Conversation with a friend where she asked "Why conceal carry?"

[DoubleTapDrew]

The owner of the company I work for told my general manager, "you know what happens when you carry a gun? You use it!" He made this statement as a matter of fact, secure in his undeniable wisdom concerning handguns.

Too bad the same doesn't apply for his brain. At least you didn't shout out "NO I DON'T!"

 

[DirtyBrad]

I think an argument that carries some weight is that "wouldn't you do this or wouldn't you be more likely to do that?" isn't just a theoretical question. Tons of people carry, yet the road rage vigilante thing isn't exactly sweeping the nation.

 

[Deanimator]

That, and people get beaten to a pulp with tire irons...yet folks still keep them in their trunks!

Not to mention the fact that famous gay playwrite Joe Orton ("Entertaining Mr Sloane", etc.) was beaten to death in his sleep with a clawhammer by his boyfriend (See the movie "Prick Up Your Ears"). To take anti-gunners' "logic" to its logical conclusion, we must ban hammers and force everyone to use glue tacks instead.

 

[50 Freak]

When I first got my CCW, my wife asked me why I felt like I needed it.

I responded "it's because of you and the kid that I feel like I need one...Even though I hope to God I never have to use it and may seem paranoid for carrying one...If that day ever comes that I need to use it to protect you or Junior...trust me, you won't think I'm paranoid anymore but you will be damn glad I had one".

 

[CannonFodder]

My response: Because I have the right to do so. I have committed no crime, am of sound mind and body, possessing of reasonable judgment, acceptable skill, and a proactive desire to take responsibility for my own actions and safety. There is no reason why I should not.

And, I wish to exercise my rights. Rights have a funny way of disappearing when you don't, and I have no intention of letting this right disappear.

 

[crunker]

CCW is not a reason for a carrier to take risks that they would take without CCW, you have a gun in case a dangerous situation comes to you.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Been carrying concealed for over 25 years. One thing that I have definitely noticed is that if your companion in any situation knows you're carrying, and they don't carry, THEY are more likely to act boldly than usual. It's an amazing thing to see. Has anyone else noticed this? I think they figure, "Hey, what the heck, my friend's armed, so who do I need to be afraid of?" I hate this phenomenon (It's so non-realitiy-based), so I hardly ever tell anyone I'm armed anymore. Not even close friends. Do they really think I wouldn't mind being placed in a situation where I might need to shoot someone? My life would be ruined, even if it was a "good shoot."

 

[XavierBreath]

One thing that I have definitely noticed is that if your companion in any situation knows you're carrying, and they don't carry, THEY are more likely to act boldly than usual.

I, too, noticed this early. The phenomena among companions spans age and genders as well.

A gun is not carried to make a person feel safe or bullet proof. That is a very common misconception among the uninitiated. A gun is carried because a person is not safe and bulletproof.

 

[CalamityJane]

For me, two words: Luby's Cafeteria. October 1991, Killeen, Texas, man drives his pickup through the windows at Luby's and then proceeds to shoot and kill 24 people. People just having lunch, working at their jobs. Out of all the stories out there of innocent people doing normal things at normal places, this one sticks with me the most. The experience of Suzanna Gratia Hupp, who is now a Texas state rep, is a situation I can picture myself in. Just having lunch with her parents at Luby's. Watching them die, and desperately wishing that she had in her hands, the gun that resided in the trunk of her car.

I initially got my CCW thinking that I just wanted to be able to legally have a loaded gun in the car. Then I read an article by Rep. Hupp about that day. When my mother showed some suprise that I had bought a holster so that I could carry on my person, I told her this story and she just nodded and said "good idea".

Just like the rest of you have said, I don't carry because I go to lots of unsafe places, I carry because a "safe" place can become deadly in the blink of an eye. Just because there are deranged, unstable, and just plain evil people out there. I think it boils down to, I don't want to feel, or be, helpless. Having a gun doesn't guarantee that I will escape a bad situation but it will even my odds, and since it's my legal right to do so, I'll certainly take advantage of it. It's sort of like participating in your company's 401K; it's there for you, you don't have to do it, but if you don't, you're leaving money on the table (their match). I don't want to leave advantages over the bad guys "on the table".

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Good post Calamity.

 

[Knotthead]

From a post above:

I have definitely noticed is that if your companion in any situation knows you're carrying, and they don't carry, THEY are more likely to act boldly than usual.

Hawkeye:

I"m curious about this. How about a separate thread on this idea? I would like to hear If many others out there have experienced this.

 

[Unisaw]

Calamity Jane, that was very well put.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Hawkeye:

I"m curious about this. How about a separate thread on this idea? I would like to hear If many others out there have experienced this.

Be my guest. Start a new thread asking this question. You may quote my earlier post, if you like.

 

[Unisaw]

Calamity Jane, that was very, very well put.

 

[Knotthead]

Quote:
Hawkeye:

I"m curious about this. How about a separate thread on this idea? I would like to hear If many others out there have experienced this.

Be my guest. Start a new thread asking this question. You may quote my earlier post, if you like.

Done. Thanks.

 

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By that logic, wearing a seatbelt is dangerous because it would embolden a driver to drive faster, pull out in front of people with less room to spare, and tailgate... :banghead:

DanO