Why CC?

[Kleanbore]

I intend to use a pistol for home defense and need to be able to practice with the pistol. But I see no need for Concealed Carry at this point in my life. Being retired I can mainly do what I want and don't have to do the things that can be dangerous.

You have apparently come to the conclusion that a violent criminal is more likely to enter your home unlawfully than accost you when you are not at home. Can you share your basis for that assessment?

I'd like to hear what reasons some of you have for using your CC license....

The fact that there is little disadvantage to, or cost of, mitigating the risk that we may be threatened at any time with death or serious bodily harm.

The likelihood of that risk occurring on any one day is remote. The potential consequences, however, are extremely severe.

....and what experiences you have had as a result of carrying.

None.

My concern about CC is that I have not had any classes dealing with how to handle various situations.

That is something that you can change.

How often do we go to a place like that [(a Wal-Mart parking lot)]?

Occasionally, mostly when camping. I also find myself in grocery store parking lots, the parking lot of the bird feed store and the camera store, filling stations, ATMs, and other places at which a desperate person in immediate need of money or a different automobile can be expected have a high likelihood of finding a target. Thanks to on-line shopping, we are able to avoid malls almost completely, and we do stay in at night.

I figure leaving the gun home means I don't have to make such a decision [what to do].

Deciding in advance to leave the gun at home is in essence a decision to not have with you the means to mitigate the aforementioned risk.

 

[bassmickster]

I've been contemplating carrying for a while; it's a huge responsibility and a burden. Someone said it's like having a kid--it changes how you live. I've taken a class in personal defense training for CC. It's more than just time on the range. The classes explore how the law is written and what can legally happen if you draw your weapon and actually shoot someone. The training spends at least as much time identifying how to avoid a fight as how to survive one.

Where I live petty crime is up and violent crime is down; therefore, if I'm going to encounter a critical situation it will probably be walking into something I shouldn't have seen. In that case I'll be glad I have a gun to draw as I back away. But creating that self defense opportunity requires a whole lot of life style change for me.

I related most to the "I carry when I feel like it" comment. This provides some latitude for touchy environments. People who by chance see that you're carrying may perceive you as the threat, which can cause some uncomfortable scenes--say if it's someone close who you care about, not just some nobody. In a sense the liberty and freedom we love to revere is hindered by the limitation you may experience by having to frequently un-holster, un-load and case your weapon before entering certain situations. Still, I can't get away from the "better to have and not need" philosophy.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I've been contemplating carrying for a while; it's a huge responsibility and a burden.

Exactly right.

Lots of people carry and don't feel that way. The fact is, you just have to train for the real world. Take a class, enter competitions, run practice drills...do something. Sitting at a static line in a well lit range shooting slow, controlled groups at a static piece of paper only gets you so far.

Mindset is the biggest component. You really do have to question yourself, your tactics, your possible response and have a willingness to change what you're doing. Sometimes that is hard if you've been doing it wrong for 20 years. Admitting I needed to change some of my habits and technique was difficult.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Because your retired!!! Criminals love to go after us old unarmed can't fight back retired folks . and Wal mart great place . Their employees will not get involved .

I don't play with fire in my house. But I have smoke detectors and Fire bottles. Stasrt carrying Its you right as a citizen use it

 

[hso]

Not everyone is so fortunate that they live in a community they are 100% confident they are safe 100% of the time and never go anywhere they aren't 100% safe 100% of the time.

For others they carry a firearm for the same reason they have a spare tire in their car or a fire extinguisher in their home. They're not 100% confident 100% of the time that they're safe and they want to try to bridge that gap.

Since you have a handgun for the home and practice in the event that you needed to defend yourself in the home you are NOT 100% confident that you live in a community that is 100% safe. That also means that you are not 100% safe outside of your home and by your own reasoning it would be reasonable to have a firearm with you away from your home as you have one in your home. It follows that carrying the firearm would be as reasonable as having it in your home.

 

[animator]

I carry simply because I can, and the benefits are far greater than the risks.


Living in a safe area won't prevent you from being the victim of a crime any more than driving a safe car will keep some idiot from slamming into you at a stoplight. Other people are a variable you can never control.


It's nice to have when walking the dog at night, granted I seriously doubt anyone is going to mess with an individual walking a 90lb GSD.


It's nice to have on the rare occasion I need to hit up a drive-thru ATM.


It's nice to have any time I'm downtown, considering a few wrong turns can get you into some pretty bad areas in South and East Dallas.


One morning, not too long ago, a gas station I used to frequent was robbed at around the time I'd usually be there, so it could happen any time, and any place, and it never hurts to be prepared.

 

[bcp280z]

I think most all reasons have been stated, you don't know when trouble is going to happen. It's not exactly right, but I believe there's a bit of a cool or no-fear factor too.(not that you should go out and start anything but you have that edge over most people, plus as guys growing up to movies and such, guns are fun/cool.) And I like having my gun bag in the car. I also like to be able to go to a gun store and walk out with a new gun that day.

On one of the forums I'm on some guy answered this question, "Because a cop's too heavy" I find that pretty funny.

 

[BleysAhrens]

I have mine with me at all times, even at the school buss stop in the mornings. I used to carry open every day, even at wal-mart. Now it's concealed most the time, sometimes open depending on what I have on and how I feel that day. Never an issue, just questions on what it was, or some kid calling it a "BB gun". I understand some of the laws in other states, but come on! I enjoin all of you to move to Arizona, and enjoy your guns to the fullest extent of our gun laws.

 

[bcp280z]

I'm not sure how I feel about OC, you lose the element of surprise and get awkward looks, but then again is guess its more preemptive sp? can you touch it in public? what if it feels loose or itches? most of the time it just looks like I'm pulling up my britches.

-sorry if I hijacjked, seemed like a decent spot to post tho.

 

[lizziedog1]

I met some interesting people in those woods.

Did any of them play the banjo?

 

[Just One Shot]

I don't plan on having a fire yet I keep a fire extenguisher in the house.

I don't plan on having an accident yet I wear my seat belt when I drive.

I don't plan on being attacked yet I CC every day.

It's called being prepared.

 

[inclinebench]

I always contemplated carrying concealed. Then one time a guy broke out of police custody and killed two people and was hiding in the woods five blocks from my house and very close to my kid's daycare. They caught him soon afterwards and I thought statistically I was in the clear. Then, 8 months later, about a 15 minute walk from my house, a derranged student shot 2, then later 30 more people. I now carry.

 

[heeler]

I live on a rough side of town in Houston made up predominately of illegal aliens.
It's truely amazing just how fast a neighborhood can change in a decade.
My home has been broken into three times and I personally know of at least three people who have been robbed at gunpoint within two square miles of where I live.
Here as of late I have been reading the appeals of a number of killers from Houston that are serving life,life without parole,and a handful on death row that would simply drive or walk around just looking for someone to approach and rob.
Most of these guys would just shoot the robbery victim for no other reason than just because.
And of course now they want the system to side with them on some mere trial technicality that the appeals court almost always turns down affirming the trial courts decision.
The typical reoccuring theme with these guys are they have been a major PIA to society ever since they were in their early teens and grow up to be a deadly plague to society.
A handful of these guys finally kill someone by the time they are only 15-16 years of age.
There are some very dangerous people out there that have zero conscience and dont care a thing about you.

 

[Ole Coot]

More drugs, lenient court system, home invasions, etc if you read your local paper or watch TV you can answer your own question. I have carried for 45yrs and never drawn my weapon in the States. I have been darn glad I had one on many "safe" occasions as pumping gas or just walking across a parking lot. Us older folks usually take medication of some type and the druggies know it, that makes you a target in your "safe" town. The older you get the larger the target on your back. I have used many weapons to defend myself furnished by Uncle Sam and was glad to have them. I am getting too fat to fight and too old to run and refuse to be a victim plus coyotes and feral dogs in my area keep me armed 24/7. The other "animals" keep my awareness at a high level and I am just average, not paranoid.

 

[jackpinesavages]

I carry an empty gun to the range, buy the ammo and shoot it on the range. Then I return home with the empty gun. There are provisions in the Alabama law that allow that as well as allowing the transportation of a new gun to my home without the Pistol Permit. But I figured the combination of a range and an ammo store might not be permanent so I applied for the permit.

Leave yourself enough travel ammo. going back home, for self-defense.

There are so many dirtbags that watch ranges and follow folks leaving, just looking for an opportunity.

 

[txhoghunter]

There are so many dirtbags that watch ranges and follow folks leaving, just looking for an opportunity.

I have never even heard of or considered this happening....criminals just keep getting stupider in my book...

 

[youngda9]

And I truly hope you never "see the need for concealed carry in your life"....because if you see it...it just may be the last thing you ever see.

Stay safe, keep praying nothing happens to you or your loved ones...it sure would be awful if you couldn't defend them or yourself should the need arise.

 

[ball3006]

I carry simply because I can. I can also carry more ammo and guns in my truck than the GVW will supposedly allow. I also carry more than one gun too....chris3

 

[achttung]

I'm not sure how I feel about OC, you lose the element of surprise and get awkward looks, but then again is guess its more preemptive sp? can you touch it in public? what if it feels loose or itches? most of the time it just looks like I'm pulling up my britches.

Anyone in VT can open or conceal carry, no licensing for VT residents... I've seen people walking around walmart with a handgun strapped to their hip. Nobody gives a second glance.

Enough people become educated/acclimated to firearms, and suddenly, things get a lot easier.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Enough people become educated/acclimated to firearms, and suddenly, things get a lot easier.

I agree. Work requires business casual, khakis and polo type stuff. I was approached while OC'ing that way on no less than 3 occasions with an "Excuse me, officer..." I prefer cc, but that's just me. I fully support oc. The laws in my state are awful. OC isn't expressly illegal, but neither is it expressly legal. There is a loosely worded clause that states it is a crime to go "armed to the terror of the public."

By common law in North Carolina, it is unlawful for a person to arm himself/herself with
any unusual and dangerous weapon, for the purpose of terrifying others, and go about on public
highways in a manner to cause terror to others. The N.C. Supreme Court states that any gun is an unusual and dangerous weapon for purposes of this offense. Therefore, persons are
cautioned as to the areas they frequent with firearms.

That happens to be one of the silliest and most vague legal statute that I've ever read. There is way too much room for interpretation. So yeah, I just find concealed to be less of a headache in my case.

 

[cleardiddion]

I carry because I can.
I carry because because as much as they make me want to pull hair sometimes I have a loving family.
I carry because I have a girl who I want to spend many happy year with.
I carry because I live in an area where by many sources the per capita level of violent crime is higher that of 90% of the nation.

I carry because I like my butt more than, should the situation arise, the person who I would have to engage to live.

 

[Owen Sparks]

In my state your vehicle is considered an extension of your home and anything that is legal to have in your home is legal in your vehicle (with one exception, open containers of alcohol) It is also legal to carry a firearm on your own property, home or business. Therefore, there is no legal restriction keeping me from going to or from my car from my home or business with a loaded gun in hand so I never bothered to get a permit.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

The reason for my CPL was to have flexibility when I go to the range-If I need to stop someplace then I don't have to go back home first and lock up the weapon.
As far as carrying all the time I don't find it important. I would gauge the general threat level first before having to carry a firearm-I really don't think it's that important and anyway there are weeks that go by that I don't carry because I'm a nurse and weapons are not allowed on hospital property in Michigan. I work 5-6 days a week.
I got the CPL more for flexibility like if I travel by car someplace (yes then I will have it with me) or if let's say the general threat level increased like a terrorist attack, or natural disaster or a swarm of break ins as an example.
If I travel I have my firearm all the time but locally not as much.

 

[Havegunjoe]

A lot of people find themselves in situations they never dreamed would ever or could ever happen to them. Bad things can happen in the safety of your own home, in the nicest part of town, in church, on the most pleasant day of the year in a city park in a safe neighborhood. Just yesterday I had some idiot cut me off in traffic and then wanted me to pull into a parking lot to fight me over it. You just never know so I don’t take the chance. Also any good CC class will spend most of its time teaching you how to be aware of and avoid these type of situations which is very valuable information to have. I know because I teach the classes here in MN. You can’t lose by being prepared. I just heard a news report of an abduction of a woman from her home in TN. Nobody can come up with a reason for her to be dragged away by her assailant but it happened.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Ultimately, carrying is a personal choice. I do because I know most criminals are in as good or better shape than me physically even though I exercise regularly. Criminals sometimes run in groups. The bad guys will always have an advantage because they are the one's stalking you. (yeah yeah - situational awareness...etc - whatever...)

I carry because it somewhat levels the playing field and like the old saying goes... "God created man, Sam Colt made them equal." I carry because I believe that it is my God given right to be able to defend myself and my duty as a husband and father to protect the ones I love.

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