"Why carry a gun? You'll never need it"

[P95Carry]

An armed and alert man is seldom victimized.

Succinct and pretty accurate Vern ..... yet another reason why those who carry are unlikely to have to use.

Yep - that really helps our side.

Quartus .... I think the case sm was describing was one of those ... :banghead: until it hurts ... the people who no matter how hard you try, cannot and will not let logic enter their little brains. In such cases I am afraid there are times when patience and energy are just too much in short supply.

On balance tho I would say that most of us can and do try and get things across .... but at times the idiots really do not deserve our efforts.

 

[No Quarter]

Why carry a gun?

Very good question. Statistically, very very few of us will ever have to use one at all. I NEED my leatherman or pocket knife more so than I would ever need my gun.

When I first started carrying, I carried a 1911, Glock 19, Sig 220, etc. etc.
Then I switched to a nice smaller gun - 380 snubs, Glock 26, Kahr P9, etc. then I switched to pocket carry which is where I now am. I won't carry a larger gun unless I am traveling to parts unknown.

We all talk about how dangerous a place the world is and yet it seems that in all honesty, most of the scenarios dreamed up on gun boards are so fantastic that they read like a Holywood script. Reality for me is that I live in an upper middle class neighborhood, work in a high scale job, don't run around to the bad parts of town, am scary looking at 220#, physically fit, tattooed ex-marine and just flat out don't EVER percieve any real threats in my life - at least none I can easily avoid (resist the urge to flip off the smart ass teenagers!).

I honestly have a hard time convincing myself sometimes to carry a gun.

That said, I like to shoot so I own guns. I also like to be prepared. I am not willing to change my mode of dress or personal comfort for the carry of a tool that I will statistically never even need. I AM willing to carry a small pocket pistol to give me a little extra edge in case I just happen to win the lottery in a bad way. I practice and am good with what I carry. I don;t view the world I live in as a dangerous place. I view the world I live in as it presents itself. I am adequately prepared to react to an encounter, but I don;t spend my life thinking about them.

For those folks that can't understand why we would carry a gun, I don't blame them really. They have probably come into contact with the typical 24/7 tactical mindset gun nut that hold a white collar zero-risk desk job that sees the whole world as one big danger zone. Everything is done, said and perceived through the eyes of someone that reads to many magazine articles instead of applying common sense to their surroundings.

I wonder why some people leave their homes every day with more than one gun strapped on them under a cover garment in 90+ degree heat with pepperspray, large knife, flahlight and multiple reloads - they seem like a nut to me too!

Brutally honest, but I can sure see their side of the story sometimes...

Disregard the above if you live in Irag, bad parts of a major metropolitan area or have a job, business, etc that is REALLY high risk. I am willing to bet most of us don't!

NQ

 

[sm]

Quartus,

Promotion or Attraction?

Sometimes an Idea or Service is best Promoted.

Folks become curious and educate themselves. Lets use THR as an example. When TFL closed , THR was one of the sites "promoted" for TFL members to visit. Folks perused, sought out familar folks, and made a decison.

Other Times an Idea or Service Attracts folks.

They are curious and educate themselves. Using THR again, someone does a Teoma search, about "responsible firearm ownership". This could be a person totally against guns, a fence sitter, or someone pro gun seeking on-line sources.

Attracted to the synopsis of the search, and spending a few moments perusing this site ( THR) that person no matter what position or attitude on firearms has a on-line resource.


My attitude , right wrong or indifferent is -well I do have the right to be wrong.
I also have a choice to NOT be a doormat as the psych folks like to say.
It is said one teaches others how they want to be treated, psych folks really like cliche's.

Now some folks THRIVE on getting stuff stirred up. The easiest way to build themselves up is to tear down others. They may actually be educated, sincere, in thier belief system. Then again they may not be more than brainswashed , could be they do not have a sense of belonging, and "being part of something" - good , bad , whatever fills that "need" of belonging.
Mob Mentality. Hey ask why some folks of the mob participated in busting window and looting...they have no idea...other than they were a "part of something".

Besides my infamous trigger lock on fire extinguisher in a English Lit. Class , I pulled others. The Topic - This Topic of concealed carry came up.

I chose to keep my mouth shut, be very cool. I had a plan tho'.
A few classmates were pro gun, and did in fact have CCW. I felt it best to let a young lady verbally state, "better to have and not need it" . Another young lady quoted stats in regard to crime, and on purpose focused on women being victims.

Pre - planned for the lights to go out. I mean pitch dark as that day we met in a tiered lecture room with no windows.

Only 4 of us students , had a mini light of some kind on our key ring. In pitch dark the girls in unison " Never know the when or where of life, best to be prepared".

Then we 4 students , pro gun, pro CCW turned on our personal little lights
Illuminating - in more than one sense of the word.

Next class period,more students, even those whom argued against firearms, against CCW...had some kind of flashlight on keyring, in a purse or backpack.

Attraction.

Sometimes the loudest voice heard is the one not uttered.

 

[Quartus]

but at times the idiots really do not deserve our efforts.

Agreed - our resources are limited, and there's no sense wasting them on lost causes.

But some of our side have given up altogether, assuming (wrongly) that anyone who utters an anti cliché is a lost cause.

That's not good.


sm, good illustration of using brains rather than just verbal brawn to truly educate the non-thinkers.

 

[sm]

Quartus,

Well I know personally I learn different things in different ways. Sometimes I can grasp reading on-line, other times I need to print it so I can use a Highlighter, and make notes in the margin. Other times I need to read the text book ( if have or the material is in there) just the physical "book" helps.
Sometimes I need to see, feel, touch and be hands on.

We each have strengths and weaknesses - I sure do, I admit it.

Hey I also know some folks more hard-headed than others - "I are one"

WE just need to work toward our common goal and be receptive to the fact some folks are more hard- headed than others. Just need to use the right key to unlock the gate of receptiveness.

Heck - word is some folks are more hard-headed than me...damn I didn't think that was possible.

 

[Quartus]

 

[matsaleh]

I've been carrying daily for about a year now. Reasons that I would give to such a question include:

1) My second cousin was murdered by being beaten to death with a baseball bat by a drunk a-hole who didn't like the way he spoke to his girlfriend. My cousin was not being confrontational or belligerent, he merely was not interested in getting friendly with the drunk's girlfriend, which pissed her off, so she told the drunk, who followed him across town to my cousin's apartment, where he ambushed him and beat him to death. That one convinced me that anyone could be a target, and that's when I started thinking seriously about CCW.

2) My town, county, and state are safer than many in this country *because* CCW is legal and bad guys know there is some chance that an intended victim might be armed.

3) I believe it is a citizen's duty to be prepared to defend him or herself, loved ones, and community, so that 2) above may continue to be true. The cops can never be around all the time, and even if they are, their primary objective is to catch the bad guy, not necessarily protect you.

Additionally, I have found that many anti's believe as they do because they are uninformed or frightened by that which they do not understand. I do not broadcast that I carry, but I do discuss my beliefs and values with others. If they choose to talk with me about guns, then I try to be a good ambassador for RKBA and present myself as a rational, civic-minded, moral, gun-toting citizen.

Cheers all!

 

[C0BRA]

My number one "weapons" are my brain and common sense. Of course I realize that even if all precautions are taken and one of those crazy situations arise where deadly force is needed, then I am ready.

I will not let myself or my family become victims. I have the greatest respect and confidence in local law enforcement, however I will not leave my life in jeopardy while the police race to get here.

 

[Sam]

Because there is evil in the world!

Sam

 

[charleym3]

So many trite answers that come to mind

that it's hard to settle on just one. My personal favorite is "If you can prove to me that there is absolutely *NO* chance that I'll need it, I'll leave it at home." Then comes the question, "So you're expecting trouble when you leave?" "Hell, no! If I was expecting trouble I wouldn't leave the house! What kind of idiot would deliberately put themselves in jeopardy?!?!"
Then drop the retoric and be honest, no one ever knows what may happen. I also wear a seat belt and carry a first aid kit, spare tire, fire extinguisher, lights sticks, cell phone, cash, credit card, and drinking water, "just in case". I don't think I'm going to need any of them on my daily commute to work, but there are no guarentees that I won't.

My wife still doesn't understand. And probably never will.

 

[colubrid]

charleym3
My wife is the same. She says I am insecure because I always carry a gun on me.

 

[SunBear]

Ask these people if they leave all their doors open at night when they go to bed. When they tell you they always lock their doors before they go to bed, ask them why they're so paranoid. The same people that might threaten their family if they left their doors open are the same ones that may accost me at the store or the bank, etc. No difference. In their dream world it makes them comfortable to believe it can't happen to them. It did happen to me. Never again. Happy trails.