The annoying question, why do you wear a gun?

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I wish I could open carry, I can get a chl but just can't bring myself to do it. I keep long guns in the truck because I can but don't throw in a pistol very often.

I feel the requirements to buy a weapon are sufficient enough. If I can trust you enough to let you have a weapon why should I worry how you carry it?
 
I've always thought the best way to handle an inane question is by laughing at the asker. And "Why do you have a gun?" IS an inane question. They know why, and they are only using the question as a way of expressing their disapproval.

I've said things like "well, my boyfriend and I here use it as a sex toy." (I'm male, by the way, and not gay.)

If it's a conversation with a friend who disapproves of guns (and I have a few), I say "The chance that I will ever need it is one to a million; but I want to have it if the one in a million thing happens. Meanwhile, it's not hurting anybody and I do my best to make sure it doesn't."
 
22-rimfire. I tend to respectfully disagree with you. It is thoughtles and ignorant, as much so as asking, why do you carry a cell phone. If I need to make a phone call I have a phone to accomplish that task. It's self explanatory and plain obvious why I have one on my hip!
 
Hi Armoredman. You said you've never been asked that question, so I am inspired to ask how long you've lived in Arizona, what city do you live in, do you carry open every day of your life, do you carry every where you go, other than places that are restricted?
I've been carrying open since the early 1970s every where I go, every single day without exception, other than where restricted.
 
Unfortunately most of the time this question is asked with attitude and apprehension, rather than with sincere curiosity.
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If this were the case and I were in your shoes, I would respond, "This is Arizona. Get used to it."
If it were asked with sincere curiosity, I would explain my logic, but I have no patience for stupidity. Like ol' Ron says, you can't fix it anyway.
 
lol. I get asked that all the times here by friends and family who know I CCW. It really depends on the person asking and HOW they ask. If it is truly inquisitive and not knocking me, I will engage them in conversation. If not, I won't waste my time.

I have one Uncle who calls me paranoid in my carrying and in my other security measures I take around the home. This uncle has had his house robbed 3 times, his cars in his driveway twice and has had other instances of kids jumping into his pool and hot tub (trespassing) half a dozen times. So I got to consider the source. I mean I love my uncle to death, he is a great guy but dang!
 
i gave up trying to convert the masses year ago, few people want to listen to a 24 year old about gun safty and the need to carry. now adays depending on the question and tone that they use i stick to just a few responses unless they seem curious, very rearly are they.

curious- the sencond amendment gives me the right to defend myself any place any time

annoyingly pestering trying to win a argument- because i can, and ill think you not to belittle my rights

anti-gun hateful- no problem, ill take you off my people to protect list. have a nice day


9 times out of ten i just ignore them or give them a smile and walk off so i dont make things worse forcing them to believe we're all abunch for crazy rednecks with guns.
 
All of the responses to that common question in this thread are good ones.

I always switch it around and respond, "Why WOULDN'T I carry a gun?" And look at them all puzzled, and then wait for an answer.

This forces the questioner out of his/her laziness, and forces him/her to get more specific.

If they care to answer as to why I wouldn't or shouldn't wear a gun, I'll have a better idea how to respond.

Until I know where they're really coming from I really don't know how to respond and it's a waste of time to even try. Once I DO know where they're coming from, I can then pick them apart and/or educate them, whatever the situation calls for. :cool:
 
A soberingly good answer (already established myself as a smartass, but this would be an intelligent answer): "All citizens have a social duty for the common peace to lend themselves to some public service towards that goal. Some feel it is enough to pay taxes and rely on only the occasional presence of the police to keep them safe. Other citizens take a more pro-active service, and do not leave their safety totally in the hands of others. I am one of those. I bear a firearm, and I also bear the responsibility of being competent and safe with it. A peacefully intent, armed citizen is an asset to society, not a threat. As you know, the police are not always in the right place at the right time. I may be in the place they are not, at the right time. My being armed does not encroach on your freedom or safety, it only enhances it. Give me the same respect I give you at your choice to go unarmed with my choice to go armed. By being unarmed, you place more of the social responsibility of safety on me, but I do not think less of you for it. I respect your choice."
 
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M-Cameron said:
.

you see...i never understood that argument.....

now i dont know how much training they may or may not go through.........but i am willing to bet you that i shoot more in a month than most LEOs shoot in their entire lives.
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I believe there was an FBI study that showed that a bystander / non aggressor was 7 times more likely to be shot by an LEO than by CCW holder who intervined. Why? The CCW holder was more likely to have been there when "it" started and know who the BG's are.
 
AlexanderA said:
The ancient Greek hoplite warriors went into battle butt naked, and put on their armor and weapons literally at the last minute (these items were often carried for them by slaves). The obvious reason for this is that it made them a lot more mobile.

The same rationale applies today. Carrying a weapon on a routine basis can be very inconvenient and restrictive. Even with a permit, I would tend to not carry unless there was a very definite perceived threat. Just my opinion of course.
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Alexander, how do you know when there is a definite perceived threat? If you have the ability to know when a threat was apparent, why would you even be there?
 
I always have a pistol under the seat in my pick-up, in my big truck...always one within reach.
I don't carry on my person because I am not going to jump through the beaurocratic hoops and pay the extorsion fees to exercise my rights.
In Texas, it is perfectly legal to have a pistol under the seat(if you are legal to own one).
 
AlexanderA said:
The ancient Greek hoplite warriors went into battle butt naked, and put on their armor and weapons literally at the last minute (these items were often carried for them by slaves). The obvious reason for this is that it made them a lot more mobile.

The same rationale applies today. Carrying a weapon on a routine basis can be very inconvenient and restrictive. Even with a permit, I would tend to not carry unless there was a very definite perceived threat. Just my opinion of course.
Click to expand...

If I was going somewhere and expected trouble, I'd reconsider going.
 
Why do you believe you owe anyone an explanation? When the question is asked, you know by the tone whether they're asking you out of genuine curiosity or just to start an argument. I generally don’t discuss emotional topics with immature emotional people.

My favorite answer is, "That's my business."
 
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I was at my grandfather's farm and a friend who had come out with his family asked me the same thing. Just a coincidence that at the same time some wild dogs showed up....

I didn't need to explain myself

Maybe here in a few years when I am old enough to CCW they will need a different reason, but we'll see
 
I don't wear a gun, my holster wears a gun.
I don't wear a holster, my belt wears a holster.
I don't wear a belt, my pants wear a belt.
I wear pants because some things are best left private, much like the original question.
 
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