Wally Walk - Lowes style

[El_Tortuga]

So other than car carry and around the house, I did my first carry today. Rampant paranoia for sure. Even with t-shirt tucked over, and a untucked fishing shirt I was literally sweating inside the store.

It did accomplish the needed plunge. Windy day, crowded store, retrieved paint and lumber off the shelf, asked for help twice, including standing gun side exposed to the main aisle while they slowly mixed my paint.

So how long until you relaxed in public?

[AEA]

Not long, if you have a quality pistol belt and holster. Just forget about it and before you know it you will only think about it when you put it on (similar to your wallet).

[USA1]

(similar to your wallet).

Good comparison.

Rampant paranoia for sure.

I felt the same way on my first day. It almost feels like you're doing something illegal.
Once you come to the realization that you are well within your legal rights and become
more comfortable with the fact that you don't stand out from anyone else, your worries
will slowly but surely subside.

I've only been carrying for just over a year and most days I don't even think about it anymore.
It just becomes the norm.

Good luck, stay safe and vigilant.

[lonewolf]

Just wait until your first visit to the bank.......that's a really weird one......

[cougartex]

Just wait until your first visit to the bank.......that's a really weird one......

[SecedeTX]

I got over the parinoia, tugging at my shirt ever few moments, and thinking everyone is "looking" to see if that lump is a gun shaped lump.

Nobody is looking, If they are looking, they are probably packing also.

I am to the point that I don't feel fully dressed without it. I went into the safest Chinese resturant in Houston (just down the street from a Houston Police sub station) which usually has at least a third of the patrons as cops. I thought if any place would test your concealed carry, that would be it. No big deal.

Strap it on, in a little while it is a non-event

[74novaman]

Took about my 3rd time carrying in public before I completely relaxed.

Now its completely second nature.

[maximus2161]

You will be fine dont worry. I hadnt been carrying very long when I was in the grocery story and my son who was about 7 years old at the time was standing next to me. He moved and the butt of my gun hit him on the head and he said "Oww! Dad I hit my head on your gun!" I was thinking "ohhhhh nooooo.......Im gonna get it now." The cashier just giggled and we moved on.

[striker55]

You will be fine dont worry. I hadnt been carrying very long when I was in the grocery story and my son who was about 7 years old at the time was standing next to me. He moved and the butt of my gun hit him on the head and he said "Oww! Dad I hit my head on your gun!" I was thinking "ohhhhh nooooo.......Im gonna get it now." The cashier just giggled and we moved on.

[chefkristian]

Today is my 4th day of carrying and I am pretty comfortable with it. Great holster, suave clothing , and a good pistol makes for an easy lifestyle adjustment. I did the Wally Walk, Gun Store Walk, Pawn Shop Walk, Academy Walk, Cabela's Walk and HEB Walk.

Although today I was looking at a used car for my niece and I bent over to look under the car and a slight breeze blew my shirt just above my gun handle so that when I stood up, it was showing. I quickly adjusted my shirt and looked around, but no one saw or cared.

I would assume that most people would look at a holstered gun and automatically assume the person wearing it was some sort of LEO. Normally criminals don't carry their guns in a nice holster, tucked neatly underneath their shirts...

[Rye956]

I believe being uneasy at first happens to everyone. I myself was overly conscious the first time but as time goes by you'll get use to it. Like what they said, you need to have a good holster and belt to keep your carry in place and secure.

[blackdog8200]

Pretty soon you'll feel uncomfortable.......WITHOUT YOUR WEAPON.

[RPB]

Took me a few days. Remember first time driving a car alone when you got that license ... it's normal.
My first day I went to Walgreens, where they sell drugs, then to the bank, where they keep the money, then to a restaurant that serves alcohol, then to a grocery store to read wine labels (I don't drink, but just had to do that) then to to some "STATE Government Offices, then to WalMart.
It's like your first time driving a car all by yourself after getting a license; but there will be a time you don't even think about how you were nervous in the beginning (Unless you are still nervous driving, which could be the case for Houstonians)
Yeah I feel nekkid without it now.

[2crazy2carry]

I am just eagar to carry it out shopping. I will feel alot more comfortable carrying christmas gifts out to the parkinglot of malls and retail centers when I am armed like a would be robber will likely be.