Heavily Armed... Am I Paranoid??

[ewan1018]

Hey guys I know this sounds strange but I think I am paranoid. I don't feel "armed" with a single gun.

With that being said, this is my CC setup. P229R in 357 sig as a main gun, PM9 as a BUG

Opps I didn't finish my post but accidentally sent it... To continue,

An extra mag for p229, Automatic benchmade front out knife by my leg. That's what I carry on me. I carry Remington 870 shotgun and a MP5K (Class III) with 5 extra mags in my trunk of Land Rover. BTW the rover is bullet proofed to level III for the safety of myself and Class III weapon. I installed a gun safe in a trunk too.

Am I paranoid for my safety?? Or are there people like me? I am always worried about my safety ever since I lost the close one...

 

[ForumSurfer]

To each his/her own. Many folks say I'm paranoid about carrying a firearm, period. So I certainly won't accuse you of paranoia! That would just be rude.

Is it more than I would ever carry as an armed citizen? Yes.

The most heavily armed you will see me is carrying a compact (like a glock 19) and an extra mag (just one and maybe one in the truck). I'll never carry a BUG. I've recently switched to carrying a really small and light 5 shot revolver (5 shots with 5 extra rounds on a speed strip). It is just more comfortable and I can dress how I want instead of dressing around items that I will likely never need.

I'm comfortable with my level of "paranoia" as wells as yours. It's a free country and I'm just happy we can both pack.

 

[JoeMal]

You certainly aren't the only one that carries more than one gun. Don't look at it like paranoia...instead, you are prepared. If it bothers you that much, leave one at home sometime and see if the feeling reverses.

Relax, enjoy life.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

No such thing, some people just like to carry a backup to their backup to their backup to their backup to their sidearm to their shotgun to their rifle. Feel at ease and don't worry. I may eventually carry a backup aswell.

I wouldn't agree on carrying a MP5K though, you don't want to have to prove that using a machine gun was legitimate with all those legal fees.

 

[Sam1911]

There's a lot more to clinical paranoia than the desire to carry a back-up gun.

Have you spoken to a professional about your concerns?

You should be able to feel secure under most normal social circumstances without having to constantly possess any weapon. It isn't a crutch to bolster your confidence. You should never do anything armed that you would not do unarmed. Conversely, you should be able to move through your daily routine without feeling fear because your weapon(s) is(are) not at your side.

If you cannot go outside or interact with others without a gun as a sort of talisman or touch-stone, then you may indeed have some personality disorder issues that can be helped.

...

If you're just saying that you like to have a backup gun -- that's fine. Many folks do, and with good reason.

 

[Mike1234567]

Nothing wrong with having a BUG hidden away, IMHO.

ETA: *because I replied to this thread before the OP added more* Lawdy, lawdy... yeah, that is definitely paranoid unless you live in a war zone.

 

[FourTeeFive]

The most heavily armed you will see me is carrying a compact (like a glock 19) and an extra mag (just one and maybe one in the truck). I'll never carry a BUG. I've recently switched to carrying a really small and light 5 shot revolver (5 shots with 5 extra rounds on a speed strip). It is just more comfortable and I can dress how I want instead of dressing around items that I will likely never need.

The best gun to carry is the one you WILL carry. I'm an LCP guy usually but also carry a small 5-shot revolver at times. Amazing how well they conceal.

Everything is relative. Most of my family think I have an arsenal. I think I'm just getting started!

 

[NMBrian]

I just dont have enough waistline for 2 guns, if it makes you feel good though, do it. Not like its a bad thing

My glock 19 has always put my mind at ease.

 

[ants]

If you can function normally in life, it's not paranoia.



True paranoia is a psychosis, and it's a serious illness.
It generally hinders the victim's normal functions.
Social and cognitive dysfunction are indicators.

Use of the word 'paranoid' to describe gun guys is simply
an attempt by anti-gun people to elevate themselves
by denegrating us. Name calling.

No different than us calling them sheeple, or ninnies, or paranoid.
It's all juvenile name calling, nothing more.

 

[Sam1911]

MP5K (Class III) with 5 extra mags in my trunk of Land Rover. BTW the rover is bullet proofed to level III for the safety of myself and Class III weapon.

Oh, really? Wow. Tell us more about that MP-5K. Who did the work?

So you have a bullet-proof car to protect the very expensive, heavily-regulated, gun you keep to defend yourself?

 

[mgmorden]

It is just more comfortable and I can dress how I want instead of dressing around items that I will likely never need.

That's how I personally look at it. I get dressed, and before I leave the house I put my gun on. I DON'T start thinking about how I'm going to carry and let that affect HOW I'm going to dress.

In short, "Carry to live, don't live to carry.". The day that I avoid wearing a particular thing because I can't carry a certain way in it is the last day I'll ever carry a firearm. That said, I haven't had to worry about that as they make guns and holsters in such a variety that it's not hard to pick a gun that work work in just about any environment. A small .380 in a pocket holster can go just about anywhere with you.

As always, this is simply the way *I* choose to look at things. I fault no one for doing their own thing and always support people having the freedom to make their own choices. If you want to strap on 2 or 3 (or 8) guns, then more power to you. It just isn't for me.

 

[longdayjake]

Am I the only one who thinks that this guy's fears of being too paranoid are justified? You really should seek some help. Or maybe a different life style where armored vehicles aren't part of the routine. If you can't go outside without being strapped to the teeth you are not living a healthy life.

 

[ForumSurfer]

If you cannot go outside or interact with others without a gun as a sort of talisman or touch-stone, then you may indeed have some personality disorder issues that can be helped.

I agree. I have a friend who has become overzealous and that describes him now. He won't go anywhere without a firearm. He looks a bit like a recovering addict when he isn't carrying...fidgety, nervous, eyes darting everywhere...

You sound pretty well prepared. Far beyond what I would ever do, but everyone is different. We have the right to prepare as far as we deem necessary so this is the wrong crowd to ask if you want someone to pass judgement on you. Like Sam said, if you cannot function without those things and they just need to be present or you can't go outside, there may be some clinical level stuff going on...but that is for you to know and us not to judge or guess.

 

[MtnCreek]

Sounds more like delusional psychosis.

 

[FourTeeFive]

I just dont have enough waistline for 2 guns, if it makes you feel good though, do it. Not like its a bad thing

This brings up an interesting point. I'm working on losing weight now. So the question is will it be easier to carry a larger gun with less weight (more bagginess to the pants and less fat pushing it out) or will it be harder since I'll be smaller in girth. I'm under 6' in height so it isn't like I can hide a cannon on my body.

 

[FourTeeFive]

On another note I consider a knife as a primary and secondary weapon. Any up-close physical assault will require something more personal than a firearm.

 

[mgmorden]

Am I the only one who thinks that this guy's fears of being too paranoid are justified? You really should seek some help. Or maybe a different life style where armored vehicles aren't part of the routine. If you can't go outside without being strapped to the teeth you are not living a healthy life.

I think that the deleted post (which seems to have been quoted either in part or in full by Sam) is a big factor in that. Putting on a backup gun (though as I said, isn't for me) is one thing. Riding around in an armored car with a full-automatic in the trunk as part of your daily routine is a whole 'nother matter. If that's true, then that does sound obsessive. Not necessarily something that should be illegal, but it is a sign of some issues (ie, washing your hands excessively certainly isn't and shouldn't be illegal, but it is a common sign of hypochondria).

That said, when people start talking about armored vehicles and full automatics and the like, I can't help but start to think it's a work of fiction ala the "mall ninja" threads from years ago.

EDIT: It seems like the part that was deleted was moved up into the main post on an edit. That post grew since I originally looked at it, and yes, if true (again, I'm having flashbacks of "mall ninja" here), that does seem excessive.

 

[android]

Am I the only one who thinks that this guy's fears of being too paranoid are justified? You really should seek some help. Or maybe a different life style where armored vehicles aren't part of the routine. If you can't go outside without being strapped to the teeth you are not living a healthy life.

Many people do not have the ability to objectively analyze risk. That is not to say that you couldn't be in a situation where you need to defend yourself.

Everyone has a certain risk from environmental threat. However, the threat risk to a person who lives in the suburbs and works in a fortune 500 office environment are different than a delivery driver that carries cash and has to make deliveries on the bad side of town. The probability that the driver may be robbed are far greater than the chances that a psycho will com bursting into the office and shoot everybody.

Then there is personal threat. Are there specific people that want to harm you? If so, that certainly trumps environmental threat. A primary carry and a BUG may certainly be warranted if you ex wife's new boyfriend has threatened to beat you to a pulp.

I think a rational person will determine what is most likely and what are reasonable preparations that situation. A paranoid person will imagine every possible scenario, most of which are highly unlikely and over react. The fact is that most people that carry guns are never involved in an incident.

The fine line between being a Boy Scout an Chicken Little is up for everyone to decide for himself.

 

[gunsablazin]

For civilian self defense? Way overkill, I know SWAT team guys that don't carry that much stuff. Really? you carry all that?

 

[FourTeeFive]

Riding around in an armored car with a full-automatic in the trunk as part of your daily routine is a whole 'nother matter. If that's true, then that does sound obsessive.

Depends on the situation. If I were very wealthy and lived in El Paso I would consider doing that. If I were very wealthy and lived in Juarez I would DEFINITELY do that!

Where I live and considering my low profile and financial status I'm not really a target for serious criminals. But all of us have a fairly equal chance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to random violence.

 

[Mike1234567]

Am I the only one who thinks that this guy's fears of being too paranoid are justified? You really should seek some help. Or maybe a different life style where armored vehicles aren't part of the routine. If you can't go outside without being strapped to the teeth you are not living a healthy life.

Maybe he lives in Fallujah.

 

[Southern Rebel]

Practically all humans have a fear of harm/death to themselves and their families. Yet, practically all humans KNOW that harm/death WILL come to both them and their familes. The only response left to us is choices as to what will better our odds of longer avoidance of said harm/death than the average human manages.

The degree of attempted avoidance ranges from the Darwin-Award seekers, reckless, careless, careful, cautious, slightly paranoid, super paranoid, and finally locked in the house and refusal to venture out. All of the degrees involved makes the defining point of paranoid a large gray range. As long as I am not causing harm to others, my ovoidance choices in life are not subject to someone else's labeling of wise, mediocre, paranoid, or whatever.

Bottom line - I recognize everyone's right to disagree with my choices and describe their choices and reasons. However, I will not label others and I will reject their labels.

 

[ants]

Not paranoia, just bragging.

That's the way I see the man starting a thread like this.

Just wants all of us to know he owns an expensive HK machine pistol.
And an armored land rover.
And lots of other guns.

Bragging.

 

[FourTeeFive]

Automatic benchmade front out knife by my leg

I missed that the first time. Is there a place in this country where that is legal?

I'd kind of like to carry an auto but I find an assisted opening or "wave" knife to be fast enough. Autos tend to be much thicker in the pocket. I used to carry a Balisong until those became illegal to carry in WA. Not a good pocket knife but comfortable in a horizontal sheath.

 

[ewan1018]

I agree. I have a friend who has become overzealous and that describes him now. He won't go anywhere without a firearm. He looks a bit like a recovering addict when he isn't carrying...fidgety, nervous, eyes darting everywhere...

You sound pretty well prepared. Far beyond what I would ever do, but everyone is different. We have the right to prepare as far as we deem necessary so this is the wrong crowd to ask if you want someone to pass judgement on you. Like Sam said, if you cannot function without those things and they just need to be present or you can't go outside, there may be some clinical level stuff going on...but that is for you to know and us not to judge or guess.

I became obsessed with being armed after I lost my brother... 674 days ago I lost my family under the gun point and I couldn't do a SINGLE THING to help nor make a difference. I witnessed these fickers firing three rounds at my resisting brother and all i could do was to crawl to him. I was stabbed 3 times before and that triggered him to throw his fist. I had to watch him die before I passed out. Paramedics later told me there was blood everywhere... I just wished i would die while I was in hospital for being powerless and letting my brother leave like that... everyone felt sorry for me but I knew it was all my fault. Being stabbed, mugged and losing my brother was all my fault. If I JUST gave them the damn money, or if I was carrying none of these would have happened. It was that $450 that killed my brother.

For all these years I was an anti gun person. Until I realized the cost Of NOT carrying... After I was out of hospital I earned money. I studied and became a professional stock manager. I earned money that killed my brother and spent 50,000 buying Class III guns. Seems like Police ended their investigation... No suspect, no witness and case closed. I have no one but myself to blame...
I got too emotional... Sorry guys I started for simple explanation but ended up with my personal story. I know everything is messed up but I couldn't care for grammar or structure... Got too emotional