Why get a conceal carry permit?

[Ranch Dog]

They'd best have a badge .

That might spook me more.

I was thinking the same! Not a lot of faith in law enforcement in my county or nearby city. They have had a lot of issues. State officers, DPS (highway patrol) and Game Warden, are good to go with for me. They are solid officers.

Durn, I wander

[Model 52]

Good points. In WA you also can not have a pistol loaded in your vehicle unless you have a permit.

In addition to being a very rural, old west kind of state, particularly the half that is west of the Missouri river, SD also has a very narrow definition of "open carry".

Like WA, if it's in a car, it's concealed. On the dash or on the seat in plain sight doesn't matter, it's still concealed. Similarly if the gun and holster are partially concealed, it's concealed carry, so if you're hunting and your jacket is covering the butt of your revolver, you're no longer open carry.

I suspect that, along with only being a few generations removed from the old west, has a lot to do with the percentage of concealed carry permits in SD because open carry is a real PITA.

[akuser47]

I have mine because its better have it than not be prepared. This boy scout isn't going to be unprepared if I can lawfully be prepped.

[GasGuzzler]

The words "lawfully" and "license" are dirty words at my house. Neither carry more weight than the paper their printed on.

[Moon Tree]

Thanks guys for all your input. I see all of your thoughts have very valid points. One of my reasons for not getting a CC permit, was I didn't want my name on the "list." Well, 90% of my firearms were purchased new, thus registered and on the "list."

I've had one incidence where I'm certain open carry prevented my truck from being robbed. I was on my way to deer camp. My truck bed is full of tree stands, coolers and plastic totes. Obviously, I'm going deer hunt and there are firearms in my truck. I needed to stop at a Walmart just off the parkway to get some food meals supplies that I had forgotten.

As I'm driving down the parking lane, I notice a couple good ol boys in an older pickup truck about to back out of their parking space. I drive by them and park 5 spaces closer to the door. The good ol boys drive by me, turn up the next lane, then park 2 space diagonally pass me. I think, "They've noticed my hunting gear and are going to wait until I go in the store and seal my guns.

Instead of just grabbing my LCP out of the glove box, I walk around my truck to the passenger side, open the door and retrieve my pistol. This is all within 10 feet of their front bumper and in plain site of the good ol boys. Since I'd been driving for a couple hours, I needed to stretch which allows them to clear see that I am packing. During this stretch, I make eye connect with them. They now know that I know they are there.

I walk to the front door of Walmart and turn around. The good ol boys are still there. I just fold my arms in a confident and relax manner while staring at them. It took them about 10 seconds to back out of their parking spot and drive away. I stayed in that position until they were on the highway.

The reason I walked away was because I was in the open, they had cover of their vehicle and I didn't know what they might have in their glove box. If they had approached my vehicle, I could have then used the cover of other cars to get back to them.

[Jaybm]

Well my $0.02 ...
First I agree with Model 52's ideas, especially about open carry makes you a target.
Second I agree with AK, better to have and not need than to need and not have.

The powers to be here are considering open carry and even eliminating CWP. I'm
not in favor of either and will keep my EDC concealed, thank you. Eliminating
the permit eliminates even the minimum training that's currently required. You
can spot the newbies at the range easily and they often frighten me. The RO is
quick to assist them as well as a number of the regulars including me if they are
willing to accept the help. The RO will escort them off the property if they won't
follow the range rules.

A loaded handgun in a vehicle w/o a permit is okay here, just not under the seat.
Glove box or console, I've heard but can't confirm even on the passenger's seat covered.
I'll have to look that up.
I have a "throwaway" that stays in the wife's car all the time and there have been
a few times when I've returned to the car that it's been in her lap. She can SHOOT !

Moon ... Wally World is the last place you want to shop at in the wee hours, at least
here. In a similar situation I would have stayed in the truck and stared them down or
drove off. Hindsight is always 20 / 20. Your results were good this time, if they had
been high on something you might have been put to the test. Like most I dread the
thought.

Just my humble opinion ... Jim

[Moon Tree]

Jim, I was at WallyWorld at 10:30AM the day before opening morning of deer season.

[Jaybm]

Jim, I was at WallyWorld at 10:30AM the day before opening morning of deer season.

So noted ... Jim

[Bibletotingunslinger]

I got mine a few yrs back at the advice of a lawyer.
So in Church one day I told the Pastor I was packin heat. He just pointed at the two old ladies on the front row,, said,"Thats not a Bible that makes them hand bags so heavy."

[Moon Tree]

Slinger, my best friend and his wife took their CCDW class as a church group.