For Those Who Carry??

I carry consealed by choice, Because I'M not as young as once was,& work in some real bad places at night.
 
I carry concealed, my main ccw is a 1911, although sometimes ill carry my glock 20. My main reason for carrying is piece of mind, and I'm very efficient with both my ccw's.
 
Sigowner,

Something to ponder!

Was watching the news last night and they showed a couple attacks targeting more senior residence in Marion, Ohio. Made me think of this thread.

The attacks all had things in common:

1: Again, all victims more senior.....one a 93yr. old woman in which they duct taped her and threatened to kill her. Another was an older man(70's) in which they stabbed him in the arm just to show him they meant business.

2: All home invasions

3: BG's were all teens

4: and the biggest common denominator...the BG's were all wanting PILLS and money.

The teens were caught as when they were in the woman's house, she had one of those medic alert buttons around her neck and pushed that button. The alarm went into the dispatchers at the local LEO and the dispatcher was able to hear the whole conversation between her and the BG's. LE was able to hear first-hand this scums threats to kill her, their demands of pain pills and money.

I was so furious after seeing this, I had to take some blood pressure med. of my own.:mad:

Sadly, we have an enormously huge pain pill epidemic in this country. Addicts are realizing many more senior people are on some kind of meds. That makes us prime targets at home as well as out on the street.

After a bit of self debating, I'm gonna share something personal with you and others that may be teetering with the idea of getting a gun for SD.
Many years ago, my Step-Grandfather religiously took early morning walks for exercise every day. He did this for years. Took the same route daily which included walking a bridge crossing the Scioto River into downtown Columbus, Ohio. This is a very busy bridge especially with the morning commutes into downtown.
While walking over this bridge, he was stopped by a POS that robbed him. Demanding his wallet, GP gave it to him. The robber took the very little bit of cash out of the wallet and then proceeded to beat GP, talking trash to him about not having more money in his wallet.

No one stopped to help GP. Someone did apparently call LE but the damage was done. Medics rushed him to the hosp. He never made it out. He lived long enough to give detailed accounts of the incident to LE. A couple days later die'd from complication caused from the beating. Nobody was ever arrested.

He usually carried a pistol in his overcoat pocket but this particular morning didn't have it. Dad found pistol at GP's house setting on the phone stand by the front door as if GP intended to slip it in his pocket but forgot.

Who knows, maybe if GP would have had his pistol he would have had a chance to live and die of natural causes rather then his life cut short at the hands of his murderer. Knowing GP, if he would have had his pistol, he would have still given the wallet to the mugger without pulling his pistol but I know he would not have taken the beating had he had the opportunity to stop it. No doubt at some point during this altercation, GP reached for his pistol only to find it not there.

A sad reality is , as we start turning gray, there's a certain sub-human element of our society that thinks of us as easier targets. These are cowards,scum (many other names not fit for TFL) of the first degree. But the fact is, they exist and seem to have multiplied greatly in recent years.
 
Thanks Constantine.

This happened many years ago. The family trauma has somewhat healed but incidents like this, especially with loved ones , never completely leaves. The younger family members were advised not to go see him at the hospital. I did not, but did see pics. of him much later. A truly grotesque sight.
Today, sitting here rethinking this many years later, and having seen many 8x10 glossies of actual murder scenes, see the daily murders, kidnappings, B&E's etc. on the news, it's still mind boggling knowing what the capabilities of some humans are to others.

To the OP...
....This all may sound a bit dramatic. That's the reason I questioned sharing this.
Too, I see in one of your earlier posts statistics you've looked at in your area...
Not that it makes any difference but I just looked at the FBI stats for 2011 covering Phoenix and Chandler AZ.....my city of residence. Now, we all know that what is reported to the FBI is probably like the tip of an iceberg and many more thefts, burglaries and attacks go unreported. Chandler reported an incidence of 1/2 of 1% for 2011 for those crimes.....I did not include auto theft and a couple others because they generally occur without direct personal endangerment.....some here will probably disagree depending upon personal experience and perhaps direct experience such as LE.

As my luck runs, I would fall into the 1/2 of 1% stat. A risk I refuse to roll the dice on.

Please understand that when this happened to my GP, the crime rate wasn't near what it is today. Also, while it's good to know the crime activity around your area, by no means should you let this info. give you a false sense of security.
The remote area I live in has fairly low crime stats as well. Many don't even lock the doors to their homes let alone to their outbuildings, cars parked in the drives. Lately, home invasions are on the increase. Reason, as stated well by our county Sheriff "People have a false sense of security living in the country. Most criminals commit crimes of opportunity. Unlocked doors provides easy opportunity. Lock your doors and be vigilant about your surroundings. You are the first line in being responsible for your safety."
 
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The personal stories certainly touch the heart and give great support to the need to be prepared for the worst....including carrying a weapon. As pointed out it is very important to maintain a level of readiness to at least handle some of the many conditions that a person may someday find themselves confronted with. For me that means more than once a month and it means practicing numerous movements and situations....not just firing at that piece of paper.

Again I appreciate everyone sharing thougghts, feelings and especially personal experiences!
 
For me that means more than once a month and it means practicing numerous movements and situations....not just firing at that piece of paper.

...and who knows, maybe you'll just find a new hobby that you incredibly enjoy that so many of us retired Spring chickens are often searching for.

I can see a future 'range junky' in the making.:D
 
Shortwave,

I see..I don't think I'd be able to not know just what happened. Then again I don't think I'd be able to see what did. To have that as the last photographic memory of someone you love..that seems tough brother :/ my old man works still..he's 64 this year. We're financially ruined. My brother and I are working mainly with benefits. Mom and pop were let go from executive positions 2 years back.

Anyways, pop got robbed at gunpoint February 23rd this year..I was supposed to be there. It was the EXACT same day I broke my trigger finger and was in the ER. Where I stand at the shop, physically..who knows how else it could have turned out.

So, my pops carries his SCCY cpx -1. As I have posted here before it's always unchambered and he doesn't keep it on his person (that might have changed now) I posted a thread or two on here speaking of how I want to change his method. But was basically told to just leave him be. Really stubborn.

The man came in, rushed in, pressed ths gun to his back and demanded money. My pops didn't even bother reaching into the box where he has his gun just gave it all up and left.

Best case scenario happened and he wasn't harmed.

He says good thing I wasn't there..when I am there I carry my Glock 21 with 2 extra mags. God knows what would have happened.

If something had happened to my father that night I don't know how much more of a bitter human being I could be after that. Sucks when it hits so close to home. So happy he lives though. Sadly he's still working there...its a shop he went 50/50 on.


Everyone, good guys, us...always carry and train train train.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2
 
I carry concealed. 1) because that's the law here in Fla, and 2) because I'd rather not advertise the fact to everyone I come in contact with. Beyond simple political correctness, it's more of a tactical decision.

As to why, simply to protect myself and loved ones if ever the need were to arise. Much like a fire extinguisher, or a tire jack, I hope I never have to use it, but like my odds better if I have it than being without when I need it.

I'm 53 and I've had 3 experiences in life (all over 20 years ago and before I carried) where I was faced with a BG and a gun pointed in my direction. I consider myself extremely lucky, but don't like the odds on a 4th time.
 
I carry because.It finally happened I was in LA,-lower Atlanta 2 am when this group of young guys walks up & says,What would I like better a a$$ beating or empty my pockets.Well I was pretty sure that ment one in the same. About that time my friend walked up,So I thought it was a good time to let them no that theyre idea was'nt going happen.

I ask them what they would rather do,Walk on or get Shot,TOO my surprize they walked on. I'm to old to fool with 4 or 5 boys. Cant see laying in the street for that kind of crap can you?
 
This thread reminds me that we, until very recently, were prohibited by LAW from exercising the/our basic and Constitutionally Defined/Inherent right to self-defense or the right to life as spelled out by our great nation's Founding Fathers. Of course, there were those that did so using the Second Amendment as their respective CCW permit, but I'm just sayin'.

-Cheers
 
I carry concealed. 1) because that's the law here in Fla, and 2) because I'd rather not advertise the fact to everyone I come in contact with. Beyond simple political correctness, it's more of a tactical decision.

As to why, simply to protect myself and loved ones if ever the need were to arise. Much like a fire extinguisher, or a tire jack, I hope I never have to use it, but like my odds better if I have it than being without when I need it.

I'm 53 and I've had 3 experiences in life (all over 20 years ago and before I carried) where I was faced with a BG and a gun pointed in my direction. I consider myself extremely lucky, but don't like the odds on a 4th time.

I have also faced the business end of a gun 3 times in my life. I was robbed at gunpoint on 3 separate occasions. These all happened in a span of 11 years and before I even considered owning a gun. About a week after my 3rd robbery I applied for my CCW permit and bought my first pistol. I refuse to be a victim again.
 
As I am new to this site and have never carried in my life (66 years now) I would like to ask 2 questions. First, when you carry does that mean the weapon is fully concealed or do you carry "open" as on the hip? Second, and this should elicit many interesting reasons.....why do you carry? I know question #2 is obvious to many but after all my years on planet earth I have never had a need or encountered a situation where I needed to carry.

Then don't. My life experiences have been quite the opposite, and since I've dealt with most of the kinds of people you never want to meet, and have seen a lot of what people will do to other human beings, I'll continue to carry a gun at all times.

So, do what's confortable for you..... and whatever consequences come from that decision, come from that decision. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones.
 
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