Just applied for my concealed carry permit - Tech Support Forums

Solid Snake · May 27th, 2006, 03:10 AM

I just had to tell you guys. I've had an interest in firearms since I was young. Now that I'm old enough, I paid the $25 fee and filled out the paperwork at the sheriff's office and I should get the permit in 10-14 days. I also got a free gun lock! I'm seriously considering the Walther P22 since it has an option for a 5" barrel that makes it good for target shooting, while the 3.4" barrel is good for carry. I'm wide open to advice since I know you guys have a lot more experience with guns than I do.

**phenious** · May 27th, 2006, 04:41 AM

You want to carry a weapon but dont have a lot of experience? That doesnt make much since to me. I cant offer you much in terms of advice for which gun to get but I would recomend signing up for every gun saftey course and training that you can find... If you havent allready.

taz480 · May 27th, 2006, 04:52 AM

OK well, if you are open to advice, please be willing to be told things that you may already know and may seem a bit schooling. Firearms carry probably the biggest responsibility of anything in this world. Your first question shouldn't be what kind of weapon to carry, but "How do I know if I'm ready for this responsibility"!!!!

First of all, you need to be in full understanding of what you are carrying this weapon for and how much responsibility is involved. Life and death situations involving firearms can instantly turn into the worst situation even with the best of interests. As I said, you need to fully understand why you are carrying this weapon. Bottom line, you are carrying this firearm to KILL another human being in a defensive attempt to keep them from taking your life. If you haven't already, I strongly advise that you contact your local county or state law enforcement and find out where you can obtain all information on state and federal laws regarding firearms and self defense laws. And I mean ALL of them. You need to know these laws so you can say them in your sleep. Chances are you will never be in a situation where you will have to take that action, but if you ever are, you need to be aware of EVERY possibility and be able to act on it in an instant using that knowledge. Even if someone attacks you and you are in fear for your life and you take theirs, and then later find out that what they were pointing at you was just a piece of pipe or a plastic gun, then you have just committed manslaughter. Thats just one out of a million possibilities. I apologize if I seem like I am riding you on this a lil or even trying to deter you. I'm not. I carry as well and have guns in my house and I strongly believe in self defense. It's just your first choice for a carry weapon shows me that you have not fully thought this through. You do not want to use a .22 caliber weapon to defend your own life against an attacker who has just shot heroin and wouldn't even notice right away if you drove a car through him. All you would do is tick him off and he's prolly going to take the weapon from you and either shoot you with it or beat you senseless with it. I would advise anyone who is considering carrying a concealed hand gun for self defense to take a lot of time to research laws, past cases and really search your own soul and ask yourself if you are prepared to take another human life to defend your own. I'm also assuming you have already participated in some sort of gun safety course. In my state, it is required before you can even go into the sherriff's office to apply or ask for the paperwork.
As far as a good carry weapon, TAKE YOUR TIME. Spend a little time looking at different retailers. Spend some time looking at different makes and models. Google them and do some research. Ask friends you know who have a few to take you out and try them. This allows you to get different feels and at the same time gives you practice. If you're going to pull a gun on someone to defend yourself, you better know how to shoot. In any and all situations that may arise, using the weapon is ALWAYS your last resort. You need to decide what kind you are comfortable with, revolver or semi-auto. Semi-auto is nice and easier to conceal generally but also have a higher fail rate. Some revolvers are a lot smaller these days. You need to find the right caliber, and NO, a .22 is not the right one. You might have one as a back up pcket pistol. You need to use a caliber that will stop an attacker, not go clean through them. You need to be able to judge each situation in it's own in an instant, your surroundings, houses, other people, children, how much and what type of a threat your attacker is. There is SO much that needs to be considered here. I personally like the .40 caliber. Police officers started using them a lot after too many 9mm rounds went through too many perpetrators and did further damage elsewhere. It's a big enough caliber that it will stop someone but not so much that it's gonna go through him, 3 buildings, 10 walls and 2 cars before it finally stops 8 blocks away after penetrating someones engine block like a .357 magnum. A .380 automatic or a .38 revolver are nice, too.

I really just suggest that you take a long time and really research everything. You are already doing that here. That's good. There is just so much more to consider, though besides what kind of weapon to carry. And, again, I apologize if I'm telling you anything you already know or seem like I am harping. But you asked for advise and I have been around firearms all of my life. I am even teaching my children about firearms and the safety and responsibility involved. Also, no matter how much you may know already or maybe think you know, this is truly one of the most important responsibilities in the world. Take your time and really make sure you are ready and comfortable and all the right choices will come to you.
Oh, and BTW, have fun. Firearms are also a great sport as well. But remember, safety, training and responsibility come first!!!!!!!

Just remember, there is one thing you have to be absolutely, positivly, without a shadow of a doubt sure of before you even begin to ponder the idea of carrying a concealed firearm and should have been made sure of before you even paid the $25 fee. And that is that you are completely ready and willing to take another human life. If you can't answer that question without the utmost slightest hesitation, you have no business even applying for the concealed handgun license. The seriousness and importance of this are unscalable.

Solid Snake · May 27th, 2006, 05:17 AM

Thanks for your replies. Maybe I should have been more thorough in my post. I'm not going to start carrying the weapon immediately, probably not for a good while. The reason for me getting a .22 is to spend a lot of time at the range to improve my accuracy and skill. I thought this would be a better idea than just buying a larger caliber and starting with that. My local gun dealer tells me that although I can buy a gun without a permit, I should get the permit to be on the safe side (especially post 9/11). My ultimate goal is not just to carry, but to shoot for practice as well. I know a .22 won't take down a raving crackhead in one shot, but I'm sure as hell better off with it than without it. Most others that I've asked have recommended that I start off with a .22 as my first handgun. Initially, my reason for getting the permit is so I can legally transport, carry and use the weapon without jumping through the hoops that I'd have to go through if I didn't have it.

taz480 · May 27th, 2006, 05:33 AM

Yes, I also highly recommend that as a first handgun. However, I still do not recommend using it for carry, AT ALL!!!! And actually, I need to correct a point. In my opinion, you ARE NOT better off with that .22 than without if some crack head comes up. More than likely, all he's gonna want is your money. If that is the case, do you know what you are going to do??? You are going to give him your money. I don't care if you are carrying Dirty Harry's 44 magnum, you give him your money and let him walk away. If you pull out your .22 and point it at him, he is a lot less stable than you are. Also that bullet isn't going to do anything to him, nor will 20 more. You are much better off giving him what he wants. If that is achieved, more than likely he will just take off and no one got killed. Remember what I said....LAST RESORT!!! Do you know the exact moment when you are supposed to point and pull that trigger?? Can you honestly answer that?? It's very important that you know that.

Solid Snake · May 27th, 2006, 06:53 AM

I can't say for sure. I've thought out situations like this, but I think too many times when people say "just give him the money", they take for granted that he won't kill me after I give him the money.

taz480 · May 27th, 2006, 07:22 AM

Well, again, Im not trying to deter you or tell you what to do, but I have been around firearms since I was 3 years old. I've been firing guns since I was 5. If you really can't honestly say when that "point in time" is, you really need to continue thinking about it. I said it is always a last resort but that time should be the very second before you truly, honestly believe your life is about to end and no sooner. You need to know deep in your soul that if you don't pull that trigger this second, you will die. And even once that happens, your life will never be the same. And at that point, a lot is going to happen to you. First, you're going to have to prove that it was self defense. This is very hard to do if the only other witness is laying there next to you. You said you've had an interest in firearms since you were young. See, I dont even know what exactly that means. It may mean you've hunted all your life. It may mean you've been fascinated all your life but have had no experience. I personally feel that concealed carry should only be for people who have had a few to several years of constant experience with guns. That fee you paid and the paperwork in most states is usually good for around 4 years. My suggestion to you is to put the idea of carrying concealed away for at least a year. Just forget it, The $25 you spent will still be good. Take that year to take some serious safety training. I dont mean no 2 hour class. I mean sign up for a 90 day or 6 month membership to a gun club. Learn gun safety. Learn hunter's safety. Take your time but stay with it. Practice a lot. Also they have classes just for carrying concealed and personal defense with a firearm. I suggest you take one of those. Ask all the questions you can. Get as much info as you can. You will not only be more prepared for this kind of responsibility but you will have more confidence and pride in yourself. In my opinion, I DO NOT feel you are ready to carry a concealed hand gun at this point. Of course this is just my opinion. Whatever you decide to do is up to you. I wish you the best with it and that is about the best advice I can give you on this.

**GroundZero3** · May 27th, 2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

(post 9/11)

are you really that concern with terrorist in PA? I am all for owning guns im curious on why you feel the need to carry one with you at all times. Again dont get me wrong i dont think anythign is wrong with it, you just sound paranoid

Check your state laws, most dont require a conceal weapon permit to tranport it in the car as long as the ammunition are seperated. (if you are pulled over you would announce to the officer that you have a weapon in the car and its not loaded) Why not learn martial arts or something if you are so scared of getting robbed? Granted it has its limitations but even have a gun is not going to save you from everything.

taz480 · May 27th, 2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

are you really that concern with terrorist in PA? I am all for owning guns im curious on why you feel the need to carry one with you at all times. Again dont get me wrong i dont think anythign is wrong with it, you just sound paranoid

Check your state laws, most dont require a conceal weapon permit to tranport it in the car as long as the ammunition are seperated. (if you are pulled over you would announce to the officer that you have a weapon in the car and its not loaded) Why not learn martial arts or something if you are so scared of getting robbed? Granted it has its limitations but even have a gun is not going to save you from everything.

Well put, GZ. I agree.

vass0922 · May 27th, 2006, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

are you really that concern with terrorist in PA? I am all for owning guns im curious on why you feel the need to carry one with you at all times. Again dont get me wrong i dont think anythign is wrong with it, you just sound paranoid

Check your state laws, most dont require a conceal weapon permit to tranport it in the car as long as the ammunition are seperated. (if you are pulled over you would announce to the officer that you have a weapon in the car and its not loaded) Why not learn martial arts or something if you are so scared of getting robbed? Granted it has its limitations but even have a gun is not going to save you from everything.

no kidding
I live in freakin' DC and I have no desire to carry a weapon.

Too many paranoid psycho's already carry them.. no need for me to add into the group.