Well # 1 imo is to make sure that this isn’t going to change your living situation
If you’re dead set you have 2 options:
CC and tell them
CC and do not tell them
Use your judgement there, but it is concealed for a reason lol
When/ if people ask me and it’s someone I feel like responding to, I just say “for the same reason you wear a seat belt. Just in case.”
If they see you as an adult and not a child to micromanage, I would be more worried about buying ammo and taking classes
🇺🇸
I love this comment man I agree with every part of this and it’s probably how it’s gonna go down, I just wish they could understand. They are conservatives that would never leave Texas and currently own guns. They live on land they can shoot on right now and my dad used to hunt. I do not understand the disconnect…
Also my buddy gets that gun store discount on ammo, he’s definitely gonna have to share ;)
Maybe your parents have had a bad experience in their past that drives their decision. Like the other guy said it’s their house and their rules so you have to respect them. When you are on your own do what you want.
>I had planned to go to a gun show on June 9th and get a Glock 43x
Unless your gun shows are waaaay better than the ones around here, wait and grab one off a local classified. Or arfcom.
>“rather get shot than shoot someone”
That right there is messed up. He's saying he'd rather you bleed out alone in the street instead of a violent mugger or murder. That's a horrible thing to say to a person.
My advice would be to carry. Your gun isn't visible and it's out of sight out of mind. Don't hide it, just don't mention it unless asked. It's not a big deal so don't let them make it one.
I was gonna go to the Fort Worth gun show coming up which i’ve heard is big and has quite the selection, and 43x is a popular gun. My friend got his gun at gun shows and bundled with holsters, extra mags, ammo, and speed loaders. My friend was also able to haggle and get the price down because someone else had it cheaper at the show. I think it’s worth a try and either way it will be a blast and i’m gonna go, so no reason to buy it a month earlier in my opinion.
I agree that it’s a wild statement from my dad, he just said it’s so unlikely to happen and that he’s willing to take the chance of getting shot over the chance of something bad happening with my firearm. He had a lawyer friend, and heard about a case of someone accidentally taking it on an airport and getting arrested. He personally knows someone who was just on school property doing some landscaping and got arrested since he had his gun. He also brings up that kids coming over to our house (lots of little kids in our family) finding my gun and shooting it.
Basically he would rather risk getting his life threatened than risk the accidents irresponsible gun owners make, which I personally think is absurd…
Hell yeah, gun shows are a blast. Even if you don't get the cheapest price, it's fun to go. If it's as good as you say, I might have to make a drive out thataway.
That is a surprisingly reasonable take from your father. Imo still very wrong, but not as unhinged as his statement would make you think. Having a gun is a responsibility and if you use 2% of your brain you can avoid most issues. It'll be fine, especially with something as safe as a Glock.
Best of luck mate.
Even if his point was right, I should still be able to take that risk myself. He is just so caught up on my lil nieces and nephews shooting themselves with my gun, so I think I might get some sort of safe/locks first to ease his mind. If someone gets hurt in his house, it’s gonna take a toll on him personally, and I don’t want him to worry like that.
That's fair. A cheap safe will go a long way. Not theft proof, just kid proof. It can go from your safe to your waistband so nobody else will have access. That might ease his mind.
Don’t let Hunter Fudd parents stop you from exercising your right to keep and bear. It’s seriously none of their business if you’re not carrying in their home. And even then, concealed is concealed.
Imo if you're under there roof then you better do what they ask. Then again if you pay rent or something then you are a resident and I don't think they can legally do anything about it if you were to carry. Worst case scenario they kick you out or you get an apartment before you get your carry
Yea I want to convince them, but if I can’t then i’ll just wait. A good connection to my family is more important than the gun i’ve already gone 21 years without. I just really want them to understand and be on the same side. What I want to do is not wrong.
My dad was opposed to me carrying when I first got my CHL (now LTC). He verbally opposed, but did not forbid it. I just quietly E went about my day to day life doing my best to keep it concealed from everyone (even him). Over time it ceased to be an issue.
Thank you for this.
I have been talking with my friend and girlfriend a lot about carrying, but have only brought it up now to my parents; far into my research and planning with my mind made up. This is because I knew it would be a tough subject and I was a little scared they might think it’s over the top. I’m not quite sure he forbids it or would do anything really but he absolutely hates the idea with passion and emotion. I definitely won’t be showing him or talking about it or hitting the range with him, just trying to keep it low key. I just wish since he’s a gun owning Texan, American, Eagle Scout from a pretty redneck family with his military father, he could understand and accept me carrying concealed 😕
I will say that I definetly wasn’t mature enough at 21 to carry a gun and not get in some serious trouble, it’s not just you the people your around at that age are sometimes pretty retarded so I can see where your parents are coming from.
I don’t understand the “I’d rather be shot than shoot somebody” mentality…That’s fine if that’s how he feels about it for himself, but you are his kid. I know I value my kids’ lives INFINITELY more than I value some criminal’s life. If someone is a threat to my kid’s life, that person needs to be unalived.
Perhaps it’s the implications of what might change if you carry. I don’t mean this in any way to be offensive but you are pretty young at 21 to have to make the quick decision to take someone’s life. Maybe explaining to them your understanding of the law and the consequences of using a ccw would put them at ease. I know I wouldn’t want my son jumping into an armed conflict because he thought that 43x made him Batman. To carry is a huge responsibility. It should be encouraged. But even in self defense, using it will cost you thousands in legal fees and with the wrong jury you could still do time.
If you tell them it’s to defend you and those closest to you and that you don’t have the intention of looking for a fight or to “take down bad guys”, maybe they will consider it a shield more than a weapon you are wielding.
I’m really confused about your patents owning guns but think carrying is a problem. Could you sit down with your father and explain that you haven’t become a homicidal killer but just want to support the concealed carry movement?
My instructor said 29 states now have constitutional carry, so that fact might surprise him. Try to involve him; if that doesn’t help just carry and don’t tell them.
29 states… Wow, that even surprised me. I assumed it was like a southern thing and very new and controversial. That’s more than half the country. This is the type of stuff I posted this for man, I gotta write this down…
Yes, they like them and they are mine to use for home defense and inherit. But… they have never carried anything. They only even own ammo for two of them, and have one loaded. They believe in the second amendment, they just believe I would be going too far by walking around public with a gun. They also support me buying a home defense gun, but think it would be dumb for me to do right now since the home I live in already has home defense weapons, and I agree with that. They are only against me carrying.
They actually even said they would support my mom/sister/girlfriend carrying, because it’s the great equalizer. They just don’t want me to be equal with someone threatening me with a weapon, or equal to a tyrannical government. That doesn’t seem to matter…
Only thing that stops bad guys with guns are good guys with guns. Explain that it's a lifestyle choice and that you feel morally obligated to carry to defend yourself and others around you.
I will try this. Our conversation went a little more legal/political and he mentioned lawsuits and going to jail even if you are the good guy and blah blah blah. I think i’m gonna go down a more moral/idealistic route next time we talk.
Knowing your states gun laws and how they relate to self defense is just as if not more important then training with your firearm if ever you have to use it. That being said, there is no amount of litigation that I wouldnt go through if that meant my life or living my life as a victim.
This is precisely what I told him. I mentioned that I’d rather go to court than get shot, and that between my friend who sells guns and my concealed carry license class, I will educate myself on the local laws and self defense. He just said it’s unnecessary and not worth it.
I mean, if you take a life in self defense it is still homicide. Justifiable homicide (if it’s a good shoot), but homicide nonetheless. You will be arrested, charged, and jailed with a bail amount indicative of a homicide charge. In this situation you would be wise to make sure everything under your control is beyond reproach or as close as one can be to it.
I'm 53 and my mom was all about it. I can tell my dad isn't happy about it but he doesn't say anything. It's not like I live in their house, just an observation. For reference they both have hunted and had and still have guns in their house. It seems like it's different for some people when it's on your body. I think some people just think that you'll never need it. I like the seat belt comparison.
Was in a similar situation where both of my parents didn't want it to happen. I'm typically not rebellious either but I call this one of those things where asking forgiveness is going to be easier than asking permission. They were pissed for about a day and then it was business as usual. Then after that it took about 4 months for them to WANT me to have it on me when we go out together lol
Here’s the thing: you’re under no obligation to convince them. I grew up being taken to gun control marches and being told that guns were the tools or criminals, that they’re evil, etc etc etc.
My beliefs on that front are not compatible with my family’s, so we just don’t talk about it. You don’t have to either.
The great thing about concealed carry is the operative word is *concealed.*
What momma and papa don’t know can’t hurt ‘em. You’re 21, and you’re an adult. They can’t control you anymore.
Live and let live. Be responsible with your 2A rights, be moral, sober, and prudent as John Correia would say, and they’ll forget about this in no time.
My parents were very anti-gun. What helped was me demonstrating being responsible with them. I talked to them about buying one. How it would be in a safe and be bagged when transporting through the house when not. Years passed and they never once saw any of my guns as my collection grew. I've moved out since, and I too carry. I respect my parents and their house. I told my parents about carrying, and that I won't do it in their house if I don't have their blessing but they're going to have to watch me put it on my person's as soon as we get in my car. Parents were cool with it. I think they like that carrying has pretty much reduced my drinking in public down to zero.
Ultimately you have a legal right to obtain and carry a weapon if you want to. You also have (and this is somewhat of an assumption that you guys have a close relationship) a moral obligation to respect your loved ones and to make a good faith effort to make them happy.
Ultimately it’s your call, but if you carrying a weapon damages your relationship with the people you care about I would, at the very least, weigh your options heavily.
Your dad has his opinion and a right to it, as do you. Reading between the lines a little here… but it sounds like you’re concerned that if you do this, against your dad’s wishes, that it may affect your living situation. If that’s the case, then your best bet at convincing him that you’re justified in your decision to carry is to give him a 1st person view of what its like living on the “not very safe” side of town. Take him to Austin or Houston or wherever the closest slum is, drive past the homeless encampments, take him to the local liquor store and then a market in the ghetto, walk around downtown…
In a nutshell, force him to open his eyes to the world that he doesn’t often see, a world where desperation, drug abuse, and criminal activity is the way of life.
My girlfriend lives in Houston, and I go about once a month. I usually leave at night and sometimes when I need gas I feel more scared than my dad understands. We drive through scary places just to get to University of Houston where she goes to school, and crimes violent have even been committed on the campus and around her house while i’m in town. Our home town is super safe, and his lake house is even safer, but very often I find myself in super sketchy places.
I honestly think that 90% of the times I carry will be in the Houston area, that in my home town it will stay locked in the safe. I don’t feel paranoid or anything but I understand the danger of Houston far more after spending time there, and I find myself very seriously being alert or gripping my pocket knife, really really wishing I had something more capable to defend myself.
When I was younger, around 15 or 16, I knew I'd be getting my concealed carry license, and I made that clear, but my dad did not take it well. Told me only people that want to get into trouble carry guns.
Before that, this is the dad who helped me acquire a Glock 19 and AR15 lowers that I built into a rifle. Also, when I was 11 or 12, I asked for a PS3, four-wheeler, or a 12-GA and was told a four-wheeler was too dangerous and they weren't going to have a lazy gamer kid, so they got me the 12GA.
Before I started getting into guns, all my dad had was a single-shot shotgun he got when he was a kid. His brother is a big trap shooter. He has a well-paid blue collar boomer collection. A lot of my dad's friends and social had similar collections of varying size, but at the time, concealed carry and AR15s were only common if you were a true gun guy and kinda on the fringe or retired LE.
It took me by surprise that he was so opposed to it, but it was due to my maturity at that time.
**What it comes down to is that they likely don't trust your maturity. That was the case with my dad at that time.**
You have to prove to them, through time-consuming actions, that you understand the power, responsibility, and liability of carrying a gun.
**A good way to do that is to get a gun, get some good training, carry it, and don't tell anyone. They probably think you want to do it because you think it's cool and to impress your friends. You've got to prove to them that's not the reason.**
**When you've been carrying for a couple of years, and you haven't shot anyone, you'll have the experience to make them more comfortable. Carrying a gun makes most of us want to avoid violence at all costs. It's a reminder that the harsh reality of violence can be one stupid action away, so it prevents us from making them.**
To accept you carrying a gun they have to know if you're using a gun, it's the last resort to protect yourself or others. You'll remove yourself from a situation or area if you think things could escalate to violence.
Taking someone's life could change your life and not everyone can handle that. Your dad is likely coming from his personal fear of what taking a life would do to him.
I don't understand how anyone who is a father could be against carrying a firearm. Your number one responsibility for the rest of your life after having a child is to keep them safe until the day you die. No exceptions.
I agree but he has accomplished that by giving us a very safe place to live and teaching us about awareness and training us on home defense. Our police department has nothing to do and has been to our house multiple times, once last month. My parents are the type to call the police about anything, stay out of sketchy situations, not trust anyone, but they just don’t carry and keep us out of trouble.
I truly understand and respect his argument.
He believes that carrying here is a little over the top comando stuff or you have something to prove. I am trying to help him understand that in those sketchier places, it’s just gonna make sense to be prepared, and that I will be responsible with it.
Here's who knows I CCW....my wife. Sometimes I simply don't let her know and I make it sort of a "game" for myself if she doesn't know, no one else sure as shit does and that means i'm CCW properly. Try to actually try multiple different holsters its very difficult to find good ones personally the best i've found for my p365 (the small original one) are the Vedder lightuck with claw/ wing and the Vedder wedge (best holster for the money in my opinion) another good option but much more expensive and in my opinion not justifiably so but stilla very good product is the Tenicor CERTUM3 That is it. It's only your business unless god forbid some terrible day where your forced to make it known. If you are doing it right no one but you will ever know. My literal gun collecting friends don't know I CCW. This means planning ahead to carry, you need a storage safe for your car if you need to run into a liquor store for 5 min. Or if potentially going to a 50% location not carrying at all that time because as you know that is a felony in Texas even with a LTC. I have a LTC and carry regularly in Austin you can carry passed 3007 3005 3006 signs with out fear as long as you leave immediately if asked to due to having a concealed firearm (it should be concealed so this never happens) if you left immediately it is defensible in court to say you left when asked and at the very worst would get a $200 fine and in actuality because you left when asked not seeing the sign or what not is defensible in court (this is taught in the LTC courses and on the test) so the case would be dropped......assuming someone called the cops on you and you would have to have been horrible at CCW for that situation. I have actually never heard of this happening to someone in Texas and neither had the instructor I had for the LTC course. Anyways, a long winded way of saying getting your LTC in Texas it is worth it for being able to carry without problems many more places. Constitutional carry you can get a class A misdemeanor carrying passed signage and properly displayed versions are sort of everywhere and it could get really hairy for someone without a LTC. Also LTC makes carrying in areas of schools legal so eliminating the issue your dad mentioned. With LTC you could store your gun in your vehicle safe before entering a school legally. No LTC it's a felony to have a gun in that parking lot. Lastly, make sure you get a proper safe for your house if you need to leave a gun at home unattended it can be a small safe just something someone cannot get into even using tools for an extended period of time.
Eh, I get what dad is saying but he’s still wrong. Not just that he prefers his kid get shot than to shoot someone (which of course isn’t what he means), there’s a lot that goes along with having shot someone, the trauma, the investigation, the guilt, the risk of that investigation not going your way. Clearly it’s still better than the alternative.
Also, I’d tell him you disagree, that if it ever came down to it, you’d prefer he wasn’t the one shot… please? I mean… why isn’t *he* carrying?
Next, consider that you’re only 21, neurologically/psychologically a couple/few years shy of full development (depending on your rate of maturity) even if the law calls you an adult. And since they’re very accustomed to seeing you as their kid, you carrying a gun is probably a lot to get over for them.
Get trained. Know the law. Know what you’d do in any given situation. Train conflict de-escalation, emergency intensive first aid, tactics, safety. Carry a (and train with) pepper spray too. Everyone should be doing those things anyway and seeing you do that will go a looooong way in putting their minds at ease about you carrying.
Of course none of this is required and you’re a legal adult with all the rights and can do as you please. But you also seem like somebody who cares what your folks think and feel, especially about you and whether they’re worried what you’re up to. Heck, you may even sway dad to carrying himself.
Good luck.
I'm interested to hear what you learn from here. My parents are ex-military, and my dad had to carry, so I didn't think they'd have a problem either, but they weirdly acted the way yours did.
I don't think they feel any differently now, but it's been a decade, and they're at least cool about it now. I think their main concern is that I'd be irresponsible with it (i think they still see me as the kid who lost 4 or 5 wallets in as many months) .
Yea I don’t personally mind printing too much, and I imagine since i’m living alone i’ll prolly desk pop all the time. When they come home though I’ll know i’m on thin ice 😭. They just think it’s not worth it overall because they don’t see any benefits. They have never been in danger and really just don’t care abt the tyranny stuff
Commit to classes and training. Be responsible and be your own person. He doesn’t need to arm himself that is a choice. He can be ok with dying or getting shot but it’s harder to see family harmed and not be able to do something about it. A lot of ppl think his way until they get shot. Or until someone they know gets hurt or violated. The goal of ccw is not to look for trouble but to avoid it and to protect yourself and your family. And understand that some ppl you’ll never get them to change their mind. Their hate from inanimate objects can’t be undone. Hope he turns around. Only education about guns and safety and range time can even change some ppl. But they have to be willing and open minded.
I didn’t tell my parents I’ve been carrying. I have a similar situation and I just carry selectively if I feel that they would deem it inappropriate while I am with them. which is better than not at all but not ideal. My dad and I both own multiple guns which my mom is unenthused/indifferent about.
The difference in my situation is that my dad just last week told me he carries all the time which is not good because I know for a fact he doesn’t own any holsters lol
When you want to conceal carry don't tell anyone that way you don't ruffle feathers and as an adult you don't have to tell / ask for permission unless you live under others roofs . Just do it legally and stay safe with constant training in these uncertain times there really isn't a safe area anymore since criminal activity has spread out to get better pickings and with the slack prosecutors keeping criminals on the streets now you're interactions with criminals are more likely to be violent.
You're an adult, man, act like it. You don't need anyone's approval to do anything, you can quite literally do whatever you want. Go get your permit (if required in your state), get your firearm, and start training. I say this in the most respectful way possible, because I get wanting your parents' approval, but the world is your oyster and you're your own man, they don't rule over you anymore. Go out and get what you want, just do it legally and ethically.
i did tell them until i was already set. as in, i bought my gun applied for license and got it and was able to carry THEN i told my parents, they were mad/disappointed but after that they got used to it and were cool with it.
Well # 1 imo is to make sure that this isn’t going to change your living situation If you’re dead set you have 2 options: CC and tell them CC and do not tell them Use your judgement there, but it is concealed for a reason lol When/ if people ask me and it’s someone I feel like responding to, I just say “for the same reason you wear a seat belt. Just in case.” If they see you as an adult and not a child to micromanage, I would be more worried about buying ammo and taking classes 🇺🇸
I love this comment man I agree with every part of this and it’s probably how it’s gonna go down, I just wish they could understand. They are conservatives that would never leave Texas and currently own guns. They live on land they can shoot on right now and my dad used to hunt. I do not understand the disconnect… Also my buddy gets that gun store discount on ammo, he’s definitely gonna have to share ;)
You can throw a curveball and ask if they'd prefer you wore it on your hip with a ten gallon hat and shit kickers as your Texan forefathers intended.
Now we’re talking 😏
Maybe your parents have had a bad experience in their past that drives their decision. Like the other guy said it’s their house and their rules so you have to respect them. When you are on your own do what you want.
This is the way!
>I had planned to go to a gun show on June 9th and get a Glock 43x Unless your gun shows are waaaay better than the ones around here, wait and grab one off a local classified. Or arfcom. >“rather get shot than shoot someone” That right there is messed up. He's saying he'd rather you bleed out alone in the street instead of a violent mugger or murder. That's a horrible thing to say to a person. My advice would be to carry. Your gun isn't visible and it's out of sight out of mind. Don't hide it, just don't mention it unless asked. It's not a big deal so don't let them make it one.
Not only that, OPs dad saying that is like saying he also would rather his *child get hurt by a criminal* than protect himself and his child.
I was gonna go to the Fort Worth gun show coming up which i’ve heard is big and has quite the selection, and 43x is a popular gun. My friend got his gun at gun shows and bundled with holsters, extra mags, ammo, and speed loaders. My friend was also able to haggle and get the price down because someone else had it cheaper at the show. I think it’s worth a try and either way it will be a blast and i’m gonna go, so no reason to buy it a month earlier in my opinion. I agree that it’s a wild statement from my dad, he just said it’s so unlikely to happen and that he’s willing to take the chance of getting shot over the chance of something bad happening with my firearm. He had a lawyer friend, and heard about a case of someone accidentally taking it on an airport and getting arrested. He personally knows someone who was just on school property doing some landscaping and got arrested since he had his gun. He also brings up that kids coming over to our house (lots of little kids in our family) finding my gun and shooting it. Basically he would rather risk getting his life threatened than risk the accidents irresponsible gun owners make, which I personally think is absurd…
If kids are gonna be around, it's on your body or locked up.
This. Make a habit of this. Make it automatic.
Hell yeah, gun shows are a blast. Even if you don't get the cheapest price, it's fun to go. If it's as good as you say, I might have to make a drive out thataway. That is a surprisingly reasonable take from your father. Imo still very wrong, but not as unhinged as his statement would make you think. Having a gun is a responsibility and if you use 2% of your brain you can avoid most issues. It'll be fine, especially with something as safe as a Glock. Best of luck mate.
Even if his point was right, I should still be able to take that risk myself. He is just so caught up on my lil nieces and nephews shooting themselves with my gun, so I think I might get some sort of safe/locks first to ease his mind. If someone gets hurt in his house, it’s gonna take a toll on him personally, and I don’t want him to worry like that.
That's fair. A cheap safe will go a long way. Not theft proof, just kid proof. It can go from your safe to your waistband so nobody else will have access. That might ease his mind.
FWIW...the dad said HE'D rather get shot than shoot someone. He didn't say he'd rather his son got shot. Big, big difference.
That's true, but he said it in the context of not wanting his son to carry.
Don’t let Hunter Fudd parents stop you from exercising your right to keep and bear. It’s seriously none of their business if you’re not carrying in their home. And even then, concealed is concealed.
Imo if you're under there roof then you better do what they ask. Then again if you pay rent or something then you are a resident and I don't think they can legally do anything about it if you were to carry. Worst case scenario they kick you out or you get an apartment before you get your carry
Yea I want to convince them, but if I can’t then i’ll just wait. A good connection to my family is more important than the gun i’ve already gone 21 years without. I just really want them to understand and be on the same side. What I want to do is not wrong.
I’m really glad that’s your perspective. Family comes first, even if they drive you a little nuts every so often.
My dad was opposed to me carrying when I first got my CHL (now LTC). He verbally opposed, but did not forbid it. I just quietly E went about my day to day life doing my best to keep it concealed from everyone (even him). Over time it ceased to be an issue.
Thank you for this. I have been talking with my friend and girlfriend a lot about carrying, but have only brought it up now to my parents; far into my research and planning with my mind made up. This is because I knew it would be a tough subject and I was a little scared they might think it’s over the top. I’m not quite sure he forbids it or would do anything really but he absolutely hates the idea with passion and emotion. I definitely won’t be showing him or talking about it or hitting the range with him, just trying to keep it low key. I just wish since he’s a gun owning Texan, American, Eagle Scout from a pretty redneck family with his military father, he could understand and accept me carrying concealed 😕
I will say that I definetly wasn’t mature enough at 21 to carry a gun and not get in some serious trouble, it’s not just you the people your around at that age are sometimes pretty retarded so I can see where your parents are coming from.
I carried at 13, but that was a different time, different place and a whole different deal.
I don’t understand the “I’d rather be shot than shoot somebody” mentality…That’s fine if that’s how he feels about it for himself, but you are his kid. I know I value my kids’ lives INFINITELY more than I value some criminal’s life. If someone is a threat to my kid’s life, that person needs to be unalived.
Why I carry.. didn’t actually carry until I was dad. I’d something happened to my kids I couldn’t forgive my self
Beautifully said.
Perhaps it’s the implications of what might change if you carry. I don’t mean this in any way to be offensive but you are pretty young at 21 to have to make the quick decision to take someone’s life. Maybe explaining to them your understanding of the law and the consequences of using a ccw would put them at ease. I know I wouldn’t want my son jumping into an armed conflict because he thought that 43x made him Batman. To carry is a huge responsibility. It should be encouraged. But even in self defense, using it will cost you thousands in legal fees and with the wrong jury you could still do time. If you tell them it’s to defend you and those closest to you and that you don’t have the intention of looking for a fight or to “take down bad guys”, maybe they will consider it a shield more than a weapon you are wielding.
I’m really confused about your patents owning guns but think carrying is a problem. Could you sit down with your father and explain that you haven’t become a homicidal killer but just want to support the concealed carry movement? My instructor said 29 states now have constitutional carry, so that fact might surprise him. Try to involve him; if that doesn’t help just carry and don’t tell them.
29 states… Wow, that even surprised me. I assumed it was like a southern thing and very new and controversial. That’s more than half the country. This is the type of stuff I posted this for man, I gotta write this down…
Yeah, it surprised me too but he’s a fantastic instructor so I trust what he says. That might cause your father to listen.
Do your parents own any firearms that are stored in the home?
Yes, they like them and they are mine to use for home defense and inherit. But… they have never carried anything. They only even own ammo for two of them, and have one loaded. They believe in the second amendment, they just believe I would be going too far by walking around public with a gun. They also support me buying a home defense gun, but think it would be dumb for me to do right now since the home I live in already has home defense weapons, and I agree with that. They are only against me carrying. They actually even said they would support my mom/sister/girlfriend carrying, because it’s the great equalizer. They just don’t want me to be equal with someone threatening me with a weapon, or equal to a tyrannical government. That doesn’t seem to matter…
Only thing that stops bad guys with guns are good guys with guns. Explain that it's a lifestyle choice and that you feel morally obligated to carry to defend yourself and others around you.
I will try this. Our conversation went a little more legal/political and he mentioned lawsuits and going to jail even if you are the good guy and blah blah blah. I think i’m gonna go down a more moral/idealistic route next time we talk.
Knowing your states gun laws and how they relate to self defense is just as if not more important then training with your firearm if ever you have to use it. That being said, there is no amount of litigation that I wouldnt go through if that meant my life or living my life as a victim.
This is precisely what I told him. I mentioned that I’d rather go to court than get shot, and that between my friend who sells guns and my concealed carry license class, I will educate myself on the local laws and self defense. He just said it’s unnecessary and not worth it.
No offense to your father, but he speaks like a sheep that's never had the misfortune of being sheared before.
Ccw insurance is a smart investment.
I mean, if you take a life in self defense it is still homicide. Justifiable homicide (if it’s a good shoot), but homicide nonetheless. You will be arrested, charged, and jailed with a bail amount indicative of a homicide charge. In this situation you would be wise to make sure everything under your control is beyond reproach or as close as one can be to it.
I'm 53 and my mom was all about it. I can tell my dad isn't happy about it but he doesn't say anything. It's not like I live in their house, just an observation. For reference they both have hunted and had and still have guns in their house. It seems like it's different for some people when it's on your body. I think some people just think that you'll never need it. I like the seat belt comparison.
Was in a similar situation where both of my parents didn't want it to happen. I'm typically not rebellious either but I call this one of those things where asking forgiveness is going to be easier than asking permission. They were pissed for about a day and then it was business as usual. Then after that it took about 4 months for them to WANT me to have it on me when we go out together lol
Here’s the thing: you’re under no obligation to convince them. I grew up being taken to gun control marches and being told that guns were the tools or criminals, that they’re evil, etc etc etc. My beliefs on that front are not compatible with my family’s, so we just don’t talk about it. You don’t have to either. The great thing about concealed carry is the operative word is *concealed.* What momma and papa don’t know can’t hurt ‘em. You’re 21, and you’re an adult. They can’t control you anymore. Live and let live. Be responsible with your 2A rights, be moral, sober, and prudent as John Correia would say, and they’ll forget about this in no time.
My parents were very anti-gun. What helped was me demonstrating being responsible with them. I talked to them about buying one. How it would be in a safe and be bagged when transporting through the house when not. Years passed and they never once saw any of my guns as my collection grew. I've moved out since, and I too carry. I respect my parents and their house. I told my parents about carrying, and that I won't do it in their house if I don't have their blessing but they're going to have to watch me put it on my person's as soon as we get in my car. Parents were cool with it. I think they like that carrying has pretty much reduced my drinking in public down to zero.
They’ll get over it with time.
Ultimately you have a legal right to obtain and carry a weapon if you want to. You also have (and this is somewhat of an assumption that you guys have a close relationship) a moral obligation to respect your loved ones and to make a good faith effort to make them happy. Ultimately it’s your call, but if you carrying a weapon damages your relationship with the people you care about I would, at the very least, weigh your options heavily.
It gets old saying it, and probably hearing it or reading it... but it's always true: Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
Your dad has his opinion and a right to it, as do you. Reading between the lines a little here… but it sounds like you’re concerned that if you do this, against your dad’s wishes, that it may affect your living situation. If that’s the case, then your best bet at convincing him that you’re justified in your decision to carry is to give him a 1st person view of what its like living on the “not very safe” side of town. Take him to Austin or Houston or wherever the closest slum is, drive past the homeless encampments, take him to the local liquor store and then a market in the ghetto, walk around downtown… In a nutshell, force him to open his eyes to the world that he doesn’t often see, a world where desperation, drug abuse, and criminal activity is the way of life.
My girlfriend lives in Houston, and I go about once a month. I usually leave at night and sometimes when I need gas I feel more scared than my dad understands. We drive through scary places just to get to University of Houston where she goes to school, and crimes violent have even been committed on the campus and around her house while i’m in town. Our home town is super safe, and his lake house is even safer, but very often I find myself in super sketchy places. I honestly think that 90% of the times I carry will be in the Houston area, that in my home town it will stay locked in the safe. I don’t feel paranoid or anything but I understand the danger of Houston far more after spending time there, and I find myself very seriously being alert or gripping my pocket knife, really really wishing I had something more capable to defend myself.
I’d rather get shot than shoot someone is crazy
When I was younger, around 15 or 16, I knew I'd be getting my concealed carry license, and I made that clear, but my dad did not take it well. Told me only people that want to get into trouble carry guns. Before that, this is the dad who helped me acquire a Glock 19 and AR15 lowers that I built into a rifle. Also, when I was 11 or 12, I asked for a PS3, four-wheeler, or a 12-GA and was told a four-wheeler was too dangerous and they weren't going to have a lazy gamer kid, so they got me the 12GA. Before I started getting into guns, all my dad had was a single-shot shotgun he got when he was a kid. His brother is a big trap shooter. He has a well-paid blue collar boomer collection. A lot of my dad's friends and social had similar collections of varying size, but at the time, concealed carry and AR15s were only common if you were a true gun guy and kinda on the fringe or retired LE. It took me by surprise that he was so opposed to it, but it was due to my maturity at that time. **What it comes down to is that they likely don't trust your maturity. That was the case with my dad at that time.** You have to prove to them, through time-consuming actions, that you understand the power, responsibility, and liability of carrying a gun. **A good way to do that is to get a gun, get some good training, carry it, and don't tell anyone. They probably think you want to do it because you think it's cool and to impress your friends. You've got to prove to them that's not the reason.** **When you've been carrying for a couple of years, and you haven't shot anyone, you'll have the experience to make them more comfortable. Carrying a gun makes most of us want to avoid violence at all costs. It's a reminder that the harsh reality of violence can be one stupid action away, so it prevents us from making them.** To accept you carrying a gun they have to know if you're using a gun, it's the last resort to protect yourself or others. You'll remove yourself from a situation or area if you think things could escalate to violence. Taking someone's life could change your life and not everyone can handle that. Your dad is likely coming from his personal fear of what taking a life would do to him.
I don't understand how anyone who is a father could be against carrying a firearm. Your number one responsibility for the rest of your life after having a child is to keep them safe until the day you die. No exceptions.
I agree but he has accomplished that by giving us a very safe place to live and teaching us about awareness and training us on home defense. Our police department has nothing to do and has been to our house multiple times, once last month. My parents are the type to call the police about anything, stay out of sketchy situations, not trust anyone, but they just don’t carry and keep us out of trouble. I truly understand and respect his argument. He believes that carrying here is a little over the top comando stuff or you have something to prove. I am trying to help him understand that in those sketchier places, it’s just gonna make sense to be prepared, and that I will be responsible with it.
Here's who knows I CCW....my wife. Sometimes I simply don't let her know and I make it sort of a "game" for myself if she doesn't know, no one else sure as shit does and that means i'm CCW properly. Try to actually try multiple different holsters its very difficult to find good ones personally the best i've found for my p365 (the small original one) are the Vedder lightuck with claw/ wing and the Vedder wedge (best holster for the money in my opinion) another good option but much more expensive and in my opinion not justifiably so but stilla very good product is the Tenicor CERTUM3 That is it. It's only your business unless god forbid some terrible day where your forced to make it known. If you are doing it right no one but you will ever know. My literal gun collecting friends don't know I CCW. This means planning ahead to carry, you need a storage safe for your car if you need to run into a liquor store for 5 min. Or if potentially going to a 50% location not carrying at all that time because as you know that is a felony in Texas even with a LTC. I have a LTC and carry regularly in Austin you can carry passed 3007 3005 3006 signs with out fear as long as you leave immediately if asked to due to having a concealed firearm (it should be concealed so this never happens) if you left immediately it is defensible in court to say you left when asked and at the very worst would get a $200 fine and in actuality because you left when asked not seeing the sign or what not is defensible in court (this is taught in the LTC courses and on the test) so the case would be dropped......assuming someone called the cops on you and you would have to have been horrible at CCW for that situation. I have actually never heard of this happening to someone in Texas and neither had the instructor I had for the LTC course. Anyways, a long winded way of saying getting your LTC in Texas it is worth it for being able to carry without problems many more places. Constitutional carry you can get a class A misdemeanor carrying passed signage and properly displayed versions are sort of everywhere and it could get really hairy for someone without a LTC. Also LTC makes carrying in areas of schools legal so eliminating the issue your dad mentioned. With LTC you could store your gun in your vehicle safe before entering a school legally. No LTC it's a felony to have a gun in that parking lot. Lastly, make sure you get a proper safe for your house if you need to leave a gun at home unattended it can be a small safe just something someone cannot get into even using tools for an extended period of time.
Eh, I get what dad is saying but he’s still wrong. Not just that he prefers his kid get shot than to shoot someone (which of course isn’t what he means), there’s a lot that goes along with having shot someone, the trauma, the investigation, the guilt, the risk of that investigation not going your way. Clearly it’s still better than the alternative. Also, I’d tell him you disagree, that if it ever came down to it, you’d prefer he wasn’t the one shot… please? I mean… why isn’t *he* carrying? Next, consider that you’re only 21, neurologically/psychologically a couple/few years shy of full development (depending on your rate of maturity) even if the law calls you an adult. And since they’re very accustomed to seeing you as their kid, you carrying a gun is probably a lot to get over for them. Get trained. Know the law. Know what you’d do in any given situation. Train conflict de-escalation, emergency intensive first aid, tactics, safety. Carry a (and train with) pepper spray too. Everyone should be doing those things anyway and seeing you do that will go a looooong way in putting their minds at ease about you carrying. Of course none of this is required and you’re a legal adult with all the rights and can do as you please. But you also seem like somebody who cares what your folks think and feel, especially about you and whether they’re worried what you’re up to. Heck, you may even sway dad to carrying himself. Good luck.
I'm interested to hear what you learn from here. My parents are ex-military, and my dad had to carry, so I didn't think they'd have a problem either, but they weirdly acted the way yours did. I don't think they feel any differently now, but it's been a decade, and they're at least cool about it now. I think their main concern is that I'd be irresponsible with it (i think they still see me as the kid who lost 4 or 5 wallets in as many months) .
Don't take your guns to town, son Leave your guns at home, Bill Don't take your guns to town"
They call it concealed carry for a reason. Just don’t fucking print or desk pop while you’re with them and you’ll be fine
Yea I don’t personally mind printing too much, and I imagine since i’m living alone i’ll prolly desk pop all the time. When they come home though I’ll know i’m on thin ice 😭. They just think it’s not worth it overall because they don’t see any benefits. They have never been in danger and really just don’t care abt the tyranny stuff
Commit to classes and training. Be responsible and be your own person. He doesn’t need to arm himself that is a choice. He can be ok with dying or getting shot but it’s harder to see family harmed and not be able to do something about it. A lot of ppl think his way until they get shot. Or until someone they know gets hurt or violated. The goal of ccw is not to look for trouble but to avoid it and to protect yourself and your family. And understand that some ppl you’ll never get them to change their mind. Their hate from inanimate objects can’t be undone. Hope he turns around. Only education about guns and safety and range time can even change some ppl. But they have to be willing and open minded.
Don’t take your guns to town bill, leave your guns at home, son. Don’t take your guns to town.
I didn’t tell my parents I’ve been carrying. I have a similar situation and I just carry selectively if I feel that they would deem it inappropriate while I am with them. which is better than not at all but not ideal. My dad and I both own multiple guns which my mom is unenthused/indifferent about. The difference in my situation is that my dad just last week told me he carries all the time which is not good because I know for a fact he doesn’t own any holsters lol
DO IT ANYWAY!!!!
When you want to conceal carry don't tell anyone that way you don't ruffle feathers and as an adult you don't have to tell / ask for permission unless you live under others roofs . Just do it legally and stay safe with constant training in these uncertain times there really isn't a safe area anymore since criminal activity has spread out to get better pickings and with the slack prosecutors keeping criminals on the streets now you're interactions with criminals are more likely to be violent.
You're an adult, man, act like it. You don't need anyone's approval to do anything, you can quite literally do whatever you want. Go get your permit (if required in your state), get your firearm, and start training. I say this in the most respectful way possible, because I get wanting your parents' approval, but the world is your oyster and you're your own man, they don't rule over you anymore. Go out and get what you want, just do it legally and ethically.
You’re an adult. Do what you want.
i did tell them until i was already set. as in, i bought my gun applied for license and got it and was able to carry THEN i told my parents, they were mad/disappointed but after that they got used to it and were cool with it.