[Ascii]

So, my cousin just got his plastic in the mail this last week and asked me to go with him on his Wally-Walk this past Saturday. He wanted me to tail him from a slight distance and watch him interact with others and then give him some advice afterwards. Won't bore you with details but it reminded me a bit of my first experience carrying after getting my plastics all those years ago. I remember that I thought I would be very jittery and nervous but found that I was actually quite calm, albeit much more 'aware' of my surrounds.

Out of pure curiosity, I wonder if some other members of the forum who CC would be willing to share some of their first experiences?

 

[OcalaCCW]

Well, Wally World was my first time as well. I figured that there nothing is out of the ordinary.

 

[BuckJM53]

I received mine in the Spring of 2006. As opposed to a WW walk, my first adventure with my initial carry gun (P95) was a walk in the neighborhood followed by a trip to the local mall. While I was a little self conscious and wondered if anyone noticed, it didn't really feel that odd as I had been carrying around the house and on my property for a couple of months prior (my initial permit took nearly 45 days to be processed ).

 

[Yetiman]

I don't remember where I went first. It was wherever I would be going on a Tuesday. I think I stopped at the grocery store, shopped at an Aldi's and then walked the dog.

I have carried every day since then except one day while I had pneumonia last year when I never left the house, even to walk the dog.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I received my first one in 1991 in Nevada. My first carry was to dinner and a show in a casino. I carried an S&W 640 .357 magnum J-Frame in a small of the back holster like in the movies. When I sat down in the wooden booth seat, the gun hit the back of the seat with a loud clang and it hurt. I quickly decided small of the back was not my preferred choice for concealed carry.

 

[bearcatter]

I started carry with a Beretta Bobcat. It's tiny size helped. It wasn't hard to drop it in a pocket and ignore it being there. Gave me a head start on my current carry, an LCR.

Size was all the Bobcat had going for it. It earned some sort of bad award for malfunctioning. Now gone, not recommended for CCW.

 

[dubshooter]

I don't remember where I first went to, and don't really think I thought too much about carrying because it seems everyone out here does anyways.

Only thing that gets me "worried" is my wife's family isn't big gun advocates, although they know I have them and use them. They're not aware I carry everywhere, all the time, and they make comments about those "worried folks" that do. So when I get the hug from the in-law or aunt or someone, I always wonder what they think it is if they happen to bump the gun (happened a couple times). No one says anything though. Not that I would change anything if they did.

 

[LC9inTX]

TX has only had a CHL law since '96 but prior to that people could apply to their local sheriff for a permit to carry if they had good reason to do so. My father, who owned his own retail business and often went to the bank after dark with several thousand dollars in cash, had a carry permit as far back as I can remember--at least back into the 'Fifties. Legally he was an unpaid reserve deputy, with a badge and everything.

I worked at his store in the summers when I was in high school and rode with him many nights on the bank run. When I got out of college and went to work in the store he arranged for me to become a reserve deputy, and I carried a little Beretta .25 semi-auto to the bank every night. It felt completely natural.

When I left his employment in '75 and moved to New Orleans I had to give up my carry permit, and it took me a long time to get used to going out "naked."

 

[Lead Slanger]

The first time I carried, I felt like everyone was looking for my gun. I also realized how looking at stuff in the store required me bend down or reach up for something in a different way.

 

[Scruz91]

Hey, a thread I can contribute to!

My plastic came in just two days ago (saturday), but I didnt get a chance to go anywhere. So yesterday, I decided to carry on my way to Academy to pick up a good quality box of hollowpoints. (went with speer gold dot 115gr.)

But a bit of info on my setup. I'm using a Kangaroo Carry holster for deep concealment with my sr9c. This method of carry is slow to the draw but its concealability is ideal for me mainly due to my job and disapproving family.

Anyways, back to the first experience. I took it to my parents house to test if they could see anything that would give it away and nope. They didnt notice a thing. (Well until my mom patted me on the back and I'm pretty sure she had a "what the hell" face and thought I was wearing a bra. Lol.) But apart from that, everything went smooth.

Afterwards, I went to Academy and again, noone noticed a thing. Felt pretty natural really. I felt like I was more aware of everyone around me but didnt have that feeling that everyone is looking at my gun.

Did a little more shopping and even had to disarm when I went shopping for my son at Toys r us. Now here's the thing. I've heard that they do not allow weapons in their store for obvious safety reasons, but they did not have a 30.06 posted. I disarmed mainly since that was my first trip out and I wasn't feeling up to the risk.

And then there's today. My first day at work while carrying. So far so good. lol.

 

[berettabone]

Felt natural from day one......most people aren't very aware, and don't even notice....if they have a sign posted, I don't care....if they do, then I make it a habit, not to spend my $$$$ there.

 

[Old Printer]

Felt natural from day one......most people aren't very aware, and don't even notice....if they have a sign posted, I don't care....if they do, then I make it a habit, not to spend my $$$$ there.

Our PTC trainer said that if a business is posted and you enter, they still need to verbally tell you. He said if you enter, you're not breaking any laws, but if they ask you to leave, you should leave.

 

[Jtiv19]

I felt a bit awkward at first. Now I'm suprised at how awkward it is when I don't carry.

 

[GerryM]

Been wearing concealed for years, don't even recall first time

It is very natural and feel naked without it

 

[Old Printer]

Been carrying concealed for two weeks today. Feel naked without it. Are people looking at me differently? Nah.

 

[Mglii1974]

I been carrying for years as well I don't remember my first time. I do how ever remember my wife's first time she has only been carrying since September 2012. We went to about 4 stores the first day she had her LTCH and every time she passed a mirror or anything else that could cast a reflection she would stop and look at herself. After about 4 hours of her doing this I finally told her "look you are fine, no one cares "

Now fast forward 5 months she has carried so much that now when she can't because of where she works she is fiddling with her outfit where she normally carries because it does not feel right.

 

[ezsqueezy]

Cannot remember the first time I carried. I do remember being extra polite and trying to keep more situational awareness about what was going on around me. Not a bad idea, I think, to have someone observe how the concealed rig looks and can offer suggestions for improvements. Never thought of that.

 

[RockDoctor]

At the Mall. Summer. I was wearing cargo shorts and a polo shirt carryIng a Kahr 9 in a fanny pack. We walked in and an LEO working off duty in uniform caught my eye. He just smiled and I walked on to shop. I carried a Walther ppk/s before I had a CC because we lived in an inner city Archie Bunker 'hood in Indiana and preferred to be "judged by twelve."

 

[harryball]

All good and interesting stories. Above all, don't let it go to your head. You are not Rambo, or his distant cousin.

In 14 years I've never been asked in public if I was carrying by anyone.

I'm aware of two instances where someone caught a glimpse, rare. The first guy (years ago) just nodded and went back to shopping. The other guy (recently in an autoparts store) acted SHOCKED, got his manager and kept whispering and pointing at me. He'd glimpsed just the end of the holster I was wearing that day. The manager just shook his head and walked off. I made SURE I checked out at this guy's register. I said, "can't believe the price on this, almost like I'm robbing the place" and smiled big. He acted distracted the whole time.

 

[gwgw60]

It took me 2-3 months after I got my permit to work up the confidence to go into public armed. My first outing was at Costco. I thought for sure everyone was staring at me, but of course they weren't. Next I did some walks in the neighborhood. After awhile I had the confidence (and proficiency) to go out concealed regularly.

Now I carry as often as I can, especially on weekends. I work at a federal facility and can't even "legally" lock my weapon in my car parked in an outside lot. This also restricts me from carrying to and from work. I don't think that is right and is a misrepresentation of the Federal Code, but that's for another discussion.