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What Made You Decide To Carry?

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T

Treo

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The question I'm asking is was there any one incident that made you decide to carry?

My biggest example would be the night my wife got chased all the way up Nevada Ave. by some crazy liberal who didn't like the bumper stick on DW's car. That one event convinced my wife because she realized that, had the psyco got out of the car, she'd have been defensless.

My epiphany occured when I was 17, driving through Omaha when a carload of kids my age pulled up next to me yelling and screaming and waving baseball bats. I happened to have a gun in the car (no it wasn't legal) all I did was show it to them and the driver just peeled off. ( I still remember the idiot riding shot gun daring me to use the gun as they drove away)

so anyway those to events ( more the former) were the main reason DW & I both carry.
What's your storry
 
I got back into guns in a more serious way and got a CCW because of the Virginia Tech killings. Not that I can carry a gun on a school campus, of course, but it made me think "if I were in a place where random shootings were happening, what would I be able to do about it?" The answer to that question was "not a damn thing," and I was unsatisfied with that answer. I'm too old to learn Ninja Kung-Fu, so guns it was.
 
I had 2 incidents that convinced me. The first was, I was driving through a parking lot and a guy cut me off and then stopped at the end of the lane and wanted to fight. The second was, my wife, daughter and I came home to find some car in my driveway and a police car behind it. I parked across the street and went to see what was going on. The officer told me that the guy pulled in like he lived there when the officer was following him and that he was acting strange. The officer asked me to go back to my car because he was worried the guy might have a gun would shoot us. We parked around the corner and waited till other officers showed up and arrested the guy and moved the car.

That was enough for me. A few months later I took the class.
 
Because I'm entitled to.

Other than that, the area I work it has its fair share of robberies and parking lot muggings after dark.

More recently, in my own neighborhood, a group of eight or ten of the worse residents in my complex were trying to start stuff on the way to my car.

Now the gun stays beside my bed or in the glove compartment, and my CCL class is Tuesday.

I'm a believer in greeting everyone with a kind word, a smile, and a healthy mistrust.
 
I started carrying when I was robbed at gunpoint by some cazy and his shotgun while pulled over on the side of the road to check my tire out in the country. He fired three rounds over my head and demanded my money. That was 25 years ago.
 
I live now on a semi rural road, with lots of traffic! It is a farm, neighbors are not close. Home invasions of area homes, during daytimes with older folks (that me). Auto Accidents by the dozens, with and without injuries or deaths, where we called the police (they know our names when we call and just ask which place they wrecked), and the amount of time to get responses to those accidents.

So I went out to get a home defence gun! I took the KY concealed Carry course, so I can carry off the farm (concealed), KY is an open carry state.
I am now up to 5 handguns, all but two are concealable.

We have had nutz walking the roads or driving by screaming obsenities and gestures. BobCats and Coyote on the farm that are a danger to our horses.

So now if I am awake, I carry loaded and ready. At least one gun, and a knife of defence type.
 
It took a series of small things but it in sum:

An adult woman shouldn't be depending on a 15yo "man of the house" for defense when her husband is away, she should be able to defend herself and the kids.

And, the increasing number of candles on the birthday cake remind me that I'm getting older and slower and older and slower. Middle-age has a way of making you more realistic about your capabilities.
 
No particular incident for me. When I moved to my neighborhood in 1983 it was pretty nice. Then the gangbangers started moving in then came the illegals. I could see the writing on the wall. My area now has the highest crime rate in the state.
Open carry is legal here but has it's drawbacks. Hassles with LE,people freak out and I don't want my neighbors to know I have guns. I did some open carry for awhlie but not much.
Then the state came up with the CC permit and I felt it was my duty and my right to get one. I carry all the time (where legal) and never leave the house unarmed. I'm armed in the house too--3 house breakins in my block in the last 6 months and they're just the ones I know about.
Yea--I should move. I would love to but the house is paid off and we have no debts and I'd like to keep it that way but...if the right deal pops up --I'm outta here
Plus there's that age thing too. Next month I'll be 58 years old. Now I could mix it up pretty good a few years ago. I did boxing in the 60's and got into martial arts in the 70's but... I'm in pretty good shape for a pre-geezer but trying to mix it up with a 30 something--I don't know--stamina ain't what it used to be and all plus, even if I can whoop some young punk--they all have weapons now and don't feel it's a good idea to try duking it out with some punk with a gun or knife.
Saw somewhere--don't ever pick a fight with an old guy--he's too old to fight --so he just has to kill ya
 
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Being a single female who likes to go hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking, sometimes alone, and finally realizing that I could do something about the vulnerable feeling I sometimes have when I'm out by myself. I took the class and sent in the application a couple of weeks ago, so I'll have it by the time the weather's nice enough to get outside again.
 
Being a single female who likes to go hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking, sometimes alone, and finally realizing that I could do something about the vulnerable feeling I sometimes have when I'm out by myself. I took the class and sent in the application a couple of weeks ago, so I'll have it by the time the weather's nice enough to get outside again.
Click to expand...

Good for you!

I started carrying because its my Right as a U.S. citizen, and I just don't want to be the victim we all read about.
 
For 13 years I've worked in industrial sales and spend a lot of time in not so pretty parts of the world. Riding around slumville in a decent car, with a laptop, cellphone and breifcase (while wearing a suit) doesn't do much to help you blend in.

We've had a firearm in the house for a while now, but it's only been in the last couple of years where we've been able to afford more weapons, CCW permits and training classes.

The big tipping point was finding out we were expecting our first child late last year. I'll be dammed if I'm not going to have that hammer in my toolbox while out and about with the family.
 
I've been the victim of an assault twice. Minor injury once (slight knife cut) and no injury the other time (got punched in the chest by an angry youth.)

I continued for many years without carrying a gun, but I definitely had developed "situational awareness".

I carry now, whenever it is legal, as situational awareness is only one tool in an effective response kit. A gun in practiced hands is the other part.
 
I started carrying on camping trips up in the mountains "just because I can." Ironically, all the years that I lived and worked in the woods I never thought much about it though I always had a rifle or two in the pickup. But that was back in my young strong invincible logging days.

Funny how it grows on you, and I started feeling uncomfortable in town. It didn't help that we started having some issues with some wierd people who among other things threatened to kidnap our daughters.

When we escaped town to our place in the hills, I made the decision to carry all day, everyday. I didn't know at the time that we moved in next door to a very bad situation. They are gone now, but occassionally somebody (usually just out of jail) will still come by looking for him :(

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
 
Like TallPine said: "...because I can"

Was stationed in VA in the 80's and 90's - hard to get a concealed weapon then unless you were a politician or a contributor.

Hell, when I moved to FL with my 1 little old handgun (Star 9mm) I called the Sheriff's Office and asked how I went about registering my gun. The nice Deputy who answered the phone said, "... you wanna do whut? We don't register guns down heah!"

Godl I love Florida
 
I started by just wanting to have protection around the abode. Then I took my CWP class and started carrying around town and in the states where I drive. I'm still a bit leery of taking it with me when I fly - which is quite frequently, by that will probably be changing soon.

There was no one point that made me think, it's time to get a gun, but I am glad I have it now.
 
I have a real common name + there is a 2 time felon with my same first middle and last name. I have always been delayed on the NICS check. A real PITA at gun shows.

With my CHL I dont have to be called in. I walk in to LGS, give $$$$ and walk out with firearm of choosing.

Now I feel neked without my G26.
 
My neighbor, diagonally across the street was followed home from a night club and murdered by a serial killer. Went out at bought two pistols that next day, one for me, one for the misses. This was before Texas had CHL, we made the decision "better to be tried by twelve, than carried by six".

Much later, were in the first wave of people getting their CHLs.

--wally.
 
Middle-age has a way of making you more realistic about your capabilities.
Click to expand...

Too true!

I think the tipping point came for me one day a couple years ago when I was walking my large wolf/hybrid in my own neighborhood.

We were rounding the corner near my home when I heard a crashing sound - followed by an obviously enraged guy swearing loudly.

I picked up the pace toward my driveway, and looking over my shoulder saw the guy out of his truck, picking up his passenger-side mirror off the ground.

He had apparently torn it off in a collision with a mailbox or something.

I got to my driveway and turned around just in time to see him come roaring down our narrow side street at about 50 mph.

As he flew by I raised my hand, palm down, and pumped it up and down a couple times to signal him to "slow down".

To my surprise and chagrin, he stopped at the stop sign about 150 yards away, slammed his truck into reverse, and backed UP the hill toward me at a high rate of speed! :what:

I admit now I was so surprised I just stood there. When he got even with me he asked me, "What did you say?!"

Realizing this guy was out of his tree, and that he had a partner, I replied, "I didn't say anything."

"You better not", he growled and sped away.

I knew at that moment the wrong answer from me could have easily triggered him to get out of his truck and beat me to death with his side mirror!

I also realized that I'm a middle-aged man that might not win a physical confrontation with an enraged, probably doped-up and/or drunk younger man. My dog, although intimidating to the average person, didn't seem to phase this loser. Although I guess it is possible she is the only reason I DIDN'T catch a beating.

In any case, I decided I didn't want to be at such a disadvantage ever again.

I had been shooting occasionally with friends, and one of them had repeatedly urged me to obtain my CPL while they were still being issued (you never know - particularly before DC v Heller).

Not long after that incident, I was at the courthouse researching the criminal background of a bad actor that had entered into our life in the form of my SIL's mother's boyfriend. I noticed the sign "Apply for CPL here" and decided on the spot to get it - even though I didn't have a carry gun at the time.

A couple weeks after that, my carry gun appeared in the form of a beautiful snub-nosed Chiefs Special that had belonged to my Uncle.
 
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