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Does your CCW embolden others?

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My few friends that know I carry have made jokes to that effect, "Don't go there at night. Well, Kevin, you can." But there's never been an actual situation that any of my friends instigated or kept the ball rolling. I'd be pretty reluctant to draw if they did, knowing that it wasn't really my fight. In fact, my friend may find him- or herself stuck without me "walking heavy," because I'd probably be out the door. Maturity will do that to you.
 
The quick answer to that is NO! On the other hand, I can see how a "coward" might tend to become a bit more bold if they figure that they're "safe" while in the company of a CCW person.

I've CCW'ed for 35+ years, in a state that has stringent firearms laws, especially CCW....California. I carried LEGALLY, as a LEO for 31 of those years, and the remainder as a retired LEO.

My concealed firearm has NEVER been an "issue" of any sort with my family or friends. It has been a "given" that, since I put a LOT of bad guys in prison/jail, I had the NEED to carry...."just in case". I NEVER looked upon my CCW "right" or "privelege" as being "cool". Add to that, I don't carry specifically for my own safety, for I would use my firearm to protect YOU and anyone else, but only if necessary to do so!

I remember when I was a kid, and after having a fight with one of the neighbor kids, he picked himself up after I knocked him to the ground. "My dad is going to kick your a$$!", that whiney kid exclaimed! He went running home, and brought his dad back several minutes later. His dad was a decent guy, and after finding out why his son and I had gotten into a fist fight, HE kicked his own son's a$$ for being a punk bully!

If anyone becomes "emboldened" by the mere presence of you, as a CCW permitee, then....you should gracefully bow-out of the situation. That "emboldened" person is NOT your friend, for they've tried to "use" you for their own benefit.
 
If anyone becomes "emboldened" by the mere presence of you, as a CCW permitee, then....you should gracefully bow-out of the situation. That "emboldened" person is NOT your friend, for they've tried to "use" you for their own benefit.
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They may not be fully, if at all, aware of the reason they are emboldened, but I have definitely observed this phenomenon in the 25 plus years I've been carrying concealed. It is probably more likely to occur in certain regions of the country than in others. I would say it would be more likely to happen in areas where most people are not as accustomed to being around those who are armed. It is, however, a well established phenomenon. So much so that there have been a plethora of comedy skits and such about it for centuries.

For example, the comedy series Sienfeld did a bit on this phenomenon. George Costanza happened to be driving a car with a large, athletic, professional baseball player. George is a short non-athletic type. Well, George thought someone gave him the finger, and while he would normally have been frightened and attempted to move away from the other car, he followed him in a rage, and eventually caught up with him, to the great concern of the pro baseball player. George felt emboldened because he was in the company of a man he thought could intimidate your average Joe with his presence alone, and even might come to his defense should his stupid actions lead to George being attacked.

This phenomenon is real. The best way to avoid it is not to tell anyone you are armed.
 
It all depends on what you mean by "emboldened."

I like to cite Phil Shoemaker's article on "What gun for defense against bears?"

Phil points out that your best defense is your own actions -- if you keep cool, don't allow the bear to intimidate you, you will probably not have any trouble with the bear. And it is being armed that gives you the confidence to behave as you should.

So, yeah -- when I'm armed the people with me are much more confident, and that confidence may well be detected by a mugger and cause him to back off.
 
It all depends on what you mean by "emboldened."
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I was thinking in terms of being more confrontational or aggressive, which it would seem most of the posters on this board profess to avoid. I wasn't thinking in terms of greater confidence which would be a more positive slant on this question. Glad you brought it up.
 
It irritates me to be around people like that. In college I had a female friend who liked to start smack talking with other women around then expect me and any other males in our group to fight the males in the group of the other party (must be some sort of twisted "defending her honor" thing she liked). It only took once for me to realize how stupid it was. Forget that. I'll watch you get your rear kicked.
When CCW the stakes are raised, so I'll let the person know to knock it off or I'm leaving (although VERY few know I carry).
 
I tend not to hang out with the kind of people who would think they can push someone around because I'll protect them. That's how you get in big trouble.
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+1

I did have this happen to me many years ago. I was assigned an executive protection job (sounds better than bodyguard...) and took the client around showing him a good time. He wanted to go into a particularly rough bar, and I told him no. He went in anyway, and I had to follow him. He started some crap with one of the patrons, and when he was just about to get his guts stomped out he turns to me and says, "What am I paying you for? Shoot this guy!"

I looked him dead in the face and said, "Sorry, partner. You're gonna have to work out your own karma on this one.", and I walked out of the bar.

He didn't take a beating, which I was kind of hoping for at that point...

After that, I always laid down a rule with clients. I'm around to protect you and show you a good time. I'm not there to clean up your messes.

Nio
 
Well, in Venezuela most of my friends carry. So, when we go out, there will be one or two people at the most not carrying in our group. So yeah, they feel "almightier".
A few years back, when it wasn't as dangerous and people were actually "more honorable" we defenitely had their back's whether they started it or not..... now it's trickier, so it really depends on the situation.
 
How could it possibly? No one knows I'm carrying. Concealed.

The only one who knows if I'm carrying in my spouse. Doesn't change her a bit.
 
My (soon to be ex) wife often would get mad at me for not blaring my horn at someone who cut us off in the car, or not getting in someones face she deemed to have "insulted" her.

One of the MANY reasons she is becoming the ex.
 
I've found people that still talk to me after they find out I carry generally feel safer. I've had a few minor misunderstandings, which were solved conversationally (rather than how nio had to solve it). When people start talking about it, I make it very clear that

a) I bring it up if I deem others present 'close' enough to know
b) I will shoot to preserve life. not your wallet, not your car. Not your honor, not mine. Life. Period, paragraph.
c) non-trigger-actuating interventions will still be conducted when and where necessary, and if you started it you'd better be right next to me rolling up your sleeves :)
 
I guess I take a different view, people get emboldened about all sorts of things. I regularly am the only one in the group NOT CCW'ing and I dont think that fact makes me less likely to be a jackass. I think it a matter of personality.
 
I was thinking in terms of being more confrontational or aggressive, which it would seem most of the posters on this board profess to avoid. I wasn't thinking in terms of greater confidence which would be a more positive slant on this question. Glad you brought it up.
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Uhh, NO.

I have noticed from my teen years that it is usually insecure individuals that feel they have something to prove to others that display aggression in the first place. Of those people, as others here have mentioned, it is usually the most cowardly ones that are too afraid to instigate an equal confrontation that get a feeling of invincibility where there is something to give them the edge or prevent them from being harmed. This is much like a wanna-be thug that only starts to gets aggressive and threatening when the police are around to actually provent a fight from happening.

I no longer assosiate with these types of individuals. Those I assosiate with now are either CCWing themselves are they could care less whether I am armed. And more importantly, they aren't the type of people that feel they have something to prove to others.

Sorry for the long winded answer but I just see it this way: Those that legally CCW are law abiding citizens not wanna-be thugs trying to impress others. And, most law abiding citizens only associate with other law abiding citizens, not with the thugs with something so prove.
 
I think what it comes down to is that by carrying, we have decided not to rely on others (usually the police) for protection if it becomes immediately necessary. People who are emboldened by the fact you carry are relying on others (you) be their own personal bodyguard. If they start something, they'll find I coincidentally have the exact same response time as the police :p
 
Yes.

At my office, it's somewhat of an open secret that I'm "the gun guy" and I carry.
Many months ago, I was eating lunch with coworkers. On the way out, someone cuts our car off (i'm a passenger) and the driver opens his window and starts shouting obscenities.

Another passenger remarks, "hey, that's not smart, you never know what he's going to do!"

The driver then says, "Oh, i'm not worried, i'm sure [Nitrogen's] got a gun on him.

I kept my mouth shut. We were leaving an establishment where I was not allowed to carry under Texas law, so I actually was NOT carrying...
 
I have a pretty well-known poilcy among my "known associates", both armed and unarmed. If you're in the right, they'll have to get through me to get to you. But if you deserve a butt-kicking... I WILL watch you get it.
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That has been pretty much my policy all of my life whether it relates to guns, or just an old-fashioned country butt-kickin'.:eek:
Now that I'm older (and hopefully wiser).:scrutiny: I try to have friends that are older and wiser too.:D
As the old saying goes:
"Don't write a check with your mouth that your butt can't cash!":uhoh:
 
My (soon to be ex) wife often would get mad at me for not blaring my horn at someone who cut us off in the car, or not getting in someones face she deemed to have "insulted" her.
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It irritates me to be around people like that. In college I had a female friend who liked to start smack talking with other women around then expect me and any other males in our group to fight the males in the group of the other party (must be some sort of twisted "defending her honor" thing she liked).
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It's called a 'game' of "Let's You and Him Fight!"

Pilgrim
 
Letting certain of my friends and associates know I carry is a double edger. I want to profess the rights given us all by the 2nd and have them know I not only believe in those rights but so too practice my beliefs. On the other hand I realize that may make some uncomfortable.

To those who express discomfort, I have already judged their other qualities make them fine enough people to make me want to associate with them no matter what their 2 A beliefs are and am willing to sensibly discuss any issues about our rights that they may not choose to exercise. I use this an an opportunity to invite them to the range so they can be educated by real life practices not movie and T.V. rhetoric.

During a recent motorcycle trip to the western states with a friend who knew I was legally armed, we were severely cut off on an open road by a less than perfect driver. When we stopped for gas at the next small town, and that driver pulled in across the street. My partner went to his car and had a "discussion" with him. It wasn't a heated discussion but it wasn't a super friendly one either.

Later on over lunch I reminded him that we are somewhat exposed on the bikes and in an area that a discussion like that could lead to more than he bargained for. I also told him that if anything went down, I would be hard pressed to come to his aid because he may have been considered to have escalated the event. Not good.

I explained that carrying has made me more of a peaceful person than I have ever been in my life and I feel a better man for that.

I honest think he saw the light from the ensuing conversation from that point on.
 
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