Ethics of Concealed Carry

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doose69203

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Hey Guys (and Gals hopefully),

I would like to hear about how those of you that carry have dealt with the possibility of killing another person. I am a 23 year old guy and I have a concealed carry permit, but my uncle recently thought about going through the process and backed out when he went to buy a handgun he liked to practice with. Any advice on how to approach the subject with him would also be helpful.

Thanks
 
All I can say is I hope mine never gets used. But if it does, I plan to stop the threat in the best manner I can. Nobody in their right mind wants to kill another person.
 
Killing another person in self defense would be a life changing experince. If its the Bad Guy or me and my family the Bad Guy is going to lose ,no second thoughts
 
The decision to carry a weapon of any kind, along with the possible ramifications, is a very personal decision and as such should not be influenced by anyone else.
I’m sure that you mean well, but the best thing you can do is let your uncle make this decision by himself.



Safe Shooting All
 
Well, that is the reality of the thing isn't it. Shooting in self defense is not shooting to kill, but shooting to stop a threat. Of course, we have to accept that shooting to stop a threat could easily result in the death or serious injury of another person. If your Uncle is not ready and willing to take such action in his own defense or in the defense of another, he has no buisness carrying a firearm. I suggest a taser and/or pepper spray. He may be willing to spray someone. Don't push him is my advice. He will just entrench in his position.
 
carrying is a exercise in extremes--

you have to practice as if (it does) your life depends on
doing the thing you least want to ever do--

shoot another human being.
 
Of course I hope that I never, ever need to even draw my gun.

But the reality is that there are bad people out there so I prepare. Having already been in a life-or-death situation, I have worked it out mentally that I'm fully prepared to kill to preserve my own life and especially that of my family.

The bottom line for me is that if the bad luck that floats around ends up over your head today, will you at least try to save your own life? No? Then don't carry. But it's a personal choice.
 
Decision to carry is a personal choice, and does involve acceptance of responsibility for self defense when danger is imminent.
 
Killing someone is not difficult. Living with it afterward is the hard part. Many people do things in the spur of the moment that they feel bad about the rest of their life.
 
Most uses of a concealed handgun end without ever firing a shot. There's a really good thread at THR where pretty much none of them have a shot fired: Carry stories

However, I think the reason to carry comes down to a sense of self-preservation and a determination to protect self and family. Killing an assailant isn't something easy to do - but if justified, it is far preferable to the likely alternative. I'm not sure what consolation that might do for you, but that's my 2 cents.
 
Short and straight to the point. I agree. Those who wish to do others evil should expect consequences. I will provide consequences, in the event I am threatened with imminent danger. I will defend myself and family. I find the actual question of ethics in concealed carry so convoluted in thinking, that I can can only hope that our populace has some thread of redemption, for their insular "civilized" attitude. We are talking threats of death or serious injury to ourselves and those we love. Does anyone deny that such horrible events are traumatic to us? People who survive assaults or violent deaths of loved ones are often scarred emotionally for life.
 
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if you are looking for trouble then you are a dead man walking.
I don't "want" to kill someone per say. But, in reality you train to be able to rely on what you are used to doing at the range/competitions. So, even if you are scared you would be able to handle it.
Most people will pick themselves over someone else if they had a choice to live. People who carry are no exception.
it is your uncle's personal choice. so be it.

My personal suggestion to you is to go look at this website, and STUDY it intensely.
http://nononsenseselfdefense.com/
 
Your Uncle has to make this decision on his own, no family arm twisting.

Those who use a gun on somebody, however justified, must live with the possibility of PTSD for the remainder of their life.

Life is not always easy or fair, despite what you see in films or on TV.
 
Anyone with a CCW must be proficient with firearms, and more so, very knowledgeable of the laws governing when you can, and can not use the firearm to defend you or others. What is deadly force? Another gun, knife, baseball bat, 2x4, hammer?

And... you must be able to use your weapon, when the threat is eminent, or it will be used against you or others. Better off unarmed at that point, if you hesitate.

A legally armed citizen in my state, happened to interact with an assailant in a shopping mall armed with an AK 47. He had already shot innocents. The CCW person had the OPPORTUNITY of surprise on the creep, and chose to "WARN HIM TO DROP THE WEAPON". Edge lost. He is alive, but paralized from the neck down.

And, if you choose to confront the creep, who is in you backdrop? Killing innocents is not something you want to live with. Better to back off, unless you are very good, or using a load than will not penetrate the creep and hurt others.

If you CCW, you need to learn, and run through mental excercises about what would I do if....... (no shortage of situations).

If in doubt, don't unholster your weapon ( or even appear to reach for it) Your odds of surviving are better. And, as much as you want to help the situation, standing down may be the best course. We are not all trained as much as the professionals.

A lot to think about, but part of the responsibility.
 
Yes. Proficiency is absolutely necessary. And the "what ifs" should be in the forefront of the brain. Anticipation, vigilance will prevent scenarios from having to be dealt with. I thought these considerations were a given, but one shouldn't assume....:rolleyes:
 
What is the alternative?

You would only kill someone if they were a threat to you or your family. So would you rather the bad guy hurt/kill you?
 
I do armed security for the department of the army so I've had to consider the possibility of ending another person's life already
 
If you are worried about your ability to fire the CC weapon when needed, you should change to a different - non-lethal - device.

Personally, I would never shoot to kill another person. I think that I could however, shoot to stop them from harming me or my family. Sadly, that is not a choice I can make as my state of Wusconsin won't allow honest, law abiding, tax paying citizens to carry a weapon to defend themselves against dishonest, law breaking, tax cheating scum that are carrying illegally.
 
Give your uncle time. IF he wants some advice or someone as a "sounding board", let him initiate it. For some people, it's really an act of courage to admit they can't "go along" with everyone else and use a gun to shoot another person.

I cannot say I will never shoot someone with the intent of killing him. Heck, it may be better if Achmed is the dead terrorist. What I can say is that when or if I have to use my firearm, my primary purpose is to stop one person from inflicting potentially serious or deadly injuries on me or other persons. If the person shot dies as a consequence of a chain of events S/HE started by threatening another person's life, then so be it.

I wake up every day with a peaceful mind. I don't want anyone hurt or killed. I don't go out looking to hurt or kill people. I don't get mad enough to kill someone who insults me or makes noisy "hot air" threats. Those who decide to act on their emotions have made THEIR choice to hurt people. They should expect someone to stop them. Forcibly if necessary. It'll be HIS decision to instigate violence that brings his demise by violence.

Me? I simply pray that my aim is straight and he stops right away.
 
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