Family support for carrying a gun?

[Jerry]

Shameless endorsement:




Quick bio:
34, male, Army, divorced father of 2 children ages 8 and 11.

When I first mentioned owning a gun to my then happily married wife, she tripped balls. Basically she's paranoid about a lot of things and I didn't realize this was one of them...part of why we're divorced today. Anyway, I owned a rifle despite her objection because at that point I was pretty fed up with her attempts to control everything. She eventually acclimated to the rifle after a few weeks of seeing that it did nothing but sit in the closet, unloaded and trigger locked, except for a couple times I went out to shoot it. She came to understand that it wasn't going to hide under the bed and kidnap her into the sewers to join the souls of dead children guarded by a clown monster.

Over the years to follow I bought a couple pistols and started carrying everywhere I could. The wife left during this time so her opinion became very irrelevant. Only my brother and his girlfriend knew I carried and they didn't have a problem. I went years without being 'made', except for once....

I was carrying a full-size under a hoodie in a busy grocery store when I reached up to the top shelf for something. A lady asked "is that a gun". I responded "yes mam, I have a permit". She said "what do you need a gun for", to which I answered "I don't need a gun, that's why it's still in the holster".

The topic of guns came up one day with my father and step-mother and I felt comfortable telling them. Neither of them flinched at the idea that I had been coming around for a long time, carrying a gun without their knowledge. My stepmother later told me she wasn't at all surprised because carrying a gun is "something you would do"; probably a reference going back to my early teen years where I wanted swords and all manor of weaponry decorating my room.


*****
I don't have any horror stories of being outed or discovered, or of everyone over-reacting as if a gay who 'came out' at church. I know some of you do, though, and I would like to hear your tail.

I would also like to hear from non gun owners who discovered someone carrying, be it a stranger out in public or someone who comes around all the time which you never knew had a gun all the while. What were your thoughts? How did you react? Did this change how you see the person?


Informational reference:
Your State | Concealed Carry Report - USConcealedCarry.net

Handgunlaw.us : CCW Map

Concealed carry in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[lizzie]

In this part of the country, it's not common to run into many people who feel uncomfortable with guns and carrying, unless they are strictly city people who have little contact with rural life and rural folks. I wasn't raised with guns or shooting. My dad had a .410 shotgun that I never saw him use, but there was never any anti-gun sentiment in my family. Just really not much interest. After I became an adult and started living on my own, was when I exposed myself to guns and shooting, and discovered the love of target shooting. It's just one of those things that if you aren't exposed, and don't familiarize yourself, you are more likely to be afraid of. Imo, everyone should own a gun and learn how to use it safely, and take good care of it. It's a great discipline to have, and good for your focus.

 

[TurtleDude]

I met my wife during the holidays many years ago-she was home while attending a graduate program out of state. When she finished that may she moved in with me. Now she knew I had shot a few times and her father owned a few guns, but he wasn't from a family that had gone on safaris in Kenya or hunted in Morocco and Hungary and Bolivia and Columbia etc.

So after she moved in I'd take her shooting. She was a bit afraid of guns at first though since she had only shot a few rounds of trap at a dude ranch as a kid. when we became engaged, I took her to the gunshop I had incorporated for my friends, the owners. I wrote out a blank check to the owner, told him I'd be back in a while and to sell my fiance whatever she liked best.

She picked a G19. well its almost 20 years later, she has a CCW license, she got up to class B in USPSA/IPSC, she is a certified SW Armorer and she has won several national shooting competitions. When Christmas comes around, she normally says "I saw a really nice gun our son would like for Xmas".

what is funny is going to the range where we shoot, and when we are not shooting we often go to the long gun counter to see what is new. often the salesmen will ask my wife's opinion on this or that gun and often ask her to advise ladies looking for self defense guns.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT in which you are exposed to firearms

my 14 year old son has been shooting pistols at least half his life. He has had 64 hours or so of formal training by professional law enforcement instructors, SWAT team leaders and former Military firearms instructors. at age 11 he beat 45 adults to win the speed shooting championship at the gun club (5 plates-15 yards-22 pistol). He can clear just about any weapon on the market and field strip most common semi handguns and rifles.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Everyone in my family owns a gun. I started learning to shoot when I was four years old, and I've carried for as long as it's been legal for me to do so.

The only people in my life who object to me carrying a gun object because of my illness, rather than a general objection to carrying.

 

[molten_dragon]

My wife is very supportive of me owning guns and carrying. She owns a couple herself, and intends to get her CPL eventually. The only reason she doesn't have it yet is because we're trying for a baby and her OBGYN said it's best she avoid the gun range right now.

My dad is pretty ambivalent about the whole thing. He doesn't really understand why I wanted to get my concealed carry permit since I live and work in a nice neighborhood, but he doesn't object to it. My mom doesn't like guns much and is a little weirded out by me having my CPL, but when I asked her and my dad if they were okay with me carrying when I came to their house to visit, the only thing she said was she didn't want any guns in her house when here grandkids were there (which is silly, since they'll be raised in a house with guns, but her house, her rules).

 

[Spartacus FPV]

With exception to one of my brothers who is also a shooter and younger cousins who I've taken shooting, my entire family opposes my mere ownership of guns. Upon finding out they've all given me that oh-so-needed advice of "Don't shoot yourself."

 

[H. Lee White]

"I don't need it, that's why it's still in the holster."
Priceless.

 

[VanceMack]

My mother in law is one of the smartest and strongest people I know. She very much does not like guns. Weve had the discussion many times. Her responses are honest...she doesnt try to justify her positions, even when at times they are illogical. Yes...she knows the world is a violent place and there are violent people out there and those people target individuals they perceive as weak. She doesnt care...she still doesnt like guns and doesnt believe in people carrying guns. She also isnt for banning guns. She just simply doesnt like them.

We had a discussion one day about carrying concealed and her basic position was that people that carry concealed are paranoid and she wouldnt like going through life in fear. Countering that position I simply stated prepared is not paranoid and that when we walk out that door we both do it in pretty much the exact same manner. We both enjoy life, we both live, love, are happy. The only difference is that IF something bad should happen, one of us is prepared to deal with it aggressively, the other passively. We are both prepared to live with the consequence of our choices...I guess thats all you can do.

 

[VanceMack]

"I don't need it, that's why it's still in the holster."
Priceless.

Its a good response. One I have cataloged. I used to recite to my kids some of Clint Smiths comments about being in the middle of a bad situation..."You are on your own, and no one cares". "Stay in the fight". "Just handle it". I added my own..."Avoid it if at all possible, but if it comes to a fight, let the other guy say 'I quit'". You are responsible for your safety and the safety of your family...period. That may sound cold but its the truth. No one else is there, and no one cares.

 

[H. Lee White]

Its a good response. One I have cataloged. I used to recite to my kids some of Clint Smiths comments about being in the middle of a bad situation..."You are on your own, and no one cares". "Stay in the fight". "Just handle it". I added my own..."Avoid it if at all possible, but if it comes to a fight, let the other guy say 'I quit'". You are responsible for your safety and the safety of your family...period. That may sound cold but its the truth. No one else is there, and no one cares.

W/O question.