Interesting post j kelly.
That's cool that you care to exercise your rights once in awhile, but don't feel like you're in a high risk category, I can understand.
I used to feel that way too, until I started looking around and seeing what was going on around me, in the community, in the world, etc.
For me, I'm more ineterested in carrying now than I was even a few months ago, when I finally bought my first HG. My original plan was to keep something at the house, and maybe in the car.
A few months later, I'm practicing IDPA (defensive pistol shooting), obtained my CWP, and am interested in carrying a lot more
What changed you might ask? Well, I guess the more I thought about it, the more I started thinking why not? I saw a thing on the news about some lake drownings in the area, and how when an emergency happens, boat accident, heart attack, person overboard, or other unextected event, it's too late to put on your life preserver at that point, having it in the boat wasn't good enough, because it wasn't on the person who needed it in the crisis. While some people may be lucky enough to see trouble coming, some may not.
I'm not giving you a hard time or anything, or even trying to convince you of a different way of thinking. I was just compelled by your comments to want to share my own thoughts, FWIW
I started looking at the types of crimes being committed these days, and didn't like what I saw. The lines are continually being blurred now. You don't have to be in a high risk neighborhood or take part in high risk activities to be at risk anymore, criminals don't follow the logic we do, and seemingly the logic of criminals past.
To me, it seems like there is much less regard for human life, and much less fear of the legal system in many groups today. I've seen so many reports of unnecessary violence while in commission of another crime, like when they take whatever the victim has and shoots them anyway, either in a panic, to not leave a witness, to prove something, or whatever. I've seen many reports of robberies & car jackings where the person was assaulted, shot and/or killed even though they didn't resist. I've seen reports of people pan-handling that I used to think were mostly harmless losers are now often strong armed thugs posing as a homeless person to get your guard down, I don't know, I'm just saying that even though you don't think you'd give anyone a reason to harm you, doesn't mean someone won't find their own illogical reason.
Again, no harm intended, just thinking out loud. Hope none of us ever find ourselves in that situation, and kudos on excersing your various rights.
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To the OP, I understand where you're coming from, and have struggled w/ some of these concepts in recent months. On one hand, the fact that your brother mentioned your CCW to other family members, and he didn't think it was a big deal, is kind of a good thing. I mean if we all (as a society) thought it was logical and not a big deal to protect ourselves, woudln't that be a great thing. In a way he seems to think this way by your comments, which in a way is cool. The fact that your other relatives that are 'relatively anti' are being faced with logic of a loved one wanting to protect themselves may be a positive impact on them in the long run, they may become less negative about the idea if someone they know and love has taken this road responsibly.
However, I totally understand your concern, and this is an unfortunate reality of our society. Whether you own one gun, or have an expensive collection, your firearms could be targeted by thieves should they become aware of them. You and those around you may be at risk if for some reason you ever find yourself in a situation where someone knows in advance, or becomes aware, of your ownership/carrying practices of firearms, in the event they are planning a crime or happen to be committing a crime in proximity to you, as it could obviously be to your disadvantage if they know you're armed but you don't know they intend to commit said crime, they could target you, etc.
It's like the double edged sword of open carry. Most people wouldn't mess w/ you, but the hardcore criminal may just see that as an indication of how to accomplish his plan, by eliminating any threats to him first, etc.
I think it's fair and reasonable to explain to your inner circle both of these points in an effort to see how it is a reasonable thing to want to protect yourself, but in so doing, asking them to respect your privacy to not undermine the added advantage you have w/ the CWP by possibly inadvertently tipping off the wrong person through the spread of the 'gossip' to an uncontrollable circle, where this wrong person may want to cause you or those around you harm as a result.
Good luck.
Karz
