Curious Why some people think the way they do

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Mindset

First line of defense is the brain. The gun is a tool of last resort. My mindset is one of simplicity and common sense. Avoid risky situations and keep a low profile. I carry a five shot .38 revolver with one, sometimes two reloads. I drive a low profile pickup truck. And I avoid going into risky areas. For home defense, I'll use the same .38 or my .357 if needed.

Some people might have a different mindset, they like to be flashy and daring. They like to brag about the firepower they can unleash, how their caliber has the greatest stopping power, how fast their car is and how big their d!ck is. They carry the latest greatest .45 or .40 caliber uber-automatic with lasers and flashlight attachments and extra high cap mags that are capable of unleashing tremendous firepower. They drive souped up 4X4's or super slick sports cars and travel into the dark recesses of the city daring someone to just try and carjack them. Because they'll show them what's up and teach those punks a lesson.

These are, of course, opposite ends of the spectrum. Most people probably fall somewhere in between.
 
To the original poster, the threat is there & you can read your daily news & see that crime is happening everywhere & at any time.
I'm prior military & have been around guns most of my life [ hunting & sd ]
You are right , most likely we will never be invovled in a serious shootout [ speaking of civilians mostly ] .
That scenerio is for the most part, the hollywood effect.
But a serious point to make is crimminals have become more violent in modern day.
Here in Houston , I have noticed when a robbery or violent crime takes place, there is usually more than one perp involved, also multiple weapons.
So good training & preparations is important now more than ever.
The person being violated is usually by themself or with a spouse \ friend.
When I was a kid, I would read of robberies, but usually , the crimes was not as violent as they are today.
I have no problem with someone who carries hi round mags .
I just hope they can act accordingly in a self defense situation , wether firing off rounds , unarming the perp, or plainly & effectively defusing the encounter without producing a weapon.
I was in the army back in the 70's & 80's , the motto was " BE PREPARED " :cool:
 
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I have all the aforementioned hardware because I enjoy building,owning ,and shooting all sorts of firearms.I do "purpose build" most of them.Some of them might cause the OP to raise eyebrows.

I work in a place where it is a felony to carry.I get off at 11pm.To see a face,I get a beer at the local pub.Not a lawful place to carry.I am not carrying.

I am also not worrying.True,like anyone,I am subject to random violence.I do have choices.

There is one sort,who becomes afraid,or determined.Not a gun person,he maybe goes and buys a .38 spl.Maybe a Charter,and a box of shells.Maybe,or not,he shoots it once,and puts it in a drawer.Maybe,or not,it will help if something goes wrong.
But,this guy does not make anyone nervous.

Then,there is the person who decides to be armed and damned well dangerous.He/she might read,testfire,study,and find THE piece.Leather,ammo,refinements,dry fire,draw,shoots regularly.

This might be where our OP begins to wonder.

Some,the ones who are likely to be prepared and effective,take it as a serious change in lifestyle.It might be a bit like the Samurai.But,as has been said,just carrying is a "SoWhat" deal.It is about the mind.

While the Samurai might be aware,and carry potential,he can relax in a garden,sip tea,grow bonsai trees,and be the ultimate in mellow.

If my neighborhood was having home invasions,what would be wrong with an M-4 and 30 rd mags across my lap while I watch Palladin reruns?

If I felt my town had a serious gang problem,I might carry two double stack 1911's ala "Last Man Standing"

Or I mght move,or stay home a lot.

I'mjust not a Charter .38 and one box of shells in a drawer kind of guy.But,you can be,if you want.

1) I do not recommend buying a gun,or sword,and carrying it if you are not willing to develop and maintain proficiency.

2)If you find yurself in a fair fight,your tactics need work

3)Iread a book once."Unintended Consequences" There was a fellow in it who had to face a fight with a single shot,bolt action .22. He did OK
 
HiBC said:
If my neighborhood was having home invasions,what would be wrong with an M-4 and 30 rd mags across my lap while I watch Palladin reruns?
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I'd like to offer rebuttal here, and please understand I often use 'gallows humor.'

If we are confronted by any situation which is problematic, we often seek advice from someone we respect. As I once stated, in discussing Armageddon, if we would then go to our pastor, he would recommend prayer. If we went to our car dealership, they would recommend new tires for the Exodus. If we sought help from survivalists they would provide us with a seed catalog.

So in this scenario, going to the Paladin Press invokes the response of "more weapons, fight it out."

Second, you have to consider the misinformation that might be available, and the facet of their financial agenda.

For example I know a martial arts sensei on the forums. If you want to worship at the alter of the closed fist--and buy some truly nifty merchandise--I can provide the guy! His answer to everything, including littering, is that we are getting soft, armed determined resistance is our only salvation, yada, yada, yada...

Heck, I know of a Harley video that says the same thing.

So how do we determine honest useful information from a "spiel," or a "speil" if you like? My guiding light is 'profit.' If any advise ends with the sentence "and buy my book," I consider the source a schlock.

Imagine if a airline's oxygen was incumbent on you inserting a quarter. Imagine if life boats came with a lock only accessible with a swipe from your credit card. Imagine if the EMS responding to your accident stood over you with three pints of blood and asked, "Basic, preferred, or premium?"

So okay, I might as well get into this fray. When your UPS box comes from Paladin, your very life will be at stake! Only immediate access to this vital info can save your life! Precious minutes fumbling on the mailing tape might cost you and your loved ones ultimate survival!

You're going to need a sharp knife to slit open the parcel. If you would step into my gift shop there is a wide assortment of edged tools...
 
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I speak for myself when I say sometimes a gun is just a clutch. A coping mechanism, helper etc. But fact is sometimes you realize it would have possibly (no one can know with any certainty) have made the difference between life and death. In my case I have had two incidents where I only lived because the perpetrator let me live. like I just said in another thread, my CCW rarely ever sees any use. But that said, I believe I have a right to self defense as does the next guy. I am pro-2A active NRA member.

I believe I am a realist. I like the assurance of knowing I have the means if I have to defend myself. I love shooting, but don't consider myself a gun nut. I only own 4 at this point. :p You don't have to be an extremist, I believe there is not such thing as a litmus test on this forum, but there you have it. I got CCW after second incident. Actually I moved to a more friendly state first, then got CCW. I don't like to relive those situations. First time, it sheer luck and the guy having been a scatter brain that I lived. Second time around many many years later, it was just that the guy inexplicably changed his mind and just turned around left. I was completely at his mercy. He was in my freaking living room, uninvited, and I was frozen there in-front of him staring death, and he just changed his mind, just like that. I asked him why? He had no answer.

Once you realize you are completely helpless facing an armed guy, on his terms, all fear somehow inexplicably disappears, time slows down, and you are just calm and peaceful. I guess that what surrendering your life feels like. Anyhow after that last incident, my anti-gun attitudes somehow changed. For a while I felt vengeful, violated in the worst possible way. Once rationality returned, I realized I had to move ASAP, because at that point, I would have been willing to take risks illegally carry. So anyway I moved to a reasonable state that doesn't believe in giving criminal power over its citizens. :D

Maybe if I had a weapon, the guy woulda executed me seeing I had means to fight back. I will never know. somehow I just felt I'd rather have a weapon and take my chances. My decision, not some bureaucrat seating behind a desk and probably has one himself telling me no, you have not proved a need to. I mean its my life we are talking about after all right?:rolleyes:
 
Tourist!!Palladin was an old Western!!

Palladin starred Richard Boone,and his card said "Have Gun,Will Travel"
I agree,Palladin Press,well,shopping there might get your name on a list

So,for clarity,what would be wrong with watching old westerns in your chair with a weapon on your lap,if you were in a dangerous neighborhood,or just felt like it?

You see,I have had neighbors come frantically banging on my front door after midnight wanting to use my phone due to domestic violence.

On one occasion,when I was concerned about an over 50 woman ,I did roll one eyeball around a doorjamb to see if she was actively being assaulted.She was not,I backed off and left it to the police.
Later,when an officer came to my door and knocked,I put my hands on the glass where he could see them,and explained I had a loaded win 97 by the couch and an S+W in the back of my pants to answer the door.He said,"No problem"

On another occasion,different neighbor,2 AM,"Hes got a knife and my kids" I let her use the phone,and dropped two rounds in a SXS shotgun.She asked "What is that for?" I said"If he comes through my front door I'm going to kill him"

Maybe the point of this thread can be found in the old western "The Magnificent Seven" The "Clap Hands " scene.
 
HiBC, yes, I'm familiar with the Richard Boone show "Paladin." I watched it in its original airing as a kid.

The publishing company is seeking sales by wrapping themselves in the romance of the traveling mercenary. It's the same way cutlery companies paint knives black and sell them as "special ops knives." Even Ford painted a Mustang green, outfitted it with special wheels and called it the "Bullitt," after the Steven McQueen movie.

Romance sells. I wonder how many Walther PPKs the James Bond series sold?

Their audience is comprised of the guys who wear T-shirts printed "When in doubt, kill." Then they smirk. During the early days of terrorism these guys used to wear T-shirts saying, "Send me." Adults pointed out that we have a volunteer army, and no one has to be 'sent.'

And I readily admit, I find these guys silly.
 
Romance sells. I wonder how many Walther PPKs the James Bond series sold?
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I watched goldeneye yesterday and was amazed at how powerfull the .32 acp walther was. A single torso shot had enough energy to throw back an enemy lol. They really are good movies though.
 
Things have changed

Things HAVE changed. Economics...alot more desperate people. Violence and buglary on the rise. Natural disasters. Stupid laws prohibiting ownership. Maybe that is why now the escalation in what is considered norm.
 
Except the statistics say crime rate went down last 2yrs in a row. Isn't that curious? Gun purchases also went way up, but I see no obvious correlation in those statistics. :confused:
 
You might consider this...

One reason the crimes today seem more violent (and often are) could be that for the last few decades, the punishment (in the legal system) for extreme violence is the same as the punishment for the crime, without the violence.

Robbing the local 7-11 can get you 20years. So does shooting the clerk. With the "revolving door" of our justice system, doing extreme violence during the crime doesn't seem to add all that much to the actual time served. And a dead witness doesn't pick you out of a line up.

Also, we all watch way too much TV, and what we see is way too much violence. Sure, its entertaining, but when the guy who gets "killed" is seen two days later on another show, and the guy who went to jail also shows up again very soon, doesn't that send a message to our subconcious (at least) that there are no real effects from the shooting?

Too many people today have a signifcant problem separating video from real life. One has to wonder about it.
 
44 AMP said:
the punishment (in the legal system) for extreme violence is the same as the punishment for the crime
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I wonder if this creates a self-fulfilling condition.

Many people relate that a home invasion or robbery create a feeling of being "violated." I have friends who got hit by a bad tornado that completely destroyed their home. The wife was reluctant to re-build on the site, stating that she would never feel safe there again.

Same with crime. We mention this "revolving door." As 'good guys' our lives will never be the same. However the bad guys get government housing, schmooze with other criminals on how to commit better crimes, and fatten up lifting weights, and getting free health care..

How many times have you heard about the death of a felon, and a good guy remarks, "Well, that saved us a pile of tax money...."

Without knowing it, we harden ourselves and refuse to be a victim. In so doing we also usurp the powers of an executioner.

I try to balance out feelings here. However, I heard comedian Ron White once remark that his home state of Texas has the death penalty, "and we use it." I found myself nodding in agreement.
 
I agree with the OP that the threat has not changed significantly, at least for me and where I've lived. I also agree that your brain is the best defense.

For people like me who have never been attacked, or had a close friend attacked, we are armed to increase our margin of safety since we know it does happen and our luck may run out. In that case I want to be the statistic that came out alive instead of robbed or dead.

Having a higher capacity gun with SD ammo is not essential but it adds more margin. An older car with seatbelts can still save your life but I'd rather have one with air bags and a crumple zone to improve my odd of walking away unharmed. Ideally, I'll never get in that serious accident and need to test my safety equipment :)
 
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It's no secret I love my guns but I sincerely wish I didn't feel the need to carry one with me all the time. Sometimes I envy the sheeple because they don't know what I know and sometimes ignorance is bliss-but it can also be deadly.
 
Take 2

Went back and read more of the intervening posts.

Some gun owners are like "Super Hobbyists" of any hobby.
- they LOVE their hobby and want the best components
- they are 'competitive' and may give the 'vibe' others have inadequate equipment

The first point is their 2A right, and everyone needs a passion or recreation. The second point is where feathers get ruffled. I think it's more human nature and not specific to the 'gun hobbyist'

Example - many of these people are like parents with their first child. They become hyper sensitive to all the potential dangers in their home or risks to their child, and spend a lot to compensate for these perceived risks. They also may insinuate other parents are inadequate if they don't take the same precautions. (By their 3rd child the threat level has dropped significantly :o)

I'm also reminded of how my dad would go hunting in the back country of Wyoming with our old station wagon. He knew how to drive it and never got in a bad situation because his brain used the tool well (he drove a work truck on these roads for a day job). Other hunters in their big 4WD rigs with winches were amazed he would use a 2wd station wagon :p My dad may have been 'less prepared' but he got the job done.
 
The reason I now carry a gun is age. I'm to old to fight and to slow to run! At one time I believed that I could physically match any threat. I felt able to go "man to man" with anybody.

Now, at 61 years old, I realize that I can't be the formidable opponent I once was.

Tom
 
tcwvhw said:
I'm to old to fight and to slow to run...at 61 years old, I realize that I can't be the formidable opponent I once was.
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LOL. At our age we must be reminded that stealth and dirty fighting trump skill and physical talent every time.

There are no Olympic Medals for keeping your hide in one piece, and after as many decades as we have lived, we know every cheap shot in the book...:D
 
I was raised around guns and shooting by the time I was five. Lived in a rural area. My dad collected, traded and sold guns at gun shows to supplement his income. One thing I remember is he didn't talk in public much about owning guns or carrying guns or anything like that unless he knew the person. He carried a gun and we had loaded guns around the house. Now days it seems eveyone and their brother talks openly about carrying a gun or how many guns they have at home. It almost is like it is something to brag about. I think the media and t.v. is partially to blame for this, but I also believe there are those who use the "perceived threat" as a reason to buy and carry so they can tell eveyone about it. These are the same people who believe they need the biggest high capacity gun.I have been carrying a gun for years, but knowone knows about it except a very small number.
 
skydog1979 said:
It almost is like it is something to brag about.
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It does get old, doesn't it? You have no idea how many times I've heard about that "175 MPH Sportster" some guy's brother/uncle/cousin used to own. I think telling campfire stories everyone knows is a goof is part of the American culture.

Hey, the bozo they call "The Dragonslayer" on The Survivor TV show is well-known for his ability to lie about everything. And let's face it, as we get older the bikes get faster and the girls get prettier.:D

I draw the line at spreading urban legends to TFL members who are sincerely seeking info on safety and security.
 
All you have to do to realize why you should be armed is watch the news, any day or night. Chances are you'll see where someone was victim to a two-bit thug, whether via carjacking, abduction or outright home invasion. As the first line of defense, I try to avoid walking or driving in questionable areas and I made very sure to select a good neighborhood to live in. Neither of those can always protect you, but they're a good start. I've always been around guns, owning my first one at age 8. Barring malfunctions, a gun is only going to do what you tell it to do. It's not dangerous unless the user is dangerous.

I depend on the govt to defend me from foreign armies and terrorists. They don't always succeed against terrorists, but other than observing obviously suspect activities, it's beyond my resources to take down terrorist organizations. However, it is certainly well within my resources to drop a street thug like a bad habit. And the govt is often way too late to help you there. So that leaves YOU as your own protector. And I'm ready, willing and able if it comes to that. I find myself growing less and less sympathetic to criminals as I get older. When I was younger, I may have felt bad for killing someone even in self defense, but I don't think I would have any remorse now if it was justified.

It looks like this extended Recession could easily stretch on for YEARS. As it does, people that have long been out of work are going to be increasingly desperate, eventually in a state of total panic. The times we live in remind me of 1930s Germany, although we're not in that kind of severe Depression yet. The Nazis used the Depression as an excuse to radically transform the govt (sound familiar??) and eventually suspend all rights of private citizens, including the decision that private citizens had no reason to own guns, making them even more harmless. And it didn't happen overnight, it took years for the absolute state power to be established. I'm an avid student of WWII history and find the lessons learned there are as relevant as ever......
 
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