Posted on 10/09/2013 6:55:15 AM PDT by marktwain
Editor's note: Compiled from responses submitted to reporter Rick Bella, who asked readers to share their stories and observations about getting a concealed handgun license and carrying concealed weapons. Submissions have been edited for length and clarity. Watch for Bella's full report Tuesday on Oregonlive and Wednesday in The Oregonian.
Ed Hurtley Portland
I have had a Multnomah County-issued CHL for about 2.5 years now. I took a class with an instructor that was a referral from a friend. The class was very well run, and had a mix of people; white, minority, male, female, liberal, conservative. I have only carried my weapon concealed about 1/10th of the time since getting my CHL, although I do admit that I carry it more frequently after major events (Clackamas Town Center shooting).
I also carry it more often when going to certain events that I consider "higher-risk", like political events. (Yes, I carry for self-defense at political events. I am active in the Democratic Party, and with current right-wing "nutjobs" I see, I have a serious fear of having one show up to a Democratic Party event.) I comply with all federal, state and local laws regarding the carry of weapons.
When I got my CHL, the licensing process was painless and quick. I hear from friends who have gotten theirs more recently that it is still painless, but not nearly as quick. I have never pulled my weapon in self-defense, although I did reach for it once -- in a bike repair shop. A mechanic in the back was doing some work when I heard a REALLY loud "BANG." Then the mechanic fell down. I started to reach for my weapon when I realized he has just blown out a bike tire by overinflating it, and just fell down from shock.
(Excerpt) Read more at oregonlive.com ...
Why wouldn't they print it, it carries one of the obligatory main stream media mantras.
current right-wing "nutjobs" I see
YES... please send me your info , tell me your name, where you live and
anything else you might like to mention. Allow me to publish your
private info for ALL to see. Allow me to abuse, contort and twist all
the data I receive to impune your conduct, assassinate your character and
belittle you and your like believers openly and without fear of being held to
account.
98% for me. Always carry, never tell.
Wow, that’s quite the revelation: He’s carrying in part b/c he’s afraid of ‘right wing nuts’!!! He sounds mentally imbalanced to me and certainly a danger to himself and those around him. Id revolt his permit on that comment alone. I wonder how he knows who’s a right wing nut and who isn’t? In his tiny mind are all right wingers nut jobs?? So many questions...
Of course this is another nail in the ‘liberals hate guns’ coffin. They LOVE guns but they hate it that you can have them too.
Kinda funny because I work in Portlandia and there are a crap load of nut jobs, but damn near all of them are hard left. Portland is full of obummers anarchist that actually do acts of violence. Been there 8 years and never heard of anyone on the right doing any harm.
My fellow Americans, please be careful, loose lips sink ships! The NSA is currently building a back door firearm registry on all American firearms, why would anyone post on a public domain whether you have a firearm or not?
Please be very careful what you say, NSA is monitoring everything you post.
Do you feel safer knowing that more Oregonians may be carrying concealed weapons in public?
Good luck with that in Multnomah County.
I'm not trying to nitpick with you. I just don't think it's very practical unless you are in a rural county that you know reasonably well, where you may have family, friends, employment, whatever.
As someone else has posted here, these aren't exactly the best of times to go around advertising that one owns and carries firearms.
My dad moved to Oregon in the late 1930’s and stayed until his passing in the 1980’s. His entire life he had an old 32 caliber pistol in a holster attached below the emergency brake handle of all of his pickups. When we traveled to New Mexico in the family car he transferred it to the same location. I can only recall a couple of times he ever pulled it out. Once down in Arizona at night when a fellow waved us down because he had driven into the sand and was stuck. As the man approached the car window he kept his hand on it under his left leg and then put it away when he realized it was really a man and his family needing help. In all those years only once did an Oregon State policeman question where him. Dad said it was not concealed and the matter was dropped. He knew most of the officers at all levels in Southern Oregon anyhow as there often something happening on the railroad that would bring them in contact with each other.
I would never revoke someone’s permit for feeling that they are in danger from certain groups...flip that around and they’d pull OUR permits for thinking we’re endangered by left-wing nuts.
Ed
Nope, not true.
OR doesn’t recognize permits from other states, so lots of other states don’t recognize permits from us.
Very frustrating...
Ed
A while back we had trouble with a couple of States refusing to recognise our Driver’s License ‘cause you could get them so easily.The DL being a requirement to get a CHL, reciprocity was an issue. Haven’t looked into it, but there are several multi-State options available for CC.
Don’t know what part of Oregon you visited, but you were probably surrounded by Good Guys with guns.
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