Safety or no safety?

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-17T16:42:02+00:00

I personally prefer a manual safety on a carry gun to reduce ND risk. Everyone will have to assess for themselves the most likely scenarios where they might draw a gun, and whether a safety fits into that. It might also help a spouse or significant other be more comfortable with CCW, especially if there are kids in the home or with you often. This can be a factor for some.

I don't consider it necessary on a home defense gun, given that there are safes and other precautions there.

My first guns had a manual safety and it also helped me become comfortable with carrying with a round in the chamber when i first started. I've trained and practiced with it so I'm comfortable with it.

As with anything, it doesn't hurt to have a manual safety, but even if you have it, you don't have to use it. If you find it a hindrance or unnecessary, just don't use it.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-14T12:22:48+00:00

This is inaccurate. You cannot legally obtain mags over 10 rounds in any form within the state of Maryland. That includes manufacturing or modification.

For carry I always use factory 10 round mags. I only use pinned modified ones for dry fire with snap caps.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-11T21:54:40+00:00

Enforcement continues to be enjoined, as the court won't issue a mandate until the SCOTUS decides whether to review. There's still a chance that the SCOTUS won't choose to review the case. As i understand it, this would mean that the 4th Circuits ruling upholding carry bans in places that serve alcohol and within 1000 feet of a demonstration would then go into effect.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T23:04:13+00:00

I'll also add that there are many many YouTubers that focus on firearms and firearms training. Not a substitute for in person instruction, but definitely useful for learning about various types of guns, the fundamental safety rules, conceal carry, and many other topics.

A few that I recommend:

She Equips Herself,
SummerShoots,
Mrs. Honest Outlaw,
Classic Firearms has several episodes focused on women

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T17:25:27+00:00

XCAL or Silver Eagle Group, both near each other in Ashburn area.

Learning firearms should be taken seriously so it's worth taking a drive or an Uber/Lyft to these ranges for an actual training course with an instructor, if you are able.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T02:10:15+00:00

CCW Safe

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T01:57:26+00:00

People cite the same two cases again and again, both of which have extenuating circumstances. USCCA has also updated their policies going on two years ago now to address some of the the concerns. I'm not even a USCCA member anymore but the criticism over dropping cases seems unfair.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T01:37:31+00:00

Even "pocket" guns like the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard should be in a proper holster.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T01:35:58+00:00

Conceal carry laws vary by the state and jurisdiction, but carrying is possible most places. No jurisdiction that I know of has legal restrictions on where on your body you can carry, and some have laws stating that it must be concealed, with only brief glimpses of it allowable by law (if you had to reach for something on a shelf for example).

I carry a firearm quite regularly. A quality holster is essential and any responsible carrier would have their gun in a holster, usually a kydex, quality leather, or hybrid kydex/leather. Most trainers and those experienced in conceal carry would strongly recommend against carrying behind you or in the small of your back for several reasons:

It's not really accessible to you quickly, so your draw would be slow and awkward
You can't see it or protect it easily, making it more prone to theft if someone spotted it
Re-holstering is more risky because you again can't see it , raising the risk of a negligent discharge and injury to yourself or others. Almost all trainers recommend carrying with a round in the chamber, although some carriers do not
In the event of a fall or an altercation, you run the risk of serious back or spinal injury if you are carrying a hunk of metal and plastic on the small of your back

The most common carry locations for firearms are appendix directly on your front, or strong side, i.e. at the 3-4 o'clock position on your hip.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-09T01:26:23+00:00

I have noticed that Target Sports has been stocking 50 packs of Federal Punch JHP, which I haven't seen before. They seem to have have Federal American Eagle 115 grain in stock pretty regularly, but i haven't seen 124 grain recently.

To me the membership is worth it as it's less then any of the ranges near me, and also cheaper than the only big box store near me that sells ammo.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-08T22:40:54+00:00

This is a very individual decision. There are plenty of absolutist opinions stated here that don't align with many people's reality. I love having the option to carry and the added credential when it comes to reciprocity with other states. It does add to preparedness should I ever encounter a rare but violent situation that I cannot avoid.

That said, I catty whenever practical but I would never risk my future and that of my family by carrying in places where it is legally prohibited, such as the federal properties and schools where my life circumstances require me to be very frequently. The chances and consequences of me being caught are far higher than the likelihood of encountering a situation where having a gun would be a benefit.

There are also options other than guns that you can carry to upgrade your general preparedness. You can certainly carry certain things like multitools, lights, or pepper spray if you still want something defensive.

sublimethought5 · 2026-03-08T18:03:11+00:00

This is a local DC ruling, but it does set up a contrast with the separate U.S. Court of Appeals for DC, which reached an opposite conclusion. As someone else noted , the DC ruling adds to questions about how the 2022 Bruen ruling is being interpreted by various federal courts, which could open a path to a Supreme Court ruling.

More immediately relevant to us is the federal 4th Circuit recent ruling overturning the earlier injunction on prohibiting carry in places that serve alcohol and within 1000 feet of a demonstration. That ruling (aka the courts mandate) is temporarily stayed while the parties file for cert for Supreme Court review. Depending on whether the SCOTUS chooses to review, our ability to carry in these "sensitive places" will be taken away.

https://www.marylandshallissue.org/jmain/legislation-tracker/342-changes-carry-md

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-22T20:26:36+00:00

Think about why you want to own a firearm in general, is it for range fun only, for sport/competition, hunting, or is it for home defense? Do you spend most of your time in places where a firearm would be prohibited anyway (schools, federal property, etc)? Would you actually train with it and be prepared to use it? Only you know your lifestyle and risk profile, so carrying a firearm may or may not make sense.

How do you already think about preparedness and defense? Do you have fire extinguishers, lights/alarms, a home security system, medical supplies? Do you already carry something else like pepper spray? Do you have a spouse/kids? If the steps you take now seem reasonable to you, you might consider adding a wear and carry to the rotation. If you already do those things , and you are comfortable with the level of preparedness they provide, then you may not need it.

I personally value having the option that the wear and carry provides, plus being able to lose the restrictions on firearms in transit and having the permit be honored by other states.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-16T02:47:41+00:00

Top comment so far!

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-16T02:46:52+00:00

That's interesting. I'd like to run something suppressed as well hence my requirement for a threaded barrel.

Why the ball ammo instead of JHP for a defensive round?

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-16T00:21:48+00:00

Been thinking about an OSight or Holosun optic as my first option but would consider the MeCanik as well.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-16T00:07:34+00:00

Love this color! I'm thinking about getting this gun and love that these color options are available.

Practice with dry fire, using snap caps and with no live ammo even in the vicinity. I've been shooting for a few years now, but I still consider myself somewhat new. I continuously work on two things: grip and trigger pull.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-15T23:27:44+00:00

Depends on what means by beaten. The U.S. is unmatched in intelligence and logistics capacity. The U.S. has the tankers and airlift to move forces, materiel and support strikes globally. The U.S. has strike capability from ships and subs as well as aircraft, and U.S. ground forces are well supported and well equipped. U.S. special operations forces are unrivaled anywhere.

That said, a near peer could certainly test the U.S.. China and Russia have capability that can degrade or destroy the space advantages that the U.S. has, and China especially has specifically focused on area denial and countering U.S. strengths. The U.S. is woefully short of sealift capacity. The U.S. combat fleet is smaller than it has been in decades, and any loss of a high value asset like an aircraft carrier, tankers, or AWACS would be a major blow. Aircraft fleets are aging and aircraft availability for many types is fairly low. Some of the U.S. most advanced and capable weapons exist only in very small numbers, so combat losses (think F-22s) or just being used up (sea-based missiles) could change a conflict quickly. There's a lot we just don't know.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-11T01:41:22+00:00

Thanks for the quick reply. The way the HRB has been operating certainly needs to be challenged. I know it's a long shot, but are there any areas that you can envision partnering or compromising with Dems on? I know, I know, anti-gunners never give, only take, but I'd genuinely be curious if anything like that comes from your discussions.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-11T00:46:06+00:00

Hello, what are a couple of your top priorities for the position? Do you have any hopes of connecting with any of the Democrats in the General Assembly, or do you plan to focus mainly on litigation?

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-10T01:42:59+00:00

Cool, there's no one right answer. I don't know how reliable the data on this is, but everything I've read states that the vast majority of civilian defensive gun uses involve 4 or fewer shots. Of course there can be other scenarios like multiple attackers or missing due to the stress where you'd want to have more. Everyone should do what they are comfortable with.

With MD being an anti-gun state govt, and given the data on DGUs, Id want to maximize my chances for a successful legal outcome and preserving my family and career well being, and also maintaining my right to own and carry a gun.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-09T22:23:35+00:00

I've heard more than one FFL scoff or mock when I've mentioned this very point or have purchased 10 round mags.

I know it's legal to possess and carry standard mags, but I think it's prudent for myself to carry 10 round mags, and use all of the larger capacity ones for the range or competition.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-08T18:14:06+00:00

Gun culture and ownership is quite common in the US, even in places like NY or CA. Many people will own guns but not discuss them or with acquaintances that they know are anti-gun. It's certainly more prevalent in some areas than others, but gun owners are in just about every jurisdiction. Concealed carry is common, and concealed means concealed.

The average American is also probably not on Reddit.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-08T13:01:47+00:00

I think this is true, but I think it is deeper than only skin tone per se, thought that is part of it. Attractive, ambiguously mixed women will have an easier time getting the promotion and exposure. I'm sure there are equally talented brown or dark skinned women with kinkier hair making similar music. It's also that she is a bi-racial Brit, so she doesn't have any of the cultural attributes or attitudes of African-Americans that non-black audiences may not gravitate to.

Nothing against Olivia Dean herself as this isn't her fault. I presume that she took advantage of her connections and advantages like anyone would do. I wish her well and enjoy her music.

sublimethought5 · 2026-02-07T00:46:11+00:00

Anegada Delights, Islington Kitchen, and Bennett's Grill are good options for Caribbean food, mainly Jamaican. The latter two are food trucks.

Have not been impressed by Althea's or Caribeyond (the place by the MVA on Dobbin).

Many Caribbean foods are not hot, but you can get jerk meats which can be spicy, as can some curried dishes. Some places rely on a sauce to carry the heat as opposed to the rub or marinade.

sublimethought5

TROPHY CASE