You want to know why I carry a gun?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sean85746

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2004
Messages
403
Location
Mesa, Arizona
A short history. Since November I have been afflicted, and since been recovering from Guillian Berre Syndrome. It is an auto-immune disease that debilitates you, and can put you on a ventilator. I did not progress that far, but I was confined to a wheelchair for a while. I am walking again, with the use of a cane, and my strength and endurance are very limited. While I am recovering, and will revover fully...it will take an estimated 4-6 months of therapy before I am back to "normal".

That being said, I started shooting again, and am trying to get back to a normal life and routine as I am able.

I went to dinner last night with my wife, 10-month old daughter, and sister in law. We went to Chili's in Chandler, AZ.

There is a Wal Mart across the parking lot from Chili's. Anyone who knows my wife and sister in law, know that Wal Mart has a magnetic attraction for them. After dinner, we went over.

I was already very tired, and was using the motorized scooter I have rented since I got sick. I went to sporting goods and raided the 100 packs of 9mm, .40, and ,.45. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

I carry a defensive handgun everyday, as I have for 20 years. Tonight was no exception. I'd rather leave my home without pants than leave without my pistol.

We all met at the door and the women folk headed out to the wife's Urban Assault Minivan. The ladies were a few yards ahead of me, and I was bringing up the rear.

I stopped the scooter to let a car into a parking space, and this delayed me a little more.

When I got to the wife's van, she and my sister-in-law were being harrassed by a pair of lot-lizards demanding money.

I rolled up behind them, and told them to de-ass the area, and leave the ladies be.

My wife had already put our daughter into her car seat, and I saw her slip her hand into the gun pocket of her purse where her 3" Smith & Wesson Model 10 lives.

I slipped my hand under the fron of my shirt, and had my hand on my Glock 26.

One of the lot lizards looked at me, the wheels turning in his brain, wondering what to do about this guy in a power chair type scooter with a cane in the basket.

His buddy said, "Man, that f**ker's got a gun, I know it!"

I didn't have to say another word. They left...in all good haste.

Truthfully, in my present condition...I could not have fought them. I haven't the strength or endurance back. I have a 12 year history in LE in both local, as a deputy, and federal, with DEA. I know how to handle myself...in this instance I didn't have the wherewithall to do it.

THAT is why I carry a gun.

Oh, and kudos to my wife for seeing to the baby, then readying herself to back my play!
 
Last edited:
You bet I will accept it Indy. And thank you. Prayer is what has brought me this far!

Like my Grandaddy used to say: "If you think someone other than God could have made them mountains or planted those trees...you just ain't lookin close enough!"
 
Good work! Now get on the phone to the police chief and tell him to clean up that town.
 
Sean - you Sir are wise. Not just thru your adversity but even without that I would expect you are one who carries anyways.

I have yet to understand all the folks who live in ''cloud cuckoo land'' .... who are convinced bad only ever happens to others ... etc. Risks are real, and here by sound of it was another - YET another - instance where mere possession of an equalizer was all that was needed. I can imagine things could have gotten ugly, fast - if you guys had not been prepared.

Sad fact is - there are punks, scumbags, slimeballs ... out there - waiting to prey on the weak. Our protection is our own responsibility and as such we should back that up with responsible carry, at all times possible.

I send my positive thoughts your way for a continued recovery - hopefully even faster than you might expect. Stay safe.
 
Oh make no mistake Double Naught...I carry as an unbreakable rule. Even before I got sick, I carried everywhere.

My rule is: A pocket knife, a clean hanky, and a pistol...stuff a guy can use.

When I first started dating the woman who was to become my wife, she wisely said: "I have never been around guns before, so you better teach me how to handle them safely."


I taught her and now she has her own defensive handgun, a .22 pistol, a .22 rifle, and a 12 guage.

I like my wife!

Thanks to all for you kind thoughts. I am getting better by the day...hopefully in a couple more months I can start practicing again for IDPA matches. It is getting a little boring shooting from the bench...but hey, it's still shooting.
 
I like your wife too - reminds me of my own. :D

Glad things worked out for your - nice to have something to make you feel justified in your beliefs. I had simliar experiences while crutchbound after an achilles tendon rupture... :(

Recovery sucks - but you will get there. Get better soon!
 
The title of this thread caught my eye, and while the initial post is not precisely a cautionary tale, mine may be. While walking the snowy streets of Chicago one evening several weeks ago we encountered the example of a gentleman who evidently hadn't gotten the word that in the City of Chicago the possession of a handgun, except by the duly authorized minions of the law (and FORGET a carry permit, you AIN'T getting one), is a felony. He had a cell phone clamped to one ear, approaching as if to ask directions. Unfortunately, he then displayed a chrome or stainless pistol and required our folding cash.
I was walking back from dinner with my daughter to her apartment, and there was a fresh fall of about a foot of snow on the streets and sidewalks. The only thing that occurred to me was that I didn't particularly want to give this character my credit cards or drivers' license, since I was flying out the next morning. My daughter handed over her entire store of cash- $1. I opened my wallet, so that Mr. Armed Robber could see I was taking it all out, handed him the eighty-odd bucks I had in there, remarked "You don't need my credit cards," -my version of The Jedi Mind Trick- and the transaction was concluded.
As we walked swiftly away, the only question that occurred immediately to me was "Would I have handled that any differently if I were packing?" Two weeks have passed, and the answer has not changed. "No."
 
You know Rico, he had the drop on you. As you said, it was cold with a fresh fall of snow.

Footing must have been precarious at best. You were wearing a heavy coat, so access to your gun may have been impeded had you been carrying.

I don't think what you did was wrong. It isn't worth killing someone over $80. I can't think of an amount of money it would be worth killing someone over. A man who kills when there is another way is crazy.

However, and there usually is a however, if I thought for an instant the subject were actually going to harm my daughter or myself...then any means at my disposal to stop him would be in use.

I am glad no one, especially your daughter and yourself weren't hurt.
 
"It isn't worth killing someone over $80" no but it's worth killing someone for threating your life with a deadly weapon while robbing you. sb
 
Sean, it is okay to admit the truth. If you are going to provide us with a little history as you claimed in your opening, then go ahead and include that you always carry anyway, an apparent salient fact. As near as I can tell, the whole physical disability part was interesting and you played it up for the story, but as you noted, you carried before the disability. Disabled or not, y'all were being messed with by your typical thugs. So the disability has nothing to do with why you carry? Interesting.

So you started this whole thread on why YOU carry, but you didn't actually include the real reason you carry. Only after comments do you reveal the truth? Bizarre.
 
Carrying a gun is all about 'insurance'. We carry coverage on our cars, homes, health, and life. The financial aspects of being prepared for things is important. We have coverage, but we hope to never use it.

For me, its even more important to be able to save the lives, or health of not only myself, but my loved ones. I feel that I have a responsibility to cover not only financial safety, but to provide for safety from attack.

I think that carrying a handgun is simply prudent. I am glad, Sean, that you care enough about your family to carry also.
 
Wow...did I pee in your Cheerios Double Naught?

In reading my original post again, I wasn't as clear as I might have been. I see that, but your tone in pointing it out was rather condescending.

I carry to protect, not only myself, but the most valuable people in my life...my wife and daughter.

Second to that, if anyone were a victim, my own sense of right and wrong and morality would not allow me to stand idly by if I could do anything to stop it.

I was not "playing up" my current level of disability...merely laying background for the event that occurred. After I am fully recovered, I will still, as I have for 20 years...carry a defensive handgun on my person.
 
Last edited:
Sean: glad eveyone's OK and you're recovering from the G-B. Prayers sent. I think some misunderstood; you didn't carry because of the illness but rather because you were aware that there are bad people in the world and they can appear anytime, anyplace. The G-B is part of the story-you might have been easy pickings but your demeanor showed through.

Stay safe, and get well.
Bob
 
Thank you BobF for your kind words. Very well put indeed sir!

I was trying, and maybe not as well as I might have, to illustrate that my wife, and my cghild are the reason why I carry a gun.

My recovery is progressing well, and I got out to shoot a couple of new guns I purchased this week (tax check came back!).

I have to say though...thugs, and other would-be predators know when even a wounded lion still has fangs and claws, and that is better not to grab his tail.

That being said...keep carrying, and keep shooting, and keep supporting the Second Ammendment!
 
I had a similar situation last year, but the bg didn't get that close. I saw him coming and adjusted my body language so that it was clear that I noticed him. I then placed my hand on my gun with my sweatshirt covering it up so I was brandishing. The reaction from the little punk was immediate! He stopped in his tracks stared at me for a second and high tailed it the other way. As soon as my gas was done pumping I get the hell out of there. It is amazing how the street punks can pick up on small little hints that would go right over most people's heads.
 
Yea, they're definatly not stupid.
At least, not completely stupid.
Like many have said, they look for weak targets, and weakness shows in your body language.
 
Keep shooting, and stay safe. I've been questioned before on why I carry. I tell them it's insurance. You want to have it, and hope that you never need it, but when you do, you're glad that you did. :)

Prayers for you and yours.
 
Where did you find a pro-carry wife? Or how did you convince her to CCW?

Has the incident affected the magnetism of Walmart for the ladies in your life?
 
I love these stories. Especially when everything turns out ok without firing a shot. Good stuff.
 
Sean, just got GBS last year...

It came on strong and paralyzed me in about 48 hours. Fortunately the doc's stopped it before it got to my chest. I went through the whole wheel chair, cane thing, but am up and running at about 85% of full speed. The scariest part for me was the fact that I just got back from a two-week hunting trip in AK. It was just my buddy and I, no guide or any way to communicate. If the GBS came on a week earlier I would have come home in a blue tarp. Hope that you continue to improve and I am sure that you will be fine.

Matt
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

beeenbag
  • Locked
what if you just don't know?
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
ghoster
G
1
  • Locked
You never know... (my story)
Replies
23
Views
2K
HOV
H
B
  • Locked
Gun Carry At Work
Replies
15
Views
925
Whitewolf 508
W
J
  • Locked
I will ******* kill you! comment
Replies
8
Views
890
Kleanbore
K
Howland937
Not Quite a Convert But...
2
Replies
40
Views
1K
JTHunter
JTHunter
Back
Top