So my wife and I were stepping out today to do the Christmas "blitz" as we have come to call it. We get our act together and pretty much do all of our shopping in about 4 hours.
I am a upstate NY CCW'er, (yes you can carry in NY) anyway, I havn't had it very long and have not carried that much. I usually strap it on for trips to the corner store and such. I'm still working out the bugs of my carry rig. Well today I decided to carry for our shopping spree. I didn't tell my wife.
There was an incident at the local mall last week, where a shopper basically snapped when she was acidentially bumped into when standing in the checkout line. The shopper went nuts and started beating the woman that bumped her in the face with a tape dispenser. I told you that story so I could tell you this one.
On the way to the mall my wife looks at me and says "what would you do if someone started beating me with a tape dispenser?" My first thought was "wow did she notice I was carrying?" I played it cool and said that I would prevent someone from hurting her and defend her life. I got a dirty look.
I got a dirty look because even I realised that it wasn't a normal response for me. I am a 6'3" 270lbs guy, I spend time in the gym on a regular basis. I carry myself with subdued confidence because there aren't many members of the gene pool that I couldn't persuede to back off if we were equally (dis) armed.
BUT because I was packing, my attitude had changed without me even knowing it. For lack of a better term I had become polite. Not that I would hesitate (too much) to use deadly force if needed, but I would do everything I could to not need to.
I found myself more aware but not nervous or paranoid. Several times I honestly caught myself wondering what just pinched my side....my rig! oh yeah I'm carrying!
I was very pleased with my response, my wife questioned why it was that I wouldn't be kicking some a$$ in that situation....I spend several minuets explaining that even a justifed use of violence has consequences and that we were better served by de-escalating that situation and moving on.
Many people have had similar experiences when they start to carry, I wanted to share mine so that others may realized what carrying is all about.
I am a upstate NY CCW'er, (yes you can carry in NY) anyway, I havn't had it very long and have not carried that much. I usually strap it on for trips to the corner store and such. I'm still working out the bugs of my carry rig. Well today I decided to carry for our shopping spree. I didn't tell my wife.
There was an incident at the local mall last week, where a shopper basically snapped when she was acidentially bumped into when standing in the checkout line. The shopper went nuts and started beating the woman that bumped her in the face with a tape dispenser. I told you that story so I could tell you this one.
On the way to the mall my wife looks at me and says "what would you do if someone started beating me with a tape dispenser?" My first thought was "wow did she notice I was carrying?" I played it cool and said that I would prevent someone from hurting her and defend her life. I got a dirty look.
I got a dirty look because even I realised that it wasn't a normal response for me. I am a 6'3" 270lbs guy, I spend time in the gym on a regular basis. I carry myself with subdued confidence because there aren't many members of the gene pool that I couldn't persuede to back off if we were equally (dis) armed.
BUT because I was packing, my attitude had changed without me even knowing it. For lack of a better term I had become polite. Not that I would hesitate (too much) to use deadly force if needed, but I would do everything I could to not need to.
I found myself more aware but not nervous or paranoid. Several times I honestly caught myself wondering what just pinched my side....my rig! oh yeah I'm carrying!
I was very pleased with my response, my wife questioned why it was that I wouldn't be kicking some a$$ in that situation....I spend several minuets explaining that even a justifed use of violence has consequences and that we were better served by de-escalating that situation and moving on.
Many people have had similar experiences when they start to carry, I wanted to share mine so that others may realized what carrying is all about.