Why I carry every day

My story isn't a dramatic one, but no less meaningful.

My husband introduced me to firearms while we were still dating. As a Marine, he was very comfortable with them. As a missionary kid, I was not. But I took to them quickly and found I was quite good at shooting and enjoyed it.

A few years passed and I bought a gun small enough to carry, but the holsters I tried were bulky and uncomfortable, and I soon gave up. I ended up making my very first holster because I really wanted to have a comfortable way to carry. I tried to wear my gun consistently, but since I was home most of the time, and my husband carried when we were out, it was easy to simply forget to put on the holster.

I'd have brief periods of being better at it (like when my husband called me from work to let me know that there were armed intruders reported in our neighborhood, breaking into occupied homes and robbing the owners at gunpoint). But all it would take was one busy day and and I'd be back to leaving the gun by my bed, or in the safe.

Fast forward five more years, and we had a baby. Suddenly I was much more motivated to get serious about carrying my gun on a daily basis. I was still home most days, and my husband still carried his gun when we were out, but it wasn't just my own safety at stake now.

I vividly recall sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery, late at night, holding a crying baby, and having the sudden thought of "what if someone were to break into the house right now? I'm up here in just my t-shirt, with a baby, and no means of defending either of us". Spence was out of town and my gun sat uselessly on my nightstand. It was a turning point for me. I took to heart what I already knew in my head; that I couldn't rely on my husband, or anyone else, to be my first line of defense if push came to shove. I absolutely hated that helpless feeling of being a sitting duck.

The very next morning I made a few modifications to my holster design, making it more practical and comfortable to wear all day, every day, and started actually carrying my gun consistently. It took some getting used to, and I had to adjust my wardrobe a little, but now it's become a regular part of my daily routine.

I still have days when I get busy and forget (or my holster is in the wash), but most days the holster and gun get put on right after underwear and jeans, and stay on until I go to bed that night. Is it always comforta

ble or convenient to wear a gun while gardening? Or cleaning the house? Or running errands? Or taking a nap? Or playing with the toddler? Or working at the sewing machine? No, but knowing that I can get my hands on my gun in seconds if I need to, makes it worth it.

What's your story? What led you to want to carry daily, or just more regularly? Sign in and write a post of your own...we all want to read your story!