I’ve been struggling with topics lately to talk about as I get ready to move to another, less expensive state. I’m preoccupied with my thoughts about packing, doing projects, and getting my house ready for sale. But then it occurred to me as I do all these things, even as I sit here and type this blog post, I carry a gun in my home. Some may call it paranoia, others call it extremism–but I call it being prepared for the occasion should it come.
I’m aware, and you should be too, that many break-ins happen when the homeowners or renters are at their home, relaxing, when they’d least likely expect it. Because I’m here at home, sometimes with my family, I take carrying my gun even more serious.
However, I do think it’s important to note here that I have a different outlook on home carry than some other folks do. Some of my friends take carrying at home like this: Since I’m home and I don’t have to worry about concealing my gun, I can carry the biggest, highest capacity gun I can and not worry about it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, if you will actually carry it.
I feel though, personally, that if I carried the biggest gun I could at home I may not be inclined to carry it at all because it’d be too big and bulky for the long haul. After all I’m usually at my home office desk 14-16 out of 24 hours, six days per week.
So, because I believe that comfort is key when being at home I’m going to pick something small that I’ll forget about until it’s needed. Right now, for example, I’m pocket carrying my Sig Sauer P938 in a Sticky Holster. If I pick something that’s too big and bulky, I may decide to remove it because I sit a lot and it can get uncomfortable.
Another thing is that I know where my guns are in the house. If I’m carrying one of my pocket guns, I know where I have other, higher capacity and usually more devastating guns. Most of the time they’re in reach in a gun safe, but for the times they’re not, my pocket gun will help get me to them.
On the other hand, the way I look at home as being comfortable, is totally opposite of going out. When I go out, I’m already uncomfortable, so strapping a bigger gun to my hip isn’t as big of a deal to me as long as I can conceal it properly.
Is it enough for me to just carry my gun at home, though? Is it safe to just carry without anything else? Of course I’m talking about training here. There are times when I walk around with my unloaded home gun and practice my draw, rounding corners, and opening doors–gun in hand.
I usually only do this when nobody else is home, and try to watch one of our corresponding Guardian Nation Skill Videos beforehand as a refresher. But the key here, is that I practice. I can assure you that if you home carry and have never practiced before, it’s not as easy as you think it is.
So, the question remains … do you carry at home, and if not–why? And, if you don’t, you really should start because some would argue that you stand a bigger chance of being victimized in your own home than you do while out in public. Let us know in the comments below.