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I hope this is the correct place to post this.

I carried my concealed gun in public for the first time the other day. I went to Albertson's to get some groceries. I'm sure this will make many of you experienced CC people laugh, but this experience was HUGE to me. It was scary. The moment I exited the car in the parking lot, I felt like I had to check the placement of my gun to make sure it hadn't left my hip. As I entered the store, I realized that I didn't feel anything on my hip at all. Now this is actually a good thing, because it means that the holster and gun I was wearing were comfortable. But, immediately after realizing that I could feel absolutely nothing on my hip, I panicked. I thought: "Oh, you-know-what, I must have dropped it somewhere on the way inside the store without noticing, and now my gun is sitting somewhere in the parking lot, and other people must have noticed me dropping it, and somebody has probably already called the cops.

Now, while most of you must be thinking I'm some kind of paranoid kook or something, let me tell you, I'm not. I'm usually relaxed and I like to think things through and do things that are logical. But for some reason, the first exposure to the public while wearing a gun was stressful. Now, it did get better. After about 5-10 minutes, I relaxed and started to feel normal. By this time though, I had swiped my hand across my right hip about 15-20 times to make sure everything was "in order."

My crazy story of first carry. Please feel free to pummel me for my cowardice and ignorance now.

matriculated wrote:My crazy story of first carry. Please feel free to pummel me for my cowardice and ignorance now.

Nah - no pummeling required... we've (at least most of us) have been there, before. Know this, though: it'll get better to the point that it will feel comforting to have that mass on the hip.

I believe learning to carry is more experiential than logical, but rest assure you have my congratulations! It will soon become a familiar experience and then will become as usual as walking and talking. Eventually you will feel slightly undressed if you are not carrying. Strange, but true.

Awesome...my first carry was a Tom Thumb run.

I'm also from Kalifornia so I had that phobia to overcome too...

I barely think about it much anymore except my choice of carry pistol (M&P 45c) tends to never quite stop reminding me its there. I see the allure of a pocket 9mm now...

matriculated wrote:I carried my concealed gun in public for the first time the other day. I went to Albertson's to get some groceries. I'm sure this will make many of you experienced CC people laugh, but this experience was HUGE to me. It was scary.

The very first time you carry a gun in public, it is literally a life changing experience. You realize that no one notices you have one, and that you have a responsibility to be safe with that gun. It is truly humbling.

Congrats on a successful outing. As you go out more, you will grow used to the fact you're carrying and it will become "less weird", trust me.

Ah, the Albertson's Amble. Good job. It will get easier and less stressful over time.

Welcome. Yes its gets better and easier.

It has been years, but I recall my first day.
Does Albertsons sell wines like HEB does? If so, wasn't it cool walking past the TABC "Blue" sign out front saying the "unlicensed" possession of ... On my first day with Plastic, I went to a bank, the HEB to see what wines were on the bottom shelf (I don't drink, but I thought I should squat down around liquor, just because), and a place that sold drugs and alcohol (and candy and foot massagers and Tums and mouthwash...Walgreens) The last 2 places had blue signs, the first had a gunbuster sign which was faded and peeling off the window.


Welcome.

Sounds a lot like my first outing.

I don't know........... I went to the Market Street and bought Sushi on my first trip out. My man card was confiscated and I had to scuttle off to the local Wallymart to make it right before my card could be returned to me and my member status restored to "voting member."

Read further to see what it took: viewtopic.php?p=173486#p173486" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

texanron wrote:Sounds a lot like my first outing.

I was thinking the same exact thing! Will be no time at all when you don't think twice about it...it is simply a feeling of comfort.

RJ

if you think albertson is scary.....just wait until wally's world!

Man! I am so relieved that I wasn't the only bumbling, anxious mess on first carry. When I think about it, it seems so silly, but in that moment when I stepped out of the car, it was like I'm experiencing the world just a little bit differently. Sure, things still look and sound the same, but something's different. It was actually kind of odd on top of being scary. I don't know if that makes sense. Anyways, good thing it gets better.

We have all been there. Eventualy you take it for granted that you are concealed and safe. The most important thing to me is carrying the weight of the firearm you come out of condition white and take a more tactical interest in your location. This contributes to making you feel safer.

I don't think you will find any condemnation here. Most of us have had very similar experiences.

My first time was to Wal-mart where I was a little nervous but not too freaked out. But then we left to go pick-up pizza from the storefront Pizza Hut and while I am standing in line, a LEO comes in and gets in line behind me. At the time, I am carrying a teeny tiny .32 caliber Beretta Tomcat - there is no way he could have spotted it - but I was sooo nervous. I kept fidgeting with the back of my shirt and turning myself so that he was towards my left side.

My 14 year old daughter was waiting in the car but could see through the glass door and was rolling with laughter. I am sure I looked like a complete buffoon (well, at least more so than usual - lol).