Curious: Carry at Home Reasons

[Robhic]

First, I am not questioning anyone's reasons to do so. And I am not trying to call BS on anyone. That established, I am curious about reasons many seem to be constantly carrying around the house.

I live alone in a nice area (Destrehan). I really have no fear, or at least no unreasonable fear, at home. Crime is low to non-existent around here and the cops do a fine job of having a constant presence. I see patrol cars up and down the streets constantly.

I DO, however, keep a loaded "The Judge" on a nightstand. No prying little hands to worry about, ya know? But I read stories of many who carry at home all the time. Go outside or hanging around the house -- packing! Why?

Do you live in a neighborhood or area where there is a lot of crime or a higher potential for crime? Is it just a habit? Do you really need to carry to the mailbox, etc.? I'm really curious as to why some folks feel compelled to be armed to get the mail or work in the garden. I'm sure anyone living in New Orleans or other close by areas has more than a few reasons due to the, uh, inhabitants and their propensity towards criminal activity. But in less criminally-infested areas why the 24/7 carry?

I hope this isn't upsetting or annoying to anyone. I just truly am curious as to why access to a firearm is felt to be required for a lot of people. Any light /reasons you can shed on this much appreciated! Thanks.

 

[aroundlsu]

I keep my HK P7 on my hip when at home because

1) It's the safest place for it.
2) So I won't forget it when I leave the house.
3) So I won't forget where I left it when I do want to leave the house.
4) So I will have it on me when I take the trash out and other times when I momentarily step outside and could possibly run into a bad creature (human or otherwise).
5) Just because you never know.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

There was a post from a member on here yesterday of an incident of a juvenile delinquent running through his yard with the cops hot on his heels, while he was outside working on his truck. Plenty reason right there. As the old saying goes "crime happens anywhere and everywhere."

 

[sraacke]

I used to schedule all of my criminal encounters. I subscribed to a service which would take care of the details for you. You called them up at least 12 hours before hand and placed your order for a robbery, assault, rape, whatever you wanted to experiance. You told them the time and place you would want the incident to occur and the service would have a criminal there to commit the crime. This was a very convenient service and I made sure that I was always armed for my prearranged criminal encounters.
Sadly, times change and I had to tighten the belt on some things like the guy who mowed my lawn and the Criminal Schedule Service. I really miss not knowing the exact time and location of criminal encounters. Now things are totally random. It's like when I gave up scheduling my car accidents. When I stopped doing that I realized that I should start wearing my seatbelt everywhere I go in my car just in case. So it has become with my gun. Instead of just taking it out of the closet, dusting it off and putting it on for the occasional, scheduled criminal encounter, now I keep it with me all of the time. If I knew when and where I would need my gun I would probably just leave it in the closet until that time.

 

[goodburbon]

I live 30 miles from my sheriff, he drives a truck. Driving like a maniac he can make it in 25 minutes if the weather is perfect. There are mountain lions, coyotes, and roaming dogs that people drop off. There is no animal control, that is me. I'm a first responder, and have to leave on a moment's notice. I encourage my wife to carry around the house, and I carry.

 

[kcinnick]

If my pistol is always with me, I don't have to worry about my 4 year old getting a hold of it, I always know where it is.

In addition to what everyone else said.

 

[SGT_Kramer]

If my pistol is always with me, I don't have to worry about my 4 year old getting a hold of it, I always know where it is.

In addition to what everyone else said.

+1..

 

[Storm52]

Home really isn't any different than away from home. You carry; it's a habit; it's a routine. I get SSS in the morning and get dressed, put my watch on, wallet in my pocket, money clip, keys, and gun on. I have probably 10 clocks around here to find out the time, but I still have my watch on. I didn't leave the house today and didn't need a credit card, cash or driver's license, but I still have them on me. Same with the handgun. I got into the habit regardless of assumed need. Not to sound ninja or rambo, but I am prepared to leave the house whether it is wallet, watch or gun. I guess it is saying that I'm dressed...

 

[onelochevy]

I dont carry at home. i really dont feel the need to. I get off at 2am and either jog or bike around my neighborhood and feel perfectly safe so i dont see the need to carry. Just a matter of personal opinion. Now if I still lived in the neighborhood I grew up in, I'd carry all the time. That place went to **** since Katrina.

 

[LACamper]

Home, no. Leaving home, yes. But there's always one a few feet away.

 

[gonepecan]

I'm always armed, unless I'm showering or sleeping. Gun is just a few feet away in those cases.

Only other time is when I'm at the post office.

 

[jetmech1983]

Wife totes her public defender around the house, never more than 5 feet away. I carry my pf-9 while doing anything and everything. I'd much rather have it and not need it than the other way around. I live in a safe area, with great neighbors and very little worry that someone will come up with bad intent, but I'd rather be prepared.

 

[Tom Gresham]

I dont carry at home. i really dont feel the need to. I get off at 2am and either jog or bike around my neighborhood and feel perfectly safe so i dont see the need to carry. Just a matter of personal opinion. Now if I still lived in the neighborhood I grew up in, I'd carry all the time. That place went to **** since Katrina.

Nothing wrong with making that choice, but I would point out that feeling safe is not the same as being safe.

 

[LongGoneDays]

I'm a gunslinger. Its what I do.

 

[JNieman]

I carry at home because it's always in my holster, on my belt. I only take it off my belt when I go to bed and lay it on the stand next to me.

If something happens in the yard; I need it now, not after I run to the bedroom to retrieve it.

Mostly, there's no reason -to- remove it when I enter my home, so why would I?

 

[Gus McCrae]

I'm a gunslinger. Its what I do.

Nice.



Really though, if I was going somewhere where I thought I needed a gun, wouldn't it make more sense to just not go in the first place? I carry for a few reasons:

1. It doesn't matter where you are, there are bad people looking for good people to harm. Carrying a firearm is like a seatbelt, you use it for your safety in the unlikely event that you will need it.
2. A firearm is more secure on my person than it is anywhere else besides locked away.
3. It's just habit.
4. I put it on in the morning and I don't have to bother with taking it on and off depending on where I go.


As far as living in "nice" neighborhoods....

1. I live in a fair to nice area and my neighbor's kids were home alone when a thief broke in.
2. Sharon Tate lived in a nice neighborhood.
3. Nice neighborhoods are where money is.
4. http://www.icrimewatch.net/results....drZip=70047&AddrZipPlus=&excludeIncarcerated=

 

[flamatrix99]

Home, no. Leaving home, yes. But there's always one a few feet away.

This....

 

[Leonidas]

Sharon Tate lived in a nice neighborhood.

So did the LoBianco's. I didn't know you were as old as me. Y'know there's a bunch of whippersnappers scratchin' their noggins...."who?"

 

[S&W4ME]

So did the LoBianco's. I didn't know you were as old as me. Y'know there's a bunch of whippersnappers scratchin' their noggins...."who?"

Who?????

 

[Spent Brass]

Nahhh we have Google. and I believe it's Labianca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leno_and_Rosemary_LaBianca


I carry at home just because I dont like taking it on and off all day and I usually have it on at 0700 unless I have class that day. (carry at LSU is a no no) Also on a limited stipend I have small funds for student housing and living in a questionable neighborhood where I constantly debate the merits of shooting my neighbors and the safety of my street.

So did the LoBianco's. I didn't know you were as old as me. Y'know there's a bunch of whippersnappers scratchin' their noggins...."who?"