TexasCHLforum.com

...I will carry the best I have...and won't buy one I'd be nervous about carrying...the title of Bill Jordan's book rings in my ears: No Second Place Winner...

Pawpaw wrote:Life is too short to carry an ugly gun.

I appreciate the thoughts and perhaps forming the question while watching the superbowl commercials I didn't refine my thinking for the post. I usually carry a P238. I like it and it is easy for me to conceal in a varity of manners. It is also one of the more expensive models of the P238's and I have grown very fond of it, but I could also go to Academy and buy one the basic models for 60% of the cost. I dont suspect that I venture into many situations in my average day that will require the use of it in self defense, but being on old boy scout, I try to be prepared, so I carry. I was hoping that someone could verify that if you have to use your pistol, you will not get it back. Our instructor mentioned that you might or might not, but it was nowhere near a definitive statement, rather an aside to an answer of another question.
I know one cant predict when trouble might arise but one can certainly make some reasonable assumptions based on where his daily travels might take him. In those situations where one must travel into spots where trouble happens more frequently I wonder if selecting a less expensive option, base model versus ornate model makes sense?

gigag04 wrote:

Gun Confiscation

Or...
Evidence Recovery


It's in the details really.

Fair point, and I struggled to find a title for the thread that would capture the intent of my thoughts. This may have been a better title. So now I ask, if it is evidence recovered and it turns out that a no bill happens, does the weapon get returned to it's owner?

Pawpaw wrote:Life is too short to carry an ugly gun.

Amen!

Mr.ViperBoa wrote:

Pawpaw wrote:Life is too short to carry an ugly gun.

Let's lay off of us Glock guys!

I have guns ranging fro $300.00 to $2800.00 and carry them all (no, not at the same time:) ). I do not worry about what would happen to my gun in the event things hit the fan. In fact, that would be the least of my worries. The main issue is to stay alive then deal with the aftermath.

Now, in saying that, my daily carry is a Colt Commander OWB, a P3AT in my pocket, and an XD45 in my briefcase. But all of mine get carried at some time or another.

If I had a gun with significant historical or sentimental value, that might be something I wouldn't carry.

Aside from that, I firmly believe in carrying a quality firearm that I can depend on and know will function properly should I ever need to use it. I carry a Kimber CDP II Custom most of the time. I know Kimbers get a bad rap here and there but it's always performed very well and is comfortable to carry, even being a full size 1911. While the gun is definitely on the high of my budget, the confidence I have in it working properly, as well as my ability to shoot accurately, when I need it is worth a heck of a lot more than the $1200 I paid for it.

I am no expert but I believe that IF you are entitled to get the gun back (not convicted of a felony) you SHOULD get it back. But the onus may be on you to ask for it back (probably best via your attorney). From another forum I seem to recall someone advising that one immediately seek a court order for the preservation of the condition of the gun ... I assumed this somehow documented the value & condition and somewhat put the PD on alert that they had better take appropriate care or be held liable for the declared value.

Personally I agree with the comments already posted that the value of the gun would be a minor concern to me if I should ever find myself in that situation. Still... when the dust settled I'd hope to have MY property back.

as an aside I seem to recall a conversation where a gun was confiscated, the owner convicted of a felony and the ultimate disposition of the firearm (not necessarily an item of evidence) had to be disposed of by transfer to a new owner (a relative... the gun was an heirloom) or sold ... pretty much anything but return to the felon.

Dragonfighter wrote:

Mr.ViperBoa wrote:

Pawpaw wrote:Life is too short to carry an ugly gun.

Let's lay off of us Glock guys!

You said it, we didn't!!!

I don't think you need to assume you will not get the gun back, but it can be a long involved wait depending on the circumstances.

I had a pistol stolen from my home, while I was moving the gun safe to the garage while the floors were redone. One of the workmen snatched it apparently while nobody was looking. The PD found it loaded, under the seat of a couple of guys who shouldn't have had a gun, in the parking lot of a high school at ~3 AM. I got the phone call in the morning, "Are you missing a pistol?" and of course, I was. The perps had bought it off "some dude."

The proceedings dragged on for quite a while. Merely having the gun loaded in the car like that is a crime here. This was in October maybe 8-10 years ago. The gun was needed for evidence, it was ballistics tested to see if it could be tied to any other crimes, etc. The owner has to get clearance from the Attorney General to have the gun given back to him. The detective on the case was working nights, then on vacation, then off on some assignment, then my clearance from the AG expired, etc. I think it was at least summer before I could finally pick it up at the police station. The JP red dot was gone, but I picked up two extra magazines. Thankfully, no serious crime was committed with it while it was out of my possession. It was a distressing experience that I am not anxious to repeat, and ought not to have to.

Pawpaw wrote:Life is too short to carry an ugly gun.

Life can get very short for those who carry an unreliable gun.

The loss of the weapon would be a small consideration if I was in an altercation. That said my father has some weapons from the war for texan independence and a civil war rifle (not that I would carry any of these), if you have a sentimental weapon, one that you could not bear to lose--carry a different weapon.

I have my G19 right now as my EDC weapon. By Christmas I'll buy and swich to the G23 for my EDC. This will allow me to have a backup gun, that will fit in the same holsters. If I ever have to use one, and it is taken as evidence, I want another one to put right back into the holster. This is important to me becasue the BG might very well have unhappy friends/family/gangbangers, who want to seek revenge.

I don't want my only means of protection to be locked up in a police evidence room.

apostate wrote:

Pawpaw wrote:Life is too short to carry an ugly gun.

Life can get very short for those who carry an unreliable gun.

Where did you see someone advocate carrying an unreliable gun?

I agree reliability is more important than looks, but it is trivially easy to have both.

magillapd wrote:I don't want my only means of protection to be locked up in a police evidence room.

Even if the criminal attacks you away from your home, the MSM will make sure his homies know your full legal name so they can find you.