Should I Carry? The Best Answer About 24/7 Firearm Carry

This comment represents a common belief—but one that misunderstands how violence really works.

That’s a comment I saw recently. It sounds reasonable on the surface. Rational. Measured. But it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of violence and what it means to be prepared.

The truth is: You don’t get to schedule your next emergency.
That’s why this article answers the question “Should I carry?” with clarity, context, and the real-life evidence you won’t get from hypothetical debates.

Should I Carry a Gun Every Day?

From errands to emergencies, the answer to “Should I carry?” is almost always yes.

Yes, you should carry every single day. If you’re legally permitted, trained, and responsible, there is no reason to leave your firearm behind.

Why? Because you don’t know when or where violence will strike. Americans use a firearm in self-defense between 500,000 and 3 million times per year, according to the CDC. The most comprehensive study ever done on the issue found that 1.6 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) happen annually in the United States.

Source: National Academies | CDC Summary
Source: English, W. “National Firearms Survey” (2021)

That’s not a rare event. That’s a statistical reality. There isn't a specific situation that warrants carrying; all situations do.

Should I Carry to the Grocery Store?

26-year-old Alexandria Borys was shot and killed by a stranger after a brief argument in a Kroger parking lot, proving danger doesn’t always look like danger. If you have to run and grab milk quickly and ask, “Should I Carry?” the answer is yes.

Absolutely. In February 2023, a 26-year-old mother in South Carolina was shot and killed by a stranger in a grocery store parking lot. They had a brief argument, which escalated to murder. She was simply buying groceries. She wasn't in a place that she shouldn't be, but that doesn't mean violence couldn't find her.

Source: KKTV News – Grocery Store Shooting

If you’re wondering whether you should carry to the grocery store, remember this: No one expects violence until it’s too late. Carrying gives you the option to respond if the unthinkable happens.

Should I Carry at the Park?

Yes. Public parks may feel safe, but they are completely uncontrolled environments. On June 1st, 2024, a would-be mass killer launched Molotov cocktails and used a homemade flamethrower at a rally in a Boulder park. His plan was to use a firearm, but he was denied at the point of sale, so he improvised.

Source: ConcealedCarry.com – Boulder Firebomb Attack

The people attacked weren’t in a “high crime area.” They weren’t doing anything reckless. They were simply in a park.
So yes, you should carry at the park.

Should I Carry When I Run?

Yes. Without question.
Runners are frequently targeted for one simple reason: they’re isolated and distracted. Whether it’s early morning or late evening, trail or sidewalk, the act of running makes you vulnerable, your attention is elsewhere, your gear is minimal, and help is often out of reach.

Eliza Fletcher was abducted and killed during her morning run; her story is a tragic reminder that runners must consider carrying for their own protection.

If you’re wondering, “Should I carry when I go jogging?”, consider the story of Eliza Fletcher.

On the morning of September 2, 2022, Eliza, a 34-year-old Memphis schoolteacher, mother of two, and avid runner, was abducted and murdered while on her usual predawn jog near the University of Memphis. Surveillance footage and court documents show her kidnapper, Cleotha Henderson, driving past in an SUV, getting out, and forcibly shoving her into the vehicle. Her body was discovered four days later behind an abandoned property. The autopsy revealed she died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head and blunt force trauma.

Eliza wasn’t reckless. She wasn’t in a high-crime area. She was doing what millions of people do every day, running through her own neighborhood. She was attacked at 4 a.m., a time when many runners hit the pavement to get a jump on the day.

Her story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a devastating reminder that danger doesn’t come with a warning, and even the most ordinary routines can become deadly without warning.

Should I Carry at the Gas Station?

Gas stations are high-risk transitional spaces. I've watched enough Active Self Protection videos to know how fast a threat can appear. Should I carry when I go get gas? Most Definitely.

Gas stations are among the most common places for violent encounters, carjackings, robberies, and arguments turned deadly. You’re distracted, your hands are full, and people can easily approach you.

If you’re asking “Should I carry at the gas station?” the answer is not only yes, but it might be one of the most important places to carry.

Should I Carry While I Drive?

Yes. Always.

Driving is one of the most vulnerable times in your day. You’re confined to a small space. You’re stuck in traffic. And you’re often in transitional spaces like gas stations or parking lots—prime targets for carjackers and criminals.

These common vehicle holster setups may seem convenient, but they increase risk and reduce readiness. Keep your gun on your body.

Many people rely on magnetic holsters or off-body storage in glove compartments or center consoles. These might seem convenient, but they create one huge problem: unnecessary administrative handling.

Every time you move your gun from body to car and back, you introduce risk—risk of forgetting it, dropping it, or leaving it accessible to unauthorized hands. The safest place for your firearm in a vehicle? On your body. Always. Your car is not a holster.

🚗 Want to learn how to carry safely and fight from inside your car?
Check out our Vehicle Firearm Tactics Course.
You’ll learn how to draw, engage, and protect yourself while seated and strapped in.

How Often Should I Carry a Gun?

Violence doesn’t wait for “bad neighborhoods.” It doesn’t follow a schedule. And it doesn’t care whether you thought it was a “safe place.”

You carry not because you expect to use it, but because you refuse to be unprepared.

Think about it like this:

• You don’t wear your seatbelt only when you see the crash coming.
• You don’t buy life insurance after the diagnosis.
• You don’t install smoke detectors after the fire starts.

You carry a gun for the same reason: to be ready before it’s too late.

So you should carry ALL OF THE TIME.

So what about at home?

Yes, you should carry at home. You can read more on this subject from us here.

Most people imagine break-ins happening when they’re asleep. But in reality, many home invasions occur in broad daylight, when doors are unlocked, people are relaxed, and defenses are down. If your firearm is locked in a safe, across the house, or disassembled for cleaning, it’s not doing you any good when someone kicks in your door.

Carrying at home doesn’t mean being paranoid; it means being practical. If someone attacks your home while you’re cooking dinner, folding laundry, or watching TV, you may have only seconds to respond.

Should I Carry at Home? You don’t get to choose when danger shows up. Being prepared at home starts with mindset, awareness, and access.

👉 Want to be fully prepared? Take our Complete Home Defense course.
Learn how to fortify your home, stage your gear, and respond effectively to a threat inside your own walls.

Is It Paranoid to Carry a Gun?

No. Carrying is not about fear. It’s about responsibility.

The people who say carrying a gun is paranoid are usually the same ones who have never been the victim of violent crime, also believing that you should only have a gun when the situation warrants it. That’s not judgment, it’s just the perspective gap. They’re fortunate. They don't know violence. But luck is not a plan.

Preparedness Isn’t a Switch You Flip On

If you’re still thinking, “Maybe I’ll just carry when I feel like I might need it,” you’re gambling with your own life.

“Only if the situation warrants it” is a flawed mindset.
Because the situation won’t warn you.

It’s like only putting on your parachute after the plane has already failed.
Either you have it when you need it, or you don’t.

Final Word: Should I Carry?

Yes.
To the store.
To the park.
On your run.
At the gas station.
On date night.
With the kids.
In the middle of nowhere.
In the middle of the city.
And in your home.

Because you carry for the moments you can’t see coming.
And if you wait until it’s obvious, you’re already too late.

The question is: Should you?
The answer is yes, you should.
Do you have to? No.
Do we always do what we should? Of course not.
We’re human. We’re flawed. We get complacent. We forget.

But if you understand what’s at stake…
If you’ve read this far and felt the weight of these stories…
Then you know: this isn’t about fear.
It’s about choosing to live prepared, not lucky.
It’s about striving for excellence, even when it’s inconvenient.

So carry. Not because you’re paranoid.
But because you understand the value of being ready.
And because the people you love are worth it.

From malls to trains, rain to night—this poem/meme I made reminds us that the answer to “Should I Carry?” is always yes.

A Holster You Can Trust to Carry Everywhere

To carry consistently, at the grocery store, park, home, and gas station, you need a holster you can trust. Something secure, comfortable, and reliable enough to wear every day, all day.

That’s why we recommend the Lexington Holster from KSG Armory.
Built for concealment, comfort, and real-world performance, the Lexington checks every box for daily carry. Whether you’re driving, running errands, or defending your home, this holster stays where it should, does what it should, and disappears when you need it to.

If you're serious about carrying every day, start with the gear that makes it easy to do so confidently.