Reasons for concealed carry

[srschick]

As Missouri is passing CCW legislation to the Gov. it has been a point for media lately. A local radio talk show host (I would say he is almost liberal, but don't take that the wrong way. He is very open minded, IMHO and always hears both sides) asked this question today:

What reason, besides the often cited 2nd Admendment rite, would you personally have a need to carry concealed?
I think he was looking for an event or happistance that occured in your life that would precipitate the need.
He cited a good examlple of someone having to carrying large amounts of money because of business reasons.

I called in. I told him I have no specific need.
But I also said I shouldn't have a specific need to be allowed to CCW. I said it was the fact that we will never know if we need one that should allow lawful and responsible people to be able to carry. (the "better to havee and not need- etc." defense). I also brought up the seatbelt analagy.

I've searched for a list of reasons for personally needing or wanting CCW, but couldn't find what I was looking for (maybe my searching ability sucks, but lets not beat that horse)

Here's what I came up with;
1. CCW works to lower crime rates. That's a fact that's been analyzed and proven.
2. Against many peoples belief, no "wild west" attitude will emerge. Hasn't happened in any place that CCW has been approved. CCW holder are usually morally better than many think. There will always be a few exceptions, but if what is to prevent them from carrying anyway, legal or not?
3. Why have CCW, Aren't the police enough to protect us? Many crimes are finished before the police are even aware of anything happening.
4. It will be a hazard to police, especially during traffic stops. There have been more innocent people shot by police than police shot by CCW holders. (the occurrences of law enforcement being hurt by a lawful CCW holder is almost nil)
5. It often is not necessary to even shoot the weapon, it is often enough to just see the weapon to make a criminal think twice.
6. A criminal will not know who is carrying, which, again, makes him think twice. Therefore, those that chose not to carry have this added benefit.


Any thing to add?

 

[spacemanspiff]

the only other thing i can think of is that it allows an individual the sense of providing for themselves, which is a core element of what founded this nation: that we can rely upon ourselves for what we need/want and not call upon others to do everything for us.
if we successfully provide for our families well being and safety, then we are truly responsible and can take pride in that. if however, we have to get on the phone to call someone else in to deal with every little nuance, we are dependant, not independant.

 

[Trisha]

Aside from the pm I sent, you might want to look at this:

http://www.gender.org/remember/

Trisha

 

[TallPine]

Reason for concealed carry ...?

Makes some people nervous when I open carry.

 

[KarlG]

The courts have ruled that the police have no obligation to protect you. If you have no means to protect yourself (because the government has forbidden it) then you have no means to exercize your inalienable right to life?

 

[Jim March]

There's another reason nobody talks about, because it only covers a small number of citizens...but it's important to all.

We have a LOT of laws that allow investigators, political activists and concerned citizens to dig into the misdeeds of the government. The most common class of these are known as "sunshine laws" - laws that allow public access to government documents, or require open public meetings where the government administrators of a meeting cannot abuse citizens who comment, cannot block public comment, can't meet in secret, etc. Another class of such laws allow public review of campaign finance data. And corporations must publish their lists of officers, so you can track corporate money in politics back to individuals within companies.

OK, what does all that mean?

You can find out who has gained from government action, which government officials got paid possibly in return, you can dig into possible criminality six ways from Sunday. Wonderful stuff. And you do NOT need a badge, or a license, or training, or anything else to dig into this crap.

Good, that's how it should be in a free Republic. Citizen oversight, it's a beautiful thing, I think I'm gonna cry .

Just one teensy little problem:

What happens when said civic-minded citizen runs across something REALLY nasty?

And they're unarmed?

Whoops.

This ain't just theory. I was hot on the trail of some real dirt in a given county on CCW corruption, partnering up with a local reporter. We started unravelling something truly ugly, and he chickened out on me. I'll get the data eventually, but I've been delayed.

I moved not long ago, I'm no longer in Pittsburg. Notice how I don't mention exactly where I am in my profile?

I don't mention where I live *anywhere*.

 

[tiberius]

I would stick with the simple reason that "I have a right to protect myself". Remember just because its illegal to carry a gun, doesn; tmean that criminals choose to obey it.

It is particularly important for women. When they are carrying a pistol that they are confident with, they are no longer the weaker the sex. Like the old proverb goes.......Sammy Colt made them equal.

I think focusing on the women's equality aspect is a good way to shut up the leftists.

 

[WonderNine]

Because the right to self defense is a basic human right!

A right not granted by other men, but by God!