Why Do You Carry Concealed?

[LkWd_Don]

Well, I wouldn't WANT Citizens thinking they're qualified to make the complex legal decisions that trained LEOs make. ~~ clipped ~~
No. I don't think civilians or armed citizens NEED to be partnering with First Responders, whose JOB is to walk into these hot situations with the LAW on their sides, so the citizen doesn't get mixed up in it.

I mean, if the average citizen wants to "partner" with First Responders, then I suggest that citizen become a certified EMT or a volunteer Fireman or go to the Police Academy and take a Criminal Justice course — I don't think some well-meaning citizen with a Concealed Carry permit (who barely managed to keep all his rounds inside a 2-foot target at 21 feet, okay?), is qualified to attend or is needed in the "crime fighting" community.

~~ clipped ~~ Am I right or am I right?

In which case, WE become the last line of defense of American Liberty.

THAT'S WHY the citizenry should ALWAYS be better armed than the government.

And we ARE better armed than the government, actually. I mean, the American Military is comprised of a little over 2 million active personnel, believe it or not. That's all. ~~ clipped ~~.

As your interpretation of partnering is closer to equating each partner to being the same.. I would agree. With my interpretation being different, I would disagree. I am not saying or even tying to insinuate/suggest that untrained civilians should ever consider themselves to be equal to our First responders and capable of doing those jobs, thereby giving them any right or authority to go out looking to do their first responders jobs.. Though I do see that it is more than possible with simple coordination with our first responders to become less of a victim and to make things easier for those first responders to do their jobs and that is my interpretation of partnering with the first responders.

 

[hoofcrab]

Protection for myself and others. What can happen in 15 seconds will take law enforcemnet at least 15 minutes to respond.

 

[Axel2]

I carry for the same reason I have fire extinguishers on my boat and in my home. I dont expect a fire, I dont want a fire, but if it happens I wish to be prepared.

.

right on the money, you never know, you need to be prepared for any and/or everything.

 

[six-gun-saint]

Because it is my right as an American. And there are several desperate meth users in the area.

 

[wlawless1]

Concealed

I do it for protection, plain and simple. Yes, I was shot in the back and robbed just over two years ago while carrying, but nevertheless, I believe my chances of surviving an encounter with a criminal are a lot better if I'm carrying than if I'm not.[/QI carry concealed



I carry concealed for self defense of my loved ones and myself period!

 

[korywiesner]

I carry concealed because carrying it in my hand in public scares old people.

After having a business deal open my eyes as to the dangers that certain classes of society pose to my family and I, I decided to arm myself as well as my family. I think that if more folks knew just how screwed up people were, people that share the same roads, Stores, Parks and space in general as "Normal" folks, then more folks would carry a firearm. We all have permits and DO CARRY RELIGIOUSLY. My finding is that when people know that you carry a firearm, they are far less likely to misbehave in your presence. Also, by carrying a firearm and being well trained in its use I am more confident in my ability to protect my family.

 

[jaichan520]

I like the fire extinguisher analogy and I may have to use it some time down the road. I also carry because I have a twin brother that is a Federal Correctional Officer and many unsavory characters know his face. For those that don't know, FCO's do not wear their uniforms off their work location because they can and will be attacked by disgruntled family members and released inmates. In fact, my brother has lost coworkers this way. Now back to why I carry. Since I am an identical twin I have had several occasions where I have had odd, long, and accusative stares at me by people that look a little less than up and up if you know what I am saying. It is not a comfortable situation with my family and small children in the car waiting on me. I am waiting for that one day that someone thinks I am my brother and decides to try to hurt me. I would rather be prepared than scared.

 

[shimetime]

i have two small children and a wonderful wife that i want to protect. i also work in the health care industry where people would want to come in and get medications that are highly addictive

 

[walknotinfear]

I would like to give my 2 cents on this subject because it is very important to me. I have been carrying a weapon for close to 20 years. I have collectively 19 years with the federal government and 11 of those were law enforcement. Now that I am now a regular citizen and walking the streets with a concealed license I see things a bit different. I carry my weapon at all times with the exception when I am at my civilian full time job. I carry for the same reasons that most of you do. I would rather have the weapon with me and not need it or need the weapon and not have it.


I feel I see things differently than most of the untrained concealed permit carriers. I have seen some of my students with that look in their eye that they can now legally kill another person (You all know what I am talking about). I spend most of the end of my class instructing them that using deadly force is abosutlutly the last resort. I have read many posts on this site where some guy thinks he would rather kill someone and deal with the possible jail time, etc. What I feel you all must do is avoid the situation you may find yourself at all costs. Let me give a few examples:

1) I see a few suspects (still can't get out of the cop lingo yet) "Gang bangers" looking as if they may rob me. What do I do? I turn around and go the other way while maintaining and keeping my situational awareness at all times.

2) Some A hole cuts me off and flips me the middle finger in traffic. What do I do? I keep my eyes on the road and slowly let the guy pass and get as much distance as possible.

3) I am getting out of my car in the bank parking lot. I hear gun shots. I see a guy run out of the bank with a silver revolver in his hand. What do I do? I take cover behind my car, try to get a description of the guy, his car, the tag and the direction that he left and call 911.

4) (THIS IS A TRUE STORY) I am walking in the mall with my 5 year old son (I am a off duty LEO at the time). I hear a few pops what sound like fire crackers. I see people running in my direction. I ask a lady what is going on, and she replies that some guy just shot another guy. What do I do? I looked down at my sons face and did not hesitate to pick him up and run my butt out of that mall. (Did some of you actually think I was going to get in a armed encounter with my 5 year old in tow?)


These are some of the situations that all of you need to game play in your head. Just because you may be legally permitted to use deadly force does not mean you actually have too. I have thousands of hours of training, live shoot houses, close quarter shoot houses, live fire drills in the shoot houses with your partner or team, etc., but I am not bragging about the training that I received. I just would like to drill that most of us should take the High Road and try to not get into a situation that you could of avoided, for example the Florida shooting of the teen by Zimmerman. (I am not going to argue if it was a good or bad shooting). Just use your brain before you use deadly force.


You see where I am going with this. Choosing the HIGH road is always the best choice. Now don't get me wrong, I am no scared sheep, I am well trained and am ready to defend myself and my family from any forcible felony and I will use the minimal amount of force to stop that felony to include deadly force. I have never had to discharge my weapon at another person and I pray I never have too but you better believe I train like I fight and I am ready.

 

[meatsandwich]

The main reason I carry is because I paid $121.00 to get my permit. So now I have the right to carry and will do so.

 

[NavyLCDR]

The main reason I carry is because I paid $121.00 to get my permit. So now I have the right to carry and will do so.

If you had the right to carry, you would not have had to pay the state $121 for their permission in order to do so. What you have is a membership card into a privileged, elite club who has the state's permission to carry a gun.

This is part of the problem we face as gun owners as a whole - some have come to believe the propaganda that the government and anti-gun groups are pushing down our throats - "A permit is just reasonable regulation." No.... the requirement to pay for a permit and obtain the state's permission to do something takes away the right and turns it into a privilege that only those with enough money and, in some states, favor with the issuing authority can engage in.

 

[Brian Halford]

I carry for personal protection. I have owned guns for a long time and with the changes in our society I feel it is better to be protected and never need it then to need and not be protected.

 

[eagleeyes]

wow sorry about your brother i agree keep your weapon loaded and readily available if possible

 

[David Ilten]

I carry concealed because it is my God given and Second Amendment right to do so. I carry because I want to be able to protect myself and my family from those who would do harm to us. I carry because I see on a daily basis what evil people are capable of. I carry because I would rather have my weapon on me, and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

[jeepman79]

I carry because of a experience I had years ago off roading . I could have lost my vehicle to some guys on a deserted road late one night. I've said I never want to feel that helpless again. Plus I would give my life to protect my family and grand children from harm , we all live in dangerous times.

 

[jimmyp7162]

I carry because it's not convenient to haul around a police officer with me.

 

[curtisimo]

I don't carry yet. Taking my CC course this weekend and then I will be applying for my permit. I just don't intend on becoming a victim, at least not without having a fighting chance of defending myself or my loved ones. The courts and the penal system are broken and can't keep criminals in check so we have to put our own kind of fear into them.

 

[MMCPO]

Because I can!!

 

[cajun66]

I carry because of my wife and 2 kids. Although the idea of having to go through a bureaucratic government process to perform what was already guaranteed us by the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation still galls me.

 

[Evergrace]

I'm a single mom and feel that I am in charge of my safety as well as my daughters, being armed makes me feel prepared and that I have the ability to defend us if the need should arise.