I've carried for years, and a couple 3 years ago I got legal and got the permit the only time I do not carry is when I an on the way to the job, since jails have metal detectors and such
~snip~
To say that I don’t feel the need to carry a gun here does not make me soft on guns or naive. I know my community, I know what to do and not do and where to go and not go. Is it possible that something bad could happen that would make lethal self defense necessary? Sure. Is it so likely that the bother and negative side effects of gun carry are reasonable? No.
Thank you, Toothpick, for fixing my post.
I had no special reason for posting today. I was bored, I cruised through the forum and noticed an OP I thought was interesting.
To some degree this forum reminds me of the Badger and Blade wet shaving forum I frequent There is an orthodoxy that one must adhere to or risk being ostracized. In the shaving world there is a dominant clique that spends thousands of dollars on very expensive shaving products who are intolerant of anyone who espouses a more modest approach to a simple hygienic function. Some folks here in the gun forum seem to be somewhat intolerant of anyone who doesn’t endorse daily concealed carry. Even though I am a zealous 2d Am advocate who has provided legal representation to numerous gun owners in courts and before administrative agencies my bona fides on the subject are questioned. Why?
Politics is the science of addition, not subtraction. To advance the cause of liberty in this country we need to embrace those who agree with us, even if their position is not identical to our own. Especially if it is not identical to our own.
Couldn’t hoight…. . (in my best Groucho Marx accent)You are not the first to point out the acerbic style of my writing. I will bear your critique in mind.
You give me too much credit to ascribe an agenda to my posts. I express my opinions, that is all. If I might be more effective by moderating my expression to some degree, as you suggest, I shall.
Tell your wife that you are right my friend. All people ARE basically bad.I truly apologize if I came off that way. That wasn’t my intent nor is it the way I feel. If you feel that your situation is one that you don’t need to carry daily that’s great, I wish I could feel the same way. My past experiences, however, have made me somewhat paranoid/skeptical of others. According to my wife I think that all people are basically bad and that only the “constraints of society” keep everyone from attacking each other. I laugh when she says that but sometimes wonder if she’s correct.
Tell your wife that you are right my friend. All people ARE basically bad.
Actually, the proper werd is "evil", but bad will do.
I would love to know where this is..... I have lived in some of the safest middle to upper middle class neighborhoods all my life, but never any place where no one gets robbed or assaulted with some regularity. Bad guys and nut cases can go anywhere they want. You can't keep them out of any supersafe neighborhood. No location is without violent crime. Believing it is won't keep you safe., but to each his own I guess.I do not live in a community where the need for instantaneous lethal defensive fire is realistic
I have carried a gun for years. I have never had to draw it and I hope I never do. I do not put myself in those situations. What I can't prevent is the nut job who walks into Walmart shooting. That is why I carry a gun.I have a concealed carry permit and am strongly pro-gun, HOWEVER, I wonder where or in what environment some of these cc fellows live to require instantaneous defensive gunfire? If I lived there, I would move somewhere else.
I have carried a gun for years. I have never had to draw it and I hope I never do. I do not put myself in those situations. What I can't prevent is the nut job who walks into Walmart shooting. That is why I carry a gun.
Having been involved in public safety for the last three decades (ambulance, engine company, tactical medic) I usually CCW when out in public areas with my bride. I have seen enough incidents that happened outside of the normal dangerous neighborhoods or areas that I kind of feel an obligation to be armed just in case. I would hate to find myself in a situation where I could affect the situation with my training and a firearm and did not have one.
I'm no hero. I always tell my wife that I will only ever pull my pistol if there is no other means of escape from mortal danger.
I hear guys say "I am a shepherd and need to protect the sheep from the wolves".
Not me.
My nightmare scenario would be running towards gunfire and happening upon a scene with two gunmen, misreading the situation, and shooting the good guy with a gun.
If I'm at mall/store and hear gunfire my primary objective will be to get my wife safely to the nearest exit. I'll only act if I actually SEE the active shooter very near or am directly threatened or impeded by the shooter.
A very interesting and thought-provoking thread as always on this sub-forum Gentlemen.
I always contribute by my reactions, but sadly living in the UK, with its deeply 'enlightened' laws on gun ownership, I feel like the eunuch in a brothel, so my rare comments are purely vicarious.
However I do try to keep up with the current gun legislation and trends in the United States, and this is an excellent source of information as to current trends.
I watch Mr Paul Harrell's videos on YT, and I recall a very interesting video he issued on the subject of the dangers (in some districts) of exercising the right of self-defence by CC permit holders in the face of some hostile DA's. He appeared to have personal experience from his narrative, and it was somewhat concerning.
Thank you Gents, for an informative, thoughtful and amusing thread, as always.
That is my plan as well. If I can run, I’ll run.
I'm 50. I've been shot at 3 times, all 3 while wearing a bright white shirt with a star of life on it. I worked a year at a max correctional facility(long enough to know I definitely wouldn't want to stay), and have worked outpatient and inpatient secured units with people having a variety of mental and emotional imbalances.I do not live in a community where the need for instantaneous lethal defensive fire is realistic, one incident in 64 years notwithstanding. If I did, I would leave.
I'm 50. I've been shot at 3 times, all 3 while wearing a bright white shirt with a star of life on it. I worked a year at a max correctional facility(long enough to know I definitely wouldn't want to stay), and have worked outpatient and inpatient secured units with people having a variety of mental and emotional imbalances.
I would not say I'm paranoid. I would say I've had hundreds of thousands of interactions with people having explosive anger "issues" and minimal consequential reasoning, who are highly transient.
I have moved. My circumstances do not change.
Regards.
I am no hero, but feel the experiences I have had coupled with the training I have been fortunate to receive places a certain obligation on me.I'm no hero. I always tell my wife that I will only ever pull my pistol if there is no other means of escape from mortal danger.
I hear guys say "I am a shepherd and need to protect the sheep from the wolves".
Not me.
My nightmare scenario would be running towards gunfire and happening upon a scene with two gunmen, misreading the situation, and shooting the good guy with a gun.
If I'm at mall/store and hear gunfire my primary objective will be to get my wife safely to the nearest exit. I'll only act if I actually SEE the active shooter very near or am directly threatened or impeded by the shooter.
Yeah, I’m a bit different. My philosophy in life has always been,
“run up…. get done up.”