This topic is about as used and abused as a Vegas hooker on Superbowl Sunday. But this is my first post to glockforum, so I thought I'd stir the pot a little and piss some people off. All in the name of a good old fashioned, respectful exchange of ideas.
I read glockforum's original thread on this subject. Its interesting the amount of guys who carry condition 1 and bash people who don't. Guys talking about: "if you're not hot, then you're carrying a club..yadda yadda"
"good luck, I'll be at your funeral telling you I told you so...yadda yadda"
"if you're not locked and loaded, then why own a gun..yadda yadda"
Honestly, that's a lot of bravado and chest pounding by guys telling COMPLETE STRANGERS how to carry a deadly weapon. Let me break it down for you.
I carry my gen4 G26 condition 1 in a good holster. Did I do that when I picked up my first pistol 10 years ago? HELL NO! I was condition 3 all day! And I should have been. 10 years ago, I had no business carrying a pistol with a chambered round.
Now 10 years later - I'm a member of my local firing range, train with several military and LEO's, and hit the range 2-3x/wk. I own several firearms and feel confident carrying condition 1. I train with a bunch of guys who are experts, and have taught me the correct ways to shoot, carry, and respect firearms.
However, there are PLENTY of people who own firearms that can't even hold their deadly weapon correctly. Let's be real...there's a ton of clumsy people out there. Hell, there are a ton of plain idiots out there. There are fools who don't respect a firearm and don't even know the 4 rules of gun safety. There are people who buy a gun and never practice with it. There are people who own a gun because it looks cool to them. There are a lot of people out there who are also insecure. Are you guys really gonna tell me that they should carry condition 1? You really want to sit next to that guy/girl on a bus, in the movie theater, or eating at McDonald's with your kids? Hell, Plaxico Dumbass nearly shot off his 3 favorite friends with an unlicensed Glock. You wanna be the guy he was standing next to?
There are plenty of responsible gun owners who are experienced enough to carry with one in the chamber. I'm down with that. If you're military, LEO, or a responsible firearms owner that is confident in their skills - then by all means, carry condition 1.
I know there are MANY MORE that shouldn't. If that person would rather carry condition 3, let them. If they feel the gun is safer in condition 3, let them. If they feel they can still rack the slide in time while carrying in condition 3, let them. If they're insecure about their experience carrying a pistol, by all means, I WANT those people to carry condition 3.
Honestly, there should be a new movement when the discussion of chambered carry comes up. If the guy doesn't want to, don't bash him for not doing it. Don't break out statistics, scenarios, or reasons why everyone should conceal carry condition 1. Because not EVERYONE should. Just let them carry condition 3. Its fine, I'd feel safer if they did. It'll be one less story in the news media about an inexperienced gun owner shooting himself in the leg with his own gun while getting out of his car. The press and anti-gun activists love using stories like that as fuel against people who lawfully exercise our right to keep and bear arms.
If you don't feel comfortable carrying condition 1, then don't. And NEVER feel the pressure in needing to.
I read glockforum's original thread on this subject. Its interesting the amount of guys who carry condition 1 and bash people who don't. Guys talking about: "if you're not hot, then you're carrying a club..yadda yadda"
"good luck, I'll be at your funeral telling you I told you so...yadda yadda"
"if you're not locked and loaded, then why own a gun..yadda yadda"
Honestly, that's a lot of bravado and chest pounding by guys telling COMPLETE STRANGERS how to carry a deadly weapon. Let me break it down for you.
I carry my gen4 G26 condition 1 in a good holster. Did I do that when I picked up my first pistol 10 years ago? HELL NO! I was condition 3 all day! And I should have been. 10 years ago, I had no business carrying a pistol with a chambered round.
Now 10 years later - I'm a member of my local firing range, train with several military and LEO's, and hit the range 2-3x/wk. I own several firearms and feel confident carrying condition 1. I train with a bunch of guys who are experts, and have taught me the correct ways to shoot, carry, and respect firearms.
However, there are PLENTY of people who own firearms that can't even hold their deadly weapon correctly. Let's be real...there's a ton of clumsy people out there. Hell, there are a ton of plain idiots out there. There are fools who don't respect a firearm and don't even know the 4 rules of gun safety. There are people who buy a gun and never practice with it. There are people who own a gun because it looks cool to them. There are a lot of people out there who are also insecure. Are you guys really gonna tell me that they should carry condition 1? You really want to sit next to that guy/girl on a bus, in the movie theater, or eating at McDonald's with your kids? Hell, Plaxico Dumbass nearly shot off his 3 favorite friends with an unlicensed Glock. You wanna be the guy he was standing next to?
There are plenty of responsible gun owners who are experienced enough to carry with one in the chamber. I'm down with that. If you're military, LEO, or a responsible firearms owner that is confident in their skills - then by all means, carry condition 1.
I know there are MANY MORE that shouldn't. If that person would rather carry condition 3, let them. If they feel the gun is safer in condition 3, let them. If they feel they can still rack the slide in time while carrying in condition 3, let them. If they're insecure about their experience carrying a pistol, by all means, I WANT those people to carry condition 3.
Honestly, there should be a new movement when the discussion of chambered carry comes up. If the guy doesn't want to, don't bash him for not doing it. Don't break out statistics, scenarios, or reasons why everyone should conceal carry condition 1. Because not EVERYONE should. Just let them carry condition 3. Its fine, I'd feel safer if they did. It'll be one less story in the news media about an inexperienced gun owner shooting himself in the leg with his own gun while getting out of his car. The press and anti-gun activists love using stories like that as fuel against people who lawfully exercise our right to keep and bear arms.
If you don't feel comfortable carrying condition 1, then don't. And NEVER feel the pressure in needing to.