Have You Ever Considered Abandoning Carrying a Firearm Because of Your Temperament?

people who get so angry at people while driving, should not be driving.

 

I actually feel a strong responsibility not to over-react when carrying. I think that that's a good thing!

 

I don't hit emotional extremes.

 

My CCW instructor cautioned us with one final thought: "You can afford to have a temper. You can afford to have a gun. You CANNOT afford to have both".
I think of the awesome power at my disposal balanced by the incredible weight of responsibility.

 

Consider fixing your temperament.

 

For the most part I'm pretty mellow and keep to myself, and carry sometimes (but not always). But there are those rare days when everything is going wrong and pisses me off to no end. Those days I leave the gun home. We're all imperfect, and we all have bad days. Real character is to recognize and adjust accordingly day by day.

 

I think everyone carrying a firearm should at least consider this question. Carrying a firearm is in fact way more than the 4 rules and that which is beyond those 4 rules is very subjective and difficult. One must come to grips with all of that. One's temperament, reactions under stress, and other factors should figure in to the equation of "Do I carry or do I not"?

I think this sort of introspection is key to making sure that the most important safety feature on any gun is between one's ears.

 

For me, anger has nothing to do with carrying a firearm.

 

Nope.

 

This is true for me as well. As I have gotten older, I have begun to hate confrontation so much I won't even engage in most arguments. It isn't cowardice, it is my experience that has taught me that I can count on one hand the number of times any confrontation has worked anything out positively for me.

As a side note, I chose not to carry sometimes for logistical reasons. I am not carrying right now because I am spending most of my day crawling around in the attic of an old building pulling wire and just don't want to deal with it.

 

I haven't had issues with temperament since I was too young to legally carry. As I grow older I find that I continue to become calmer. Very, very little can even seriously irritate me, let alone anger me to the point of losing control.

 

I'll add that I'm sure glad my wife doesn't carry a gun.....

 

Unfortunately I feel compelled to be honest

About 18-20 years ago I carried because I worked in very bad neighborhoods frequently and my boss didn't mind if I carried, I also drank heavily on the weekends. I carried by default, pant on-have gun kind of situation. I was young and dumb. One night someone I didn't know very well took my keys (to annoy me rather than protect me) and we got into a verbal argument which ended in him punching me in the face, by the time my senses of what happened came to me, I instinctively put down my beer and reached into my pocket for my pistol Fortunately I had many friends around that knew me all to well and they had shoved him a car and he was leaving. I hate to think what could have happened under very slightly different circumstances.

That incident scared me so much I quit carrying for several years. Once I had quit drinking and straightened up other aspects of my life, I started back. It was a long, slow process with much honest self reflection that saved my life, literally.

That said now days it never enters my mind, I'm a mild mannered, calm natured guy that can recall being angry once in the last 15 years, and that one time, violence never entered my mind, and yes I was armed at that time. I am a totally opposite person to the one I was, a new creation if you will. My wife now gets mad at me because when I should (according to her) get mad about something I generally don't.


So have I ever considered it? Yes, I've even done it.
Do I consider it now? No

It's very important to know your own limits, something we are by nature not good at. Honest reflection is very difficult, at least that's been my experience.

 

Yes I have thought of the question and believe everyone who caries should. My best advice is if you have any questions or concerns about your character effecting a carried firearm, stop until you can honestly answer the questions or concerns. A temper is normal and easy by nature. Learning to control a temper is another story.

It's feels good to see this question asked. Should be discussed more often.

 

This is a false premise.
--Some cannot (or will not) maintain self-control.
--Some of us find this unwillingness or inability appalling and sub-human.

 

Went through a somewhat messy divorce. I was being accused of things that never happened (as was quite normal at the time ). I locked all of hers and my firearms in the safe until things were final. I didnt lock my guns up because I was worried I'd lose my temper, I locked them up because I was afraid SHE would.

 

@ Young&Ret.

Wise observation. I have friends, mostly veterans, who at different times have made a voluntary choice to have someone else hold their guns for a while they took care of their own mental health. I have nothing but respect for them and am relieved that that was the choice made.

Setting aside those situations where self-awareness and doing the right thing win out, I still don't think guns should be regarded as a talisman that can "make" a person calm any more than they can "make" a person violent. Just seems odd that someone would need a talisman in the form of a weapon to act civil, but then again Heinlein didn't resonate as much with me.

 

i feel I am always in control of my emotions, more so when carrying. As a responsible citizen, my actions will reflect on all CCW carriers, consequently I will always maintain control of my attitude.

 

What? Temperament?

(poking pc screen with finger) What are you saying? Are you saying I'm violent?

VIOLENT? ME??? V I O L E N T? HAH!

(pacing floor) HOW CAN YOU SAY I'M VIOLENT? ME? EVERYONE KNOWS I'M A NICE GUY, GOT THAT!!!

(kicking PC table).. ME.. ME VIOLENT?

(clinching fist) NO, NO I AM NOT VIOLENT, GOT THAT????? HUH?

YOU WANNA FIGHT?

The nerve of some people!

Deaf

 

No. If anything CCW is a moderating influence.

 

I've never considered not carrying because of fear of my temperament, but if you fear your temperament I sincerely hope you aren't carrying.

 

If you are too hot headed or too emotional to carry responsibly, you know it. So a person should do what's right and sensible.

If you choose to carry a gun, you aren't allowed to lose control. You make the choice to stay in control and to try to diffuse any situation without violence.

So my answer is no. If I ever get mad enough that I'm ready to snap, I leave the situation.

 

Lots of cool stuff from Deaf! Could we expect any less?

 

Interesting question. Me, no but I once had a manager of a store I once worked in who, many years ago while living in Pa actually turned in his CPL and sold his gun after a road rage incidence he did not cause. He would have been justified had he used his gun but it shooked him up so much.

I also have known people over the years who have no qualms about others carrying but don't themselves because they do not trust themselves enough.

I suspect that most people who should not own guns for selfdefense know themselves well enough to not do so.