will be to a location that will issue me a CCW. Just not sure how often I will feel compelled to carry.

[Mr_Sheesh]

I'm 6'5" tall and built like a Wookiee; Place I live is a GOOD neighborhood, we get only VERY rare crime issues, mostly kids after stuff to steal for drugs I'd suspect. Carry sometimes, sometimes not; Knee's shot so I carry a solid enough cane at other times, around here. There are places I won't go without carrying AND a second person who is also armed (Bremerton down by the ferry docks, for example - Lots of guys that way looking for drunk sailors to roll.) And in the woods, you want to be armed for partly the same and partly different reasons. Your body language will almost always tell someone who's considering picking on you whether that's wise, or stupid - So if you carry yourself like you're carrying, and try to stay out of trouble, it'll probably get you through any areas where you can't carry; And if your brain tells you "Carry when going there", best you pay attention. Not had to draw, know people (mostly women) who HAVE had to draw though; And one guy I know was a bail bondsman's money courier, years ago, you did NOT visit him at random times, just when invited - and you made SURE it was on the right day. He planned to play ROUGH as sometimes he'd have $$$$ in the safe at home for when some major felon's friends / family got enough together for bail - They knew who he was, so he was (rightly!) paranoid! It's surprising what sort of weapons a guy who's thought on it, can conceal in small spaces next to the front door etc. - Till I met him I wasn't aware that a rather large capacity semi-auto pistol (32 rounds of 45ACP, you can guess from there) would fit in a softball glove... In some ways a good tool to answer the door with if someone's trying to knock it down at 3AM... Not a job I'd want, but I do engineering :) He liked it tho.

[wulfman92]

I live in a small city in Los Angeles County. My Sheriff and Chief of Police are NOT going to issue me a concealed carry permit, PERIOD. Gangs have shot people about 1-2 miles away from me but I feel safe. There are places in the County that I will not go on small side streets. Probably places I shouldn't go on major streets. Freeways are reasonably safe. Do you people live in areas where you feel you have to carry to be reasonably safe? Not picking on anyone just trying to understand where and how others live. In all honesty if as planned i mmove in the next year or so it will be to a location that will issue me a CCW. Just not sure how often I will feel compelled to carry.

I live in a state where a concealed permit isn't required to carry. However, it is also an industrial place, so the different workers are always coming and going. I wouldn't call it unsafe, but all walks of life come around and I'm not naive. With sex trafficking being a real problem, I don't understand why every single woman in the USA doesn't carry an equalizer. To be honest, the only thing to make me clear leather is dogs, on two occasions. Even they got the point and ran off without shots fired!

[jimlj]

I have to echo what GhostHawk said. I live in an area I don't feel the need to be armed at all times. I carry from time to time because I can, not necessarily because I feel the need. If I felt I needed to have a gun within reach while I was in the shower I'd move. Having said that I live in a state where you don't need a permit to carry as a law abiding citizen. It seems most people are polite when anyone they come across could have a concealed gun.

[El Bibliotecario]

I have to be careful because I can't carry on Ft. Benning without the very real chance of getting locked up. If we need to go to the school on post I just carry a rather large Kershaw pocket knife, which is always in my pocket.


To elaborate on what I am sure the Ft Benning visitor already knows...

When entering a military post, one's vehicle is subject to search. Depending on the whim of the provost marshal or post commander, vehicles can be searched for no reason other than a predetermined pattern, such as, every seventh vehicle. In the absence of probable cause, one's person would normally be exempt from search. Thus if one chooses to take a weapon onto a military post, it is wise to carry it on ones person rather than stash it in the vehicle.

I am neither suggesting that anyone do any of these things nor acknowledging that I have done them, but offer these comments for information. It is common to see signs at the entrance to military posts threatening Draconian retaliation against those bringing unauthorized weapons onto post.

[JoeJames]

I understand. I always keep a Smith 66 in my desk drawer. One day I was fixing to show it to someone; I reached into the drawer and it was gone. My wife had moved it. I was happy I discovered that little detail when it did not particularly matter.

[Edward]

After carrying off duty for a few decades I've developed a bit of a different attitude. Your concealed piece is nothing more than a tool, without it you are more limited than with. What is more important it to carry a brain and be aware of the situation around you, situational awareness is more vital than the carry piece. Often I see folks armed but completely lacking in situational awareness. Even unarmed if you are surprised something happened you must not have been aware of your surroundings. They used to teach this in courses like street survival and tactical awareness, it a mindset shift.

That's good advice for someone lacking situational awareness ,it just does not apply to me . And to me like family more than a tool ,my gun is an equalizer and a balance of fairness in an increasingly dangerous environment . Lastly I carry (guns ) cause a hammer is still a one shot/ close range tool not at all like my guns which provide comfort/protection and a real sense of well being ,cause assuming the world is safe can be dangerous to your health /respectfully Ed

[If1Hitu]

I don't ever remember forgetting my revolver or pistol.I have left home to go to the bank and didn't carry one with me and wished I had after making withdraw of a nice sum of money and was on foot/walking:Fire:.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Has anyone else here noticed that they can TELL when someone's carrying or not, just from their body language / "energy" ("Chi" as the martial arts etc. folks call it)?

[MrWolf]

Was just told about a guy I knew in High School. Evidently retired to South Carolina and was in his car when he witnessed a robbery. Thieves carjacked him and shot him dead. When my brother called to tell me I asked why wasn't he carrying? Who knows but you just don't know when the suppossedly safe trip turns sideways. I also have issues carrying in summer as I am not comfortable with IWB while driving. My carry is the S&W MP 45c with no safety. I don't like the idea of transferring from hip to car and back again. Normal concealed is with an Overland concealed carry vest which I love and wear ten months out of the year.

[RED BEAR]

To all those with handles, metal pipes and the like. I am reminded of the saying never bring a knife to a gun fight.

[Big Tom]

Unless I have to wear a suit or dress up to visit a customer, I carry. I did not for a while and just wanted to drop of a defective cable box at the local Time Warner store in the mall when a drugged up "lady" tried to run me over (still cannot imagine why). She even backed up twice and tried again - I had nowhere to go besides some cars and if that "lady" hit one of those, I would have been badly hurt. But looked like she was filled up with pretty good stuff and driving wasn't her thing anymore that day.

Well, that was the last time I assumed it will be safe where I go - and no, it was not even a bad part of town. So, if I realize that I forgot my firearm, I will drive back and get it.

Here in Ohio, it is a "shall issue" and never had a problem with cops during a traffic stop either. Most businesses aren't posted and if they are, I try to avoid them (or leave the firearm locked up in the car if the wife "has to" go to that place...).