rationale for CCW

[Superpsy]

Some people around where I live (NY of course) are somewhat anti-gun and one question I've come up against is this" "what is the rationale for carrying a weapon around 24/7?" Now I know that having a CCW doesn't mean 24/7 carry since alot of people just use it for occasional carry or to make car transport easy. This question is for people who carry 24/7. Why do you do it? Things I've heard alot of are:
...the probability of you having to use a gun is rare especially in a non-urban area.
...carrying a gun around 24/7 is just asking for trouble.
...carrying a gun will add to already volatile situations and make them worse.
...guns are violent fire: I hate this one)

Now my responses have been pretty typical to discussions found on this forum. That is:
I'd rather have a gun for the 100 times and not need it than to not have it the one time I do.
Guns are NOT violent. People are.
I have a right to protect my family and myself against armed criminals.
Being able to carry a gun is a right.

Do you guys have anything else to add? What is the "rationale" for CCW?

 

[Euclidean]

Because it's my personal decision to.

 

[Devonai]

1. The probability of getting into a car accident serious enough to send you to the hospital or morgue is pretty low, too. Should I stop wearing my seat belt?

2. Alluding to an urban legend, implying that carrying a concealed pistol is asking for trouble is the same as suggesting that a modestly-dressed woman is asking for sex.

3. If someone becomes aware of my pistol, the situation is already as bad as it's going to get!

4. This one is just too easy.

 

[antsi]

I like what Winston Churchill said: "A gentleman will rarely need a pistol. But if he does need one, he will need it very badly."

 

[crazed_ss]

I cant get a Concealed Carry Permit, but if I could, my reasons would be mainly for self-protection.

 

[TrapperReady]

Here's something I've been thinking about for a while. My family and I have thought about the possibility of a fire, developed a plan (with several contingencies), obtained appropriate equipment (smoke detectors and fire extinguishers), and conduct routine fire drills.

We are not viewed askance if I bring this up in "polite conversation". However, when the issue turns to violent crime, firearms and CCW, even good friends sometimes look at me like I'm crazy for even considering it.

I've started asking people if they know anyone who's experienced a serious house fire. So far, the percentage of positive responses has been very low. When I follow that up by asking if they know anyone who's been raped, mugged, shot, had their home broken into, carjacked, etc... the percentage is typically much higher.

I then explain the types of violent crime I've seen committed against members of my own family and friends. I can list at least 5 (including rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted murder). The thing is, that's just looking at a relatively small group of people, and out of all the people I know, I can't think of one who's had a house fire.

So, if I have plans, training and equipment in place to deal with a fire, wouldn't it be shortsighted and negligent of me to not do the same for violent crime?

Now, you have to understand that people who are against CCW and guns in general have deep-seated beliefs that are not easily (or at least quickly) changed. It would be highly unlikely to "win" an argument with an anti... but you might just plant the seed for them to start thinking about the issues a little more.

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Then you take them to the range and complete the conversion.

 

[1911_CQB]

because I can.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I believe our rights, like I.Q. points and muscles, benefit from regular, frequent exercise.

 

[countertop]

How is carrying a concealed gun around asking for trouble?

Who are you asking? Yourself?

 

[P95Carry]

Let's look at it this way - I do. I work from home and some days do not even venture out.

Do I remove my carry piece? No I do not.

Why? - because in the grand scheme of things I hope and expect I will never need it in anger but - like my wrist watch which tells me time with a mere glance to my wrist - the one time I just might need my gun it MUST be there. No good to me to think, whether at home or out - dang it - forgot to put it on today, as I reach into empty space!!

It is a discipline IMO - we carry or we don't - excepting places which are illegal of course. I ''endure'' slight inconvenience carrying - not much and no big deal but, it would seem absurd to find that empty rig one day when for years I have had this slight burden to deal with. It is there for a reason - one I choose and one which might one day save my bacon.

My right elbow many times a day touches that gun - to reassure me it is there and not left in the bathroom!! This is certainly done before I leave to go anywhere.

 

[tyme]

what is the rationale for carrying a weapon around 24/7?

It's not necessary to carry 24/7 to be prepared for the average thug. If your home is reasonably secure, you should have enough advance warning to get to a gun if someone's breaking in.

When you're not home, it makes sense to carry all the time. Where would you leave your gun? In the car? Aside from legal restrictions on where you can carry, or if you're going drinking, it almost never makes sense to disarm. A gun left in a car is vulnerable to theft, and you no longer have a gun with which to defend yourself if needed. If the gun is really that difficult to carry comfortably, maybe a different gun would work better.

You could plan to carry only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10am to 12pm and 4pm to 7pm, but criminals don't operate on your schedule. They will rarely consult with you ahead of time about their criminal timetables.

 

[TallPine]

well, i live 25 miles from town and ten miles from the nearest pavement. in this county, often only one deputy is on duty at any moment and he/she is usually in town. it would be a 30-40 minute drive out here, if they started the instant i called 911.

we have 40 acres and i am often out and about on my land. the horse corrals are clear on the other side of our property from the house. so it just makes sense to always wear a sidearm so if i go out for anything then for sure i have it with me.

look up the story of the Rideout family in Colorado, who had a random thug attack their family

we had a very un-desirable neighbor for a while, and on occasion his felonious friends have come back out here even though the property has been sold

is that enough to answer your question, or shall i go on...?

actually, maybe i answered the wrong question, since much of the time i carry open rather than concealed

 

[Superpsy]

How is carrying a concealed gun around asking for trouble?

Who are you asking? Yourself?

Hey, I completely agree with CCW. I find myself defending my ideas about CCW alot however and just needed some "fresh ammo" for lack of a better term. I definitely agree with TrapperReady about not winning arguments with antis...sometimes all I can do is hope that some of what I said sinks in.

 

[Zen21Tao]

NEXT QUESTION !!!

 

[Moondoggie]

I believe the fire analogy is very effective.

I'm not a fireman, nor have I ever had a serious house fire, but I have several extinguishers around the house and one in each vehicle. A 1.5 gal pressurized water extinguisher sits right beside my bed in case I need it to "fight" my way to an exit, a loved one, or whatever. Point is that it's handy for me during the 1/3 of the day when I'm there.

I don't go cruising around looking for fires to put out, but if my vehicle or someone else's is on fire I want to be able to do something about it. In my 7 yrs of OTR experience in my 18 wheeler I've seen something like 20+ cars burning/burned up on the side of the road. FD was already there for the one's still on fire, so I've never had to use my extinguisher.

Not to imply that a CCW holder is looking for an opportunity to play hero, just that the fire thing does provide a good mental bridge to get open minded people to consider another point of view.

 

[Srigs]

Smoke alarm or seat belt analogy.

 

[Tang419]

Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.


It's also like money in the bank, you don't always need it, but it's nice to know it's there to save you in a tight spot.

 

[Landor]

This is my first post on this board but I wanted to post this link.
http://www.wmsa.net/gratia-hupp_1992.htm

This should answer the question.

 

[brufener]

Another good analogy is insurance.

Ask the person if they have life insurance. Then ask them why, they obviously haven't needed it yet.

You'll usually get the answer "just in case, to protect my family" or something similar. Agree with them and analogize insurance to concealed carry using something like this:

I have life insurance, I haven't needed it yet and don't plan on needing it. I don't go out and take risks just because I have life insurance, I don't put myself in life-threatening situations just because I have life insurance. Having a concealed weapon is a type of insurance against violent crime. It helps insure that a violent crime will not occur, neither does not mean that one goes looking for violent crime or that one takes unnecessary risks.

I like doing it this way because it helps the person connect with the need for a concealed weapon because it puts a concealed weapon on equal terms as something they already have, life insurance. Hopefully this will persaude them to support, or at least understand, our cause.

 

[wdlsguy]

If your home is reasonably secure, you should have enough advance warning to get to a gun if someone's breaking in.

Assuming you (or a family member) never, ever leave a door unlocked. Since I can't guarantee that, I keep a P3AT in my pocket around the house, just in case.

 

[gunsmith]

Ask those people

Why do they need to read a newspaper?
Have they ever looked at a Torah? a Koran or a Bible?
Why do they need to do that? (in todays world, they're looking for trouble)

Have they ever peaceably assembled? how dare they! every state has an assembly & they are professionals too! (Nat Guard millitia argument)

they don't "need" to protest, thats really looking for trouble.

On a personal note , I am from NYC and have lived all throughout the NY metro area and that has been the only place I have ever been mugged and had family members murdered. The police can not provide 24/7 protection & if those politicians and media talking heads give up their armed security then I will visit NY without my gun.
Untill then I refuse to go back so some little thug with a knife or a gun can mug/kill me

 

[Old Fuff]

I never fail to point out that they are totally dependent on the police being available if they need them, and anyone who reads the newspapers - especially in urban areas knows that isn't true.

But I am not...

 

[XDKingslayer]

Tell them because you don't understand the rational required to be an unarmed victim waiting to happen.

 

[Superpsy]

Tell them because you don't understand the rationale required to be an unarmed victim waiting to happen.

ooh. I liked that one...thanks for the fresh "ammo" guys. After a while being around anti-gun people can be wearing. Thank goodness for THR.

 

[Shane333]

Here are a few reasons:

Many years ago my dad was helping a family move into an apartment in San Francisco. Seemed like a nice neighborly thing to do. As he was going to carry something from the moving truck, a man with a metal pipe in hand approached my dad quickly, demanding his wallet and expressing clear intent to cause serious harm. A few feet from my dad the mugger stopped, blurted out some excuse about, "I'm sorry! Didn't mean nothin!" and took off like a bat out of hell.

Why? Because a bystander (my great uncle who was also helping with the move) with a CCW had drawn his revolver and had it leveled at the mugger.


Second reason: I live in a terrific suburban neighborhood (right next to rural farms) with upstanding neighbors, lots of kids around, an elementary school just a couple blocks away, etc. Yet just last week we had some burglers attempt to break into a neighbor's house (just three houses away from mine) while the family was still home! You don't have to live in an urban development to have criminals come looking for victims. Want to guess if I carry at home?

Also: Due to the school nearby, we've had a number of suspicious persons cruising through the neighborhood trying to coax little children into their vehicles. We've had a number of close calls, including one where a bus driver had to chase off a strange man in a car who was trying to grab some kids. The result of all this? I have neighbors left and right who are getting their concealed carry licenses, for both the husband and the wife. My own license should be arriving any day now.

Much like the fire extinguishers I keep in my house, I'm getting my CCL because I love my wife and kids, and I feel a duty to be prepared to protect them from harm...much like I feel protective of my neighbor's kids and would protect them from harmful strangers.