Are you always armed?

[Michael W.]

This started out as a reply to the "EDC Knives" post
but I got meandering into some other thoughts that I decided
to start a new thread.

Whether in the house or out I usually have a Spyderco Paramilitary 2
S30V on me or a the Para 2 Sprint run with Grey Scales and CTS-20P
Steel. This new Carpenter steel is the shiznitz. Has the edge retention of
S90V but much more available and affordable. I also carry a little
Spyderco Ladybug FFG in ZDP-189. This has been my favorite pocket
scalpel lately. Absolutely amazing how sharp this steel can get and stay.

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the idea of "always armed" and
find that I'm not really as "ready" as I could be in my comfortable
suburban life.

I work from a home office and generally slob around in gym shorts all day
in front of two 24" monitors. If I have to run out on errands I'll throw
on a pair of cargo shorts and slip my PM9 in my pocket.
For Sunday-go-to-meeting I'll usually wear a suit or a jacket/slacks so
again it's my normal "EDC kit" consisting of PM9 plus a reload, Para2,
4Sevens Quark123 and usually a Spyderco Ladybug in my suit pocket for
about 99% of cutting chores and when I don't want to freak anyone out
whipping out the ParaMilitary.

But I'd say at least good 80% of my week is spent bumming around the
house in gym shorts. I carry a knife but no gun. So even in "nice"
neighborhoods like mine the frequency of home invasions is rising. If
someone started breaking down my front door would I have time to get
my gun? At this point the answer is no.

Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but I like to think that as I get older
and learn more and that I can plug the gaps of knowledge and/or
preparedness that I was too much of a chucklehead to recognize earlier

So all this to say, that I've been experimenting carrying my P380 around
in the house in my gym shorts. It's been a little tough since it's heavy
enough to pull my pants down So I either need to start wearing
"real" shorts with a belt around the house or possibly find something
lighter to carry.

I've been considering something like a Keltec P32 as an alternative. The
Corbon DPX loading in 32 ACP has some pretty impressive ballistics for a
mouse gun. I imagine in any case, putting 8 rounds of that stuff into a
home invaders face is still going to put a bunch of painful holes in him to
dissuade him from thinking he wants my TV. The P32 will probably
weigh a good 5-6 ounces less loaded than the Kahr P380 loaded.

What do you guys do?

Michael-

[Barth]

Yes

[georgepittenger]

This started out as a reply to the "EDC Knives" post

But I'd say at least good 80% of my week is spent bumming around the
house in gym shorts. I carry a knife but no gun. So even in "nice"
neighborhoods like mine the frequency of home invasions is rising. If
someone started breaking down my front door would I have time to get
my gun? At this point the answer is no.

So all this to say, that I've been experimenting carrying my P380 around
in the house in my gym shorts. It's been a little tough since it's heavy
enough to pull my pants down So I either need to start wearing
"real" shorts with a belt around the house or possibly find something
lighter to carry.

I've been considering something like a Keltec P32 as an alternative. The
Corbon DPX loading in 32 ACP has some pretty impressive ballistics for a
mouse gun. I imagine in any case, putting 8 rounds of that stuff into a
home invaders face is still going to put a bunch of painful holes in him to
dissuade him from thinking he wants my TV. The P32 will probably
weigh a good 5-6 ounces less loaded than the Kahr P380 loaded.

What do you guys do?

Michael-

I haven't gotten one yet but you may want to consider a Remora , a waistband friction holster .

From what I've heard a PM9 or the 380 in gym shorts would be fine .

Unless you're just looking for a good excuse to get a new shooter .

BTW , I've got a Seecamp .32 and I'm not convinced that I wanna fend off a home invasion ( which often seems to involve more than 1 BG ) with that caliper or round count , 6+1 for me . Bigger is better , where practical .

[melissa5]

I'm always armed away from the house. While at home, I have a gun on my nightstand and a gun beside the couch. I also revert to gym shorts or sweatpants at home. Lately I've been thinking about getting a knife with a sheath instead of a folder.

Anyway, I've got a cheap Smart Carry knockoff that could be worn outside the pants and be very comfortable with shorts and sweats. http://www.concealmentconceptsholste.../lowrider.html

[MikeyKahr]

If You Carry, Always Carry

I'm generally always armed or have an arm within arm's reach, all except times that I cannot (shower, etc.). Massad Ayoob's first of Ten Commandments of Concealed Carry says it well:

"If You Carry, Always Carry
The criminal is the actor, and the armed citizen is the reactor. The typical violent criminal arms himself only when he intends to do something with it. He picks the time and place of the assault, and initiates the attack. Therefore, he doesn’t need to worry about self-defense.

The armed citizen, the intended victim, does not know when or where that attack will come. Therefore, he or she must be constantly prepared and constantly vigilant. The “pistol-packer” learns to pick a comfortable holster and an appropriately sized handgun, and “dress around the firearm.” After a few days, or a few weeks, it becomes second nature to wear it.

When the defender does not know when the attack will come, the only reasonable expectation of safety lies in being always armed."

http://www.tactical-life.com/online/...ncealed-carry/

[CJB]

I'm always armed away from the house. While at home, I have a gun on my nightstand and a gun beside the couch. I also revert to gym shorts or sweatpants at home. Lately I've been thinking about getting a knife with a sheath instead of a folder.

Ya know.... there are those individuals that regard self defense in one's own home, with a gun or knife, something that ought not be done. Liberals mostly.

I'm sure those same folks would regard defending one's self, and home, with your gym shorts and sweatpants... outright cruel and inhuman behavior! Ewwwwww!

~~~~~

Always armed, yes, with some sort of .45 auto. Kahr, 1911, or Sig P220

My EDC knife - Spiderco Harpy (and has been since before they got famous).

I always have a loaded pistol under my pillow when I sleep, on the nightstand when I'm in bed not sleepin' . Always on my motorbike, always in any cage-vehicle. Always in public, always at home. Always.

One exception being - when I arrive to work in the AM, I take my .45 out of my pocket, it gets locked in my vehicle. When I get off work at the end of the day, it gets unlocked and back in my pocket. That is the only exception. If allowed to carry at work, I would. If self employed, I would.

Florida laws apply for bars, court houses, police stations, schools, etc.... non of which I frequent, so essentially, I'm always armed.

[JFootin]

Michael, I'll bet the LCP could be worn on a lanyard around the neck. Just hang there about mid-chest. Maybe even the PM9 could be carried this way. After all, you're not worried about concealment around the house, right? If so, you could just wear a loose, untucked shirt over it. All that would be needed is a lanyard attachment point. A little work with a drill or Dremmel at the bottom back of the grip should work. With some creativity, you could do something recessed: a 3/8" wide opening with a bar sitting sideways in it, where you could attach the lanyard clip. When not using it with the lanyard, there would be nothing sticking out in the way; just an opening down there out of the way. Just a brain fart.

I think somebody makes a holster that hangs that way, holding the gun securely but very quick to get the gun when you need it. I think I remember seeing one, but cannot remember where. Does anyone know where one can be found?

[TheTman]

I try not to leave the house unarmed, but I still forget too for a quick run down to the grocery or something. I'm getting better. I only had one incident in the last couple weeks where I went off unarmed. I was leaving my Charter Arms .44 special with a lock on it in my car, but got to feeling uncomfortable about that, so I been bringing it in at night.
My chair has those arms that lift up with storage compartments, tonite there is my .44 special on one side, and my Kahr CW40 on the other. Within a few steps from the chair is most of my "arsenal" including a 20 guage youth model 870, and a MAK-90 with a 30 round clip. And most of the rest of my pistols that I keep in my aparment.
When I get my farmhouse back, afer the divorce I'll have a guns scattered through out the house, and I usually open carry one of my revolvers, either a .357 of the .44 mag, or sometimes just my Buckmark .22. When I am working outside. The biggest threat was feral dogs, I've been greeted by a pair of hungry Rottweilers, a Doberman, a St. Bernard, and some German Shepard to Lab sized mutts. Hence the need for something a little bigger than a .22. I should dispatch them, but usually fire a warning shot into the ground so I don't have to bury them. I should help the sheep farmer down the way by going ahead and killing them. He loses a lot of lambs to these dogs, and he always shoots to kill.
Since they paved the road, there has been a great reduction in the number of dogs showing up. I guess they are dumping them further out in the county now. There are always the rabid skunks to watch out for so I like to be armed or have my Ruger 10-22 very handy. It works well on skunks from a distance. I have come home at night and seen bobcats, but they don't come out much in the day, and they seem frightened of humans anyway. It was the feral dogs that I feared the most, and of course two legged predators. I live about a mile from the interstate, it would be easy for a criminal to get off at my exit and look for an ez target for some quick cash.

[melissa5]

Ya know.... there are those individuals that regard self defense in one's own home, with a gun or knife, something that ought not be done. Liberals mostly.

I'm sure those same folks would regard defending one's self, and home, with your gym shorts and sweatpants... outright cruel and inhuman behavior! Ewwwwww!

LOL! It's all in how you use what you've got! Distract them with your booty shorts and then knife them in the back. Ya know...you could wear a thong/speedo and get the same result.

[CJB]

I think my own gym shorts and sweat pants would certainly have a distracting (smell) and huge deterrent factor!~ If I just train 'em to kick butt like I trained 'em to walk to the washin' machine on their own, I'd have it made!

[knkali]

always armed outside the house gun and edged weapon. In house, not on my person but where they could be needed.
BTW I am now a Spyderco fan! Always thought they where good value but after getting one and handling it as my EDC, I think they are (as Michael W says) shiznitz. Got the Endura 4 and tomorow my Police 3 should arrive.

[cgo99]

This started out as a reply to the "EDC Knives" post
but I got meandering into some other thoughts that I decided
to start a new thread.

Whether in the house or out I usually have a Spyderco Paramilitary 2
S30V on me or a the Para 2 Sprint run with Grey Scales and CTS-20P
Steel. This new Carpenter steel is the shiznitz. Has the edge retention of
S90V but much more available and affordable. I also carry a little
Spyderco Ladybug FFG in ZDP-189. This has been my favorite pocket
scalpel lately. Absolutely amazing how sharp this steel can get and stay.

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the idea of "always armed" and
find that I'm not really as "ready" as I could be in my comfortable
suburban life.

I work from a home office and generally slob around in gym shorts all day
in front of two 24" monitors. If I have to run out on errands I'll throw
on a pair of cargo shorts and slip my PM9 in my pocket.
For Sunday-go-to-meeting I'll usually wear a suit or a jacket/slacks so
again it's my normal "EDC kit" consisting of PM9 plus a reload, Para2,
4Sevens Quark123 and usually a Spyderco Ladybug in my suit pocket for
about 99% of cutting chores and when I don't want to freak anyone out
whipping out the ParaMilitary.

But I'd say at least good 80% of my week is spent bumming around the
house in gym shorts. I carry a knife but no gun. So even in "nice"
neighborhoods like mine the frequency of home invasions is rising. If
someone started breaking down my front door would I have time to get
my gun? At this point the answer is no.

Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but I like to think that as I get older
and learn more and that I can plug the gaps of knowledge and/or
preparedness that I was too much of a chucklehead to recognize earlier

So all this to say, that I've been experimenting carrying my P380 around
in the house in my gym shorts. It's been a little tough since it's heavy
enough to pull my pants down So I either need to start wearing
"real" shorts with a belt around the house or possibly find something
lighter to carry.

I've been considering something like a Keltec P32 as an alternative. The
Corbon DPX loading in 32 ACP has some pretty impressive ballistics for a
mouse gun. I imagine in any case, putting 8 rounds of that stuff into a
home invaders face is still going to put a bunch of painful holes in him to
dissuade him from thinking he wants my TV. The P32 will probably
weigh a good 5-6 ounces less loaded than the Kahr P380 loaded.

What do you guys do?

Michael-

And here I thought that I was the only one that made long and complicated rationalizations when I want to justify that I "need" another gun.
Michael W. I say get the the new P32, it sounds perfectly rational to me that you should get a new gun instead of new shorts.
I know I'd choose the gun over the shorts any day.

[Barth]

BTW I am now a Spyderco fan!

+1 on that!
Spyderco is a personal favorite of mine too.
One Delica and two Pacific Salt H1s

[mr surveyor]

safe in your own home?????

it takes only 5-10 seconds for your door to be kicked in and one or more thugs to be in the room... can you clear the lazyboy and make it to the firearm in that length of time? If I'm awake, I have a firearm on my person. I gave up wearing gym shorts and cushy feeling stuff several years ago, but will put on a pair of cut-offs occassionally (at home only)...and in goes the IWB pistol.

leave home without it?????

I don't even stay home without it being at least at arm's reach (which case is in bed or "in the branch office"). As was already said.... we don't choose the time for a violent attacker to complicate our lives. If you believe that it's only necessary to carry where you think trouble might occur, that's excellent reasoning to carry always. Trouble can happen anywhere, anytime without warning.

As for knives... I'm too old to play that game in most cases. In the event of a face off, I'll have a gun - period! If for some silly reason of not paying attention to my surroundings and am attacked from behind, I may wish I had one of those flick yer bic knives to jab the attacker in the thigh..if I could reach the knife. If you're in a place where you just can't carry a firearm, and knives are acceptable, then ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Paranoid? Nope. Confident? Mostly. Armed? Always.

[Bawanna]

My PM45 is always on me, always. I just checked and my other ankle rig fits it with the just installed CTC laser so it will still always be on me. I've been putting it on the counter under a towel when I'm in the shower lately, no more taking it in inside a double zip lock bag. I figure in the shower with no sound booster in my ear I'm toast anyhow, don't want to see it coming.
I always got a blade on me too mostly cause I got a little pack on the front and back of the chair so several is no issue.
And NOW, thanks to Greg I got an AG Russell hanging around my neck.........