Why Do You Carry A Gun?

The Night Rider

The Night Rider

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Short explanation, Easter Sunday at the family get together my granddaughter asked my wife how we met.

While my wife was telling the story the fact that I carry a gun came up. This is not news to my Grandchild but her boyfriend seemed a little freaked out.

This is not some random geek off the street, He is a potential family member.

It made me think about how I would answer if somebody I have to be polite to asked me why I carry, as opposed to some client employee who is just trying to be an ass.

When client employees asked they got told "Because your employer wanted armed security. If you take issue with that maybe take it up with them".

So as I've already mentioned the whole thing made me think about how I would answer that question in polite society.

My answer is "Life has taught me sometimes you need a gun."

How would you answer if someone you had to be nice to asked?
 
My standard answer for those who deserve civility from me and the folks whom I owe no type of explanation is the same.

"Carrying a gun is only one of many steps in the effort I make to give myself and the people I care about the best chance to not become a statistic. Right there with wearing seatbelts or life jackets and staying inside during thunderstorms. We can't expect other people to do those things for us"
 
Howland937 said:
My standard answer for those who deserve civility from me and the folks whom I owe no type of explanation is the same.

"Carrying a gun is only one of many steps in the effort I make to give myself and the people I care about the best chance to not become a statistic. Right there with wearing seatbelts or life jackets and staying inside during thunderstorms. We can't expect other people to do those things for us"
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That answer is too long. You're going to lose them by the second line.
 
This is my family. I can't be an ass to them and they being my family deserve a polite response.

True story, my granddaughter asked me this question several years ago. My granddaughter always deserves a polite response. I don't remember what I said but a few years later there was an incident right outside work that required a cop with a gun to end.

My Granddaughter was visiting a few days later and I asked her if she remembered asking me why I carried a gun. She said she did and I said "This thing that happened the other day ? That's why I carry a gun."

I watched the light bulb go on.
 
Here's my answer.

I've always liked shooting as a sport. I had a rubber band gun when I was very little, then airguns as soon as I was old enough. I graduated to firearms at some point. Because I enjoyed shooting, I spent a lot of time getting to be a good shot with a rifle and then later a handgun. I learned the laws so I wouldn't get into trouble transporting my firearms to and from the range and competitions. Because people knew I knew about firearms, they would ask me about self-defense laws so I studied them so I could give intelligent answers.

One day it hit me how stupid it would be for me to own guns, know how to use them, know the laws about owning, transporting and using them for self-defense and then need a gun and not have it when I needed it. Particularly since carrying a firearm is pretty easy to do. So I started carrying.

But that's my answer. I'm sure other people will have different ones.
That answer is too long. You're going to lose them by the second line.
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If someone asks me and my honest assessment is that they won't be able to maintain concentration for the 40 seconds it takes me to give them my answer, then I'll just give them a cliche answer. That's all that kind of a person will be able to process and remember anyway.

There are a ton of those, some of them good:

Because when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
Because I like being prepared.
Because it's easier than carrying a cop.
Because you can't shoot back with a cell phone.
etc. ...
 
If the person is genuinely interested, I have no problem having a conversation. If they're just being a self righteous jerk, I don't bother with an answer.
I have answered this question in the past.

I carry a gun for the same reason there's a fire extinguisher under my sink. I hope and pray I never need either, but if you need it and don't have it, the consequences could be dire.
 
Better to have it an not need it than need it and not have it. That being said just might have to let him be uncomfortable. My in laws hate the fact that I own "man killing guns" as my FIL likes to refer to anything that isn't a rimfire long gun. They really don't like that I gave my wife a .357 mag and have taught her to shoot it. She really enjoys it too and I think that bothers them even more but we all still get a long fine
 
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it... a good boy scout is always prepared. It's a shame we have to think about personal protection in our "modern society". Thankfully Montana is a constitutional carry state and everyone is generally polite and friendly. Mostly we have to worry about grizzly bears out hiking! Those buggers can be quite unfriendly.
 
JohnKSa said:
I'll just give them a cliche answer. That's all that kind of a person will be able to process and remember anyway.
Click to expand...
My answer is probably longer than a lot of people need, but the purpose is to show that there was thought involved in making the decision to carry. Not simply "because I can"...or any of the common cliches even if that's all the answer they deserve.

Anyone genuinely curious will listen. Anyone asking to be argumentative will either lose interest like was mentioned or at least have to do better than the common cliches used against us.
 
This kid may never ask me this question but somebody else might. I want a good response ready.

I'm not sure how to explain this but my family lives by Vito Corleone's first law, "Never tell anyone outside the family what you're thinking." But this kid(Mid 20s) is well on his way to being family and I have to treat him with due respect.

My immediate non family circle all know I carry a gun and they don't question it even those who don't.

Anyone else who asks such as the VA, simply gets told "I don't carry a gun."

ETA: I want to clarify that anybody that's not in my immediate circle doesn't even know that I own a gun. So there wouldn't be any reason for them to ask if I carry one.

No one at the VA ever asked me if I own guns except the guy that used to run the exercise program and he no longer works for the VA no longer lives in Colorado.

the VA never asks if I own guns they ask if I feel safe in my home and I always say yes.
 
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Look at all the news! Better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it!
 
Mook stole my answer, we are pretty involved in scouting and Be prepared is my answer. whether it's a feral dog or a human that's bent on evil things on innocent people I want to be ready. And the other honest part is I love firearms.
 
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