Free In Idaho!

Almost no truth to the rumor I was scouting for bird hunting spots.  I just felt like a drive in the country

I noticed Linoge’s post about his first time.  Yeah, carrying a concealed firearm certainly makes your overall awareness level pop a notch or two, especially your awareness of “you”.  Over the last year I think I’ve read 3 or 4 other bloggers passing the milestone of getting their cwl and then going out in public the first time.  I love seeing it!

After the weight issue, and how different it makes you feel (and makes your clothes fit), I think the next biggest thing on the minds of everyone when they first start carrying is worrying about whether or not you’re printing… can anyone see my gun?  I remember that one.  I used to worry about that a lot when I got my first license (early 90’s if I’m remembering correctly).  But now I find that I was worrying too much.  We talk about levels of alertness, condition white, condition orange, situational awareness and such.  Most folks walk around in a daze all day and it’s a surprising fact that the majority of people wouldn’t notice the gun even if it was being carried openly.  Maybe you remember I mentioned in one post that at a recent parade here in our small town I noticed some young men who were openly carrying and I’ll bet not three other folks noticed their firearms.  I remember a couple of years ago I watched a whole coffeshop full of folks never notice one well dressed gentleman in a dress shirt, tie, and Glock go to the counter, order, stand around while they made his drink, then leave all without a single double-take or nasty (or frightened) look.  Incidents like that taught me that most people aren’t aware of open guns, so they’re unlikely to make your concealed firearm either.

All that to say that most of us do too much worrying about whether we’re showing or not.  A good belt, a properly made and broken in (if leather) holster, and clothes you’re comfortable in make concealed carry an easy deal.  Nervousness, clothes that don’t look “natural”, and the constant patting yourself down or straightening your clothes will call attention to you and your gun.  Practice will bring the everyday ease you’re looking for, just like going to the range more often makes you a better shooter.  Pay attention when you use the public restrooms though… don’t drop it, and don’t leave it behind if you unholster it and put it on the shelf. 

My wife knows I always carry.  When we were first married I think she worried about it a bit, whether anyone would see it and cause a scene.  Now, she never mentions it.  And once in awhile we’ll get back from some errand or a visit and I’ll remove what I was carrying and she’ll notice it and say “oh, you had that one today?”  I doubt I’ll ever get her to carry though… ’spect that’ll remain one of my duties… mowing the lawn, carrying the guns, and taking out the trash.

I seem to recall a little while back all the squawking going on about some filing issue in the Bill Sali campaign.

Does it make you wonder if those same squawking heads will notice a more significant filing problem with Barack I didn’t Do It Obama’s campaign?  $800,000 payment to ACORN, eh?  That’s some Change(TM).

Woke up yawning.  So did Barack One House Obama…

Joe Biden?

Oh yeah, it must be a gravitas thing.