Carrying & Paranoia

J

Jay Baker

New member
There have been several threads regarding carrying hither and yon, whether in or out of the house. Be that as it may, it is a personal choice and each of us makes it with regard to whatever a percieved threat might be, whether obvious or imagined.

That said, for those who accuse others of being "paranoic" to carry 24/7, I would ask, "Do you carry fire insurance on your house?? If so, you are "carrying" 24/7/365. Do you really think your house is going to burn down?? If not, why, that's just being paranoic to carry fire insurance."

If I thought my house were going to burn, I'd have a moving van outside at this moment. I don't think my house is going to burn, but I surely don't intend to cancel my fire insurance.

The same with being armed. I don't expect to be attacked, outside or inside my home... but I don't intend to drop my "insurance policy", either. JMHO.

By the way, do you people know what "reverse paranoia" is?? That's when you're profoundly afraid that YOU are following someone.

FWIW. J.B.
 
Although, I feel carrying a weapon can be more of an emotional burden/strain to many people that having fire insurance is. I'm sure we can understand how carrying a loaded firearm would weigh heavily on the mind of many folks who are not carrying at all now, or only occasionaly. You get over it with time, but there it is.

I see the point with the 'insurance' analogies, but I feel they don't adequately describe the differences between carrying a weapon and having insurance. And for many folks, those are important differences...imho.


- gabe
 
Jay, very well put. I frequently hear the comment that "... I carry a gun when I think that I'm going to be in danger ..." or "... When I'm going to a bad section of town ..." and to me, those are the some of the dumbest statements that I have ever heard. Violent crime happens suddenly and very often with little or no warning. Ask any victim and a majority of them will tell you that they were going about their business doing what they normally do when they were confronted/attacked. If anything, they might have had several seconds to a couple of minutes advanced warning -- depending on the situation -- but not enough time to safely avoid the danger.

Unfortunately, the difference between being "paranoid" and "well prepared" is often measured by which side of the crisis you're on.

FUD
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Share what you know & learn what you don't
 
Fire insurance is different than carrying a fire extinguisher, but this could turn into s semantic urination contest with a lot of mixed metaphors and inappropriate analogies. Some people ARE paranoid (and just because you are doesn't mean that someone isn't out to get you), but we all assess the risks in our environment and take (in our individual judgment) to be prudent measures. In absolute terms, you guys are right, you can't plan for 'accidents", but you can prepare for them.

Personal safety is a ful-time job if you take it seriously. It requires that you always be constantly alert and aware of your surroundings, and that takes a lot of energy. We all have to let down our guard from time to time, but one should be circumspect as to when and where. I try to operate in a condition "mellow" yellow as much as possible (I don't look for trouble, but I keep my eyes and ears open) so that it is more or less habitual. I don't carry 24/7, but I do maintain acccess and close proximity almost all the time. For the same reason that there are fire extinguishers place strategically throughout my home, so too, are there firearms and other implements stashed in secure places. I'm not paranoid, just prepared. M2
 
GRD, I do not have the stats on this, so stand to be corrected if someone does, but re the analogy of my "insurance" senarios, I'd bet a person is more likely to be a victim of crime, today, than a victim of a house fire, per capita.

I've owned my home(s) since 1973, and NEVER had to collect on the fire insurance. Since 1968, when I first started carrying, I've had to use my handgun on three ocassions (NOT LEO), for protection.

And I assure you, these were, as FUD said, innocent, everyday situations. Frankly, if I think there is danger where I might be going, I just don't go there. I ain't looking for trouble.

As far as I am concerned, if a person feels a need to carry, carry; if not, don't do it. It doesn't take long to get over any emotional reluctance to carry, once one understands that it's just another form of insurance.

Of course, one can argue that "Well, an insurance policy is just a piece of paper that can't KILL!! innocent people." I argue that insurance of any kind, is merely protection against the unforeseen disaster.

JMHO. J.B.
 
As to the Pro's and Con's of carrying
(and this is going to sound like a FUD story)

Con first. Saturday night, at an outdoor concert with abunch of friends and a ex-girlfriend. Having conversation with mother of REALLY cute girl I got the hots for. Ex-girlfriend has been drinking and is really plastered and beligerent while I'm ignoring her. Finally,she walks in on the conversation, mis judges who I'm talking about and she belts me upside the back of the head. I'm seeing stars and spilt my beer. I turn and and preparing to tap dance on her chest for an hour or so and I realize. 1: I'm packing. 2: Security will be all over me in a second and a-half and 3: I will instantly be involved in a "incident" that could cost me my CCW. So I back out, excuse myself, and leave. Lose alot of face with everyone involved. Screw 'em

Pro: LATER THAT NIGHT
I get home about 1:30 am. Ex-girlfriend is passed out on my porch. I wake her and tell her to go home. Offer her a ride. She say's no and stumbles off. I follow from a discrete distance and make sure she gets there. I'm heading back home and there's a "hyphen American" walking towards me. I move to the far left of the sidewalk (street side) and establish eye contact. The guy has about 6" and 50 lbs on me and he's eyeballing me pretty hard. At about 10 ft. I nod my head and look past him, as he comes along side he turns towards me. I stop, pivot, left hand comes up and right hand goes right into my pocket. He stops backs up and goes "Whoa, are you a cop or something?" Me: "No, can I help you?" Conversation went from there. My hand never left my pocket and he never tried to close the distance.

So in one night I had a "drawback" of carrying and the "Benefit" of carrying. Am I paranoid? yes, probably, but that doesn't mean the world isn't really out to get me.


------------------
Go Ugly Early.

AD HOMINEM; Helping Morons argue since 1549!!!
 
I like your second story Meiji :)

Regarding the first, I find it interesting how many guys that I have discussed CHL with who once finding out that they can't start a fist fight while carrying decide they'd rather not have a gun. One of my friends who rides bicycles a lot (and so gets messed with by cars occasionally) was telling me how just the other day he got into a shouting match with a couple of guys, and one of them started walking towards him and talking about fighting. My friend said something like, "I wish I had a gun on me." I said, "What are you talking about?! I don't see how that would have been useful." He says, "I don't know, I guess I'd just take it out so he could see it." Had a long discussion about escalation after that, and he decided he didn't want to deal with the hassle. I think he'd rather be able to get into a fist fight legally (or at least semi-legally) than be able to defend his life in a more serious situation.
 
I had some paranoia when I first started carrying.

Is it showing? Am I walking funny? Oh, no! Everyone can see!

After about two weeks of playing it cool the paranoia went away. Now it's like my cell phone. It only stands out when I'm *not* carrying it.

And all along, nobody knew. I asked my roomate a few times "where is it". Every time they pointed to my cell phone - A StarTac (small motorola).

In the end, it doesn't really matter. I'm legal, and an average joe. LEO's don't tend to give me trouble and I'm certanly not afraid of any bad guys who's path I happen to cross.
 
Jay,

I have frequently used the fire insurance and fire extinguisher analogies. They are excellent and obviously applicable. While some may call my habits "paranoid", I believe they are simple "prudent". The essential point is if I'm never confronted by a grave situation, there is no harm to being armed. On the other hand, if that dire situation ever occurres, I am prepared.


[This message has been edited by RWK (edited September 05, 2000).]
 
It is not being paranoid if someone is out to get you. Mathematically speaking, either someone in my immediate family or I will suffer some for of attack, be it robbery or burglary or direct assault. This will happen sometime over the course of our life and potentially more than once. So, someone is out to get me or my family, or will be at some point. It may not be personal in that the person isn't after me in particular, but that I fit his/her idea of a tempting target. While this bad person will be surprised, the means will be justified.

Getting back to the insurance and fire extinguisher examples, I know that a fire is not out to get me either, but mathematically, there is a likelihood that my house or car will be involved in a fire. From what I learned several years ago, probably less of a chance of that then me, personally, being attacked.

Here is the key...The local fire dept. does not consider me paranoid about fire because I have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. So should I be considered paranoid for having a gun and training to use it?
 
I now pack when I cut my yard.

Big yard (~3 acres).
Riding mower is loud (I wear ear plugs).

started thinking about doing this after several folks drove up w/o me being aware of it soon enough to suit me.

Paranoid? Nah!
better to err on the side of aution IMO.
 
. . . paranoid?

Who wants to know?

;-)

I don't remember where I heard/read this, but it works for me: "I'm not paranoid; I'm well-informed."
 
FWIW, my anti-gun brother-in-law once asked me rather belligerantly: "Why do you carry a gun? That's kind of paranoid. Are you expecting trouble?"

I replied: "If I were *expecting* trouble I'd stay home and call the police. The gun is for when I *don't* expect trouble."

Probably not the best reply I could have made. But at least it quietened him down. :)
 
Originally posted by jimmy:
FWIW, my anti-gun brother-in-law once asked me rather belligerantly: "Why do you carry a gun? That's kind of paranoid. Are you expecting trouble?"

I would tell him:"Why are you even ALIVE? It makes less sense than my carrying a gun." Such people are an insult to what it means to be a responsible human adult.
Click to expand...
 
Once you wise up and get a front pants pocket rig and gun, with an appropiately powerful load, carrying the gun becomes no more of a problem than carrying your wallet. I don't take my wallet out of my pocket when I get home, nor do I lay aside my gun. There is no reason to do either, and I may decide to go for a walk, drive, etc. Why bother to look around for the gun, worry about who has access to it, etc? Surely you will notice if someone has their hand in your front pants pocket? :-)
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jimmy:
FWIW, my anti-gun brother-in-law once asked me rather belligerantly: "Why do you carry a gun? That's kind of paranoid. Are you expecting trouble?"

I replied: "If I were *expecting* trouble I'd stay home and call the police. The gun is for when I *don't* expect trouble."

Probably not the best reply I could have made. But at least it quietened him down. :)

[/quote]


That's a perfect reply.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GRD:
I see the point with the 'insurance' analogies, but I feel they don't adequately describe the differences between carrying a weapon and having insurance. And for many folks, those are important differences...imho.

- gabe[/quote]

I'm curious as to what important differences you see, I've always like the insurance analogy myself.

The obvious difference is that auto and home insurance is for protection of your possessions, and your gun is also for protection of your life, but the insurance analogy plays pretty well for the most part.
 
i think more people need to be aware that the last two generations were the only ones in history during which free men did NOT carry the popular weapons of the day.
my father has never even owned a gun until i gave him one a few years ago and he gave it to my sister. he has lived a lucky life.
(grandfather) his father never carried a gun or any other weapon. he was murdered by two guys in an alley here in Greensboro.
(great grandfather)his father carried a Colt .32 in his coat pocket or waistband every day of his life except for when he moved to Ok. for a few years. there he carried a S&W topbreak. i have pics of him with it.
(great-great grandfather) was a civil war vet nad he carried a matched set of cap and ball revolvers. he died in his bed with them on the table beside him.
(great-great-great grandfather) according to family stories, packed a rifle everywhere he went. he owned a large farm and he carried on his horse as he went about his duties. story goes he used it more than once to rout those intent on insult or injury to him or his family.
the exact details fade from there but our clan history in Ireland is filled with naratives of sword play and family members killed in blood feuds and in defense of our clan lands and cattle/sheep.
my point my friends, the experiment has not worked. as free men my ancestors went armed. of the generations that did not, two to be exact, one was murdered in cold blood. if that happens to me or mine it will be after the pistol and backup mag is empty!!

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one. Luke 22-36
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
The man that can keep his head and aims carefully when the situation has gone bad and lead is flying usually wins the fight.

[This message has been edited by riddleofsteel (edited September 06, 2000).]
 
I carry much of the time because of my job. For me it is a moot point. But I think for the citizenry in general this question raises the issue of shared civic responsibility.

If a random number of otherwise dull and mundane citizens carry at random and unpredictable times in public and private places it decreases incentive for criminals to attempt to hurt people. So more unarmed citizens can go about their business in relative freedom and unmolested by the bad guys.

Let me elaborate. We immunize our children from diseases such as diptheria, whooping cough and lockjaw, accepting the inherent risk that goes with immunization (basically this is the risk of giving known toxins to children...some get sick and a few die) to achieve the gain, which is a population where these diseases are not killing vast numbers of people.

Imagine a country where either vaccines are not available or worse yet where everyone says "There is a one in 10,000 risk of death from this vaccine so I'm not going to give it to my child." Then we see epidemics which wipe out thousands of children. (I hope at least some of the readers here are old enough to remember polio so you can vouch for what I am saying.) The innocents suffer because parents shirk their shared civic responsibility.

Well, CCW is like that. There is a price in terms of inconvenience, having to practice at the range (and even a few accidents, yes we must admit that about 1 in 10,000 Americans die from gunfire, about the same percentage as have severe reactions to DPT vaccine), but that price is far outweighed by the benefits of having a population which is more immune to violent criminals.

At least that's my opinion. :)
 
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