Carrying concealed, should I feel this way?

[walther380]

I've read a lot of articles of peoples experiences while carrying. I mostly read these topics because it makes me think of things to watch out for in the world I may not think of on my own.

I do seem to find that there are a bunch of people who always say how much of a responsibility we have as CCW holders and we have a power to take the life of someone or disfigure them. It seems by carrying a weapon all of a sudden that they feel this way. Wouldn't that be a thought that pops in to your head when you decide to buy the gun in the first place? You are buying a weapon to defend yourself and/or your family, what do you think is gonna happen when you have to use it? When you fire that weapon and you hit your target there is going to be a devastating result.

I dont know, maybe I dont think on that level yet. I know when I went to buy my carry weapon that I knew what I was buying it for and knew what it is capable of. I know exactly what will happen if I ever need to squeeze that trigger.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Zander_SIG]

Same, but I hope I don't ever have to use it... it's messy and will probably be a brain wrecker for the shooter... That is what helps makes this country safe is the idea that people own guns and you don't know who has them (unless the N.E. gets its way Link Removed) then everyone will know who has what in their house!

 

[ckaiser55]

One of the questions I posed when I was in my mandatory training class was directly related to this. I posed a hypothetical and asked what is our responsibility as ccw holders to help our fellow human being who we think may be in harm's way. The answer from the instructor was vague in the sense that it would be up to my judgement depending on the situation.

To me it all boils down to whether or not you would provide assistance to a person you think is in trouble ccw or not. If you are inclined to help people in need, I think you will help them whether you have a weapon or not. That being said, I agree with you that most of us purchased our pistol knowing that it was to defend our home and family and the consequences that entails.

 

[smudley]

Did you read this article?

 

[steelhammer]

Shot gun News Vol.65,issue 8
Intresting article by Vin Suprynowicz, "Since some will not,others dare not lay them aside"
"Actually, handguns are used millions of times per year in self-defense, without even being fired" he goes on to say "i personally have expierenced two instances, not reported, where the presence of a handgun on my behalf has been instrumental in preventing a very likely attack.
Most guns dont involve killing.They dont even involve discharging a round. (see "Bitches with guns" LizMichael.com - Bitches With Guns. If guns have no use but killing, does that mean every time a cop straps on his duty pistol hes hoping he gets to kill someone with it?
Its hard to quantify "defensive gun uses", because most do not show up on "countable " police reports.
The article goes on to sight different instances where having a gun present stoped bad people before they had the chance to do harm. Also defending us armed citizens against the anti gun liberials rants and raves against our 2A rights, EX: "Funny how crime sprees that are prevented by law-abiding citizens with guns naver make the front page, isnt it?"
A good read with actual facts and real life situations to back up his opinions.
he is the assistant editorial page editor of the daily las vegas review-journal and author of Black Arrow.
Myself, i would rather have and not have to use, then not to have. And i believe looking down the barrel of a loaded gun, can change somebodys mindset as to carrying out malice to the owner of that barrel.:biggrin:

 

[santa]

I have had to pull out my gun more than once and each time the BG went the other way. However I most certainly would have pulled the trigger and shot the BG if he(they) had not retreated right away. I do not bluff.

 

[B2Tall]

Unfortunately there's a small group of people on this site who seem to be really eager to shoot somebody. It appears as though that's why they bought their guns. A lot of tough talk, chest-thumping, and calling other people cowards for not agreeing with their agressive, testosterone-fueled claims of what they're gonna do in this situation or that situation. I hope in reality they're just filled with hot air. They make the rest of us look bad and give the anti-gun lobby more ammo (pun intended).

Carry your weapon to defend yourself and family from real threats, not from people who call you a name or cut you off in traffic.

 

[Rabbitcreekok]

Unfortunately there's a small group of people on this site who seem to be really eager to shoot somebody. It appears as though that's why they bought their guns. A lot of tough talk, chest-thumping, and calling other people cowards for not agreeing with their agressive, testosterone-fueled claims of what they're gonna do in this situation or that situation. I hope in reality they're just filled with hot air. They make the rest of us look bad and give the anti-gun lobby more ammo (pun intended).

Carry your weapon to defend yourself and family from real threats, not from people who call you a name or cut you off in traffic.

I agree completely with your statement. As a former LEO, I dealt with thugs every day and extremely rarely did I have to even remove my gun from its holster.

As a Concealed Carry Instructor, I teach the law as it is written in Oklahoma and it is specific about the use of deadly force. Most of the scenarios presented by the Rambos would result in them going to prison for a nice long visit. Our obligation is to avoid using deadly force in any way possible and to use it as only a last resort to protect ourselves or our family, not every one we see who we perceive to be in danger. Be wrong one time and you will see your family on visiting days only.

 

[kelcarry]

Put me on B2Tall's list. Seems like when you talk this way "they" come out of the woodwork with their "what ifs" and stories that boggle my mind. It seems that many seem to live in the middle of Bagdhad or Detroit or are extremely suspicious of everyone to the point that I truly feel sorry for them. As you said, I do think that many, when sitting at their computers in their underwear, are true warriors in their own minds, without a hint of walking any kind of walk that they talk about. This is not to say that there are not many who are very responsible and have very definite reasons for their CC and real stories concerning CC--to those I say god bless.
Back to you Walther, I originally purchased so that I, in my own way, could tell this federal government and their idiot king that I truly detest them and can exercise 2A and CC because I can-so they can go to hell if they don't like it. I am 69 and have never come close to needing, seeing, using, wanting, etal any kind of firearm. As a matter of fact before I purchased about 3 years ago, I had never even touched a firearm. I believe anyone with half a brain would realize that once you even think about purchase you are already thinking about consequences and responsibility. Once you have it in your hand, the consequences and responsibilities become a lot more evident and real. In my book the key words are, when thinking about myself or my family--- imminent danger, imminent danger, imminent danger--that is my guide line for any further thought about my firearm(s)

 

[jtg452]

Unfortunately there's a small group of people on this site who seem to be really eager to shoot somebody. It appears as though that's why they bought their guns. A lot of tough talk, chest-thumping, and calling other people cowards for not agreeing with their agressive, testosterone-fueled claims of what they're gonna do in this situation or that situation. I hope in reality they're just filled with hot air. They make the rest of us look bad and give the anti-gun lobby more ammo (pun intended).

Carry your weapon to defend yourself and family from real threats, not from people who call you a name or cut you off in traffic.

All of their hard talking and chest thumping don't worry me much because I'm pretty certain they are a bunch of keyboard ninjas (while similar but they shouldn't be confused with mall ninjas :laugh.

Any really tough person I've ever been around talked very little if at all about what they could/would do. They just did it.


Walther,
The theoretical use of a firearm is only a faint whisper in the back of most folks mind when they are in the gun store. Once they strap it on and start to head out into the public world, that's when the potential consequences of what they are doing hits home.

You don't think about having a head on collision while buying a new car, so why should using a gun defensively jump right out? You are much, much more likely to be involved in a car wreck than a shooting.

 

[santa]

Unfortunately there's a small group of people on this site who seem to be really eager to shoot somebody. It appears as though that's why they bought their guns. A lot of tough talk, chest-thumping, and calling other people cowards for not agreeing with their agressive, testosterone-fueled claims of what they're gonna do in this situation or that situation. I hope in reality they're just filled with hot air. They make the rest of us look bad and give the anti-gun lobby more ammo (pun intended).

Carry your weapon to defend yourself and family from real threats, not from people who call you a name or cut you off in traffic.

:angry: First if I did not make myself clear and was misunderstood I apologize. I did not mean to offend anyone. Second Im not trying to stir things up but I hope that you are not refering to me. I am not a hot-head or a chest-thumper and into calling other people cowards. I absolutely do not look forward to shooting anybody. I do not put myself in hazzardous situations if I can avoid it. I do not go looking for trouble and will retreat if at all possible. Third if you are referring to me, you do not know any of the situations I found myself in so I will tell about one of the times I defended myself. I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic so I couldnt go anywhere. I had my arthritic wife with me. I saw an enraged man on foot with a tire iron in his left hand kicking occupied cars that like me are stuck in traffic. I saw him reach into some cars that were occupied. I saw him break the window with the tire-iron on an occupied car right in front of me. I saw him stand up about 30 feet in front of me and heard him yell at the stopped cars 'IM GONNA KILL ALL OF YA', then when I saw him turn and come at my car I felt my life and that of my wifes was in danger. So I acted to stop the threat. The man imediately retreated and literally 2 minutes later the police were on scene and arrested the man. During those 2 minutes my wife or myself could have been seriously hurt or killed. Would I have shot the man? Yes if he had not retreated. Soon after I explained to a leo what I had done and the leo said I acted properly. Lastly the vast majority of us on this site constantly think about what we would do in various situations. Some present a scenario and ask what would you do? This is very helpful. I(and the people on this site) consider the carrying of a gun to be an awesome responsibility not to be taken lightly. Some of us share our stories on this site and others ask questions about why they feel the way they do. Im glad they do because it shows they are thinking and helping us(me) to think. After all the most important asset any of us have in any situation is our brain. So anybody disagree?

 

[handgonnetoter]

I've read a lot of articles of peoples experiences while carrying. I mostly read these topics because it makes me think of things to watch out for in the world I may not think of on my own.

I do seem to find that there are a bunch of people who always say how much of a responsibility we have as CCW holders and we have a power to take the life of someone or disfigure them. It seems by carrying a weapon all of a sudden that they feel this way. Wouldn't that be a thought that pops in to your head when you decide to buy the gun in the first place? You are buying a weapon to defend yourself and/or your family, what do you think is gonna happen when you have to use it? When you fire that weapon and you hit your target there is going to be a devastating result.

I dont know, maybe I dont think on that level yet. I know when I went to buy my carry weapon that I knew what I was buying it for and knew what it is capable of. I know exactly what will happen if I ever need to squeeze that trigger.

What are your thoughts?

Well, if someone is going to carry, then they need to keep what they are actually doing in mind all the time. That is a no brainer. The results of having to use the weapon can be huge.

 

[B2Tall]

:angry: First if I did not make myself clear and was misunderstood I apologize. I did not mean to offend anyone. Second Im not trying to stir things up but I hope that you are not refering to me.

Definitely not referring to you. I doubt if the folks that I have in mind will show up on this thread, but you never know......

 

[B2Tall]

I(and the people on this site) consider the carrying of a gun to be an awesome responsibility not to be taken lightly. Some of us share our stories on this site and others ask questions about why they feel the way they do. Im glad they do because it shows they are thinking and helping us(me) to think. After all the most important asset any of us have in any situation is our brain. So anybody disagree?

I agree 100%. When I strap on a gun (just about every time I leave the house) the last thing I want to do is get into a confrontation. Twice in my CC life have I laid my hand on my gun yet neither time did I brandish it. The threats never knew I had a gun as I kept it out of sight. In both cases the situation defused itself and everyone went their separate ways. There are some, however, who seem to actively seek a situation where they can "flash their piece" and maybe even shoot somebody with it. These people can't wait to bait somebody into doing something to justify a reaction with potentially deadly force. I truly hope they are just "keyboard ninjas" and not the slack-jawed, knuckle-dragging cavemen they come across as.

 

[santa]

Definitely not referring to you. I doubt if the folks that I have in mind will show up on this thread, but you never know......

leasantry: OK no problem then. leasantry:

 

[Doc Mustang]

After several years of carrying I have come to terms with the fact that I carry with me "half the power of God" (I can take a life but not give it back) I do not EVER want to have to draw a weapon and fire it.

Responsible Concealed carry means being aware of your surroundings and avoiding cirumstances that could cause you to need your gun. If you know you are going someplace where you are going to need a gun, don't go. It also means learning and practicing conflict resolution and never escalating a situation to where it may lead to violence.

Adding to the above everyone who carries regularly must decide for themselves when they will intervene on behalf of a stranger. My personal feelings are that if I am in a confined space with an agressor such as a convenience store robbery and I can intervene without endangering a bystander I will act. However If I come upon a situation where I have the ability to retreat rather than intervene I feel that retreat is preferable.

Any cop will tell you that it can be very dangerous to intervene in another's private dispute (such as domestic violence) and can be nearly impossible to sort out who the real agressor is. I do not carry a fiream so that I can be a citizen cop. I carry to protect my life and those of my family. If in the act of doing that I save someone else who happens to be there so much the better. But I will not place my life or future at risk for the sake of a situation that I do not fully understand and in which am not otherwise involved.

 

[Lakeland Man]

I carried concealed for years when I lived in Virginia, and I'm currently waiting for my FL CCW License. Before that, I spent 6 years as an LEO in the NOVA/Washington DC area. I've drawn my weapon but luckily, I've never had to use it.

I fully understand the responsibility that I take on whenever I put my weapon on my hip. Anyone who doesn't is, IMHO, unfit to carry a handgun.

 

[Zander_SIG]

First gun...

I hate to say it but I bought my first gun because I am scared of our Government, they no longer care or want to protect us or our rights (look at the border, radical Muslims/terrorists, TSA, Gunwalker)! I firmly believe that given the chance, Mr Obama would deny us our 2A! It's amazing how the libs scream about protecting the 1st Amend but want to BAN the 2nd Amend! You can not have the 1st without the 2nd!

 

[S&WM&P40]

The vast majority of people purchase their firearms for hunting/ play time at the range. Only when something goes bump in the night do they think about using it on a human.

You see it all the time on here, new members who have owned their said firearms for years are only now are getting into concealed carry.

 

[Oldgrunt]

Unfortunately there's a small group of people on this site who seem to be really eager to shoot somebody. It appears as though that's why they bought their guns. A lot of tough talk, chest-thumping, and calling other people cowards for not agreeing with their agressive, testosterone-fueled claims of what they're gonna do in this situation or that situation. I hope in reality they're just filled with hot air. They make the rest of us look bad and give the anti-gun lobby more ammo (pun intended).

Carry your weapon to defend yourself and family from real threats, not from people who call you a name or cut you off in traffic.

My wife never liked to carry a gun or even be around one. When going fishing one day, she carried her .38 in a large purse (more to shoot snakes than anything else). I gave it to her just before leaving for Vietnam. She was with her mother and our children on the bank when a man approached them and started talking to them. As he talked to them, he kept inching toward them with a rather menacing look. For once, she remembered what I had told her and just put her hand in her purse and on the gun. He noticed how she was holding her hand and, apparently, thought better of trying to bother them and left. To this day, she does not complain about having a gun around. In a lot of cases, just an implied threat of having a gun on your person is a deterrent to having some BG act stupid. I really don't think most people want to actually shoot someone, only to be left alone and not have to fear for their safety.:happy: