Carried for the First time!

[rlytle_98]

After patiently waiting for 123 days(I know, I know) to receive my CHL, I finally got it in the mail last week and carried for the first time over the weekend. My family and I decided to go to the mall for a some lunch and shopping. With recent violence in around the country in "soft target" locations, I figured it was a good time and place to carry for the first time. Also, with so many people around and so many opportunities to get "noticed" I thought this would give me a chance to get used to having it on my hip in those sort of situations and making sure I wasn't printing.

I didn't tell my family and all was well for the first hour or so until we sat down to eat in the food court. My wife was shopping and the kids were sitting with me. At one point my son(7 yrs old) sat next to me and leaned right against my weapon. He said, "What is that?" and proceeded to raise my shirt and said loudly, "Why do you have a gun?!" I about had a heart attack since we were next to a few fellow food patrons. I told him to quiet it down and not to say anything. I looked at the people immediately to my right and left and not a single person even took a glance at us. Right then and there, I realized how little people pay attention to their surroundings. Thank God for me. Last thing I needed was for someone to call security or the police.(search Costco CHL holder)

I was a little nervous for my first time out, but carried the following day and evening for family dinner. I was conscience of the weapon "printing" and was more aware of what was going on around me. I should be more and more comfortable as the days, weeks, months go by.

Successful and non-eventful first carry weekend.

[howdy]

"After patiently waiting for 123 days(I know, I know) to receive my CHL, I finally got it in the mail last week and carried for the first time over the weekend. My family and I decided to go to the mall for a some lunch and shopping. With recent violence in around the country in "soft target" locations, I figured it was a good time and place to carry for the first time.

Great news that another person is taking the responsibility to protect themselves and their family. The one comment above will draw (I'm sure) several comments. Many people taking the CHL class will say they only want to carry "certain places" that are less safe. That is a common feeling when you have a brand new CHL in your pocket. I would suggest that you will either start carrying all the time or you will do as some and not carry at all. I have had my CHL for 16 years now and my handgun is like my wallet...I don't leave home without it. I would feel naked if it wasn't in it's usual place. Carrying a handgun is a life-style altering thing. Like many have said before me, either carry all the time or guess well. (another version is "carry all the time or learn to say Baaa")

I look forward to reading more from you.

[jayinsat]

"After patiently waiting for 123 days(I know, I know) to receive my CHL, I finally got it in the mail last week and carried for the first time over the weekend. My family and I decided to go to the mall for a some lunch and shopping. With recent violence in around the country in "soft target" locations, I figured it was a good time and place to carry for the first time.

Great news that another person is taking the responsibility to protect themselves and their family. The one comment above will draw (I'm sure) several comments. Many people taking the CHL class will say they only want to carry "certain places" that are less safe. That is a common feeling when you have a brand new CHL in your pocket. I would suggest that you will either start carrying all the time or you will do as some and not carry at all. I have had my CHL for 16 years now and my handgun is like my wallet...I don't leave home without it. I would feel naked if it wasn't in it's usual place. Carrying a handgun is a life-style altering thing. Like many have said before me, either carry all the time or guess well. (another version is "carry all the time or learn to say Baaa")

I look forward to reading more from you.

[rlytle_98]

"After patiently waiting for 123 days(I know, I know) to receive my CHL, I finally got it in the mail last week and carried for the first time over the weekend. My family and I decided to go to the mall for a some lunch and shopping. With recent violence in around the country in "soft target" locations, I figured it was a good time and place to carry for the first time.

Great news that another person is taking the responsibility to protect themselves and their family. The one comment above will draw (I'm sure) several comments. Many people taking the CHL class will say they only want to carry "certain places" that are less safe. That is a common feeling when you have a brand new CHL in your pocket. I would suggest that you will either start carrying all the time or you will do as some and not carry at all. I have had my CHL for 16 years now and my handgun is like my wallet...I don't leave home without it. I would feel naked if it wasn't in it's usual place. Carrying a handgun is a life-style altering thing. Like many have said before me, either carry all the time or guess well. (another version is "carry all the time or learn to say Baaa")

I look forward to reading more from you.

You're right. As a new CHL holder I was a little apprehensive of carrying in public for the first time, but my weekend experience has started to condition me to have my weapon on my as much as I can, within the law of course. I'm starting to search the places I know I'm going to be for an extended period of time to see if they are a 30.06, a 51% or a govt location. I'll be more and more comfortable as time goes by and I'll remember which locations are "ok" for me to carry and which are not.

Thanks for the responses and I look forward to more!

[Julie]

I got my license in May, but carried for the first time last week...mainly because I didn't have a holster. I got a cheap pocket holster, but the dang thing won't fit in any of my pockets! I got a compact gun for a reason and it's still too big!

So I carried in a purse over the weekend. My two year old is very upset that I won't let her carry my purse. I don't like to carry a purse in the first place...I only have my wallet, phone and car key so I just carry those in my pockets. So for her, it is novel that Mommy is carrying a purse. It's making my husband very nervous!!

Like you, I'm worried what my kids will say outloud in public when I do carry on me and they feel the gun under my clothes. They are too young to censor themselves.

[RPBrown]

Congradulations on your CHL and your first day out.

Now, I must scold you a little . Why raise your shirt. That, if seen, could have been "intentional failure to conceal" and if the issue were pressed, could have caused you to loose your CHL. When outside of your home, always remember that concealed means just that, CONCEALED. You could have just told your son what it was without showing him.

There are still lots of people that want total gun elimination and will turn you in at the blink of an eye. Don't give them an opportunity to do so.

[baldeagle]

Over time you will find what works for you. You'll find that you're experimenting even years after you got your CHL looking for the best solution for specific situations. I carry IWB at 3 o'clock. One Saturday it was hot, and I stuffed my tshirt behind the gun to keep the sweat off it while I was at the house. I forgot I had done that when I went to pick up pizzas. I got out of the car, held the door for a lady carrying pizzas, went inside, paid, picked up my pizzas and left, and no one said a thing. People are not very observant. You will find that you are much more conscious of the gun than the people around you are. I go out in tshirt and shorts all the time. To me the gun is obvious. But no one says anything, and it's really not obvious unless you look right at it and I move in a way that reveals the shape of the grip. As long as the gun is not exposed either actually or by wearing too tight clothing, you'll be fine.

[baldeagle]

Congradulations on your CHL and your first day out.

Now, I must scold you a little . Why raise your shirt. That, if seen, could have been "intentional failure to conceal" and if the issue were pressed, could have caused you to loose your CHL. When outside of your home, always remember that concealed means just that, CONCEALED. You could have just told your son what it was without showing him.

There are still lots of people that want total gun elimination and will turn you in at the blink of an eye. Don't give them an opportunity to do so.

The way I read it, his son raised his shirt.

[cbunt1]

I got my license in May, but carried for the first time last week...mainly because I didn't have a holster. I got a cheap pocket holster, but the dang thing won't fit in any of my pockets! I got a compact gun for a reason and it's still too big!

So I carried in a purse over the weekend. My two year old is very upset that I won't let her carry my purse. I don't like to carry a purse in the first place...I only have my wallet, phone and car key so I just carry those in my pockets. So for her, it is novel that Mommy is carrying a purse. It's making my husband very nervous!!

Like you, I'm worried what my kids will say outloud in public when I do carry on me and they feel the gun under my clothes. They are too young to censor themselves.

They will become accustomed to it, just like they do your cell phone, or anything else you regularly carry. Once the novelty wears off it'll be fine--at least it was with my children. Admittedly they were much older when I started carrying all the time, and my children werealready used to the idea that Dad occasionally carried a gun, but really it was no big deal to them.

As time goes by, and you get more comfortable with the day-to-day of carrying, and your family gets comfortable with it, the midset will likely be much more a 'Miss Congeniality' dialogue--as in "This is Texas, EVERYBODY has a gun!"

One of the most startling "near-outings" I had was with a friend's youngster at a family gathering. The then 4-year old ran up to me at full speed to give me a hug, and ran head-first into the .45 on my right hip. As I caught him, he looked up at me and said "Uncle cbunt1, your side is HARD!!!' When we later (and privately) explained to him what it was, he never batted an eye, and all is well. To him, Uncle cbunt1 carries a gun, and trees have leaves, and the two facts are equally ordinary.

I hope you can find the right carry solution for you. I know it's been a challenge for my wife and mother both--one has settled into carrying a J-Frame in her purse, and the other frequently carries my fold-up 5-shot derringer in her waistband--not exactly a "fightin' handgun," but effective nonetheless--certainly more effective than not having the options.

[rlytle_98]

Congradulations on your CHL and your first day out.

Now, I must scold you a little . Why raise your shirt. That, if seen, could have been "intentional failure to conceal" and if the issue were pressed, could have caused you to loose your CHL. When outside of your home, always remember that concealed means just that, CONCEALED. You could have just told your son what it was without showing him.

There are still lots of people that want total gun elimination and will turn you in at the blink of an eye. Don't give them an opportunity to do so.

I should had been more specific. My son raised my shirt. Thank goodness it's a very low IWB holster that barely shows the grip, but my son has seen the weapon before and immediately recognized it. It was still my fault. Can't put blame on a 7 yr old for being curious.

[jayinsat]

Congradulations on your CHL and your first day out.

Now, I must scold you a little . Why raise your shirt. That, if seen, could have been "intentional failure to conceal" and if the issue were pressed, could have caused you to loose your CHL. When outside of your home, always remember that concealed means just that, CONCEALED. You could have just told your son what it was without showing him.

There are still lots of people that want total gun elimination and will turn you in at the blink of an eye. Don't give them an opportunity to do so.

OP didn't raise his shirt. His son, after feeling the bulge, raised his fathers shirt and exclaimed "why do you have a gun?"

[cbunt1]

I was a little nervous for my first time out, but carried the following day and evening for family dinner. I was conscience of the weapon "printing" and was more aware of what was going on around me. I should be more and more comfortable as the days, weeks, months go by.

Successful and non-eventful first carry weekend.

Good job, and welcome to the ranks. Yes, you will become more comfortable with it. I hope both you and your family become comfortable enough that it's no surprise to any of them, and it becomes as commonplace as carrying a billfold or cell phone.

The general public is far less aware of weapons printing or even showing for a brief second. I've had a coupe of accidental "flashes" over the years, when the wind caught my coat, or getting snagged on something I'm loading in the truck -- trust me, nobody notices, and even if they do, if you don't present as though it's out of the ordinary, the public will take the cue and ignore it.

Like so many other things in life, if you behave as though what you're doing is "normal" and "routine," everyone else assumes it is too, without even thinking about it. If you're nervous or fidgety, they'll take that cue as well. Human behavior, especially en-masse, is a fascinating thing. We crave "normalcy" and our minds are geared toward ignoring that which fits into our idea of normal--and we try to fit anything out of that norm into the realm of the normal--so it takes several seconds for things to register as "strange."

This (IMO) is why when confronted with true violence and evil it takes us a relative eternity to process the fact that "this is really happening" -- because it doesn't fit into the "norm." It's also the reason that we always train with the mindset that "action beats reaction.'

Sorry--I kinda waxed philosophical there...it's that kind of morning!

Suffice it to say that you'll get comfortable, the family will get comfortable, and the public generally won't notice. All these are good things.

[mojo84]

Congradulations on your CHL and your first day out.

Now, I must scold you a little . Why raise your shirt. That, if seen, could have been "intentional failure to conceal" and if the issue were pressed, could have caused you to loose your CHL. When outside of your home, always remember that concealed means just that, CONCEALED. You could have just told your son what it was without showing him.

There are still lots of people that want total gun elimination and will turn you in at the blink of an eye. Don't give them an opportunity to do so.

Who needs the scolding?

[RPBrown]

Congradulations on your CHL and your first day out.

Now, I must scold you a little . Why raise your shirt. That, if seen, could have been "intentional failure to conceal" and if the issue were pressed, could have caused you to loose your CHL. When outside of your home, always remember that concealed means just that, CONCEALED. You could have just told your son what it was without showing him.

There are still lots of people that want total gun elimination and will turn you in at the blink of an eye. Don't give them an opportunity to do so.

Who needs the scolding?

I guess I do. I thought he had raised it for his son to see.

[rlytle_98]

I got my license in May, but carried for the first time last week...mainly because I didn't have a holster. I got a cheap pocket holster, but the dang thing won't fit in any of my pockets! I got a compact gun for a reason and it's still too big!

So I carried in a purse over the weekend. My two year old is very upset that I won't let her carry my purse. I don't like to carry a purse in the first place...I only have my wallet, phone and car key so I just carry those in my pockets. So for her, it is novel that Mommy is carrying a purse. It's making my husband very nervous!!

Like you, I'm worried what my kids will say outloud in public when I do carry on me and they feel the gun under my clothes. They are too young to censor themselves.

Julie, glad to hear and see more women taking the initiative on personal protection for their family and themselves. I went to the range on Saturday and it was about 60-40% men to women! Even a girl in a wheelchair working on her skills with a AR15.

If you are looking for CC options, check out this ladies videos on youtube. She has a bunch of different holsters and hopefully one will work for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogGBPVk5GQk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;