Why CC?

[Merlin@45]

Why I carry a weapon

WHY I CARRY A WEAPON


1. The police cannot be everywhere all of the time, so it's up to me to protect myself and those around me. I can't depend on law enforcement for protection. Police are reactive, not proactive, and are minutes away when seconds are critical.

2. A gun is the only thing that puts a 68-year-old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year-old gang banger, or a 100 pound woman on equal footing with 220 pound mugger. I believe I am LESS of a target for a mugging, with minimal risk of being more a target just because a criminal might want to take my gun away from me.

3. Being armed is a way of life and a lifestyle choice. It is just like wearing my seatbelt .... I don't know if it will save my life, but it sure helps to be better prepared. While I would love to think nothing bad will happen to me when I am just running down the street to the grocery store in my neighborhood…. it happens to people all the time.

4. When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid.

5. An armed society is a polite society. I feel more secure now that I feel I can protect myself and those nearby if the need should arise. Therefore, my reactions to provocations now are very calm because there is no need for me to overreact.

6. Being armed is more of a social DUTY to me than a right. Properly armed and trained citizens are the best deterrent to violent crime. EVERY mass shooting you hear about in the news could have been reduced in scope by the presence of just one law-abiding and well-trained armed citizen (i.e., gun-free zones are dangerous places).

"Guns kill people like forks made Rosie O'Donnell fat." "Guns cause violence as much as cameras cause porn."

“I have decided in these hard and trying times that it's better to have it and not need it, that to need it and not have it. Today is definitely NOT a good day to die ....( tomorrow doesn't look good either. “)

 

[xfyrfiter]

After reading the carry laws for Alabama I have decided that I will never go there.Just too restrictive.

 

[Rick Roll]

After reading the carry laws for Alabama I have decided that I will never go there.Just too restrictive.

In what way are they too restrictive?

 

[MD_Willington]

Closest LEO (Marshal) lives 2 miles away, when the local Marshal is not here, the next LEO is 16 miles away (Pullman PD). We live in a fairly quiet area outside of town, but a lot of weird and sometimes violent stuff has happened out here. I'm not chancing being left without the best tool to defend my family and self. Things have only gotten weirder too. and the criminals are getting more brazen. Couple weeks back I actually caught someone trying my front door knob to see if the door would open.

 

[Ala Dan]

Some very interesting observations here~! I will chime in and say that I carry
a handgun for several reasons. Having served in law enforcement for well over
20 years, I carry to protect myself, my family, and other's from a) bodily harm,
or b) certain death at the hands of a perp. Lastly ( but not least), is I carry cuz
its MY privilege* here in the State Of Alabama; and "The Free World" of the U.S.A.

*FootNote- many thanks Navy LT. for the correction~!

 

[MrWesson]

I didn't picture Alabama as a Anti-Gun state but it sure looks that way.

 

[NavyLCDR]

MY right here in the State Of Alabama

Would you not agree that the permission slip you have in your wallet from the State of Alabama makes carrying a gun a privilege instead of a right? If it was a right to carry a gun in Alabama, would it be required to get the government's permission to do so?

 

[Ala Dan]

ATT: Navy LT. my friend-

You are so correct my friend~! Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution;
privileges, such as carrying a firearm are not~! I stand corrected, Sir-

 

[JustACowgirl]

This thread really doesn't need any help, but here I go anyway
In my home state, an individual can open carry at age 18, and concealed carry (w/ or w/o a permit) at 21. I won't get started on that subject, because I can go on and on about how stupid that is :banghead:
But at least I can carry. And that's part of why I will when I get my gun. I don't plan on carrying because I plan on being mugged. But I do want to be realistic about the fact that my town has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. I have friends and neighbors that have been mugged, murdered, and almost murdered. Recently. I also think people need to be carrying because an armed society is a polite society. The sooner more folks make criminal activity dangerous (imagine that) the sooner it will decrease, because crooks are self-serving. And it is not in anyone's best interest to get themselves shot. I will also carry to make a point. Carrying does not make a person a radical nut. It just means they are doing what they have the right do to do (just like driving, eating, working, or living). Carrying needs to become a norm not an exception.
So that's my rant for today

 

[NavyLCDR]

ATT: Navy LT. my friend-

You are so correct my friend~! Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution;
privileges, such as carrying a firearm are not~! I stand corrected, Sir-

It actually is a right protected by the Constitution. It's just that some states do not recognize the right. Hopefully, with more cases like Heller and McDonald, those governments will get the smack down from SCOTUS like Wash D.C. and Chicago did.

First, in Heller, the SCOTUS enforced the 2nd Amendment on the Federal government of Wash. D.C. Then in McDonald the SCOTUS enforced the 2nd Amendment against prohibitions of keeping firearms in the home in the states.

I hope next, the SCOTUS will enforce the 2nd Amendment against prohibitions of carrying firearms in public.

Notice I use the word "enforce". The SCOTUS did not create the individual's protection or right to keep arms. They enforced what was already there. Now we just need a case for them to enforce the "bearing" portion of the 2nd Amendment!

I too exercise the privilege afforded to me by a Wash. CPL to keep my gun loaded in the car, but most of the time I exercise my right to open carry in WA, for which government permission is not required.

 

[MedWheeler]

I didn't read all the replies. I carry for the same reason cops do: to have it in the unlikely case I need it. Basically, the same reason you are planning to have it in service as a home-defense weapon. My desire to protect myself, my mate, and my offspring is not confined to the interior of my home.
As William Churchill supposedly once stated: "A gentleman will seldom, if ever, need a gun. But, if he does need it, he needs it badly!"

 

[pmec]

FLIGHT or FIGHT!
Years ago, both were an option. Now, neither is. Living in this great paternalistic state with laws upon laws, I was lucky to live in a pro-gun county where my wife and I were issued unrestricted CC permits. We tend to see these permits as health insurance, and will not pull our guns from our holsters except at a range or in the event that lives are truly in danger. Unintended consequences really suck!

 

[IlikeSA]

I started out in a similar position as you, going to the woods to relax and just nature view. Then, I encountered some coyotes who stalked me. Still being dumbo me, I thought "well, it's never happened before so odds are it won't again." Then, a few weeks later, there was a strange guy stalking me through the woods/fields, until I yelled at him and pulled my large knife. He ran away quickly, and I left the other way. After that, I decided I needed something with more range than a knife, so I bought a pistol to carry in the woods, while "fishing." Then I began to realize that there are more predators on the street, and decided that I needed to get a permit to carry everywhere.

If ya'll want to be truly aware, go to your local LE agency and ask to see their crime incident log-in book. It's simply a book that officers log-in their reports with, and should have the titles, dates, and possibly the locations of various incidents. You'd be surprised what happens in your city/county.

 

[Erfletcher]

I bought my first pistol, and carried open, about a year ago. I immediately realized I was the only person with a gun, that did not have a badge. A little girl asked me if I was a cop. People only see guns and think, cop, or robber. It is important to exersice our rights, nomatter which right, it is. Regardless of cc, or open, one must always remember the responsiblity, of having that weapon. Proper education on carrying is the only way, in my opinion. Think of all the times you were out, and said, if only I had my camera. You may not get that second chance, with your life.

 

[Lord Teapot]

i carry for one reason: there are bad people on this earth, and every good person with a firearm offsets one of those bad people.

 

[12131]

Because I refuse to be a victim.

 

[smince]

After reading the carry laws for Alabama I have decided that I will never go there.Just too restrictive.

I didn't picture Alabama as a Anti-Gun state but it sure looks that way.

In what way are they too restrictive?

I'd like to know that myself

 

[MtnSpur]

A little clarification.. Having a firearm in your vehicle, is considered concealed, therefor you must have a pistol permit in order to transport in a vehicle, unless you've just purchased it and are heading home, or are in route to a range to shoot, or back home from the range.

A pistol permit to transport in a vehicle? Really? Oh thank you for being able to live in Texas

I do have a CHL so I really don't have any issues about transporting and why a CHL? I'd prefer to carry every day of my life and never need my weapon than not be able to have my weapon and NEED it. There is no such thing as a safe place with sane, polite and law abiding citizens that I'm aware of. Every community has someone who's not playing with a full deck or has a substance abuse problem that shuffles that deck a few more times.

 

[jiminhobesound]

Need to Carry

As stated in several replies; depends on where you live and your perception of danger. However, I think the society has developed a very insular mentality and does not realize the dangers of the real world. I live in southern Florida and I wonder if people in the midwest have any idea of the demographics of this state. I agree with many things said in this discussion: Economy going to pieces, rampant unemployment, rampant under employment, gangs, illegals, drugs, combinations of all of the preceding and lienient courts are creating a vere hazardous situation across the country. I am seventy years old, too old to fight, I know I need to be ready to protect myself and my family because i have already been in that situation. For those of you living in safe environments i suggest you look into the gang situation in you locale.

 

[smince]

So, you need a permit to carry a loaded and accessible pistol in your vehicle? Why is this so different than many other jurisdictions?

As for getting a permit, it usually takes only a short time and little money.

Price is different per county. Mine is $25 a year. Some are less. $35 dollars is the highest price I know of in AL.

Not $100+ a year.

No 'training requirement' (more $$$).

No waiting several months to get your permit.

We can also have machine guns/SBR/SBS/suppressors.

I don't see that our restrictions are any more severe than other places, and less so than many.

Sure, our system is a long way from perfect. But it beats the heck out of many of the other 'systems' I read about on here and other forums.

 

[Onward Allusion]

So, you need a permit to carry a loaded and accessible pistol in your vehicle? Why is this so different than many other jurisdictions?

For Indiana... Unless you have a License to Carry a Handgun, there are severe restrictions in transportation of a handgun. AND I DO MEAN SEVERE.

W/O a license/permit you only transport from one residence to another (aka moving), business to another (again moving), or to/from repair. Of course it has to be unloaded and in case. Note that RANGE OR GUN CLUB is not mentioned. Basically the State like it's evil twin (IL) across the border has indirect gun registration.