"More" Legal - Finally
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:46 pm
I originally took my course two years ago. I put off doing the paperwork though, since I didn't have a gun (and also because I'm a semi-professional procrastinator). Wife got me a Glock 23 Gen 4 as a belated Christmas present last month, and I discovered I was barely under the time limit to turn in my paperwork (course date was April 6). Filled it all out and mailed it all in on the 13th of last month.
In the meantime, since carrying on your vehicle is legal (including the motorcycle I ride to work every day), I started carrying when I ride the bike and the few times I drive our truck. The truck was no problem. When I went someplace, I'd simply slip the gun and holster off my waistband, slide it under the seat, and lock the door.
The bike was a little more of a challenge. I have saddlebags that lock, but they're not much of a lock. Not near enough to trust a $600 weapon that I'd hate to fall into the wrong hands. Add to that the challenge of figuring out how to transfer from my waist to the saddlebags in view of everyone, and that made carrying anywhere but work and back out of the question on the bike.
Work was OK though. I work on a federal facility that has a small parking area behind a monitored gate. Plus the parking area is right in front of the security guards (armed), and the entire outside (and much of the inside) is video monitored 24x7. I asked and was told it was OK to bring a weapon into the parking lot, but of course the building itself of off-limits. So for the most part work was good. However, it did mean I couldn't stop on the way (there or back) and grab something in a convenience store. Plus when I knew I was going to my grandson's football practice on the way home, I'd have to not carry that day. But overall, carrying under MPA gave me a bit of "pre-CHL" experience.
Last Saturday, my status changed on the web site to "mailed", so all week long I've been anticipating getting my plastic. We had plans for a birthday party at a resturant right after I got off work yesterday (Friday), but the wife and I were meeting at the house first and going from there. As soon as I walked in the door, she said "Hmmmm, this looks like it's for you" and handed me the envelope from DPS.
You'd figure with all the hassle, money, and waiting, there'd at least be a letter or something. Nope, just the piece of plastic lodged into a piece of thick paper. Not a big deal though, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading a letter anyway. Off we went to the resturant.
No "Wally Walk", but it did feel a bit odd, in a satisfying way, to not slide the Glock under the seat - just opened the door, and walked in the resturant, gun tucked in the holster under my waistband and shirt.
Like I had a right to do so. ;)
In the meantime, since carrying on your vehicle is legal (including the motorcycle I ride to work every day), I started carrying when I ride the bike and the few times I drive our truck. The truck was no problem. When I went someplace, I'd simply slip the gun and holster off my waistband, slide it under the seat, and lock the door.
The bike was a little more of a challenge. I have saddlebags that lock, but they're not much of a lock. Not near enough to trust a $600 weapon that I'd hate to fall into the wrong hands. Add to that the challenge of figuring out how to transfer from my waist to the saddlebags in view of everyone, and that made carrying anywhere but work and back out of the question on the bike.
Work was OK though. I work on a federal facility that has a small parking area behind a monitored gate. Plus the parking area is right in front of the security guards (armed), and the entire outside (and much of the inside) is video monitored 24x7. I asked and was told it was OK to bring a weapon into the parking lot, but of course the building itself of off-limits. So for the most part work was good. However, it did mean I couldn't stop on the way (there or back) and grab something in a convenience store. Plus when I knew I was going to my grandson's football practice on the way home, I'd have to not carry that day. But overall, carrying under MPA gave me a bit of "pre-CHL" experience.
Last Saturday, my status changed on the web site to "mailed", so all week long I've been anticipating getting my plastic. We had plans for a birthday party at a resturant right after I got off work yesterday (Friday), but the wife and I were meeting at the house first and going from there. As soon as I walked in the door, she said "Hmmmm, this looks like it's for you" and handed me the envelope from DPS.
You'd figure with all the hassle, money, and waiting, there'd at least be a letter or something. Nope, just the piece of plastic lodged into a piece of thick paper. Not a big deal though, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading a letter anyway. Off we went to the resturant.
No "Wally Walk", but it did feel a bit odd, in a satisfying way, to not slide the Glock under the seat - just opened the door, and walked in the resturant, gun tucked in the holster under my waistband and shirt.
Like I had a right to do so. ;)
