Licensed but don't carry? Why?

[JRG]

I know 5 people, two couples and a widow, that got their LTC in the last year. None of them carry regularly. They keep one in the car/truck but not on their person. In my conversation with them they cite a few different reasons why they don't strap on a gun everyday, but the one the seems to be the common denominator is comfort and style of dress. They all are over 50, and they all have developed a normal attire or way of dressing that they just aren't willing to change, and none of them want to OC.

That pretty much sums up my wife. We are both retired full time rvers. We both got our CHLs at the same time 20 years ago. I carry everyday, all day I am able. About 10 years ago, she stopped carrying and even sold her pistol. She wants me to keep carrying, but she herself wants nothing to do with it. We are together much of the time, but there are times when she is not where I am. I worry sometimes, but am her protector when we are together. That's all I can do.

Joe

[apvonkanel]

The issue of leaving a sidearm in a vehicle during an entire workday is a concern, but I have a cable/lock-box setup and there have never been any reported vehicle burglaries at my work. I can imagine if I didn't have a fairly secure setup and parking lot I wouldn't be comfortable at all leaving it in my vehicle. That being the case, considering a lot of the days I go to work and run any errands I need to on the way home from work, that would put me at being unarmed the whole time I'm out of my house.
I too have known people that got their CHL (none in the past year, therefore no LTC) and didn't intend on regularly carrying at first. They wanted to get it then get set up to carry and just never got around to it. I also know a few that got their CHL with no intention of carrying but that changed as they realized it didn't have to be that big of an adjustment. Between tuckable holsters, extremely small compacts/subcompacts (I don't even have to buy bigger jeans), along with other holster options (especially if you're willing to carry off-body), it doesn't have to be that big of a disruption to normal attire.

[rotor]

It is a pain to carry and we know we will never need it. First part is true, second part is false. Convince my wife.

[C-dub]

Some people don't carry much or at all because it is too much of a hassle for them or uncomfortable, but that still doesn't explain why they got the license in the first place. Did they not know that before hand? Maybe.

However, I think most that bother to get the license and not bother to carry do so for much the same reason LEOs get the license. To shorten the process when purchasing a firearm. I know two LEOs that did it for that reason only.

[uthornsfan]

Getting the CHL/LTC is the easy part. Finding a decent handgun worthy of qualifying is a lot easier than finding something suitable for everyday carry. Finding a "good holster and belt isn't so easy either. Most of us have a drawer full of useless holsters that just don't work for me there has been a lot of trial and error. Then there are others whose jobs won't allow them to carry.

Mostly though it's a matter of habit, If people strap it on first thing in the morning or before they step out their door, they have a habit developed. Those who can't carry at their workplace or at all times, don't develop the habit. It has been my experience that people carry near all the time, or very seldom. Very few carry half the time.

[Liberty]

When I got my CHL I didn't think too much about carrying full time. At the time it was risky carrying into places like Harris County under the "Traveling Exemption", The CHL assured I could travel freely while armed without Harris County persecuting me. Later as I followed this forum, I figured out that full-time carry was a pretty good Idea. The thing is though, full time carry wasn't my intention when I initially went through the process.

[G26ster]

The mantra "Always carry when legal, or guess right" is very true, but IMHO is more often than not made in an unintentionally hypocritical manner. Here's my point:

Person A chooses not to carry, when walking about his neighborhood, or going to the local store, or doing yard work, etc. He is likely to be chastised by Person(s) B for not carrying because one should "Always carry when legal, or guess right." I'd bet my bottom dollar that those same people doing the chastising often choose to "guess right." Why? I'd bet they voluntarily attend their children's school activities or sporting events, or fly on airplanes, or go large amusement parks, or professional sporting events or frequent a 51% location. Sure it's not legal, but no one forced them to go there where they had to disarm, they chose to do it voluntarily just like person A did. So both are guessing right at the times and places of their choosing.

Now there are some folks who never participate in the activities where it is illegal to carry, so they can state with moral authority, "Always carry when legal, or guess right," but the person that does voluntarily participate in activities where it is illegal to carry is no different than the person who chooses to do mundane activities and does not carry at all times. Both are picking and choosing the times they are willing to "guess right."

[JustSomeOldGuy]

- They got their LTC mainly to flip the bird at Obama/Hillary/{insert liberal of your choice here}
- They got their LTC so they wouldn't have to wait on the background check when buying new toys
- They got their LTC prior to MPA so that they were at least somewhat protected from running afoul of the definition of 'traveling' if they got stopped for something.
- They got their LTC but were put off by their work situation/practicality of storing firearm in their car. Or their transportation is a bus, light rail, a bicycle, a motorcycle, they carpool, etc. where they are unable to 'store it in their vehicle'.
- They found out that being 'in yellow' all the time is hard work.
- They have a situation where they can't have a firearm at home (druggie roommates, felon family member, elder care, etc)
- They realized after the fact that practice sessions, ammo, carry gear, car and/or home vaults, car alarms for that extra layer of security, etc are time intensive and require a certain level of financial outlay. The LTC class and the LTC application fee are chicken feed compared to what comes after, especially for those that really are 'living paycheck to paycheck'.

[The Annoyed Man]

When I got my license, it was with the plan to carry as often as possible. Guess right, or carry 24/7, and all that. But I also knew that it was something I was going to have to get used to doing. But I was probably carrying full time within a week or so of getting my plastic, and have done so ever since. I have forgotten to strap on a gun maybe twice in that time......and each time, I did strap on the holster, but just forgot to put the gun in it.

I am NOT going to apologize for having illegally carried a firearm from time to time when I lived in California. During the Rodney King rioting, I carried a 1911 in a fanny pack every day I went to work in downtown L.A. I would put that 1911 under my seat if I was making a late night trip to an ATM, or driving on a long trip - particularly to a remote location. All of that was illegal in California. To hades with California and its trampling of the Constitution. Most or all of their gun laws are unconstitutional. I did NOT rob banks, rape people, mug anyone, burgle homes, stick up gas stations, paint graffiti all over everything, commit any kind of fraud, or harm anyone else in any kind of way; so no matter what anyone else says, I still consider myself a law-abiding person and always will. When I got to Texas, it was lawful for me to travel with a firearm in my car, so I didn't worry about it much initially. Eventually, I went for my CHL about a year after getting here, and have carried ever since.

[Jusme]

My wife was not fully on board with the idea that I would be carrying everywhere we went, with normal exceptions of school activities etc. She has grown accustomed to it, and keeps saying she wants to get her LTC, but then backs out. I doubt, that if she does get her LTC, she will carry everywhere, for many of the reasons listed, fashion choice, comfort, etc.

Everyone is entitled to their choices, and I won't criticize anyone for the ones they make, but I will continue to carry everywhere I am legally able to do so. Every time I put my gun on in the morning I offer a prayer, that I will not have to remove it from the holster until I return, but that if I do, my aim is true, and my decisions are righteous.

[ScottDLS]

I got mine 20 years ago so I could carry in my car, which wasn't legal before then (and only after MPA didn't require a license). I mostly work out of town in states and businesses that don't allow carry. I always have my CCW in my car, and try to carry it wherever allowed.

AND, of course, I have my Texas LTC, so I can drive through GFSZA areas...., even after MPA.

[ralewis]

Some believe the odds of needing a weapon are so in their favor they do not see a need to carry consistently. Realistically, what are the odds?

Being in the insurance business, I am accustomed to being prepared for the extremely small chance of needing a weapon.

I hear that 'rationale' often from friends and family who know I carry almost 100% of the time. My response is 'take the jack and spare tire out of your car, the odds you'll need are minuscule'.

[mojo84]

Some believe the odds of needing a weapon are so in their favor they do not see a need to carry consistently. Realistically, what are the odds?

Being in the insurance business, I am accustomed to being prepared for the extremely small chance of needing a weapon.

I hear that 'rationale' often from friends and family who know I carry almost 100% of the time. My response is 'take the jack and spare tire out of your car, the odds you'll need are minuscule'.

Throw away the fire extinguishers also.

[twomillenium]

The mantra "Always carry when legal, or guess right" is very true, but IMHO is more often than not made in an unintentionally hypocritical manner. Here's my point:

Person A chooses not to carry, when walking about his neighborhood, or going to the local store, or doing yard work, etc. He is likely to be chastised by Person(s) B for not carrying because one should "Always carry when legal, or guess right." I'd bet my bottom dollar that those same people doing the chastising often choose to "guess right." Why? I'd bet they voluntarily attend their children's school activities or sporting events, or fly on airplanes, or go large amusement parks, or professional sporting events or frequent a 51% location. Sure it's not legal, but no one forced them to go there where they had to disarm, they chose to do it voluntarily just like person A did. So both are guessing right at the times and places of their choosing.

Now there are some folks who never participate in the activities where it is illegal to carry, so they can state with moral authority, "Always carry when legal, or guess right," but the person that does voluntarily participate in activities where it is illegal to carry is no different than the person who chooses to do mundane activities and does not carry at all times. Both are picking and choosing the times they are willing to "guess right."

I carry whenever legal. Yes, I have choosen participate in activities with my children and now grandchildren where carry is not legal. I am not being hypocritical. I am being a loving and supporting family member. I love my family and like my gun. The gun is just a tool as is the screwdriver that I leave in the garage. There are places that I do not go because it is illegal to carry, but supporting my family is not a choice I would make over a tool. If some one want to define that as being hypocritical then I would define them as probably unhappy and slow-thinking. This is only MNSHO.

[oljames3]

As with most things in life, it comes down to which risks we are willing to manage and which benefits matter most. Everyone gets to make their own choices.

Only after having been licensed for two years did my wife decide to carry regularly. I have carried every day since getting my license. That works best for me. Right now, my pistol is secured in my vehicle in the parking lot at my work because of company policy. When not at work, it is on my hip or readily at hand. For those rare cases when I do not have my pistol, I have done my risk analysis and put controls in place to reduce the risk to what I have determined is a manageable level.

For myself, I feel that having made the decision that a pistol is the best tool with which to defend myself and those for whom I am responsible, I do not want to be in a position in which I need that tool and do not have it.

For instance, when I visit my mother in the hospital this afternoon, I will leave my pistol secured in my vehicle. There are on-duty police at the hospital and I will still have my knife. Not ideal, but it is manageable ... until my Kel-Tec Sub-2000 arrives.