I grew up in TN and have lived in VA for a few years. I have been trying to digest the extent of the DE's concealed carry requirements over the past few days..... I am moving there early next year for work. Fair warning, I am venting. I don't have another outlet because I'm in a social milieu that acts like I'm about to storm the capital just because I like to carry a small pistol in case I need it.
Background - A few years ago, my dog and I were on a walk when we were attacked by a pit bull. The dog (which wasn't even that big, maybe 50 pounds?) latched on to my 80-pound dog's neck. I've never heard her scream like that. It took me ten minutes to get the dog off of her (after punching it in the eye five times at one point, which didn't phase it). I had marks from its canines all the way around my calf from where I pulled my leg out of its mouth just before it would have no doubt mauled the meaty part of my calf. My dog got lucky, as she has mane-like hair on her neck which prevented the dog from getting ahold of more flesh. Though, she did have numerous puncture wounds. After this, I looked into self-defense, and began carrying mace and a knife. I was still scared because mace is frequently ineffective against these dogs, and the fact that it would have to get so close to me to use my knife was not terribly reassuring. Not to mention I would be trying to control my own 80-pound dog during all of this.
Fast forward a few years - After enough trips to the range, I recently started carrying on my walks with my dog, and I simply didn't realize how paranoid I still was from the dog attack. I'm now outside exercising probably three times as much as before. I'm so much more relaxed. it's unreal. I've had dogs run up on us and I stayed perfectly calm, because I knew I could handle it if the worst happened. I also think this calmness helps to deter attacks in the first place. This was a wonderful feeling given how helpless I felt during the attack a few years prior (and how paranoid I was afterward).
Realizing that I likely won't be able to get a permit for concealed carry for at least several months (and probably longer, because my workplace is blue blue blue and references are unlikely) is just so disheartening. I know I can open carry, but I just don't want to draw that much attention to myself in a blue state with high crime rates. I am also a very private person, and I am not sure about advertising myself in the newspaper. Work is also politically sensitive on this issue, and it could very possibly affect my career.
It's just so odd to me... Given where I've lived, people around me have of course championed 2nd amendment rights, but even people who don't really care about gun rights were very supportive of women carrying while on a jog or a walk.
I don't mean to turn this into a gender issue, as I think the laws are absolutely ridiculous on their face (and Lord knows we've got enough people trying to turn everything into a "gender thing"). I just feel like as a female jogger/walker this is even more scary and unfair. I don't want to ever get into a hand-to-hand fight with anyone or anything. I'm just so angry that this newfound peace of mind will not be available to me in the state of DE. I don't understand how the strength disparity between men and women is not even considered in making these kinds of laws, especially with the culture's hyperfocus on gender right now. It puts women at the mercy of male criminals with twice the upper body strength and dogs that are known to frequently kill even grown men. I know I'm preaching to the choir here.... I'm just upset. From looking at news reports and judging by my own experience visiting the area last summer, DE seems to have a serious pit bull problem as well. I saw numerous hyena-sized pits on street corners with floss-thin leashes. By the way, criminals do use these dogs as weapons (but I can't conceal carry a pistol?).
I could use some advice on the following - is there anyone in Wilmington or the surrounding areas that can speak to the community's general reaction to open carrying? Is there anything I should be concerned about? Have there been any concerning prosecutions of people exercising their right to self-defense? Any concerning attitudes from District Attorneys (ya know, where they exercise performative empathy solely on behalf of the criminal perpetrator? Looking at you, Philadelphia)?
Any general advice (or commiseration) is welcome. And - on the bright side - if I'm forced to go public regarding concealed carry, I may as well get involved in the local political processes surrounding the issue.
