So, I'm having a hard time carrying and not living in fear. Having the firearm on me is such a change, that I can't seem to get over the reasons for having it. Instead of believing in the goodness of people, the beauty of the wilderness, and going about my goals for each day, it feels like my state of mind is weighed down and altered into a fearful one, which I can't reason is statistically unnecessary. Really, if I'm going to go out of my way to carry a gun, why don't I wear a helmet too while driving or go to the gym to run on a safe treadmill.
Anyone here go through the same and have ideas to enjoy life the fullest while also preparing for the worst?
OK, this thread is going on three pages now and I'm not seeing any responses from AKMtnRunner yet. Perhaps it's because it's 1:30 am and I'm just missing them.
I'm confused, even after having read the posting several times. Exactly what are you living in fear of, AKMtnRunner? And what does your carrying of a firearm have to do with that fear?
If you are living in fear of being preyed upon, that fear would exist whether you're armed or not. What you need to do is come to grips with the realities behind that fear and then affect mitigating changes in order to cope with it.
For example one reality is that you have grown up in a relatively safe envirnment and have not been a victim of a violent attack. This indicates the risk level to be relatively low with respect to violent crime. Presumably, you didn't live in fear growing up, so why now?
Self defense of any kind is a multi-level concept. If you choose to carry a firearm, you should be doing so AS PART of your self defense not AS your self defense. If you don't quite get what I just said, read it a few more times before going on with my post.
Self defense encompasses situational awareness, first and foremost. Simply put, be aware of what's going on around you.
The level of situational awareness varies, based on your perceived understanding of the threat level at any given time. Your situational awareness cannot be 100% for 100% of the time.
For example, if you are out with your buddies in broad daylight, walking down the sidewalks in front of rows of busy shops, your perceived threat level would probably be pretty low. Why? You're not alone (you have buddies), it's daylight, plenty of other people around, in a good neighborhood, etc.
So your level of situational awareness is probably a bit relaxed based on your threat assessment.
Now, if you were working the late shift, closed up your place of business long after dark, and were getting ready to walk to your car in the deserted parking lot with a drop bag for the night deposit box at the nearby bank, your level of situational awareness is probably going to be somewhat heightened.
Planning your runs should be part of your self defense tactics. You don't deliberately take your exercise runs through the "bad" end of town, for example.
Learning how to avoid trouble, de-escallate aggressive encounters, retreating, etc...all are parts of a multi-tiered self defense strategy. And your gun? It's at the end of all these, when you have no other choice left based on circumstances.
If your gun is contributing to your fear, then you need to take a step back and figure out what, exactly, this fear is all about. If it's simply a heightened anxiety due to carrying something you were raised to have nothing to do with, that's OK. This is generally resolved by familiarity and understanding.
By this, I mean get out there and learn how to shoot your gun. Learn how to clean it, how it's designed to function, how it feels. Get a good belt and holster. Find fun firearms activities to get involved in. Look up your jurisdictional laws on firearms and learn what they say and mean. Take some training classes.
The more you know and understand, the more respect and comfort you gain.