How to respond to "Why do you have a gun" while OC

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On the morning news here nearly every day they talk about the last shooting, robbery, holdup, whatever from the night before.

The last time someone asked why I had a gun, I told them it was to protect myself from the crazy people I hear about on the news every morning.

I don't want to be a statistic, and if they're going to talk about me on the news I want to be breathing so I can give an interview.


Very odd that only one poster has mentioned you could avoid all these questions by CCing. Not condemning or condoning, just observing.
 
NavyLCDR said:
Sure looks like a lot of people here are interested in making ourselves look like the south end of north bound horses. Isn't better that we allow the anti-gun people to just think what they do about us with no basis in reality rather than make efforts to confirm their thoughts?
Click to expand...
^ +1
 
If they are polite, I just let them know it's leagle here. If they are rude. Wait! NO ONE HAS BEEN RUDE ABOUT IT! I did have a lady say 'You're gun is showing 'as I went into the bank a few weeks ago. I thanked her & went on into the bank! By the way all of you who want us all to CC.If you will pay for the license, I will be glad to get one! DON'T TRY ACTING LIKE THE GOVERNMENT & TAKING MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET!
 
I always counter with,,,

When someone asks me why I carry a handgun,,,
I counter with, why do you not carry one.

I always say it with a calm smooth voice,,,
And I invite a rational response,,,
But if they get emotional,,,
I smile and disengage.

If I can determine that they are simply curious,,,
I give them calm and rational replies.

If I determine they are an anti,,,
I refuse to argue with them and stay quiet.

My experience has shown me,,,
There is no sense in debating an anti.

I reserve my energies for those who are on the fence,,,
It's entirely possible I can have a positive effect on them.

Remember my friends:

Never try to teach a pig to sing,,,
It wastes your time,,,
And annoys the pig.

Aarond

.
 
Well first I try to explain to them that A it's legal and B it is a normal thing for me I try to be calm and reason with them now that's not to say I have never lost my cool and got into a yelling match :mad: some people just think it is wrong to do it so I don't even try anymore with them
 
Sometimes it is just genuine curiosity from non-gun people…not necessarily anti-gun people. I've had the same question about carrying concealed. I just tell them it is because I can and want to, that I love the companionship of firearms and the safety I feel when I carry. Most people are just curious. I've never had a confrontational question from anyone and don't feel the need to convince anyone of anything.
 
My answer would depend on the tone of the question asked.
If the question is snarky, rude, or otherwise aggressive, I ignore them.
If they seem to be genuinely interested or curious, I'll answer them to the best of my ability. Usually an answer about self defense.

Acting like a sarcastic D-bag does not help. Gotta know which conversations to get involved in, and which to ignore peacefully.
 
When I was a park ranger, I had to discuss alot of controversial issues with the public and they often came up upset, heated, and/or (usually) lacking information.

No matter how someone approaches you (unless unsafely), you have a great deal of control over how the rest of that encounter goes. Not that you will change a mind but you can still make a difference if you CHOOSE to.

If you cant de-escalate a conversation, how will you ever de-escalate a hostile situation before it degenerates into something physical or your firearm is needed?

Er oh, that's right, usually you can. If you bother.
 
This thread is full of some funny comebacks.
Click to expand...

While I'm a huge fan of humor -- when used appropriately -- to de-escalate others in certain situations -- I have also found that some people become even more offended if you give them what they perceive to be a smart-alec answer. I witnessed this exact situation when a nicely-dressed, normal-looking middle-aged man gave the "Because a cop is too heavy" response to a young soccer mom in a local park. She took affront to his response, clearly believing he was poking fun at her when she'd asked him, what was in her mind, a perfectly legitimate, serious question ... The man could've simply taken a few seconds to educate the woman on the legality of OC and given her a serious reason, but I'm pretty sure she walked away from the encounter thinking that anyone who would OC a handgun is a sarcastic dirtbag.

Now, I'm not suggesting that anyone need get into a lengthy, serious discussion with those that ask the question (especially since many of the anti-gun folks just seem to be trying to make their point that they hate guns, and hate people who have guns) -- but, some of the more reasoned responses (such as that offered by NavyLCDR in post #11) won't bring on as much hate. As he noted, sometimes maybe just ignoring someone and walking away is the best option.

The Washington OC forum guys have a little pamphlet they can carry with them to hand out to educate folks, quotes the RCWs and gives a little history of OC, seems to work out real well and I think has helped them gain more than a few converts.
 
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"I used to drag it along behind me on a string, but that scratches the finish."

"I used to carry a cop, but he got into the donuts and got too heavy."

"Because it doesn't have wheels and I can't ride it."
 
I open carry from time to time. Run into the store...pump gas...that kind of thing. Never had the question. Maybe an old fat guy with a gun isn't very interesting.

Howver...prepared answer is "Because I want to."

If that's not good enough...well, too bad.
 
Ask them

Do you have medical insurance?
Fire extinguisher?
Wear a seatbelt?

Wheres your rape and murder insurance?
 
I agree with the idea that such questions are an opportunity. The choice is basically make a good impression or a bad one.

Which will you choose?
 
627PCFan said:
Ask them

Do you have medical insurance?
Fire extinguisher?
Wear a seatbelt?

Wheres your rape and murder insurance?
Click to expand...
^^^ I like this one.

I usually say, "Because I refuse to entrust the lives of my family to the drug-crazed whims of a junkie"
 
"Because I prefer to give up the very important actual self-defense tactical element of surprise in order to show off my shootin'-iron, and to somehow make a statement that I'm strugging to articulate" ?? :rolleyes:




Willie

.
 
I would simply tell them we are all responsible for our own safety and security. No one has your best interest at heart, more than you.

If you choose to give that authority to someone else, you take your chances on who they consider more important. If they arent in your back pocket, you'll now where you stand.


Then again, the attention of those asking would be drawn to you, since mine is always hidden. :)
 
The fact that you are approached and talked to when open carrying is a good enough start in my book to open up some enlightening conversation. Around these parts where oc is legal but the only people that do it are law enforcement, I don't think anyone would come close to you and they would probably help you meet other OC'ers in the area (by calling the cops on you).
 
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