Convince me on a ccw

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Depending on your state's laws, there are other good reasons to get your CCW/CPL besides just being to carry. Here in Michigan it also makes purchasing firearms MUCH easier, and it makes the question of transporting them legally much less ambiguous.

Get your permit and slowly decide if carrying is for you.
 
Ive posted once already but would like to add something to what ive read after my first post. What ive read, Some i agree with and some i dont.
But it all personal decisions and no one is wrong as it is the good Ole USA and we have that freedom to carry if we want or need to in most places.

I carry 24/7 when im outside my home and i live in a small town in Ohio with a low crime rate, But i visit regularly Columbus which has a pretty darned high murder count each year compared nationwide.
But i honestly feel if i ever have the need to shoot someone it will be at home protecting my family. If someone enters your home uninvited chances are they are there to do something bad which mainly is steal, But many have worse intentions.
In my home id stand my ground and do my best too assess the situation and threat as i don't want to shoot a drunken neighbor who went into the wrong house.
But the main point is there is hardly a place to retreat or run away from while in your home like you can outside of it.
Many ccw situations outside the home can be stopped with the right decisions by not escalating the issue or trying to retreat as best you can or draw attention to yourself so others see the BG in hopes he will retreat.
But in your home you don't get those choices.

This would explain why i keep a shotgun with highley effective ammo in it to protect my home and family.
 
I humbly suggest you're asking the wrong question.

In what way does it make sense to deprive yourself of the option to be armed in public? How would that benefit you, or be in your interest?
 
Joe first welcome to the forum, and I suspect the world of firearm ownership.

To try and answer your, well thought out, question. IMHO carrying a weapon, CCW or not, is like getting married. You are the only person who knows if you are ready for the commitmen. I try not to “read between the lines” with various posts, but I can’t help getting the feeling you are not totally ready to take on the responsibility of caring a handgun just yet.
 
You are reflecting the same feelings a lot of us have had at one time or another. I carried for many years, and I had to temporarily move to a state where I wasn't allowed to. It felt like I wasn't allowed to wear my seat belt.

You are correct to observe that there are many things that might require you to shoot to defend yourself. The odds are small I will ever have to pull my gun to defend myself against another person. I have come very close more than once to pulling to stop a dog, and I am pretty sure one day I will have to.

Here we teach over and over again, "mindset, skillset, toolset, IN THAT ORDER."

Yes, every day when you go out the door, you must be fully committed to doing whatever you need to to stay alive. Killing someone in self-defense is the second worst thing that can happen to you.

Wondering if you need to wait for another incident to decide if you need to carry is like saying you will wait until you have a car accident to decide if you want to start wearing your seatbelt.

Yes, you have the option to carry when you have a permit, but what you find is, it becomes all or nothing. this is a way of life, not a hobby. You can't be split, some days you feel focused enough to carry, and some you just don't care. You realize that if you knew when danger was going to occur, you wouldn't carry, you just don't go there in the first place. This means that all of the rest of your life is an area in which you must be ready to use deadly force to protect yourself. You run out of reasons to leave it home.

This will require ongoing expenses for training, ammo, and equipment. You will have a box of holsters you changed your mind about. You will probably change your mind about the gun you want to carry. eventually your wife will probably want to carry, and SHE will go through the same process. IT NEVER ENDS.
 
Gamble Joe, there are many good reasons to get a CCW. Just remember that along with carrying a gun comes responsibility to be proficient with it.
 
I would say you should get the license. You don't have to carry if you don't want to but you will be able if you do. While I don't think every day about the fact I might have to shoot someone. I know if I have to I have the means available. Also you mentioned hiking. Here in Georgia an elderly couple in a rural area were killed a year or two back by wild dogs while out walking. I don't go into the woods without a firearm with me. There are just too many things that can happen.
 
Something else to consider is that if you are carrying, your body language may reflect that you have the capability of defending yourself(not talking about flashing or being obnoxious either). Since criminals routinely profile their victims based on fearful body language/ "victim" look, this might be enough to avoid an incident in and of itself.
 
I'm wondering do I need another incident to finally get me motivated to get a ccw.
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If that didn't convince you, maybe you can't be convinced. (Edit: I mean that with respect, don't take it wrong. I respect anyone's decision not to carry. And if you aren't %175 convinced you should be armed, then you shouldn't be armed. It truly is a huge responsibility.) You were truly lucky nothing further happened and I am very happy for you.

I refused to get myself into the frame of mind, whether I need one or not, to carry a weapon. Maybe be I got older, but I didn't want to live with the fear of an eventual crime against my person.
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Speaking for myself, I don't live in fear. I stay prepared.

I started carrying after an ex-girlfriend (defense lawyer to be) worked with "troubled youth." I live in a medium sized city, and even in rural areas we have gang activity. I was surprised to learn this. It was truly an eye opener. Kids under 18 that are habitual felons motivated me. Noticing the gang tags not far from my home motivated me. I don't know what world I was in before or how I never noticed how bad things have gotten.

One of the kids she was helping got caught in a felony act. He directed his aggression at her and attempted to stalk her. Right then and there I learned what I already knew, it was just reinforced with reality. A restraining order is a piece of paper that does nothing. When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. You can do the right thing, and still end up dead if you don't protect yourself. The police aren't here to protect us every minute of the day, that is our own job. I don't want to see someone break into my home and cause harm to myself or loved ones. I can't afford a body guard, and the local pd isn't going to watch over me in my sleep...so I guess that leaves me up to the task.

I'm not "in fear" of anything. I'm just prepared because I carry my last line of defense in my waistband.
 
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I didn't bother to read anyone other posts.

Making the choice to conceal should be your decision. No one else's. If you don't feel the need/desire/urge, fine. Don't. If you go, go for it. Plain and simple.

I chose to get permitted because I wanted the option. I rarely carry. But there are times when I do, and I like having it in my pocket.
 
It's like owning a gun in the first place. This is something you have to convince yourself.
 
Only you can decide...

I am getting my CCW in the next month. I've always been around long guns since I was 5, pretty good shooter and received a fair amount of training throughout the Scouts (yeah, they used to do that with kids pretty seriously). But I was also from Maine and moved to Michigan so lots of deep hunting culture my dad passed down to me. I have his 1st .22 in the safe and it will be my son's.

I explain this because the decision to carry has been 20 years in the making for me. I am familiar with pistols to an extent, but recognize that when I took the step of owning, I needed to get training - for my wife too and the kids as they get older. It is harder as the culture and opportunities revolve around handguns in SoFla and youth programs are few and far between...

...but what pushed me over the edge was the increasing rash of violence against families - and growing up (at 43) to realize I have a responsibility...and I cannot be the only one with knowledge to defend, but I also need to have the tools available. The CCW gives me that opportunity...but it is just the start of training and familiarization for the whole family that should never stop. Good luck
 
You're worth it, and your loved ones are worth it.

Does that convince you?

Why wouldn't you carry?
 
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You wear a seat belt when you drive don't you or do you wear it only when you plan on having an accident. Why not carry as a precaution? you'll have it if ever you should need it and hopefully all you do is carry for no reason. If you're not carrying, and you do need it, you're toast! I'd rather carry and never need it than the other way around. Same reason I wear a seat belt!
 
If you aren't convinced by now, i sure don't know what anything we say will do.
 
Agreed - it's a perfectly valid question. We all have a past that is different that affects how we see the world. We can work to educate on certain things, but the decision is up to them and there's nothing wrong with looking for answers.

To the OP, so what are your current thoughts so far? Anything we can elaborate on that will help your decision?
 
Get your CCW permit/license. Whether you ever need it, want it, or use it or not, you'll have it just in case. Besides, it'll be good in many other states where you just might feel better being armed when you visit or pass through.

I say do it. Certainly, you've got nothing to lose by getting it, and maybe you and your wife's lives if you don't. I think they call that a 'no brainer.'

Woody
 
The need to carry

I too once lived in the great state of Texas. I come from the north east and after three years moved back many years ago.The little town I grew up in is now a crime infested mess. I am a store manager. Two days ago the police arrested a gang member for a murder the next day a gang shot to death another member in retaliation.I have a CCW permit and I carry a sub compact everyday of my life. If you choose to carry. 1-shoot a lot and get very good with your hand gun.2-Be legal get your permit. 3-CCW means concealled aquire a handgun that is concealable.4-Don't carry on less you're able should the need arise, to be able to squeeze the trigger.
 
#1 feeling when carring is-

The peace of mind that comes from knowing you will not be a victim. I don't plan to shoot anyone unless absolutely necessary and I hope I never need to draw my pistol BUT.

Make the best decision for your family and be responsible. Good luck
 
Citing your mindset of "strapping on a gun every morning..." then honestly no I do not think you should. Reason being that if you do not feel comfortable being armed or using a weapon for defense it could make many situations worse. IMHO you need to be in the frame of mind that you would do whatever it may take to get yourself and your loved ones out of danger, even if that includes using a weapon (i like the odds tipped to me as much as possible, so i will take the firearm). Put another way, do what you are comfortable with!

You mention carrying a knife. A blade is also a lethal force implement just as much as a firearm. Pushing that into someone to save your life is no different than using a firearm save for the fact that you have to be dangerously close with the knife.

IF you do seriously want to carry a firearm to defend yourself and yours, then some thinking and mental preparations are necessary IMHO. You need to practice with targets to get to be proficient at shooting, but you also need to evaluate what is going on in your head.

I do not strap up every morning in case I have to "shoot" someone. I pick up my weapon because I may have to stop someone from causing grievous harm to someone I love. If I introduce the weapon and they break off, fantastic. If I have to pull the trigger 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 times before they disengage, then so be it. Point being, I am not planning on shooting anyone. Quite the contrary; I would really like to avoid that at all costs. The trouble is, every now and then, force is necessary. Some people (consider animals, vicious dogs, predatory cats etc as well) cannot be reasoned with and will seek to do harm no matter what you say to them. AND what if they are armed? Having the weapon gives you the chance to STOP them from causing harm. They would certainly have no qualms about lethal force.

You needn't even limit your CCW to dealing with two legged predators. Consider the situations where large dogs have gotten loose to injure innocent people. How about coyote packs and hikers? Force is necessary to stop attacks like these.

Carrying a weapon is simply giving you an extra option. Most situations can be defused with pepper spray or careful words, but not all. I ll wager you carry a spare tire, jack, maybe some fix a flat and a medical kit in your car. Do you plan to use it on your way to work? I know it sure is nice to know that you can if you have to.

I carry a pocket knife because sometimes I need to cut things; it has come in handy many times and has gotten me out of all sorts of jams when no one else around has a knife. I do not see my firearm any differently. Just a tool like my phone, wallet, and keys I pack around with me every day.
 
  1. If you had lived for years in North Korea, that would not justify not availing yourself of all of the rights of a United States citizen, were you to become one.
  2. Any "low crime" area can become a high crime area where YOU are RIGHT NOW. It only takes one person to make it so. I'm pretty sure that the neighborhood in Connecticut where the doctor's family was slaughtered was hardly a "high crime" area. Two animals still broke in, beat the father and raped and murdered the wife and daughters.
  3. Waiting for a catastrophe to happen to justify your carry credential is as questionable as waiting for the bombs to fall to get the fleet out of Pearl Harbor and the airplanes off the ground, or not screening potential terrorists until the New York skyline changes. You may not get the opportunity to carry if you wait for something to happen. You may just provide somebody else a reason to carry.
 
The peace of mind that comes from knowing you will not be a victim.
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And that is the fundamental difference between NYC and most of the rest of the United States.

Here in Ohio, I'm not EXPECTED to be a submissive victim of whatever two legged beast comes along, nevermind obligated by law.

Those who run NYC have made the decision that it's better for a citizen to be robbed, raped or murdered than for them to defend themselves with a firearm. To obfuscate this calculated decision, they have indoctrinated the public with the fantasy that the police are there to "protect" them, when in fact, nothing of the sort is the case.
  • Police have no legal duty to protect individuals.
  • Police have no legal liability when they fail to protect individuals.
  • Police have no physical ability protect individuals.
When you're in danger RIGHT NOW, protect yourself or don't get protected AT ALL. Any claim to the contrary is utter nonsense.
 
It makes buying and transporting handguns simpler.
The paperwork goes faster now, and I don't have to keep getting/requesting handgun permits at the sheriff's discretion. Transporting a handgun doesn't have to be in plainview or locked in the trunk now. I can have it under the seat, in a compartment, or on me loaded.

Most importantly is the self defense issue. I've read many stories of people who didn't believe in carrying a firearm until something happened to them or someone else. Instead of being a victim and wishing I had been carrying I'd rather adequately defend myself. The likelyhood of me ever needing it is small, but the likelyhood of the police being there when I'd need it is even smaller.
Now lets take it a step further, could you live yourself if one of your family was killed/seriously injured/sexually assaulted and you could do nothing about it? I couldn't.
 
This is absolutely a personal decision, and a serious one, so I will not try to convince. Here are some considerations that weighed into my decision.

1. There are very real threats to my personal safety (as well as that of my loved ones).
2. Many, BUT NOT ALL, threats can be avoided.
3. I will ALWAYS seek to minimize risk at all times using a variety of tools and behaviours (awareness, avoidance, clean living, good perimeter lighting of the home, strong locks and plates on doors, etc...)
4. Number 2 still holds true, and there is a very real (though statistically small) chance that there may come a time when a lethal force tool is needed.
5. A CHL allows the option of having an effective lethal force tool handy, should the need arise -- and exercising that option 24/7 except where prohibited seems like a fairly low-cost "insurance policy" against becoming a statistic.

No person in their right mind wants to pull a handgun and shoot anyone. That said, there are people who are not of their right mind and some enjoy harming others. I do not always, without fail, know when I see one of these people so that I can try to avoid. Do you?

Best of luck to you regardless of the choice you make. BTW, www.TexasCHLForum.com is a good place to discuss CHL also.
 
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