Do you carry a gun because you are afraid?

[Corpral_Agarn]

My family's safety and well being is my responsibility.

 

[Waveski]

My prototypes are the Spartans and other warriors of ancient Greece.

Oh for --- What next? How do you possibly stretch that to be analogous to contemporary life ? BTW - my servants are nowhere to be found , have you seen 'em?
I think you go anti-carry here to get attention.

Paging Mr Robert ...

 

[CDW4ME]

How this works on gun forums...

"I carry everywhere I can and avoid where I can't" - this statement gets approval.
That means, "I avoid places with metal detectors" - that piece of extra info will elicit some negative feedback.
Full disclosure, "I only vacation where I carry" - Now, its eat our own time, this is labeled paranoid, fear, anxiety - all incorrect.

Why do you carry? In case I have to defend myself, same answer as most here would give. (good answer)
Am I psychic? LOL no, I can't predict the actions of others, bad people may show up anywhere, anytime. Carry everywhere. (good answer)
So, on vacation I'd like to be able to defend myself just like any other time, carry for the same reason as usual. (bad answer, that's paranoid & afraid)

That is exactly how that works.

To elaborate a little more, I like carrying and consistently having the ability to defend myself wherever, vacation included, that is not fear. Prepared.
I will not get in the ocean because a shark might bite off a hunk of flesh, tendons or a limb, its low odds but the idea of it is unacceptable. That is fear.
I also won't use poison ivy for toilet paper or a salad, I'm afraid of that too.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I've had people ask about why I carry. It's been pretty rare, because I don't really advertise the fact that I do, but it's come up a couple times.
If the person asking is nice and genuinely curious as to why I do, I'll answer. My answer usually is something like, "Well I don't live in constant fear of a fire, but there is a fire extinguisher under my kitchen sink. Same concept." And it makes sense to them even if they have no interest in carrying themselves.

If the question is asked with derision I will either not answer, or answer in a manner that isn't very high road.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I own, carry, and shoot guns because I like them.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I wear shoes to protect my feet, I wear clothes to protect my body, I wear a gun to protect myself.
It's not a matter of fear, it's just being sensible.

 

[Kleanbore]

Basic risk management.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I tend to think that deep down, fear is the primary motivator.

I have heard someone say they carried so they would not be afraid.

Our situational awareness, where we choose to live, the places we choose to go, the people we hang out with, and on and on are all part of our security process.

Why don’t you go to that bad neighborhood?
Why do you lock your doors?
Why do you wear snake boots?
Etc

There are a hundred answers and nearly all of them can be broken down to some sort of fear even if the answer seems completely fearless.

Carry insurance is also rooted in fear. Fear of an unjust system or a misinterpretation of events. Any insurance can be rooted in fear. Fear of massive financial burdens.

Maybe I am misinterpreting the very nature of fear. Maybe it is just strong concern.

If you do not fear your own death that’s reasonable. If you do not fear the death or harm of your children or other family then that is a bit less believeable to me.

You don’t have to live in fear of something to still have a small amount of fear for it. Hence the fire extinguisher noted above.

I don’t have overwhelming fear bodily harm from things I would need a firearm against totally because I do go places unarmed here and there.

There was this nervous excitement when going into battle but deep down there was also fear. It’s OK to have a bit of fear. It’s just another emotion. It’s proves your human. You are not a better person because you are fearless. Truly fearless people would be a menace to be around frankly.

 

[Kleanbore]

There is a distinct difference between "fear" and prudence in reducing risks, however likely or unlikely and with whatever potential consequences.

Fear involves the anticipation or awareness of danger.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I think you've just made my point. There was an identifiable risk of chlorine exposure, and so it was wise to carry a gas mask. Same with a gun. If you can articulate a threat, then yes, it might be wise to carry a gun. But just a generalized feeling that something might happen, doesn't overcome the downsides of carrying.

Nope.

One man's blind fear is another's reasonable conclusion. You cannot make that distinction for anyone else until you know everything that they know.

With only one exception: you are tasked by society to be one of 12 triers of fact. And this forum is not a court of law.

 

[Bazoo]

I appreciate these replies. It gives me not only things to reflect on, but also will help me articulate my rational and opinions.

After reflection i would say I do have some fear. But I would say it’s not overwhelming and reasonable. I fear less when on my property in the country than I do in the city. And I fear less when carrying a gun.

The poison gas cloud is interesting. I can tell ya one thing, I am afraid of that. I used to live 1/4 mile from the rail hub. I often thought of it and was concerned. When we went through our home fire in 2015, there was some clouds of yellow smoke. My first thought was the train yard and a chemical spill. I didn’t have a gas mask. Course since it was always on my mind, I should have.

 

[aaaaa]

Not out of fear, but I carry because I can and it could be handy if ever needed, but I hope to never need it.

 

[JERRY]

I don't carry because I'm afraid to fight, I carry because if I have to fight I want the odds in my favor if I can make it so. An armed individual can cope with anything be it in nature in the woods or in urban environment. An unarmed individual has to count on the milk of human kindness for their own survival.

 

[bdickens]

My prototypes are the Spartans and other warriors of ancient Greece. Scholars now believe that they would don their armor and weapons literally seconds before the clash of arms. Why waste their strength carrying that weight? They had servants to do the carrying.

Again, you are totally being ridiculous.

 

[The Night Rider]

Well a recent thread got me to thinking. I’ve had some folks in the past suggest that my carrying of a gun be because I was afraid of something or someone. Friends or family have said, what are you afraid of that you need to carry a gun all the time?

It's been my experience that the kind of people that ask questions like that really aren't interested in hearing your answer, they just want to let you know what kind of idiot they think you are.

I find I'm usually better off applying the wisdom of Miyagi father.

Miyagi father always say, "Best way avoid idiot asking if you carry gun because you afraid, no let idiot know you carry gun."

As to whether or not I am afraid, the world's gone crazy, you'd be nuts not to be

 

[luzyfuerza]

I appreciate these replies. It gives me not only things to reflect on, but also will help me articulate my rational and opinions.

Good for you!

This is one reason why this forum exists, and why many of us are here.

Even @AlexanderA 's posts are useful. Just think of him as an adversary (like a prosecutor) who is trying to poke holes in your conclusions. Even opposition helps you to develop and articulate your rationale and opinions.

 

[Simple Shooter]

Good for you!

This is one reason why this forum exists, and why many of us are here.

Even @AlexanderA 's posts are useful. Just think of him as an adversary (like a prosecutor) who is trying to poke holes in your conclusions. Even opposition helps you to develop and articulate your rationale and opinions.

That's why I like this forum. People with a different point of view make me reevaluate my own beliefs and either strengthen or change them.

Rhetoric and debate were the primary tools of education to the likes of Aristotle and Plato. Though, I doubt thousands of years from now people will be quoting us...

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I note that owning, carrying a firearm is seen as a sign of "paranoia", while having a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, plumber's helper, spare tire and tools is seen as a sign of "common sense".

 

[I6turbo]

Again, you are totally being ridiculous.

He said he spent decades in DC. Do you like beating your head against a wall, or something?

Re: the carrying thing, which is related to the RTKBA, it is essential that a significant portion of the population participate in both. This is because the gun, and the fear of the possible presence of a gun by those who would otherwise have no regard for others, is civilization.

The fear of a gun in the hand of their would-be victim is what keeps the barbaric scum of society in line to the extent that they do stay in line. It's what prevents a gang of thugs with baseball bats (assuming for a moment that we were to live in the leftist utopia of a gun-free country) from simply rampaging through the home of someone like Alexander A or any of the rest of us, and taking what they want, raping or beating who they want, and mostly getting away with it. If these people weren't concerned that sooner or later, someone would put a few rounds in their chest instead of giving in to a mugging, or that the homeowner might welcome their invasion with a couple rounds of buck shot or 5.56, they'd have even less to fear than they do today with the gutted criminal justice system and neutered police.

Now, the fear of a gun in the hands of their would-be victim can be replaced by the fear of retribution visited upon them by someone else (government or others in power), but that would require actions that the left has largely eliminated in many places. Namely, swift justice. Most would-be criminals USED to fear the police, which kept their crime on the petty level. But that fear and respect has been deliberately removed in many parts of the country. It could be restored if they started making the punishment for serious crime something to fear (i.e., capital punishment carried out with a swiftness), but that ain't happening.

So, fear of instant karma via the gun of a would-be victim is about all that's left to deter the most evil of those among us. The fact that they don't know who has a gun and who doesn't is a very important deterrent to even more crime. Therefore, it is imperative that a substantial percentage of people carry, and that an even more substantial percentage of people are prepared to protect their home and their loved ones with whatever force is required, and that list of available tools must include guns.

 

[Griffen]

My wife and I had a completely insane event occur on a biking/walking trail. Multiple folks were shaking theirs heads at this guy’s behavior and it shook my wife up a bit. We moved on and went back to our campsite. Although she normally does the eye roll thing about EDC, she asked me if I had “that thing” with me and was concerned about the guy showing up. I smiled and assured her he would not be visiting our campsite.

Prepared is protected. God willing I will never have to use a fire extinguisher, either, but I have two in the camper.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

No, I carry a gun because I can, and my state finally woke up 20 years ago. And the people that say that's paranoid are likely the same ones that say, "If I felt like that, I'd MOVE!"

 

[tws3b2]

No.
In my 75 years I never needed or felt the need to have a gun on me. Just never did. But sometimes I do carry now.. In my job I traveled to a lot of cities and small towns. Most times alone. Some places not so nice. But I never felt the need.
Honestly, What scares me the most are people that carry guns because they think that gun makes them something they are not. Tough, macho, bad or whatever. Now, They scare me.

 

[SwampWolf]

Maybe not fearless but Colt made us equals.

 

[Howland937]

To flip this question in the opposite direction, does carrying a gun give you courage you wouldn't otherwise have? If the answer is yes, it's a terrible reason to carry and it's the exact same thing as carrying out of fear.

 

[Kleanbore]

To flip this question in the opposite direction, does carrying a gun give you courage you wouldn't otherwise have? If the answer is yes, it's a terrible reason to carry and it's the exact same thing as carrying out of fear.

Right you are.