Better to be unarmed or armed if active shooter breaks out?

[tuts40]

Many will assume that deadly violence will not break out where "no guns" signs are posted, like at Virginia Tech, Von Mauer in Omaha, etc. Many will therefore not go into these places armed. Some "Rambo" types will go in armed regardless of any law or signage to the contrary, thereby breaking the law or disrespecting the business owner.

What's your take on carrying where there are signs indicating no guns allowed? ...Maybe this is tongue in cheek, maybe not. Let's see how many unique complaints about this poll we can come with!

Will you have the courage to show your thinking behind a choice? If you don't believe random violence does not happen in gun free zones, and you choose not to carry in them, why do you carry anywhere? Not confrontative there, please, I'm actually asking you to help me understand that kind of thinking. I'm look'n to edjukate myself and your help is appreciated.

 

[MIL-SPEC 45]

Really bro need one ask???

 

[tuts40]

Really bro need one ask???

Apparently, it would seem.

 

[Deserteagle]

Carry everywhere excepted as prohibited by law.

 

[tuts40]

Carry everywhere excepted as prohibited by law.

So which of the last three choices best fits for you?

 

[Deserteagle]

So which of the last three choices best fits for you?

You should add an option to the poll that says "Carry everywhere except as prohibited by law". And that would best fit me.

 

[tuts40]

You should add an option to the poll that says "Carry everywhere except as prohibited by law". And that would best fit me.

What I'm after is the REASONING behind that choice rather than the avoidance of the obvious truth.

Maybe another option would be good... How about: "No, violence does not happen in gun free zones". Would that work?

I'm just ask'n for the reasoning behind the choice to follow signage, not asking for an avoidance of the critical thinking behind the choice. I would like to better understand the thinking behind location-selective carrying.

 

[Phillip Gain]

To go into a little more detail...

In some states, violating a "No Gun" sign is a prosecutable crime. In this case, I will not carry.

In other states, violating a "No Gun" sign is NOT illegal...just against the policy of the property owner. You cannot be prosecuted unless the property owner or an authorized agent sees your firearm, asks you to leave, and you refuse. In that case, you can be arrested for trespassing. In such a case I will either NOT give the establishment my business...or if there is no reasonable alternative to using their services, I WILL carry.

Know your laws.

 

[ramrunnr]

To go into a little more detail...

In some states, violating a "No Gun" sign is a prosecutable crime. In this case, I will not carry.

In other states, violating a "No Gun" sign is NOT illegal...just against the policy of the property owner. You cannot be prosecuted unless the property owner or an authorized agent sees your firearm, asks you to leave, and you refuse. In that case, you can be arrested for trespassing. In such a case I will either NOT give the establishment my business...or if there is no reasonable alternative to using their services, I WILL carry.

Know your laws.

If it is a Crime to carry then I will not carry in that location. That being said, if there is another choice, such as restaurant that bans carry and another restaurant that allows carry, then I go to the one that allows.

 

[6shootercarry]

Elmer Fudd approach to concealed carry. Be vewy vewy quiet... If done correctly, no one knows... If all hell breaks loose, ho cares about the sign...

Signs, signs everywhere signs, 4King up the scenery, breaking my mind...

 

[festus]

Here is the deal.
We homeschool so I can avoid the school criminal activity center.
I do not have any friends or family in jail or prison...so i can cross that one off the list.
If I need to go to the courthouse, it has at least three deputies and screening at all entrances...so that ain't too bad.
And finally...If I notice a no guns sign that is for a park or rec area in florida it is now illegal and the laws concerning it are void.
If it is a business and has a no gun sign I have a no money sign and some sign language for them so that ain't too bad either.

 

[johnmed3]

I do not go anywhere were I can't carry. Period!

 

[tuts40]

If it is a Crime to carry then I will not carry in that location. That being said, if there is another choice, such as restaurant that bans carry and another restaurant that allows carry, then I go to the one that allows.

I understand your opinion, and Phillips, I also respect your choices. However, I'm starting to realize there will be very little, if any, divulgance of the thinking as to why one will choose to carry in one location and yet be relatively defenseless in another if signage is the only difference. I understand some will carry here, but not there. I get that. I'm digging tho to get the thinking behind it, the reasoning for location-selective carry and perhaps this forum is not to place to obtain it.

If we carry for self protection, why do we not self protect everywhere if we understand violence is random and is no respector of person or place? What is the reasoning, or justification one uses to reassure him/herself that the violence will not happen where they are, signs or not? This is what I'm after, but I realize it's going to be more difficult than I suspected to obtain.

BTW, if carrying in a gun free zone is prosecutable, is it a greater offense and therefore worthy of a larger jail time/fine if you or a family member are killed by a random "mad-man" with a shotgun or knife while being unarmed in a gun free zone? In that case, of course you will not being prosecuted for not being potentially able to stop the threat against your family, but you will be punished by your conscience forever most likely. That is the comparison I use in my decision to carry despite signage, laws, possible prosecution. Nobody will know i was armed if I don't need the gun to defend my life, nobody yet has.

For me, my thinking is that i justify breaking laws and snubbing business owners by knowing my life and my families life is far more important than anything else. If I felt violence was not random, but predictable, then i would not carry at all as I'd avoid the places violence will occure at any given time... Aside from that, my right to self defense is a God given right and that pretty much trumps anything that could be put on any sign or said here. Again, that is just my opinion, even if that means being called names again.

 

[tuts40]

I do not go anywhere were I can't carry. Period!

You don't go to the dentist? Doctors office? Ever have to go to the post office? Ever need to go to the kid's parent/teacher conference (if you have kids)? Ever need to go to a work site that is gun free? Would you really drive, if the situation existed, 30 miles to the grocery store if the two closer ones were gun free or would you not carry in the posted stores and just take a chance? No wrong answers, I'm guessing your answer would be number 4 in the poll. That's fine. Still, it's easy to make a bold statement, but it requires some thinking to provide some insight as to why you feel that way. Go ahead, give it a try.

Alas, again, perhaps this or any public forum is not the place for such discussion.

 

[6shootercarry]

The possibility of being killed in a violent incident or event exists and will vary with gographical location.

Unless stores, restaurants, hospitals/doctors offices etc... implement security measures akin to the type encountered at airports & court houses, or your ability to effectively conceal a handgun is less than stellar, no one will really know.

The thought of watching family members, other innocent humans unrelated to me, or myself, being seriously injured or killed by madmen with no means to defend either them or myself, is unrealistic...

Policy -VS- law... Risk -VS- reward... Human nature... Life is the one thing you can always fight for without worry about rules...

 

[tuts40]

Just for the record, I do not carry where not allowed by law. Let this be the post that those who monitor these forums see and record as an official noting of my position regarding CCW and the law.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I voted 3 because I love my crystal ball, and it cost a fortune to obtain. But my answer would be a mix of 3 & 4. Yes I try my hardest to not carry in gun free zones by not going there ever. My doctor allows me to carry, so does my dentist. I don't use the post office (they are failing so bad anyways). I do not have kids. I open carry everywhere anyways.

The very rare, very very rare, occurrence I choose to go to a gun free zone, well you will never know. All I can say is, unless there is a security detail, I will take care of myself.

 

[SGB]

Concealed means concealed

 

[Tucker's Mom]

I voted #4 because that is what happens to my week most of the times I go out. We do not have school children anymore so that is out; public buildings, hopefully I do not have to go; restaurants -- only if they do not have a signage. I think the only place I go in a gun-free zone is BJC offices and hospitals. But sometimes I forgot that I have my gun on me. It is just so comfortable it doesn't matter anymore.

 

[CapGun]

To go into a little more detail...

In some states, violating a "No Gun" sign is a prosecutable crime. In this case, I will not carry.

In other states, violating a "No Gun" sign is NOT illegal...just against the policy of the property owner. You cannot be prosecuted unless the property owner or an authorized agent sees your firearm, asks you to leave, and you refuse. In that case, you can be arrested for trespassing. In such a case I will either NOT give the establishment my business...or if there is no reasonable alternative to using their services, I WILL carry.

Know your laws.

PHIL, Tanks for saving me all that typing. I choose this one for the survey! oops, I would if it was a choice. This is the most realistic and reasonable choice for the "law abiding" CC person. Just need to keep plugging away and hope to change the minds and hearts of the gun grabbers. You just have to appeal to their sense of good judgement and reason. That would be if they had any and didn't have an agenda for the rest of us!