First weekend carrying - report
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:52 pm
As you can see in my sig, I had to wait over a week to get the plastic after the website told me "Completed", and it finally came on Friday. So here's a little accounting of my first weekend carrying out of the house.
Which brings to mind, if I may, one piece of advice I'd give everyone who's interested in a CHL and/or is already waiting for theirs: carry around the house, in as close to exactly the fashion you'd carry outside, as often as possible for as long as possible while you're waiting for the DPS to do its thing. Most of the nervousness that might appertain to your first foray out of the house was simply gone for me, 'cause I'd been carrying in the evenings after work on a daily basis. I knew what it felt like to have it on, I knew how to wear my shirt to conceal it just right, etc. etc. So do it! Ok, off the soapbox.
Had the plastic in my wallet on Friday night but the wife & I were taking advantage of a free-babysitting "Mom's Night Out" thing put on by the children's ministry at our church, and we were going out with friends. Adult beverages were certain to ensue, so I (wisely, IMO) decided to NOT make my first night carrying one where I'm throwing down drinks with the other moms & dads who've rid themselves of their precious rugrats for a whole four hours.
Fast-forward to Saturday morning, where a morning workout event at the park (my wife teaches classes) compelled me to leave my G30 in the car (it's a little heavy to clip to a pair of mesh workout shorts). Home for showers, and then met some friends (the Canadian folks I mentioned in another thread) for lunch. Enter my first bit of nervousness when it's decided that we were going to this very eclectic place that consists of a bar/restaurant/car wash/laundromat all in the same building. They host wine tasting & beer tasting and feature a vibrant local live music scene, and the feel is definitely that of a "bar" bar (including the hard/good stuff), so I was a bit worried that my first foray would be right into the teeth of a 51% sign. I peered around and behind the bar and after realizing that I'd heard about those signs but never seen a photo of one or anything, figured "I'd know it when I see it". The only sign I saw was the "Unlicensed possession of a handgun on these premises, blah blah" that I'd seen elsewhere (today, after reading TABC's FAQ here - #9 - I think what I saw was indeed the "blue" sign and I was correct in sticking around). Lunch was outside on a picnic-style table/bench (no backs on the bench) and my back was facing the kids' playground (did I mention this place was VERY eclectic? They've got a basketball hoop & a ping-pong table outside as well) so that ample opportunity was given to any kid/parent who cared to notice that I had a Glock-filled IWB holster at about 4 o'clock under my tucked shirt, and sitting down without a very erect posture is one of those things that can make a shirt print the grip fairly easily. Fortunately, it was completely uneventful.
Naptime for the rugrats followed, then came volunteering @ church for the Saturday evening service. Carried there in the same clothes as lunchtime where I spent some time at a kid-check-in kiosk in the kids' building. Routinely my back was to folks letting their 3-year-olds into their room, as well as to the folks (adults & high schoolers) who were "working" that room. Also had an opportunity or two to crouch down to get to eye-level with my own 3-year-old (again, a less-than-erect back in that stance can stretch the shirt tight against the grip) to have a "serious conversation" or two. Also uneventful.
Fast-forward to Sunday morning - back to church to attend the morning service, checked in my own rugrat & said hello to the folks. During the service we stood for the music (as per normal) with other folks in the row right behind us - I even sat on the right-hand end of the row, which put my holster-side facing out to the aisle & all the folks walking by to the rows in front. The 4 o'clock carry (and the adjustable forward cant on the Crossbreed SuperTuck) I'm finding is quite comfortable whether I'm on a couch at home, in either of the family's cars, or the seat @ church - very happy about THAT! Lunch @ McDonald's followed (though the wife & I get El Pollo Loco from next door; we get the Happy Meal for the 3-year-old and let him play in the McD's playground while we eat), again a backless picnic-style bench seat with my back to the other parents in the room. Also completely uneventful.
Like I said, I certainly was more comfortable & less nervous than I could have been, but it was nice to have done a relatively normal weekend, but this time while carrying (so that will become normal) and with no surprises. Up next, Wally-Walk! I'm still debating whether to bring my camera to ask some folks to snap a couple shots of me, "scavenger hunt & I need proof"-style; I'm usually not that inclined to talk to random folks while I'm out and about.
JT
Which brings to mind, if I may, one piece of advice I'd give everyone who's interested in a CHL and/or is already waiting for theirs: carry around the house, in as close to exactly the fashion you'd carry outside, as often as possible for as long as possible while you're waiting for the DPS to do its thing. Most of the nervousness that might appertain to your first foray out of the house was simply gone for me, 'cause I'd been carrying in the evenings after work on a daily basis. I knew what it felt like to have it on, I knew how to wear my shirt to conceal it just right, etc. etc. So do it! Ok, off the soapbox.
Had the plastic in my wallet on Friday night but the wife & I were taking advantage of a free-babysitting "Mom's Night Out" thing put on by the children's ministry at our church, and we were going out with friends. Adult beverages were certain to ensue, so I (wisely, IMO) decided to NOT make my first night carrying one where I'm throwing down drinks with the other moms & dads who've rid themselves of their precious rugrats for a whole four hours.
Fast-forward to Saturday morning, where a morning workout event at the park (my wife teaches classes) compelled me to leave my G30 in the car (it's a little heavy to clip to a pair of mesh workout shorts). Home for showers, and then met some friends (the Canadian folks I mentioned in another thread) for lunch. Enter my first bit of nervousness when it's decided that we were going to this very eclectic place that consists of a bar/restaurant/car wash/laundromat all in the same building. They host wine tasting & beer tasting and feature a vibrant local live music scene, and the feel is definitely that of a "bar" bar (including the hard/good stuff), so I was a bit worried that my first foray would be right into the teeth of a 51% sign. I peered around and behind the bar and after realizing that I'd heard about those signs but never seen a photo of one or anything, figured "I'd know it when I see it". The only sign I saw was the "Unlicensed possession of a handgun on these premises, blah blah" that I'd seen elsewhere (today, after reading TABC's FAQ here - #9 - I think what I saw was indeed the "blue" sign and I was correct in sticking around). Lunch was outside on a picnic-style table/bench (no backs on the bench) and my back was facing the kids' playground (did I mention this place was VERY eclectic? They've got a basketball hoop & a ping-pong table outside as well) so that ample opportunity was given to any kid/parent who cared to notice that I had a Glock-filled IWB holster at about 4 o'clock under my tucked shirt, and sitting down without a very erect posture is one of those things that can make a shirt print the grip fairly easily. Fortunately, it was completely uneventful.
Naptime for the rugrats followed, then came volunteering @ church for the Saturday evening service. Carried there in the same clothes as lunchtime where I spent some time at a kid-check-in kiosk in the kids' building. Routinely my back was to folks letting their 3-year-olds into their room, as well as to the folks (adults & high schoolers) who were "working" that room. Also had an opportunity or two to crouch down to get to eye-level with my own 3-year-old (again, a less-than-erect back in that stance can stretch the shirt tight against the grip) to have a "serious conversation" or two. Also uneventful.
Fast-forward to Sunday morning - back to church to attend the morning service, checked in my own rugrat & said hello to the folks. During the service we stood for the music (as per normal) with other folks in the row right behind us - I even sat on the right-hand end of the row, which put my holster-side facing out to the aisle & all the folks walking by to the rows in front. The 4 o'clock carry (and the adjustable forward cant on the Crossbreed SuperTuck) I'm finding is quite comfortable whether I'm on a couch at home, in either of the family's cars, or the seat @ church - very happy about THAT! Lunch @ McDonald's followed (though the wife & I get El Pollo Loco from next door; we get the Happy Meal for the 3-year-old and let him play in the McD's playground while we eat), again a backless picnic-style bench seat with my back to the other parents in the room. Also completely uneventful.
Like I said, I certainly was more comfortable & less nervous than I could have been, but it was nice to have done a relatively normal weekend, but this time while carrying (so that will become normal) and with no surprises. Up next, Wally-Walk! I'm still debating whether to bring my camera to ask some folks to snap a couple shots of me, "scavenger hunt & I need proof"-style; I'm usually not that inclined to talk to random folks while I'm out and about.
JT
-- some scuba divers do this -- one case has a Glock lost by a diver and not found (in salt water) for 1 or 2 seasons. Worked fine.
knew that.