JReedEsq

Be thankful your wife is taking steps to protect herself and your children. My wife is a recovering liberal who grew up with no guns in the home. She has grown comfortable with me carrying but she initially would really freak out about a secured and/or holsterd gun being anywhere near our son. It took her a while to understand that it isn't a bomb and it's not going to spontaniously explode or fly from a secured holster and spray lead all over a room. I've explained it is like a car in that it's just as dangerous as the person who controls it. The more she learns about gun safety the less she is afraid. However, she is still afraid to touch an unloaded handgun even if I hand it to her pointing out an emtpy chamber and no magazine. On the other hand, when she thinks we're in a dangerous neighborhood, however, she'll ask me if I'm carrying. She has asked me if I will begin to carry while hiking when the new national park law goes into effect later this month. I think this was prompted by several people we know telling us about seeing packs of coyotes while hiking and mountain biking in East Tennessee. Shes heard stories of them attacking children. I told her that I'm definitely more worried about 2 legged threats. However, if a formerly anti-gun person is encouraging me to do whatever I can legally and responsibly to protect our family I'm all for it. I'm sure your wife will figure out a safe holster setup that will work for her. Our son loves to dig in his Mom's purse so I'd be wary of purse carry.

+1

First let me say that I don't OC. However, I have to chime in in favor of the OCers on one issue that has arisen in the debate. I cannot buy the "criminal will steal your gun" arguement. I find that nearly impossible to believe. The vast majority of criminals are cowards. They look for a vunerable and easy target. I don't OC because I don't want the attention and I don't want businesses etc... to post because of OC. I just can't buy the "he want's to steal your gun" arguement at all. They would much rather steal your car or your wallet and I believe the vast majority will look for someone who won't put up a fight. I certainly wouldn't OC standing in line at the bank. I believe the "shoot me first" arguement is a lot more credible than the "he'll steal your gun" arguement. In that situation I'd much rather CC. As I said I don't OC, but I have no problem with those who do at the right time and place.

Glock 19 or XD9

Thanks for letting everyone know about this... I saw one of these at a dealer a few months ago and I was tempted. I like the idea of a true "pocket gun" but I've not found one I like enough to actually put down cash for.

+1000

+1 to the above. That's why I went with a 26 myself. I'm not going to say someone else is wrong if they don't mind paying extra for ammo and they can shoot a .40 in a subcompact just as accurately and quickly as they shoot a 9. Me personally, I feel more comfortable with the 9 and I can be back on target with follow-ups quicker. Also, the first carry gun I bought was a 19 and I like that they use the same mags and ammo. From my limited understanding I believe some of the hotter SD 9mm loadings are nearly .40 ballistics anyway. I'm no expert and I'm not going to debate the ballistics, but for me, I think I am more likely to get multiple rounds on target quickly with the 9mm in a subcompact.

Plus 1 to this order. However, matching your shoes and belt is even better.

I've just been carrying about a month and I have the Glock 19 which is the 9mm twin to your gun. I tried on several options and bought a relatively cheap IWB which I returned immediately because it didn't take long to decide it would not be "all day" comfortable. I subsequently spent a little more on a Crossbreed Supertuck and I've found it to be very comfortable. I've not tried any Paddle or OWB holsters b/c I'm a skinny guy who wears suits a lot so I'm not sure if they would be concealable for me.

I'm not saying I'm going to walk around with an unholstered chrome-plated jennings in the wasteband some pants which are hanging off of my arse. I'm just saying that I'm not going to worry if it looks like I've got a fat wallet in my front pocket or someone sees the clips of an iwb holster. I'm not going to carry anywhere I'm prohibited by law anyway. I think by the numbers alone, I'm less likely to freak someone out if 99.9% don't see my gun than if 100% can openly see my gun.

+1 for the G26. I would consider the Ruger if I were to get a .380 but I prefer to stay with a 9mm. Are you willing to pay a premium for less effective ammo that is difficult to find? I didn't want the hassle. I looked around a bunch and the only other gun I really considered was a Kahr PM9. I really like the trigger feel of the Kahr and it is one of a very few 9mm to qualify as a true "pocket gun". Unfortunately reliability feedback is a little mixed. It definitely has a recommended break-in period and I've talked to a few folks and read about problems feeding hollowpoints even after sending the guns in to Kahr for adjustment. Even if those cases are rare, I don't like the idea of paying a big premium for a less reliable firearm.

No, but I like him already...

Perfect. I like to keep folks guessing...

Ha! Ha! I'd just have to keep the pistolas away from my wife if I actually did that to my kid. Me, on the other hand, many who meet me don't know it, but I'm probably the most tattooed lawyer you'd ever meet. If I were to roll up my sleaves, people look at me like I'm a 6'4" horse racing jockey, a classical musician who's a closet bluegrass fiend, or when you meet an asian with a strong southern accent.

That's exactly the answer I was looking for. I just didn't know if it's putting the weapon under stress in some way. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I didn't know whether to post this here or on the handgun forum so forgive me if it's in the wrong place. How long is it ok to leave a round in the chamber of my Glock 19? I've only had my permit for about a month now and began by carrying it loaded but w/o a round in the chamber for a while. After really drilling safe gun handling rules into my head, I've bengun carrying a round in the chamber the last week or so but I've also been to the range twice in that time and put a few rounds through it. If I go a few weeks without shooting and it goes straight into my safe at night (in a holster that covers the triggerguard), is it bad for the weapon to leave a round chambered for a long period of time? I just got another Glock (26) as a 2nd carry gun but I'm more comfortable with the 19, (and it has night sites) so it's likely the first thing I'd pull out of the safe if I heard glass breaking at 3 AM. BTW, I've got a toddler who gets into all my things so I won't be strapping a holster on the nightstand as some of you guys do... Instead, I just practice getting into my safe quickly so it would be automatic if I had to do it under stress.

I've got a Cross Breed Supertuck. It is waaaaay more comfortable than the first cheapo iwb holster I tried. I am skinny though and it it works with most but not all of my pants.

I personally don't plan to open carry outside my home or place of business unless I'm really in the backwoods somewhere. I'm carrying for self-defense and not to draw attention to myself. I don't really see the need to open carry with easily concealable, service caliber handguns available. Why flaunt what you've got? On the other hand, I'm a skinny guy and I'd rather print a little at times than carry a gun of insufficient caliber. I also think it would be irresponsible to carry something that is so uncomfortable to shoot that I won't practice with it. Most people just don't look check you out that closely so I'm not going to walk around worrying that someone who see's my front looks full will know it's a Glock 26. If I ever decide to open carry I think I might feel an obligation to be a little extra friendly to let people know that someone isn't a threat just b/c they carry. We can help shape peoples opinions for better or worse. We can be a nice friendly guy with a gun or an immature moron with an AK pistol who is obviously too fat to be law enforcement or military. All that said, I'm more comfortable with CC.

Well stated!

+1 that. There is too great a risk of misinterpreting an interaction between strangers. I'm only obligated to protect myself and my family.

I am still somewhat a newbie and I wanted to say +1 to the Glock 19 comment. I always thought I'd start with a revolver (and I may still get one) but a police officer suggested that Glock's are so simple and reliable that that they are the revolver of autos. I thought it was odd at the time, but now I understand exactly what he meant. Additionally, 9mm ammo is cheap and available easy to shoot so it's a great learning gun. Lastly, if you decide you like something else more, you can always sell a 19 for near what you might pay for a new one.

Sole Mio. A great Italian restaurant. I think it's on 3rd or 4th in Downtown Nashville.

I ummm eh; don't know what you are talking er, uhm, yeah.

There happens to be one of these for sale on the classifieds right now. Jess01999 is a good guy, too. I met him last week.

EarthRoamer XV-LTs in Action Ideally, I would have something like this, with bikes on the roof.