I was at a party a few years ago, and a friend who had been drinking A LOT staggered over to me and handed me his holstered pistol. “I’m drunk, stick this in your waistband” was all that was said. So, I placed the IWB inside my waistband, and it felt… right.
Who, or what event, introduced you to concealed carry?
What introduced me was the fact that the state I am living in was making it legal to carry concealed. Now it has been legal for a few years, and I just recently “Finally” got off my butt and got my CCW! I have to say @ Micheal you said it best sir. It feels right carrying it in public now, and knowing that I can protect my loved ones and myself with an extra tool. I do not leave my home without my EDC! It just does not feel right not carrying my EDC even to work.
Soon after it became legal to CC in the state of Wisconsin I applied, received and started to carry. Laws are the only reason I was not doing it sooner.
I was always into guns since as long as I can remember. I was involved with the open carry.org before concealed carry was legal here in Wisconsin. Once I went concealed, I never went back to open carry.
I did and still do occasionally open carry in Wisconsin. In fact every time I mow my grass I open carry. Things have stopped finding legs from my yard since I started this practice.
I’ve always carried where I legally could. As soon as Texas went to CC I got my license. I think that was 94.
Prior to that handgun carry in public wasn’t legal at all but it was tolerated as long as you were a generally law abiding person and got along with the local LEO’s, particularly if you owned your own business etc.
About three years ago, my daughter wanted to take the CC class and asked if I would consider going with her. I did and it was great to sit in class with her. Neither of us knew anything about guns except how to spell the word GUN. Now, I’m hooked and have become a handgun enthusiast.
@Patrick3 very cool that your daughter is the one who introduced her father to firearms … that’s not a story I hear very often 
I’ve owned a handgun since before I met my husband 20 years ago but never considered carrying until I met him. He always carried at home, but outside home… well… it wouldn’t have been legal, just for the record. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him without a knife except when we fly and that makes him very uncomfortable.
Missouri being constitutional carry, he always does. I started after we moved to MO.
When I was about 7, I remember my dad showing me his belt knife… the kind where the buckle end of the belt is actually a sheath and the buckle pulls out to reveal a 2 1/2" double edged blade… he showed me how to hold it in my fist with the blade out between the ring and middle finger. Pretty sure that wasn’t legal where we lived.
I think he would have liked to teach me self defense and how to shoot, but my mom was pretty hysterical about it.
My son. He’s a cop.
I walked up on a fellow robbing my truck.he shot at me and missed.that will never happen again.
Pretty eye opening I’ll bet.
Damn… that would have gotten my attention too. Welcome to the community - you’re going to be happy that you’re here!
[For the record, I was not raised around firearms.]
The reason starts with why I have guns.
In Peru while serving a religious mission, I and a few other missionaries were robbed at gunpoint by five men. I had been released from the mission and was heading home, so the men focused on me, because, well, I had travel money, passport, etc. When I finally got my bearings, they had lined up and just looked at us on our knees, our hands up. We were in a home of a member of our faith. I yelled at the five to leave: “Ustedes han hizo su maldad. Vayan!” They wouldn’t look at me. Was I brave? I believe I know what you’re thinking.
I was sighted and shot at while hunting. (BTW, they were “warning shots.”) I was sighted in at an open range.
I got my first CCL in Boise, ID. The cops – mind, I love cops, just some are… – there were a little over the top. It was said that even if you have a firearm in the car seat next to you in plain sight, they would that it was concealed, because they could see the other side. They did NOT like the CCL laws. I liked shooting at the range, and I didn’t want to deal with such nonsense. No, I didn’t carry a piece on me; it was merely for potential pullovers.
In Utah, I my CCL in 2014, I felt that I needed to expand the skills I was learning. It took a lot of soul -searching. Years. Wholly unsupportive family (father and sibs). I felt that I needed to be the protector for my family. I have an amazing wife and likewise impressive children. I began carrying. Without telling Susan. Stupid. So, we had a “chat.” She supported me. Months later, I asked each of my kids how they felt about my carrying, almost unanimous: “I feel safer.”
I was introduced into the CC life by one of the older & most respected men at the church. He’s the best shooter I personally know. He gave me advice that I carry with me to this day concerning carrying a weapon. He said “avoid confrontation moreso as an armed man, be mindful of your surroundings, never carry untested ammo, & keep one in the chamber.” 
My dad long before it was even technically legal. We owned a small town family pharmacy in a town that until the late 70’s didn’t even have a city cop. We only had one sheriff and one deputy and two DPS officers covered three counties.
We often had fairly large sums of cash at closing and would take them to the bank and of course pharmacies are always a prime target for armed robbery.
After several incidents my granddad had he started keeping a gun at the store and another at home.
After we took over the store dad had a long talk with the sheriff who suggested a chief’s special concealed under his pharmacy jacket/shirt.
Licensed carry passed in Texas in 92, I still didn’t feel comfortable myself carrying a handgun on my body most of the time for various reasons but I soon got licensed and started instructing in 94.
I’ve always carried at least one each rifle, shotgun, and pistol in my vehicles but only started carrying on my body constantly when I started doing some escort work and transporting High Value Items.
Since then I just strap it on like I pull on my pants or put on a shirt, if I can carry lawfully I’m always carrying.
hell! if I could remember that I might even be able to pass the test,LOL.
For me it was a combination of new laws allowing CCW, my age and injuries over the years that limit my ability to swiftly depart from a life threatening situation as well as caring for/protecting aging loved ones that have limited mobility, and my duties on some properties (working alone, sometimes late at night) that prompted me to get my CCW permit.
It started when I went with a friend to a Conceal Carry class. After that I decided to do some training and then in October I purchased my first gun.
Olympic shooter Marshall Lussen.
It started for me after I got violently attacked for throwing a guy out who wanted to date me but lied about his age, he said he was 21 but was actually 31. Now I am armed all the time and got my current boyfriend over his fear of firearms and got him to get a ccw permit as well. Glad I did too because the guy who had me attacked is out of jail and says he wants to talk.