Subtle And Interesting Psychological Impact of CCW

[Mikul]

I applaud those of you that have become more responsible in response to your decision to carry a gun. ANYTHING that gets people to act more responsible in these times is an excellent thing indeed. But do not look to the gun as the reason for your improvement. It's all in your head, so to speak. Good men do not take action lightly, do not walk blindly, and are not braggarts. Those who carry and have become "enlightened," as it were, have become so because they are good men, not because there is steel strapped their side.

In different times, a man seen carrying a sword was a sign of nobility, and this was often so, but all men with swords were not noble.

A noble man makes a noble sword.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

I have been a security-conscious person as far back as I can remember. As such, any time I walked into a store or any other public place, I would size people up. I did this to assess the risk involved in case anyone started trouble. Now that I carry, I feel much as most of you do, generally more relaxed. Though I remain aware of my surroundings, I don't bother to size people up anymore. I know that if I am ever in danger, the playing field has been leveled.

That's a good way to get dead.

A gun isn't a talisman that will protect you from harm. It's not even a guarantee that you'll prevail in a fight. It's just a tool that may help to increase your odds of survival.

Imagine this scenario. You are about to walk into a convenience store.

The "old you" sizes people up, sees a couple of scumbags acting nervously and hanging near the front register. You decide something may be going down and decide you don't need that slushee right now. You leave immediately.

The "new you," immune from trouble, now that you're packing, breezes in and ends up in the middle of an armed robbery. There's a gun to your head, and yours is in its holster. You gonna shoot it out, cowboy?


-------------------


When I started carrying (which happened shortly after the birth of my first child), I think I realized just how careful I should really be. I now do my utmost to avoid "iffy" situations.

The consequences, ranging from hearing loss to legal bills to bodily harm to death, are just too severe to take pointless risks.

 

[MP5]

I don't CCW yet, but since I started shooting in general, my confidence and situational awareness have both risen. I'm more aware of weapons and what they can do than I ever used to be, so I keep even more of an eye out for trouble and how to avoid it in the first place. I have more confidence from learning how to use deadly weapons but also even less desire to ever use them in combat than I might have had in my pre-gun days.

I know it'll sound stupid but when I'm carrying I feel like an adult ... or more to the point, I feel like I thought I would feel as an adult when I was a child (if that makes any sense).

That's sort of how I feel about shooting in general. At the risk of sounding archaic, part of becoming a full-fledged man (or adult in general) includes learning how to defend yourself and your family with both smarts and weaponry. What guy, in his heart, ever wants to admit that he'd be helpless in a violent conflict and have to rely on cops to run to his rescue (when it's too late)?

 

[Wildalaska]

Ouch. . .it is painful having to say I agree with WildAlaska. . .

Shouldnt huirt being right for once should it?

WildyaknowbetterthantoleavemethatopeningAlaska

 

[sendec]

I wish I could cut and paste....

The gun is not an enabler. Possession of it should not impact your attitude at all, except perhaps to make you more aware of the awful, horrible responsibility that comes with the ability to shed blood and take life. If I would'nt go down a street unarmed, I would'nt go down it while armed. Preventing violence is the higher aim, not putting oneself at risk because of an increased likelyhood of rescue, though possession of a gun is no garantee of a good result.

If a person was intimidated before they carried, and are unintimidated when they carry, something is wrong. Self confidence should not flow from a gun.

 

[fistful]

Be wary, but don't surrender to the goblins.

Seems like we have two seperate, but not conflicting, principles here.

First off, a gun don't make ya bullet-proof. But...

Personal experience: The other day my fiance drove me to my apartment building, and then she drove home, but not before we talked and smooched and so on. While we were standing there, gazing into one another's eyes, a guy ran down the street behind us, covered in blood. We had no idea of this until after she was gone, and I walked up to my door, on the outside of the building, where my neighbors were talking about it. Apparently, some nasty business had been taking place in the building across the street.

One guy was rather shaken, and talked about moving out, and having a few words with our leasing agent, even though she has nothing to do with the other building. I, on the other hand, am considering putting my revolver in my truck. I haven't yet gotten a CCL, as this is new in Missouri.

Maybe he ought to move out, if he is not prepared to defend himself and others. Maybe I ought to move out, as I am no Massad Ayoob or Clint Smith. But the principle remains that if we simply move out when the neighborhood goes south, if we stay out of a part of town because it gets dangerous, we end up with bad neighborhoods, that get worse.

Bottom line: Let's use common sense, and take precautions, but let's not allow the BG's to have free reign.

 

[MeekandMild]

Interesting effects, primarily increase in my kindness toward strangers. But on the other hand all the 'brother's keeper' stuff got wearing. I became increasingly hostile toward the concept of living as one cog in the great machine of the big city until I had to move to the country.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
-----------------------------------------
The gun is not an enabler. Possession of it should not impact your attitude at all, except perhaps to make you more aware of the awful, horrible responsibility that comes with the ability to shed blood and take life. If I would'nt go down a street unarmed, I would'nt go down it while armed.
------------------------------------------

I think we're talking past each other here -- let me hark back to Phil Shoemaker's advice about carrying a gun in bear country. There is a way you SHOULD behave when you encounter a bear that decreases the liklihood you will be attacked. But it's difficult to send the bear the right message if you're trembling and sweating, and your knees are knocking.

Being armed makes you more confident, and more able to do the right thing WITHOUT shooting the bear.

Similarly, no one goes looking for trouble, armed or unarmed. But if I NEED to go to the all night pharmacy to get medicine for my child or wife at 1:00 AM, I'll go. I have a right to go, and no hoodlum is going to deprive me of my right to go there.

 

[BHPshooter]

Vern,

I agree so much with what you've said in this thread that it would be superfluous to try to reiterate it.

I can't wait until I get my CWP (4 months and counting).

Wes

 

[PvtPyle]

I am a better and camler person for my CCW. I dont worry about punks and crime either. But I notice that I don't get upset as easily, don't spout off and look for trouble (like I used to) and my general attitude is better when I carry. I think a large part of it is due to society holding us to a higher standard of conduct, and I hold myself to an even higher standard than that.

I have noticed that after carring overseas EVERY day, I don't feel the need to carry as much here. I still do, but since the threat level is a tiny bit lower here it is not second nature like it was prior to and during the deployment. I don't know why that is yet, but I am trying to sort it out.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

I don't sweat the small stuff since I started CCW. Road rage isn't an option because of where it could lead. I do feel more confident, but I don't feel the need to face down a bear to prove it. I'd rather avoid "the bear" whenever possible.

Because of my job, roof inspections and estimates, I have to go into less affluent neighborhoods on a regular basis and had been intimidated on several occasions. Since starting CCW, I've been more relaxed and confident and have not been bothered. I don't know if I've been left alone because of my attitude or if it's just my perception. I'm still very alert in those areas, I just don't seem to feel as threatened.

I also carry pepper spray for non lethal option if needed.