Boyle column: What it's like to carry a loaded gun

[austinN4]

I tend to take the better to have it and not needed vs need it and not have it approach where applicable/legal.

This ^^^. Both points of view are valid - to carry or not to carry. We each have to decide. To each his own.

But what was said in the OP ("What he doesn't understand is that he doesn't get to decide when he will need his concealed firearm to defend himself or his loved ones, the bad guy does.") is still true, which is why I am in the better to have it and not need it camp.

[Hmac]

Don't give the 'gubment any ideas man. Legally mandated NASCAR-type helmet is not far off the way we are going. But in all seriousness, everyone has to make their own risk/benefit assessment and act accordingly. I tend to take the better to have it and not needed vs need it and not have it approach where applicable/legal.

I would generally agree with that statement, but where it falls down is the circumstance wherein it might not be better to have it. e.g some work environments, situations where you have to leave it in your car, traveling with it to some states, increased risk of theft, etc. It is indeed a daily risk/benefit assessment. I am inclined to carry when outside of my little slice of heaven here, even the "big city" 16 miles down the road (especially if going to WalMart), or trips to the Twin Cities. The problem is, if going to Minneapolis for work, now I gotta figure out where to securely store it while in my doctor/administrator/academician role and the various meetings where, in my grown-up clothes and in my grown-up role, and dealing with the types of people I typically deal with, carrying a firearm and having it accidentally noticed imposes a whole different level of perception about who and what I am....and one that tends to be counterproductive to the image I have to portray in order to be taken seriously. If the risk was high, I wouldn't care. But, it's not, and the reality of secure storage when on the road is always on my mind.

And I do know that carrying a gun while wearing scrubs all day is inconvenient. Interestingly, the hospital where I work is pretty indifferent to doctors carrying guns, and even provides acceptably secure storage for those that so choose. And this is Minnesota, not Texas.

[WillBrink]

I would generally agree with that statement, but where it falls down is the circumstance wherein it might not be better to have it. e.g some work environments, situations where you have to leave it in your car, traveling with it to some states, increased risk of theft, etc. It is indeed a daily risk/benefit assessment. I am inclined to carry when outside of my little slice of heaven here, even the "big city" 16 miles down the road (especially if going to WalMart), or trips to the Twin Cities. The problem is, if going to Minneapolis for work, now I gotta figure out where to securely store it while in my doctor/administrator/academician role and the various meetings where, in my grown-up clothes and in my grown-up role, and dealing with the types of people I typically deal with, carrying a firearm and having it accidentally noticed imposes a whole different level of perception about who and what I am....and one that tends to be counterproductive to the image I have to portray in order to be taken seriously. If the risk was high, I wouldn't care. But, it's not, and the reality of secure storage when on the road is always on my mind.

And I do know that carrying a gun while wearing scrubs all day is inconvenient. Interestingly, the hospital where I work is pretty indifferent to doctors carrying guns, and even provides acceptably secure storage for those that so choose. And this is Minnesota, not Texas.

Impressive! How it should be for all nut magnet locals such as schools, hospitals, malls etc. At the very least they should be indifferent to it, if not supportive of those legally able to CCW, but that's dream land I know.

[TomD]

It's just a WAG but the percentage of CHL holders who truly EDC is likely very low, say below 10%. Like the previous poster, I rarely carry in my rural (Texas) hometown but absolutely do when going to any larger city. Houston gives me the willies! A M249 would be about right there.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I dream of being an old man in my death bed and my only regret is that all the effort put into gun training and CCW was a waste. That would be a good life.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

It's just a WAG but the percentage of CHL holders who truly EDC is likely very low, say below 10%. Like the previous poster, I rarely carry in my rural (Texas) hometown but absolutely do when going to any larger city. Houston gives me the willies! A M249 would be about right there.

Funny, when I go out of the city I take my Noveske and a spare M&P.... Inner city people I can read, Rocky Mountain hillbillies are opaque to me.

[TomD]

LOL! Suppose that whatever you are familiar with change can be unsettling.

[WillBrink]

LOL! Suppose that whatever you are familiar with change can be unsettling.

And familiarity is what will get you killed...

[jpmuscle]

I would generally agree with that statement, but where it falls down is the circumstance wherein it might not be better to have it. e.g some work environments, situations where you have to leave it in your car, traveling with it to some states, increased risk of theft, etc. It is indeed a daily risk/benefit assessment. I am inclined to carry when outside of my little slice of heaven here, even the "big city" 16 miles down the road (especially if going to WalMart), or trips to the Twin Cities. The problem is, if going to Minneapolis for work, now I gotta figure out where to securely store it while in my doctor/administrator/academician role and the various meetings where, in my grown-up clothes and in my grown-up role, and dealing with the types of people I typically deal with, carrying a firearm and having it accidentally noticed imposes a whole different level of perception about who and what I am....and one that tends to be counterproductive to the image I have to portray in order to be taken seriously. If the risk was high, I wouldn't care. But, it's not, and the reality of secure storage when on the road is always on my mind.

And I do know that carrying a gun while wearing scrubs all day is inconvenient. Interestingly, the hospital where I work is pretty indifferent to doctors carrying guns, and even provides acceptably secure storage for those that so choose. And this is Minnesota, not Texas.

Just a perk for MDs or hospital employees?

[Moose-Knuckle]

If a guy has the mindset that he shouldn't carry because "it would lead to way more problems than it would solve" then this is they same guy who shouldn't drink adult beverages, drive on the freeway, etc. as he comes across as an individual who has a problem with self control. Some people just can't handle this thing we call freedom.

Please don't impose your stupidity on the rest of us.