Help me please! I live in California.

[steverjo]

Harley,
If you don't live in the Los Angeles area, don't believe everything you read about crime statistic dropping. Not true. Maybe more crimes are going unreported, but it is definitely no safer here now than several years ago.

I was in a bank that was involved in an armed takeover last year. Not a fun situation to be in. I was glad to get out with my life. Maybe next time i won't be as lucky.

 

[steverjo]

duplicate post. sorry

 

[Zoogster]

You'll find that San Bernardino Co. residents tend to be more conservative than those of LA County.

The situation occuring in LA area is the crime rate is dropping, so with that in mind, you don't need a CCW

Things are changing, and one of the big reasons for this is gentrification. Homes and areas of LA are being priced out of the range of the lower income residents. Some of those famous for crime and gangs are cleaning up as many of thier residents move to the more affordable inland communities of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. In the apartments and other places still affordable Latinos are displacing the traditional African American residents.

So I would venture a guess that San Bernardino's "conservative" views are going to change to reflect an influx of liberal residents. The crime rate is also going to change. As much as it goes down in LA it is going to go up further inland. In fact it is already doing so, and many areas previously without much trouble inland are now experiencing drug and gang problems.

Across CA the coastal areas are getting more and more expensive, and that means many residents previously in liberal coastal areas (and by coastal I mean anything within several miles of the ocean) are moving inland where people get more for thier money.
Every time someone moves out of a home in one of those infamous bad areas of LA, it goes on the market priced out of the budget of most of its neighbors. Of course even with crime dropping in LA there is still plenty to go around.

So things overall are not really changing, they are just relocating.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Harley,
If you don't live in the Los Angeles area, don't believe everything you read about crime statistic dropping. Not true. Maybe more crimes are going unreported, but it is definitely no safer here now than several years ago.

I was in a bank that was involved in an armed takeover last year. Not a fun situation to be in. I was glad to get out with my life. Maybe next time i won't be as lucky.

If you would have had a firearm would it have helped? CCW situation, only those who train enough, should have it IMHO...The CA law about CCW might have hampered you if you would have had a firearm and it was showed that because of it and someone got hurt or killed you could be charged with a crime also. Sad but true.

With todays legal system in CA you are much better being a victim it appears.

I just read about the stats and they are down. The situation is very bad for sure, sort of joking about the problem.
You are fortunate about the bank hold up and being able to talk about it. The reason you are thinking you need a CCW is not sufficient to have one in LA CA.

 

[keeleon]

I live in San Bernardino County (Victorville), about 2 hours away from LA, and I have to agree whole heartedly that it is changing for the worst here. As the cost of living goes up in LA, more and more people are moving out here and bringing their crap with them. I can't say about statistics specifically, but I will say that there have been big changes in the amount and type of people here in the last 10 years, and not good changes.

 

[kungfuhippie]

I've given this some real thought.
I must recant my statements of staying and fighting. I'm not.
Here are my comments:
-I plan to move to a red state as soon as I graduate from college, preferably one with a D or F from the brady campaign
-I would never, ever move to LA County
-I have seen San Bernardino County Change drastically for the worse in my 25 years and I would not want to raise kids here now.
-There is no way I would ever buy a micro stamp gun
-I don't care if the condors all die of lead poisoning
-I want to be able to buy more than one handgun at a time and not have to register them.

 

[glockman19]

I would say you have absolutly no chance of getting a CCW approved in Southern California.

Unfortunate but true.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

Unfortunately if one resides in a locale that deems it undesirable to recognize your 2nd Amendment RIGHTS there is little one can do except motivate and encourage others to change the political climate. It is a main reason I moved to Arizona.
A turndown to a CCW application is something one should avoid... and to encourage someone to break the law is not an acceptable solution.

The situation occuring in LA area is the crime rate is dropping, so with that in mind, you don't need a CCW

If you would have had a firearm would it have helped? CCW situation, only those who train enough, should have it IMHO...The CA law about CCW might have hampered you if you would have had a firearm and it was showed that because of it and someone got hurt or killed you could be charged with a crime also. Sad but true.

Harley, I think you misunderstand the whole conception of CCW. In the example cited by steverjo, it would be the point of being able (equiped) to be able to stop a direct physical threat to one's person during the a robbery - as opposed to being one of the hapless victims. :banghead:
And the fact that crime rate may or may not be dropping in an area means nothing if you are the target of an assault. And to think that CCW is only for those who live in "high crime" areas is just foolish. Is your Michael Moore Agenda showing again and you want only Police and Military (i.e. "those who train enough") to carry firearms?.

 

[Sawdust]

Avoid ...Ventura.

Say what? You are seriously misinformed.

Sawdust

 

[kungfuhippie]

Please inform us Sawdust. All I've ever read is that Ventura Co. is very hard to get your ccw in, I provided links that back that...

I have no problem with the area. I think it's one of the nicer geographies of California, just a little to far left IMHO.

 

[Cannonball888]

 

[Autolycus]

Good luck.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Harley, I think you misunderstand the whole conception of CCW. In the example cited by steverjo, it would be the point of being able (equiped) to be able to stop a direct physical threat to one's person during the a robbery - as opposed to being one of the hapless victims.
And the fact that crime rate may or may not be dropping in an area means nothing if you are the target of an assault. And to think that CCW is only for those who live in "high crime" areas is just foolish. Is your Michael Moore Agenda showing again and you want only Police and Military (i.e. "those who train enough") to carry firearms?.

Well I am sort of sounding like what you mention, sorry that is not what I intended. Part of it was in jest and some of it was very serious.

Say you are in this robbery situation caught without the ability to help. All you can do is aggrivate the situation. It (last encounter) disolved itself and no one was hurt.

But on the other hand if the person would not be very well trained or truly qualified, yes I am afraid I believe he is better off and all the others around him not to bring a weapon into the situation.

Still sounds pretty liberal... But it also sounds like the way they are thinking in many locations. Most of the banks just say give it away, cause no problem, let the video do its job and we will see them in court.

One on one or two is different situation, but for a replay Id rather see it occur the way it did and he is writing about his anguish, still alive and angry...

This comes to mind: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz

Regards

 

[AZ_Rebel]

Well I am sort of sounding like what you mention, sorry that is not what I intended. Part of it was in jest and some of it was very serious.

Yeah.... in writing its hard to pick up on jokes or sarcasm sometimes.

I still think that you misunderstand my point about the advantage of being armed during a robbery situation... it is NOT to stop the robbery or assist the police in capturing the BGs... the advantage is if things go sour and the BGs start shooting - then, to save your life or that of others, you may need to bring your gun into play - "as opposed to being one of the hapless victims" as I stated in my previous post.

I believe the OP had this view also when he mentioned the Bank takeover.

I have taught AZ CCW classes for years and one thing we really stress is that as a CCW holder you are NOT an LEO. A CCW does not turn you instantly into a crimefighter - it is a tool to stop a threat of death or serious bodily harm to yourself or someone else you are responsible for.

 

[annielulu]

I feel your pain. I am originally from the State of New Jersey.

God bless Nevada.

 

[CountGlockula]

The only guarantee is a career change: Become a police officer or armed security guard.

Then you get to carry all the time AND have a CCW permit.

A guy came in a the range yesterday and wanted to renew his CCW permit, which expired two months ago. He works for Brinks. When he showed me his CCW card I drooled.

Don't lose hope Californians!!!

 

[Harley Quinn]

I have taught AZ CCW classes for years and one thing we really stress is that as a CCW holder you are NOT an LEO. A CCW does not turn you instantly into a crimefighter - it is a tool to stop a threat of death or serious bodily harm to yourself or someone else you are responsible for.

Since you teach it, you are closer to the situation then most. You are into the understanding of why people get them, when they are only thinking of themselves and not others, it adds fuel to the fire.

This is why it is so controversial in areas that are very strict. It is a very touchy situation for sure.

I have a friend in AZ who has one and he started feeling the pressure and now does not carry much at all. Only when he feels he might need it. Hmmm Problem is you don't get to pick the time or place.

 

[Harley Quinn]

A guy came in a the range yesterday and wanted to renew his CCW permit, which expired two months ago. He works for Brinks. When he showed me his CCW card I drooled.

Get a job for Brinks, now that is putting yourself in harms way for ego.

 

[Sawdust]

Please inform us Sawdust. All I've ever read is that Ventura Co. is very hard to get your ccw in, I provided links that back that...

My personal experience, and the experiences of other friends and acquaintances, have been extremely positive in Ventura County.

The process can take a while due to the demand vs resources, but Bob Brooks is definitely a friendly. His staff was very friendly and actually helpful when I got my CCW.

Sawdust

 

[kungfuhippie]

Thanks for the clarification sawdust.