What made you start carrying?

[skoro]

LOL, I think if the cartels ever come to your house, or you get caught in the middle of a fight out in public, a handgun is going to be about as useful as a whistle.

You're right about that, of course. But I'm not into drugs nor do I have any contact with the cartels. I'm not one of their targets.

But it's clear I need to give a better explanation.

The fact of the matter is, that across the border in Mexico, lots of individuals who are not associated with the cartels and who had no prior life of crime are now openly engaging in crimes of opportunity. They look around and see multiple murders being committed daily and there are no consequences. The killers aren't being arrested or even activley sought out. So, these normally law-abiding individuals are now emboldened and will look for an easy kidnapping or a low-risk car jack. It happens on a regular basis south of the border. And sometimes they cross over to this side to stage home invasions.

I'm living in close proximity to a nation that's in the process of violently dissolving. I can't be prepared for any eventuality, but carrying a sidearm puts me a step ahead of being unarmed. And the wrought iron bars on my windows and doors makes my home a less attractive target.

 

[Mike J]

Although I had owned guns for years & had kept a firearm in my truck at times (this is legal here without a License to carry) I had never been all that interested in handguns. A couple of years ago I bought a little single action .22 to use for snakes & took it out to shoot it. I took my old Ruger P-944 I had had since 2000 with me. I was annoyed that I couldn't hit well with it so I started plinking figuring "it's not much good if you don't know how to use it". While researching my next handgun purchase & info on how to shoot better I found this site. That coupled with the fact that after many years as a bachelor I had not long before this started a family convinced me. If something happened to one of my kids I could have possibly stopped by being armed & I wasn't I'm not sure I could forgive myself.

 

[snorky18]

I always carry a knife in case something needs cutting.

In my car, a fire extinguisher in case there's a fire, air compressor and patch kit in case there's a flat, and a bunch of other stuff I won't bore you with. I carry a lot of stuff that I may never need, and that's OK, but if I ever need it I have it, and I have needed some of it before.

So why wouldn't I carry a gun in case my life or someone else's was ever in danger and I could have a means to stop a threat?

Aside from all that, throughout my teenage years, I worked every day in the summers with my grandfather appraising real estate, from the mcmansions all the way down to the ghetto. We went in some really nice areas, and some really rough areas, but he always carried.

He was the nicest man you'd ever expect to meet, everywhere we went he either saw old friends or made new ones. His approach to life - be nice to everyone you meet, and have a backup plan in case they don't return the favor - is something I've always tried to emulate.

Then there's the fact that I live in an urban area, I've looked at the crime blotter, the drunk people that spill out of the rental house across the street at all hours, and the home invasion a few blocks away in a super-nice upper class neighborhood a few months back.

Then there's the time the car died outside of cell reception in a rough area of the mountains and wife and I had to hitchhike into town. That turned out OK, but all sorts of things could have happened.

Or the time a bunch of (presumably drunk) rednecks came riding quads almost into our camp on a private farm at 3AM.

And the fact I feel like it's an important expression of my rights.

 

[jbrown50]

Oh, I don't know.......

1) I grew up in a large inner city known for it's high crime rates (Washington, DC).
2) Seen several murdered people up close and personal (blood, bullet holes, etc.) during my youth and some afterwards.
3) Two of my relatives (a cousin and a neice) and one friend were murdered.
4) Was a victim of criminal activity four times during my youth and seen many other victims of crime up close.

 

[Tim Pierce]

I have worked at my business, which happens to be located in the zip code that has been deemed by a study to be the the most violent place in the US.
For years I carried a pistol illegally in my truck. As soon as Ohio allowed concealed carry, I took the class and applied for my CCW. I now carry everyday on my person, and keep one in the truck. We have had many shootings over the years within 2 blocks of our building, including 2 right in front.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I woods cary because we have big black bears here in this area. We now have many stories of large cat kills on calves and horses.

I cary when I go to large cities.

Also cary when at the summer place, also in the woods.