Hello. New gun owner since 10/25. After my initial anxiety of carrying aiwb, I carry conceal regularly now but note that for all of my life I have never owned a firearm nor encountered a situation where I needed to use a firearm. I see that the sentiment edc owners maintain is fairly uniform and incandescent. What are your reasons for carrying daily and everywhere? Is it “rather have it and not have to use it than not have it and have to use it”? Obviously we carry for self-defense but is it really THAT dangerous on our streets enough to warrant religiously carrying? Curious. Thanks!
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I was a LEO for 5 years. I’ve seen the worst of human nature. I owe it to my family to be ready if the worst comes calling…
An EDC is like a seat belt or a parachute — you may not always need it, but if you do need it, you will need it VERY badly.
Kafka said it best: It’s Better to Have and Not Need, Than Need and Not Have…
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The same reason I have a fire extinguisher is the same reason I/we carry. There is always the chance of needing it.
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This is about 1 block from my condo, in fact, I can see Pierpont from one of my windows. I walk these streets to go to the store. I drive these streets to go to and from where I live.
Idiots with guns are Right There, In our faces, Every Day.
that’s why I carry Every Day.
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Welcome to the community!
Only you can answer that question.
My permit is expiring. I asked my wife the other day if I should renew. During the summer of love 2020, I sensed her fear when she encouraged me to carry. She’s not as worried this time. But, I won’t be complacent.
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I worked protective services for several years when I was younger and drove truck over the road for 30 plus years. That being said is why I carry every day, I’ve seen way to much bad to trust people . As said above better to have and not need then need and not have.
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@Robert1758 Welcome to the community! Be the 
Grey man, no one knows you’re carrying, don’t advertise that you carry, just live on as usual, but practice situational awareness, head on a swivel, and expect the unexpected. Learn everything you can on your States Gun Laws, practice/train in use of your firearm at your local gun range, and practice dry fire at home, get very comfortable/acquainted with your EDC.
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Start here,
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My Good Sir, Welcome to the fold. You are amongst friends here. People I believe are generally good (Stop Laughing!). I believe the country is (and has been in flux for some time). The powers that be have gifted us with a Commander-In-Chief (Wartime President) to straighten out the mess the Pudding Puppet (Sleepy Joe) and his ‘hand’ler Barry O (8) years the Traitor have tried to destroy us. As said by our fellow Gunners here Only you can decide weather it is worth the effort to be armed (out in public and in your home). It takes EFFORT owning Firearms, Responsibility and Courage (because you are in a small group who have decided to take the responsibility of Self Protection seriously, and a greater role in Protector of you’re Family and the Innocents. You will come across folk’s who ‘Don’t believe you should be armed. Who don’t believe it is necessary (to be armed). And finally those who believe YOU are THE THREAT to their safety and security. These same folk’s we call SHEEP (or Sheeple) who live with their heads …in the sand and are under the false impression that the dwindling, emasculated Police force is still there to ‘Protect and Serve’. A famous Tee shirt say’s ‘The Police are only a phone call and (45 Minutes) away’. But another say’s : ‘ .22,.380, .9mm, .556 are faster than calling 911’. Depending on where you live be that Salt Lake City, LA, NYC or Miami only you can decide the level of protection you need. I find this topic ironic on a forum that professes Self Defense, Concealed Carry and Shooters Insurance but hey we are here for all and all questions will be answered to the best of our ability. You will find my friend that 90% of the folk’s who post here are 100% of the Best America has to offer and most of us are upstanding, Patriotic, Law abiding Citizens. We have to be in order to function in a Hostile environment that we live in today on our streets and in our own .gov. Most of ‘our’ .gov is in the pockets of Traitors and elites who want us all disarmed and Helpless so they can implement a Socialist Environment where they will take care of us till the day we die (With help like them who needs enemies huh?). I speak for me Robert not for my fellow Gunners but a lot of us Live, Breath and operate our world with the Second Amendment and the Constitution fully implemented in our daily lives. WE ARE NOT THE INSURRECTIONISTS WE ARE PATRIOTS—- if you believe in that premise you will do well here. The last thing I will say if you have chosen the way of the Gun please do everything you can to EARN THAT RIGHT. It IS our RIGHT to Keep and Bear Arms it is NOT a Mother may I permit given to us by lessers for their supreme decision on weather we can keep this or not. The simple fact is they believe they have the ability to take away that right and our guns but they always forget we have more Guns than they do. And the huge majority know how and are prepared to defend that right with all we have.
TRAIN-UP (to the best of your ability), Find a ‘Mentor’ if you can (or an Instructor who can get the ball rolling on that training). You can NEVER Train too much. Practice the art of SA–Situational Awareness: (Head on a swivel, Be in the moment, Not your head in your phone or distracted, Train (if you can in other forms of self defense–There is a time to shoot and a time not to shoot), Training will tell you when it is time to use deadly/Lethal force. Believe it or not a lot of folk’s think ‘Hey, I bought a gun—I’m ready’ (then they proceed to stick that hunk of Iron and Plastic in a draw and they are trained up. It is a very good way to get dead Sir. Possibly having you’re own firearm used to hasten your trip to the hereafter (and then the final insult of Saint Peter laughing @ you for being a dumbarse). TRAINING DEVELOPS MUSCLE MEMORY–the ability to act right away, keeping that Fight or Flight down where you can operate safely and decisively to save your own Arse!. It also gives you the chance to decide clearly if you can get out of a bad situation BEFORE you’re in the sh!t!. Escaping and Evading is NOT Cowardly!, It is often prudent to AVOID armed conflict! instead of John Wayneing yourself into a jail cell!. A lot of Prosecutors are LEFTISTS/SOCIALIST who believe it is their DUTY to convict you!.
There is so much more but you started this journey and for that you get an ‘Attaboy’ and Keep going. I believe in this cause of Self Defense (it’s prolly why I am still here today). Many of us have varying degrees of experience, Some have Military, Law Enforcement, but most of us have just taken this path because it sung to us and we do NOT like the path this country has taken in the last 50 years.
Two things more: 1) If you carry a Gun get right in your head that you may need to use it to save your life of the life of another. The taking of a life is serious business and not to be taken lightly. 2) DO NOT HESITATE!, if the hairs stand up on you’re arms/neck, If the Angels/ Intuition SCREAM @ you the BEWARE! you better listen and prepare to draw your weapon. Hesitation will also get you dead. This is strictly my philosophy, the way I roll. Take that whichever way works for you. Follow the instructions on your USCCA card. Follow that to the letter Call 911 then your Lawyer AFTER a shoot! The Police will check your phone logs and ask why did you call the Lawyer and then Us? That leads me to the next line (MOO: My Opinion Only: THE POLICE ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND! They are there to trip you up, make mistakes. When you make the call tell them your location where the shoot is, the BG (Bad Guy(s) are down, and you are a Licensed/Permitted firearm owner and you acted in Self defense and was in fear for your life. When the shoot is over do NOT touch/Approach/alter/compromise the ‘Evidence’. (DON’T TOUCH THEIR GUNS or BODIES!) When you feel the situation is safe Find a wall to lean up against so BG’s can’t get behind you, and the Police are approaching holster your weapon and raise both hands, stay in contact with Dispatch, do not hang up until they get eyes on you!. The last thing you want is after surviving a shoot is to die by ‘Friendly Fire’. IT HAS HAPPENED!. (and it will happen again) so Be Alert, Be Vigilant and follow the steps. Have a Lawyer or two on speed dial, If you can contact them in advance and say ‘I chose’ you’ and tell them a little about yourself so they know who you are when they get the call (and Pray they show up). DON’T TALK TO THE COPS!. Say ‘I will cooperate fully! As soon as my Lawyer shows up. You are now operating on Adrenaline and extreme stress, ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU! and believe me it will. Tell dispatch you request a Bus (ambulance) for yourself because you need to be checked out. Going to the hospital gives you some time to get right with what happened, Tell the Lawyer to possibly meet you there. The Medicals will hopefully run blocker while checking you out. Once again this is just me suggesting all this. It might be in every Gunners head also but I’m not putting words in their mouths.
Finally (wphew) don’t add insult to injury (and bury yourself in the process) by giving the Bad Guy the coup de Gras. When you shoot you shoot till the threat is down! Period. Good Samaritan’s thinking they are being ‘helpful’ will say ‘yeah, I heard three shots and then two more…’ Why the extra rounds son?’.. you don’t need that. If they are still twitching but can’t raise their gun the fight is over, let them bleed out.
I know this is a lot. But you started the process keep going.
How seriously you take your Training is how much longer you live and survive a shoot. Most of us never are involved in a shoot but we are here so we don’t take that chance. Some of us have been in multiple shoots and that experience needs to be passed on to the rest of us.
Good Luck on your Journey Robert
Stay Frosty
WWG1WGA
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I carry every time I leave my property.
Why?
The world is a cruel place. I refuse to go down without a fight.
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First statement: fact. Second: good enough reason.
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Yes, any time I leave my house I have a pistol on my waistband.
99% of the time I go into “weapons free” zones I keep my folding knife in my pocket! It’s a tool first, a weapon second, and if they don’t have a metal detector they won’t know it’s there.
Why carry everywhere? Because when seconds count, the police are minutes away, and you will have to be your own first responder.
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Well, it’s been “keys, wallet, cellphone, pistol” for years now. I only go into town for groceries, and no worries as armed society is polite society, and most are armed around here. I’m in the woods and fields mainly, and our gubmint decreed we can handgun hunt without a permit now, so no sense missing out on an opportunity lol. Realistically though, used to carrying though I’ve gone owb lately (generally under a shirt/sweatshirt) due to sciatic, and with the meth/fent/marxist crap, you never know.
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Welcome Robert1758.
I think I respect those who choose not to carry. It’s a very personal decision of course. It’s not easy to be responsible, it takes education and training.
I come from a big family; had three relatives killed by physical violence, none carried a lethal self-defense weapon.
I used to be a fast runner and have had to retreat a few times.
Before I obtained my legal carry license, I did have to use another lethal tool in defense when I was cornered, no one got hurt.
I also think about protecting my immediate family.
Not directing this to you but more so in general;
Do I think the person who uses this is paranoid?:
A life preserver/vest when boating
Locks their doors
Smoke alarm
CO2 detector
First aid kit
Health insurance
Prophylactics
Car alarm
Car insurance
Car emergency “kit”
Maps
Compass
Umbrella
Radio
Cel phone or GPS when hiking or long distance traveling
I consider it a tool and shield, not a weapon.
JIMHO.
Off topic, but if at national levels, crime is down (as posed in this vid), to what do we attribute that? Do we think more concealed carriers lowers attempted crimes?
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Because the bad guys choose the time and place, they want to encounter you, and you have no choice on the matter. You may not even know why but then again you might know.
One day a guy walks through our front door, uninvited. He asks if we have any money and has a knife in his hand. Before anything else the wife stands up and yells, get the F out of my house! He left. As the LEO’s were called he proceeded to go to another house when they showed up. He took off running then went to attempt a carjacking and was shot by LEO’s.
It turned out alright for us but that was this time. I can protect myself in many ways but having an EDC gives me the final solution to a troublesome situation.
I have carried off and on since 1984 but through time I have felt the need to be able to protect myself if the need ever comes up.
If you really want to know why to carry just ask anyone that is in prison for violent crimes, they will tell you that they will not hesitate to slit your throat for your $6.00 in your wallet and your car keys. They just do not care.
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My Macarena dance includes five moves
Keys, knife, wallet, cellphone, pistol
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Keys
Wallet
Glasses
Kimberly
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I leave my keys in my lunch box, but everything else is on my dresser….
Wallet, knife, flashlight, gun, phone, headset.
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Then just 30 miles up I-15…
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We carry so no one has to carry us !!! lol 
Dead weight. !!! Welcome to da Family here’s ya a Root Beer 
Sir Stay Sharp Love Bobby Jean and Debbie ann twofeathers Sir Happy new year Sir
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