I have a permit and carry almost everywhere I go, I would hate myself if caught somewhere I needed it and it was on my dresser at home. I also recommend a revolver. Too many stories about semi automatics mal-functioning.
I have several hand guns, but carry nothing less than a .38 cal.

As far as having a loaded gun in your vehicle in plain view with out a permit--might be ok in your state -- but may I suggest you check other state laws when traveling. It is not legal in the state where I live.

good luck

I would say do whatever makes you feel safe and comfortable. If that is a firearm or whatever do it. Your safety is up to you.

Thanks for the responses guys and the pm's. Definately going to go to the range soon and start getting familiar with the whole deal. I like the idea of going to the gun show too and handling a lot of them to get the right fit. Does anyone know when the next one in Dallas or Ft. Worth is?

Also, I agree Holzer, if I know I'm going to be out late in a parking lot alone I go for safer rather than convenient. It's the times that I can't plan for that concern me though.

Had a buddy get a flat at night recently and I had battery trouble that kept me out later than expected. I've also started traveling to Houston for some jobs recently and have had to drive at night once or twice. Not a problem when I was a teen (young, nieve, and no dependants) now getting older and have started thinking about these types of things.

Thanks again guy's and keep'um coming!!

Blah blah blah, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

exactly.

i have a CHL, and whether it is or isn't legal to carry on Corps lakes, i carry anyway. i have a lot of discipline and personal restraint when it comes to pulling my weapon, so if i know it is time to pull it, i will not put myself in a position for anyone besides myself to be the one explaining what happened.

there are way too many variables out there to not allow yourself to be prepared for any situation.

I do carry..I have many friends who been robbed at the lakes out here.... I have no CHL...My dad once told me one night long ago and alone on Ray Hubbard some guys came up on him while he was on the bank at night..They slowly came nearby in their boat..They were bugging him about lame stuff that was a bunch of nonsense and he knew they probably were going to robb him..He took his pistol out his tackle box and slipped in his hip pocket and showed them his [censored] when he bent over to grabb tackle as if he baiting a hook and they jetted out of there when they saw the pearl handle..

you never find me without a piece unless I am in a bar, and that is once every year or two.

Really good question jeepthing. I was in the same boat as you a couple years ago. Couldn't decide to carry or not. Finally after a couple "late night happenings" I decided it was a good idea. My first carry piece was a .32 Taurus. Alot of people might say that is too small but I loved it. Quick,accurate,very compact (about 3.5" long) and easy to shoot. Now I carry a Heckler and Koch 9mm. Only reason I switched was cuz the H/K was a gift. I suggest you do the gunshow thing. Not sure if the Saxet show goes to DFW but if so that is a pretty good deal. There is a Hawaiian family that sells there and they beat EVERYONE by price by at least 10%. I don't have kids yet so that was never an issue but it is definitely of the utmost importance obviously. Something else to consider is you don't want to get something w/ so much power it goes through the bad guy and through 7 walls too where it may injure an innocent. The way I think of a pistol is like an emergency first aid kit. You never WANT to have to use it but if you have to you are confident competent and efficient. Basically research, get your hands on a bunch of guns and decide whats right for you. Good luck.

im a police officer and i always carry. my friends that fish tourney with me always comment to me when they see me grab my glock out of my truck and put it the boat. they know im there for them if they need me.i will not wear it on my side because i dont want to alarm or offend anyone, but is close and out of site. i know several officers that wear them on their hip and i dissagree with it but thats just me. some might think im trying to intimidate the other anglers, but thats not it. thats why i hide it.

Most people that carry won't post that they do on here. They don't do it because everyone else does.

Bingo! I dont fish at night but im not going to fish in an area where i have to worry about my safety. I carry a fillet knife and a 6ft 2x4 board on my boat (for pushing off if i get stuck). If i cant defend myself with a 2x4, a fillet knife, or my fists.....then im fishing in the wrong area. Of course i dont live in the city either and i always go to pay ramps.

I always carry. Check out the Glock 26 if you're looking for a small concealed carry gun. Glocks are very reliable and rugged. Plus, you can stick all kinds of accessories and extended grips and various clip sizes in them.

In all the years I've had a CHL and carried a weapon, not once have I ever had to "flash it" or "pull it", and I pray that I never have to. And fishing trips are a particular good time to carry... I have to drive an hour or two to get my boat to the lake, and a breakdown has a good chance of occurring out in the middle of nowhere, and no telling who is going to stop and "help" you. I don't worry too much when I'm on the water, but I do keep my weapon handy.

Here's the point I drive home to my non-gun-toting friends - you may never ever need it, but in that ONE instance in your life when you DO need it, when your life or the life of your wife or kids is on the line, you would trade everything you own for the comfort of a pistol in your hand. I see carrying a weapon for personal safety as part of my responsibility as a husband and dad. Plus, after years in the Army carrying M16's and various other weapons, I feel naked without one!

Get trained properly, though, at a shooting range, or a gun course put on by the local PD, something like that, on both weapons handling and safety. It's those idiots that are careless with their weapons and accidentally shoot someone or, Lord forbid, their kid gets their hands on it and shoots themself, that give gun owners a bad name.

I have a CHL and if you see me on the lake, I'm packin. Take a good gun safety course, but above all make sure your kids understand they are not a toy. I told my boys growing up that the worst azz beating they ever got would pale by comparison if I ever caught them touching the guns. Never a problem, as it was never a problem with me growing up. Most kids are inquisitive about something they know nothing about, so take the kids to the range and show them what these guns are all about. Enroll them in a gun safety course as well, in fact if they are over 5 or so, enroll them in the same one you take. Not sure what the minimum age to take a gun safety class is in Texas, but I've seen pictures of some pretty young kids having taken some pretty fair trophies.

If i leave the house i am packing reguardless of the destination.Really don't care what body of water i am on it's in the boat. If i get checked, and i do at times, i just keep my mouth shut. Never had to pull it, but no problem if i'm ever forced to. I can promise one thing, if it ever has to come out it is going off.

No one has mentioned two things;

1. you don't need a chl to have a gun in your car or boat-as of 2007 the castle laws here in Texas extend to personal property so you can put a glock, Taurus, ruger, etc. in your vehicle or boat without issue.

2. If you do decide to get your CHL and when you settle on that perfect gun you'll soon discover that there is no one gun perfect for all occasions and you'll have at least two. I have a ruger lcp for 'summer' shorts and t-shirts ( I know a .380 is small, but it beats throwing rocks and it is darn easy to conceal) , a glock 19 and a Taurus pt1911.

3. Don't do what I did and try and go cheap on the holster. A good holster (expect to pay 60-100 dollars) will save lots of hassle and discomfort. A cheap holster moves, and shifts, while a good holster stays where you put it.