How many pack a handgun when detecting?

Reading the thoughtful responses in this thread makes me feel comfortable sharing my two cents worth.
I spent 25 years wearing a badge and carrying a gun. I am retired now, and still only rarely leave the house without a concealed weapon.
There are a couple of key points I want to share...
Know, very thoroughly, the laws in your state regarding both concealed carry and know the laws regarding the use of deadly force.
But what you really need to know is... yourself. Know, without fail, why you are packing the weapon and under what circumstances you would be willing to send that bullet downrange.
Because you cannot call it back.
Once you have all of that sorted out, if you choose to pack a weapon, please, please, get some serious training in it's use, maintenance, holstering techniques and retention skills...as in know how to keep some clown from taking your weapon away from you and using it on you.
And once you have the skills worked up, keep training because it is not like riding a bicycle, it is a persihable skill very much dependant on muscle memory and specific coordination that will go away if you don't stay on top of it.
I can lawfully carry in all of the contiguous 48 states. It took me a long time to earn that option. I take it very seriously. If you are gonna pack, you need to take it seriously, too.
Now, to the pepper spray deal.
The last thing I want to do is depend on a can of spray to keep a mad, hell-bent bear from taking a chunk out of me because I got to close to a cub I didn't see.
I would submit that the data on the attack "victory" ratio is skewed. People "winning" an encounter with a bear using spray are probably those who are spraying while retreating, or are not looking at a lfe/death encounter.
A seriously angry bear hell-bent on attack is not, I repeat not, going to turn and run 'cause it got some stuff in it's eyes and nose. I have sprayed humans with the stuff and there have been times when the spray did nothing....other than get to me. I sure as heck ain't gonna depend on spray to stop a bear unhappy with me and my presence in it's area of operation.
I live in mountain lion country. Mountain lions do not care about the spray. Rattlesnakes do not care about the spray.
Spray is a tool, but it has limitations and fooling yourself about the power of the pepper can be a mistake.
Like the metal detectors we use, a heck of a lot goes into the selection and learning that goes with the purchase if you expect to get the most out of it...and if you want it to perform when you need it.
 

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Great post Sam.
People need to know what can happen after "Deadly Force" is used.
It will change your life forever.
 

I have been around guns all my life.. Started to hunt when i was age 12... in Pa.. Now i am in my 70's and still drive semi truck part time..... So i am still a little spry..... I took the concealed carry course when Ohio made it legal to carry........... But i still never carry ... My thinking on that is if it is not on me i can not get into trouble......
 

I've had a concealed handgun license for about 16 or 17 years roughly. I carry while detecting, however, I carry most all the time. "Need" is a very subjective thing. Most things like guns, fire extinguishers, flotation devices, etc are generally never "needed." However, when they are needed, they are needed very badly indeed. Like others have said, you need to know yourself, the law, and have competence in the use of your weapon. I've only drawn my pistol once in all the years that I've had a CHL. I was very glad to have it when I did. (A carjacker would have most likely taken my vehicle with my infant daughter in the back seat. He ran upon realizing he had just brought a knife to a gunfight.)
 

Faithful Saying: When SECONDS count, the police are only MINUTES away.
 

Hendrix said:
However, when they are needed, they are needed very badly indeed.
Click to expand...

This bears repeating.

That's the part that's hard sorting out, and why Sam, a trained professional, says " ....and still only rarely leave the house without a concealed weapon." He knows that.

Of course, that varies with your local environment, but ........................
 

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I always carry...then I have a ccw. If I am pounding someone's homestead or farm...I leave it in the truck. They have given you permission to be here. Bring a gun onto my property...i will own a new gun and you will never be back on any of my properties/contracts again. Just saying...now ifn I'm in the woods, beach or other public place pounding (or not) I'm packing at least one but usually two.
 

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I too carry concealed and rarely leave the house without it. Metal detecting is no different because I can't predict if and when a violent criminal will attack. I avoid high risk situations like any responsibly armed citizen would do. However, if I have to defend my life from a violent attacker while detecting, I'm trained, equipped and prepared to do so.
 

I don't carry, but there have been a few times hunting in the woods with headphones on that I've gotten spooked by the solitude and had the feeling that someone or something (think bear) was in the vicinity ..this is what happens when you are born and raised in NYC and then move to the boonies of Vermont..in any case, I usually hunt with my hubby who does carry. For when I'm all by my lonesome, I do keep a can of pepper spray in my waist pack.
 

Do I carry? Yes
When? When I am awake
Where? Every where except the bank and post office. ( I lock them in the truck)
 

In Florida its legal for licensed concealed carry holders to carry in banks - which I do.
 

This is an interesting topic. I think it would be more interesting to know who has ever been in a situation where they had to fend off a bear, mountain lion, etc.?

I prospect in the East Fork, San Gabriel mountains and I carry my pick, rock hammer and another sharp object, no gun though. I've been thinking about pepper spray though as a few weeks ago I was on a trail and ran across fresh bear droppings.
 

I grew up around E. St. Louis and I wouldn't go there without some HEAVY firepower.
 

MrLee said:
This is an interesting topic. I think it would be more interesting to know who has ever been in a situation where they had to fend off a bear, mountain lion, etc.?

I prospect in the East Fork, San Gabriel mountains and I carry my pick, rock hammer and another sharp object, no gun though. I've been thinking about pepper spray though as a few weeks ago I was on a trail and ran across fresh bear droppings.
Click to expand...
I don't think pepper spray will help the bear droppings you ran into. Try stepping over them or wear rubber boots as it will wash off easier. Oh yah, pack a gun in case you run into the bear.
 

Sure I do ! images (3).jpg
 

I do carry on occasion.. usually when I'm alone and doing a remote cellar hole location... nobody is gonna make me "squeel like pig"... !
 

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