Question For Those Who CAN Carry But Choose Not To

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Treo

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( Now watch a whole bunch of people aren't even going to read this and post that their state doesn't allow carry period)

This question is for those who live in a state where the PTB recognize your right to armed self defense (either by CC or OC) , Who are legally able to avail yourself of this selfdefense option. But have made a decision not to exercise that right.

What is the rationale behind your decision ?
 
( Now watch a whole bunch of people aren't even going to read this and post that their state doesn't allow carry period)
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Or a bunch of people like me that don't fit your topic question will post that they do carry.
I CAN and I DO everywhere/everyday.

So, I'll answer for a few that I know CAN, but DON'T.

  • My mom doesn't. She can carry, has a permit, but doesn't carry because she hasn't found 'that perfect handgun' that is tiny, virtually weightless and doesn't kick at all. She has arthritis and recoil kills her hands/wrists. Until she has a little .22 revolver, she'll likely not carry at all.

  • Several people I know that have a permits but don't carry all have told me basically the same reason why they don't exercise that right. They got the permit just because they thought it was a good idea.
They say things like...

"Just another piece of paper that says I can own a gun.":rolleyes:
"Because I sometimes have a loaded gun in my car." (these don't have to make sense):confused:
"Just in case I decide that I want/need to carry." (doomsday approach):scrutiny:
 
i live in a state where you dont need a license for concealed carry, however thats been almost nullified by our "equal force" law that makes it basically illegal to point a gun at a mugger... so thats why i rarely carry
 
Usually I carry, sometimes not. My wife doesn't even though she can.

I sometimes come to the conclusion that the threat I face is not great enough to justify the practical problems posed by carry. Discomfort, limitations on style of dress, possible negative reaction from various people who might notice, possible misunderstandings with law enforcement.

My wife is generally not comfortable with the idea of defense using lethal force and has a carry permit only to protect her in the event she ends up in legal custody of my sidearm as might be the case if I leave it in the car while running an errand when she is in the passenger seat.
 
I sometimes have to leave mine in the car. Courthouses, municipal offices, post offices, banks and taverns are all places I spend time.
 
If I'm not able to retain possession 100 percent, I usually do not carry a handgun. When I'm at the beach is one example.
 
If I'm not able to retain possession 100 percent, I usually do not carry a handgun. When I'm at the beach is one example.
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Paddle holster would look funny with a speedo...

I know some people who can, and have a CHL, but dont.
they dont feel that the stats are bad enough for them to carry... "It wont happen to me", you know the type.
Bad things are something that happen to "the other guy".
They got their CHL to make gun purchases easier.


Jim
 
Me wearing a Speedo would bring a entirely new set of problems.

I go to the beach on the bike and I will not secure a handgun in one of the saddlebags. Just way too easy to gain entry. Bringing on to the beach isn't an option.
 
OMG. Guido with a Speedo.

"Iz dat a Beretta 92FS in yer Speedo, or are yas happy to see me?"

"What, ya never seen my hand-ejecting Iver-Johnson?"
 
The first year I had my permit I missed a lot of carry time due to the discomfort and initial awkwardness of it all. About a year in I bought my Seecamp and there has been no excuse since.
 
Who are legally able to avail yourself of this selfdefense option. But have made a decision not to exercise that right.
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I'm with CoRoMo in that I can and do carry 99% of the time. Pretty much the only time I don't carry is when I'm not able. For example, you can't take a firearm onto the property of a oil and gas refinery or other similar types of facilities.


I have a friend who isn't interested in getting his CHL and doesn't see the point in carrying. He was like, "Who do you know who has been attacked?" I said, "It only takes once when it happens to you."

That didn't convince him. Interestingly, he is a fan of firearms, but just isn't convinced in the need to carry. Oh well...I'll keep working on him. ;)
 
I know at least a dozen people with permits who don't carry at work simply because their six figure salary at a job with a no weapons policy outweighs the unlikely chance they are going to need a gun at work.

Someone will certainly respond with the meme that "a job is easier to replace than a life". While that is true, losing getting fired from a great job with great benefits because you didn't want to follow the rules isn't a particularly winning plan either.
 
What I'm seeing here is all legitamate reasons not to carry. I'm not talking so much about not carrying in this or that particular situation, but peole who just choose not to carry ever. I realize that the gun isn't the only tool but it is IMO one of the best ( I'm willing to be persuaded other wise) so why not avail your self of this option
 
In my job, all buildings are posted NO GUNS.
Most buildings are also in areas the average person wouldnt like to ride thru in an APC.
There are no metal detectors in these buildings.
I earn a comfortable living, I am also still alive and unharmed since taking this career path.
I have deterred an attack more than once while on site or in transit from vehicle to building.


Jim
 
I have deterred an attack more than once while on site or in transit from vehicle to building.
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How did you do it without a gun? Could it be possible that one of these days your luck will run out?
 
How did you do it without a gun? Could it be possible that one of these days your luck will run out?
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I know from exp that 3 gang bangers that want to rob you will run like little girls when you grab a 3' pry bar.
 
How did you do it without a gun?
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Never said I didnt have a gun. ;)
I can always find another job... I only have this life.
I had a supervisor walking with me on one of the occasions... he said screw company policy... and asked for a recommendation for a pistol for him.


Jim
 
Three places I don't carry:

1. My son's school = felony & not worth the time

2. Government offices (post office, etc) = criminal act, see above

3. Work. This company will fire somebody for passing gas if they view it as "unsafe", reality be damned. My family needs the income with no worries of being fired for printing or being found out, but my wife has been instructed very carefully that should anything go wrong and I have been prevented from protecting myself, then they own 100% of the responsibility of failing to protect me with their "guards" = sue the living crap out of them. I guess I'm okay with that, if not excited about it...
 
I live in a state that allows both concealed and open carry. I choose not to. Why? Because I don't feel competant enough with a gun to know that I'd be able to defend myself. More likely, I'd be giving an unarmed assailant an opportunity to take my weapon and use it against me.

Will this change in the future? I sincerely hope so.

Practice, practice, practice.
 
I sometimes come to the conclusion that the threat I face is not great enough to justify the practical problems posed by carry. Discomfort, limitations on style of dress, possible negative reaction from various people who might notice, possible misunderstandings with law enforcement.
Click to expand...

Goes for me too. I sometimes wonder why I am even considering learning to shoot and buying a gun. There are few places I go on a regular basis (yes, I have no life): work, church for handbell rehearsal, the gym, my partner's parents' house...that's pretty much it. I can't carry to work, couldn't take it to church if the pastor didn't give me permission, don't want to take it to the gym and lock it in a locker there, obviously, and I can just see the royal freak-out if his mom found out I owned or carried a gun at all, let alone brought it to their house (and good luck keeping it hidden while spending an entire day there flopped on the couch or swimming in the pool, or explaining why I'm bundled up in 90-degree weather because shorts and a tank top won't hide the gun or whatever). Sure, I could leave it in my car in these cases, but I'd be nervous about doing so AND that would negate my reason for wanting it: self-defense on my way to and from my car at these places. So what, I'm going to drop hundreds of bucks ($300-$500 for a gun, $250+ for a CPL class and filing fee, and then the cost of the ammo and going to the range to practice) to buy a gun to go to the grocery store once every one or two weeks, or any other place I might happen to go, and because I "just want to learn to shoot for fun"? Seems a waste to me, esp. in this economy when my money ought to be saved for when my old car finally gives out or I get hit by a bus and have medical bills...
 
greenr18 said:
i live in a state where you dont need a license for concealed carry, however thats been almost nullified by our "equal force" law that makes it basically illegal to point a gun at a mugger... so thats why i rarely carry
Click to expand...
I don't wish to hijack this thread, but could you expound on this "equal force" law?

Most of us out here often cite Vermont as a pro-gun haven as they have permit-less CCW, but if there are other idiotic laws there that make CCW and/or self defense there difficult I'd love to know more about it.

Maybe you could start a new thread discussing how VT is not actually a panacea of gun rights.
 
I sometimes have to leave mine in the car.
Click to expand...

I recently bought an electronic gun safe and bolted it to the back floor of my truck. As in behind the seat. The label said it would hold one gun but I've had a .500 mag, .38 spl and 2 boxes of 500 mag ammo in it with the revolvers still in holsters. I think this would be a great solution for those times anyone would need to leave a gun in the car.
 
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