jnebollinger
New member
My favorite reason. Because I can't carry a Police Officer
I carry to protect myself and family. I carry concealed because I don't want the badguy to know I've got a gun. Usually the person with the big open carry .44 on his hip is the one who gets shot first.
Being AWARE of your surroundings and of individuals in your proximity is what buys you time to decide if and when to brandish your weapon. If you're so oblivious to your surroundings that some guy or guys CAN surprise and bushwhack you, then you need to practice your OBSERVATION SKILLS. That means looking over your shoulder, constantly scanning your surroundings, watching for suspicious behavior, and anticipating a confrontation. I mean, NOBODY should be able to approach to within 21 feet of your person, if you're on your guard.
Have you ever watched all the potential victims in large parking lots? They exit their vehicles, facing straight ahead and focused on the the nearest building entrance. When they exit the building, they face straight ahead and focus on returning to their vehicles. During this time, they are TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS to the "big picture" of what is going on around them, they're basically BLIND except for whatever is directly in front of them. Most victims are, in fact, surprised from behind while returning to their vehicles.
Simply BEING OBSERVANT will save your ass, most of the time.
Also, you shouldn't be walking around with one in the chamber, ESPECIALLY if your semi-auto is a Glock. All the Glock's safety features are internal, and it's JUST WAITING for your fingertip on the trigger. You read about cases all the time of some guy carrying his Glock with a round in the chamber, reaching suddenly for the gun and discharging it into his thigh or hip. Sometimes fatally. DON'T keep a round in the chamber.
I mean, if you know your weapon, you can draw it to presentation and rack the slide in about 1 second. I've timed it, and I've been timed. Not coincidentally, a human being can sprint from a dead stop to a distance of 21 feet in about 1 second. Meaning, if you allow a suspicious character to approach to a distance of 21 feet from you, he can be ON TOP of you with a knife or a blackjack or whatever in 1 second.
You have to BE AWARE of everything going on around you, you need to WATCH suspicious people and LET THEM KNOW that you're watching them. This is called DETERRENCE. And if you're being approached by a suspicious character, you should already have a master-grip on your firearm before he reaches that 21-foot limit — this is when you say, in a loud voice, "THAT'S FAR ENOUGH."
Yeah, things happen quickly in an altercation, but MOST of your surprise is due to your LACK of OBSERVATION. If you CAN be surprised, you WILL be surprised, and you'll be another victim.
I still think that id rather be armed than not if my life is threatened or my love ones. Always remember that the bad guys dont ever choose their victims. Wrong place wrong time. But I still believe that you have to have good self control. If you cant keep your cool please dont carry.. and I dont believe in the 'its Just One beer" if your carrying be sober. And its a Privilege to be able to carry. And Always remember the 4 rules of handgun.
bad guys don't pick their victims? carrying is a privilege? .....and we wonder why we are losing our rights...Ill take someone who can responsibly drink one beer and carry over this mindset anyday.