Does carrying a gun make you more likely to help strangers?
- Thread starter jlbraun
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Prince Yamato
Member
I might have phrased the poll differently, but in general, yes, I am less apprehensive around strangers. I don't mean people I meet at a party, I mean complete and total strangers who I may bump into at night or something. I'm generally more talkative when I carry as well. I sort of go into, "hey I can totally defend myself, let's start talking to people" mode.
Someone once posted a thread about "Gun Zen", saying that carrying a gun forces you to become more calm and less jumpy. That may have something to do with it. "I'm calm, I'm collected- hey! that person needs directions, I'll help them!"
Someone once posted a thread about "Gun Zen", saying that carrying a gun forces you to become more calm and less jumpy. That may have something to do with it. "I'm calm, I'm collected- hey! that person needs directions, I'll help them!"
Sure, I'm much less likely to stop and ask someone if they need help if I am unarmed. I have no idea who they are or what they are about. Plus we have had a rash of murders up here this year, and I don't think I want to be the next one down.
Pat Cannon
Member
No, it doesn't, but it does make me feel a little safer should the situation go bad -- which it never has. Maybe I was foolish to, for example, interrupt a domestic fight on the street, or pick up hitchhikers, back in the days when I walked around unarmed, but it was a risk I chose to accept and I've never regretted it for a minute. I accept the same risks now, occasionally, because there really are way more honest folks whose car broke down than serial killers pretending their car broke down. The only difference is now, it's riskier for somebody who might try to hurt me.
Oh, but one thing I learned as a night shift worker is, don't pick up female hitchhikers in certain neighborhoods at certain hours, unless you actually do want to purchase sexual services. They just get irritated with you because then they have to take a bus back to where you picked them up.
Oh, but one thing I learned as a night shift worker is, don't pick up female hitchhikers in certain neighborhoods at certain hours, unless you actually do want to purchase sexual services. They just get irritated with you because then they have to take a bus back to where you picked them up.
The_Sheriff
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Yes, only becuase I will feel safer when helping them.
help people as in jump off a bridge to save a baby ?
no effect
stop and help change a tire for some one?
maybe, little more secure
try and stop a domestic dispute at a store or something?
not unless one of the party's is in immediate danger
no effect
stop and help change a tire for some one?
maybe, little more secure
try and stop a domestic dispute at a store or something?
not unless one of the party's is in immediate danger
Treo
member
It's hard to answer the question in a poll .
Certain things I wouldn't do if I was packing a bazooka.
I won't pick up hitch hikers
I don't pick up women alone.
I don't know I'd be pretty picky the last time I tried to help someone my church asked me to give a guy a ride to the mission. He started to acuse me of trying not to get him to the mission before the doors were closed & I ended up ordering him out of the car.
Directions calling someone on the phone for you sure. Letting you in my car or my home not so much.
but I don't think a gun enters into the equation
Certain things I wouldn't do if I was packing a bazooka.
I won't pick up hitch hikers
I don't pick up women alone.
I don't know I'd be pretty picky the last time I tried to help someone my church asked me to give a guy a ride to the mission. He started to acuse me of trying not to get him to the mission before the doors were closed & I ended up ordering him out of the car.
Directions calling someone on the phone for you sure. Letting you in my car or my home not so much.
but I don't think a gun enters into the equation
Triphammer
Member
I didn't enter the poll as there is no choice that fits. I'm normally a pretty grumpy & short tempered guy, downright surly. When I carry, I'll go out of my way to be as pleasant & personable as a human can be. I usually carry concealed but IF my sidearm is noticed I want it associated with a pleasant & friendly soul.
Just want to be the good ambassador.
Just want to be the good ambassador.
Kind of Blued
Member
Using the typical "stranded motorist" situation, this is how I see it. Unfortunately, my willingness to help someone is dependant on if I have time and how "helpless" they look.
I'll admit, sexism comes into play. I'm much more likely to help a young attractive lady in a sequin dress change a tire than I am a tattooed biker fella; A) because I like pretty ladies, or I'm chivalrous, take your pick, and B) because I stereotypically think of them as being less likely to be able to change a tire, especially the ones in the dresses.
None of this has anything to do with my carry gun, although it's quite obvious how it could.
In regard to personality and social traits, I think I'm the same person with or without a gun, although I haven't gone too far past the hallway bathroom without a gun in a while.
I'll admit, sexism comes into play. I'm much more likely to help a young attractive lady in a sequin dress change a tire than I am a tattooed biker fella; A) because I like pretty ladies, or I'm chivalrous, take your pick, and B) because I stereotypically think of them as being less likely to be able to change a tire, especially the ones in the dresses.
None of this has anything to do with my carry gun, although it's quite obvious how it could.
In regard to personality and social traits, I think I'm the same person with or without a gun, although I haven't gone too far past the hallway bathroom without a gun in a while.
Well, good question.
I suppose I'd be more likely to stop and assist a disabled motorist if I was armed.....I'd also probably just call the authorities and alert them to above said motorist and keep going if I was unarmed. Does that make sense to y'all? Makes sense to me and that's what I'd do.
SASD209
I suppose I'd be more likely to stop and assist a disabled motorist if I was armed.....I'd also probably just call the authorities and alert them to above said motorist and keep going if I was unarmed. Does that make sense to y'all? Makes sense to me and that's what I'd do.
SASD209
Nobody's_Hero
Member
Well, it may hold true then:
"An armed society is a polite society."
"An armed society is a polite society."
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
^
Nobody's Hero beat me to it.
It also makes me a much better driver.
"Eh, so he cut me off. and I have to fall back another car length. Let's see, at my present speed of 60 mph, I'll get there a whole 275 milliseconds later."
As opposed to leaning on the horn and moving my bumper up to within 275 millimeters of his.
When younger and more agile, I would stop to help if I saw someone beside the road, especially since I carried a transmission jack and lug nut helper bar in the trunk, but nowadays, when everyone's got a cell phone except me, I tend to pass on by with a little prayer for them. Having a defensive firearm on me would make no difference.
Come to think about it, most of the time I'm not consciously aware of it. Sorta like wearing shoes. After all, when was the last time you thought, "Oh, I'm wearing shoes?"
As far as stuff in terms of "can I help you find something?" when someone's on the street looking at a map of the city (and the like) is concerned, there's no difference. I always was a helping-type personality.
In case of a struggle in the streets, I avoid that kind of thing, mainly because I didn't live to be 68 by making assumptions about who's the good guy and who's the bad guy, unless there's a woman or a kid involved. (And nowadays, I'm not physically able to help much anyhow.)
In case of a robbery in a Kwikee mart, that's really not something one could present cut-and-dried answers to and use up bandwidth to speculate upon in this thread.
In case of a mall shooter type scenario, though, I did analyze that one for myself, and, without braggadocio, I can say that I would at least deliver suppressive fire until I was no longer able to. Let's face it, I'm 68 and I might allow the young lady with the baby to get the heck under cover or outta there before I went down.
--Terry
Nobody's Hero beat me to it.
It also makes me a much better driver.
"Eh, so he cut me off. and I have to fall back another car length. Let's see, at my present speed of 60 mph, I'll get there a whole 275 milliseconds later."
As opposed to leaning on the horn and moving my bumper up to within 275 millimeters of his.
When younger and more agile, I would stop to help if I saw someone beside the road, especially since I carried a transmission jack and lug nut helper bar in the trunk, but nowadays, when everyone's got a cell phone except me, I tend to pass on by with a little prayer for them. Having a defensive firearm on me would make no difference.
Come to think about it, most of the time I'm not consciously aware of it. Sorta like wearing shoes. After all, when was the last time you thought, "Oh, I'm wearing shoes?"
As far as stuff in terms of "can I help you find something?" when someone's on the street looking at a map of the city (and the like) is concerned, there's no difference. I always was a helping-type personality.
In case of a struggle in the streets, I avoid that kind of thing, mainly because I didn't live to be 68 by making assumptions about who's the good guy and who's the bad guy, unless there's a woman or a kid involved. (And nowadays, I'm not physically able to help much anyhow.)
In case of a robbery in a Kwikee mart, that's really not something one could present cut-and-dried answers to and use up bandwidth to speculate upon in this thread.
In case of a mall shooter type scenario, though, I did analyze that one for myself, and, without braggadocio, I can say that I would at least deliver suppressive fire until I was no longer able to. Let's face it, I'm 68 and I might allow the young lady with the baby to get the heck under cover or outta there before I went down.
--Terry
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crebralfix
member
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- Mar 7, 2004
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- 1,356
It's safer to just call help for them. However, it depends on the location. If I were in Wyoming, I'll have a different response than in the major metro area I live in.
Aran
member
Nope, I'm just as helpful either way.
I always help people out whenever i can, whether or not i know them. Maybe because i'm in LI NY and nobody carries except unlawfully. Maybe because i'm 21 years old 6'4" & 250lbs (lean not fat) and very well versed in a few different forms of self defense.
Though I think it's because i have a positive outlook on human beings in general.
I always try my best to help out my fellow man
Though I think it's because i have a positive outlook on human beings in general.
I always try my best to help out my fellow man
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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- 13,146
+1, yup.
CajunBass
Member
I don't know. Never really thought about I don't guess. I've been known to stop and help someone. I've been known to pick up a hitchhiker, both male and female before. I've been carrying a pretty long time so I'm sure I've done it with a gun on me. I know I've never NOT helped someone because I had a gun with me.
I guess it just depends on the circumstances.
I guess it just depends on the circumstances.
TallPine
Member
"more likely" than what ???
Years ago when I didn't carry, I often stopped to help folks that were broke down and/or pick up hitchhikers. This was back in the days when nobody had cell phones. Never had any problems.
Nowadays, I am just more wary of people in general (I dunno if this is a factor of the world, or my perception of the world, changing ) which is of course why I tend to have a gun close by. Since I do carry, I am no more likely or unlikely to stop and help somebody than I was before (when I didn't carry).
Does that make any sense?
Years ago when I didn't carry, I often stopped to help folks that were broke down and/or pick up hitchhikers. This was back in the days when nobody had cell phones. Never had any problems.
Nowadays, I am just more wary of people in general (I dunno if this is a factor of the world, or my perception of the world, changing ) which is of course why I tend to have a gun close by. Since I do carry, I am no more likely or unlikely to stop and help somebody than I was before (when I didn't carry).
Does that make any sense?
Old Grump
Member
None
No difference at all. If I can help I will.
No difference at all. If I can help I will.
The Tourist
member
I imagine that there was a time in my life when I was a pretty good Samaritan. I still hold the door open for little old ladies, but I'm referring to bold action in my life for my city.
If two bangers shoot it out over drugs, I will admonish the "mushroom citizens" to seek the lifeboats, but I'm not going to aid them in rowing to The Carpathia.
I believe that my beliefs can be summed up by Batman. "I'm not going to kill you, but I don't have to save you."
I don't want my guns or knives confiscated. I don't want to be arrested and wonder if my actions can be interpretted as a felony here in The Peoples' Republik of Madison. I don't want the cost of a civil trial. I don't want to go back to psychiatrist for PTSD.
If a townie is killed because he disarmed himself and walks in condition white I no longer feel any action is called for.
If two bangers shoot it out over drugs, I will admonish the "mushroom citizens" to seek the lifeboats, but I'm not going to aid them in rowing to The Carpathia.
I believe that my beliefs can be summed up by Batman. "I'm not going to kill you, but I don't have to save you."
I don't want my guns or knives confiscated. I don't want to be arrested and wonder if my actions can be interpretted as a felony here in The Peoples' Republik of Madison. I don't want the cost of a civil trial. I don't want to go back to psychiatrist for PTSD.
If a townie is killed because he disarmed himself and walks in condition white I no longer feel any action is called for.
Claude Clay
Member
my gun is there for those times when even though i saw it coming, the situation has unraveled to the point where i need assistance. be it the comfort of having it or the need to let the 'others' know i have it. otherwise i am my normal sunny self 
helping others; my short answer is 'sure' but it depends on my perception of the situation.
"he is the most even tempered man i ever met: mean all the time"
helping others; my short answer is 'sure' but it depends on my perception of the situation. "he is the most even tempered man i ever met: mean all the time"
Hypnogator
Member
No.
But it makes me more able to help strangers, if necessary.
But it makes me more able to help strangers, if necessary.
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