...just a loaf of bread...

I think leaving the house without a firearm in reach is a mistake. (notice I said I think, I didn't say all you should think like me.)

I am not looking for a chance to shoot someone (like many will quickly say), but I would feel bad my whole life if one of the few times I did not carry, something terrible happened that I could have stopped.

Alot of it probably boils down to whether you feel you are one that should intercede in a crime and defend someone. Many on this board feel that is a bad idea (only leos job:barf:), therefore they are probably a little more likely to not worried about being armed all the time.

Plus, since I have 5 kids, I normally have at least one child with me, which increases my desire to always have a weapon close.

I try to get in a pattern that I always have a firearm that I can get to. One good way to do this when out of the house is a BOB (bail out bag).

I try to never leave the house, even a short errand up the street, without the bag. I always have at least a 1911 or a keltec p3at in the bag. If I walk out the door, if I change vehicles, I have the bag.

http://www.countycomm.com/BAILOUTBAGGEN5.htm
 
I see where you are comig from, and I myself always carry. In fact, now, after the years of doing it, I notice it more if for some reason I don't have it. I can't feel it when I carry, but can feel its absence if I don't. BIG TIME.

I always think of the story I heard once. A guy, a CCW'er, stopped at a small gas station/convenience store to grab some smokes or some such. It was a well known store, in a "good" neighborhood, and he knew the people who worked there by name.

This was serveral years ago, just after the CCW had passed here, and some stores still had the infamous "rob me" (no guns) signs posted all over the place. The guy made to go inside, noticed the sign, and returned to his car, stowed the weapon, and went back inside. He was inside all of a minute or so, comes back out, and walks to his car, looking down at his keys, presumably fiddling for the correct one. (He was parked right dead center front of the store, maybe 10 feet from the door) He glanced at his keys for a second, stuck the right one in the door lock, and was immediately approached full speed from behind, the assailant instantly stabbed him twice, once in the back, once in the side, and as he hit the ground, calmly reached down, got his wallet, and ran off.

The poor guy crawled to the door bleeding like a pig, and they called the squad. Luckily he lived. The whole attack took split seconds, and he was stabbed nearly to death. He said it was so fast and so unexpected, that he still would have been stabbed had he been armed. He never would have even had time to reach for his gun.

Sorry about the long post, but the point I'm trying to make is that even though it is hard to do, and makes your life a hassle staying alert all the time, its much better than being dead in a gas station parking lot.

The guy even admits that he was totally zoned out, thinking about other things, fiddling with his keys, looking down, and not paying attention to anything. And it nearly cost him his life.
 
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The whole attack took split seconds
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Derius, this is another aspect we should be debating.

As always, thieves, burglars, muggers, etc., use speed to complete their crimes. Any delay exposes them to danger of injury or arrest.

Let's suppose for the sake of debate that I had a knife and the potential drug deal took place on my side of the parking lot. The entire event could have turned on one of the dealers saying, "Hey, look, there's a witness..."

If I had my druthers, I'd go for my wife's SUV, a fast getaway, and the hope that she had charged up her cell phone.

However, let's further speculate on the idea that they were quicker and got between me and safety. Let's also surmise I cut one of them, any one, on any place on their body.

Now we have a problem. Screaming. Witnesses writing down license plate numbers. Busy-bodies making cell phone calls. Off-duty LEOs running out of the grocery store. And then there's Harvey. A massive laceration to his forearm. And he wants a doctor.

While all of this commotion would undoubtedly take less than a minute, it is time in my favor, not the attackers.'

Any distraction, delay, peculiarity or unforeseen event helps me and befuddles the felons. A bank robbery was once curtailed because as the hold-up man demanded money, the teller simply said, "No." The robber had not anticipated that as a response, and simply left the bank.

What does aid the attacker is having his plan come off flawlessly. There he is. An unarmed, unaware, gray suburban guy. In basketball shorts, no weapon and diddly-boppin' across a dark parking lot.

Let me admit something to you. We've had fun in this thread. I hope it was of value. Even I'm laughing about the event. But I must admit there was this one "cold second" where I realized that all of my instincts, my research and my plans were simply being ignored because of my haste and my stupidity.
 
If I've got my wallet, I've got my gun. I've forgotten my cell phone a few times, but never my gun. That's just me. It's like having a condom. I'd rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.
 
Everyone has to decide for themselves how important being armed is, at any given time. When it's important enough, you'll dress around it, do the fanny pack, or whatever to make sure that the gun & some spares are along.

Making the accomodations to be armed is a mild inconvenience. Being caught unarmed when you really, really need to be armed can be fatal.

It sounds to me like you are solving the 'when' problem by listening to those little alarm bells that go off when trouble was a little too close for comfort.

Good plan, I'd say. Pay attention to them & make the necessary adjustments.
 
You dont need to be paranoid. Nothing happened and thats the good part. You still had your best weapon, your brain. Yes at times you may need a gun but i would take a man with a brain over an idiot with a gun anyday.
 
Hmmm... it is an interesting idea, to be out on the town and not have a way to defend yourself! I think it is an opportunity to evaluate the situation you are getting into before you get there, for instance when I go to the drive-up ATM and get $200, I would pull $20 off the top and sit on the rest just in case someone sneaks up on me.
 
kgpcr said:
Yes at times you may need a gun
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And this is the very sad part. I have one of the best, easiest to carry and functionally perfect firearms made.

If you have seen the thread entitled "Do you carry a knife?" you'll see that I own a very nice, totally customized Tussey .380 Auto.

I have no excuses. Not only is it a great firearm, but I distinctly told Terry to "butter it up" so it would be handy to carry "no matter what my circumstances" including against bare skin.

I'll usually pretty thorough in defining my travels. I ask myself, "Do I have a cell phone, enough money, air in my bike tires, a basic itinerary given to my wife...yada, yada, bada bing..."

I even rub my hand down my right front jeans pocket to make sure my knife clip is in the right position. (And many times sitting can shift even a tight clip.)

And while this is a firearms forum and we speak on issues surrounding guns, I still am asking myself how a fairly intelligent and worldly man can walk out into that world "in white" with the only thing finally shaking him out of this stupid slumber is the painful wail of crappy rap music?

When I use the term "dumb luck" we aren't kidding here.

If you want a chill up your neck, consider this.

Suppose a group of jackers and thieves were delibdrately using that late night lot for assaults.

I could today be dead.
 
What makes me more nervous (or sad) is the depth of paranoia exhibited in this and in other threads.

Me and SWMBO went out last night at 2am, unarmed, and we both lived.

WildbutheywhateverfloatsyourboatAlaska TM
 
Wildalaska said:
went out last night at 2am, unarmed, and we both lived.
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You touch on a very valid point.

When I came to Madison in the late 1960's it was common to stop studying at 2:00AM and walk downtown to get a sub sandwich.

Everyone did it, nobody died.

That same area is now the hot-bed of assaults and deaths of one woman and a fatal shooting (still being adjudicated.)

Times pass, things change. I lived on N.36th Street in Milwaukee as a child, played outside everyday.

A few years after we moved the side of my former home--under my old bedroom window--was hit by a shotgun blast.

If I have learned one thing in life is that the only thing that stays the same is 'change.'

Up until very recently my current subdivision was farm field. We used to be 'upscale.' We now have increased police presence, neighborhood watch committees and an increase in street drug traffic.

I now have to consider 'home invasion' when I re-develope my home for security and the replacement of doors, windows and glass.

You're right, I hate paranoia and I know people and situations where they have gone to extremes. I am addressing the issue of common sense and my mistakes. I don't believe it is prudent now to walk across a dark parking lot "in white."
 
What makes me more nervous (or sad) is the depth of paranoia exhibited in this and in other threads.
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Wild,

It makes me sad when people make blanket statements based upon their own limited experience and assume their experience is a reality for the rest of the world.

I grew up in a very high crime area. My job often takes me to Shreveport, LA. Shreveport currently has a higher per capita crime rate than New York city. I am often in the less affluent areas and I often see drug deals happen while I am sitting at red lights.

If you ever head my way I will be more than happy to take you to dinner, I believe I can provide some of the finest dining you have ever had...at an exclusive, dressy restaurant (my treat). When we walk out that night, if you don't feel like you need to move quickly to your car and/or have access to a gun then you are indeed quite foolish.

If you live in a nice area (I currently do) then good for you, but that does not mean being prepared for the worse is paranoid.

I believe...and cannot provide the link at the time, that the FBI estimates that 1 in 3 adult males will experience violent crime in their lifetime. I have not always lived in a good area, so I choose to be prepared. I am prepared with training, mindset, being alert, and being armed. If this makes me paranoid so be it. I also keep a spare tire, a fire extinguisher, an extensive first aid kit, and tools..That is part of being prepared. Guns are tools...try not to judge someones mental status based upon their choices of carrying a gun.

I have always said carrying a gun is a personal choice.
 
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Frozen ice cream in a double bagged plastic grocery bag is a poor mans mace...swing hard and you weren't unarmed.
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LMAO
Reminds me of this guy I beat the #3!! out if back in 98.....mint choc. chip i beleive.....browned bagged and then doubled up.

As police arrive
*Weeeew*
I duno cheif this ones pretty bad....looks like we have some blunt trauma followed by serouse paper cuts. This guy had it in for em.

HAHAHAHAHA : P
 
ha...

grew up in a very high crime area. My job often takes me to Shreveport, LA.
Click to expand...
...ok, I'll bite...Is Ernests' still open?
hometown...
Since I'm actually a " river rat " from that poor side of town to the east, across the river...I don't even recognize the place with all the influx of gamblin' money in the area...riverboats, ya' know...
...but it's sure different without the KoKoMo...loved the car-daddies and roller skates back in the dark ages...Southern Maid donuts...and my personal Friday night favorite...Monsours, rat downtown...oysters the size of which most have never seen, actual stand-up bar, and...oh welll...
rauch06.gif

yup, things change...but you shouldn't have to beat yerself to death over a trip to the ice-cream store...
 
ok, I'll bite...Is Ernests' still open?
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Why yes...actually that is the restaurant I had in mind when I mentioned the invite to Wild.

There are no donuts like hot Southern Maid!

I actually grew up in Ceder Grove. It was a really nice area when my parents bought their house. Not so nice by the time I was in high school. Downright scary after I got back and moved into the area after college. I am really glad I do not live there now.

If you are through east Texas drop me a note. I bet I can find a nice place for us to eat.
 
Wildalaska i would agree totaly!!! there are alot of super paranoid people here. They can be easily spotted as they wear a tinfoil hat so the Govt. mind control waves cant work on them. But seriously I dont know how some people live being so paranoid. Carry 3 guns and 2 knives to the bathroom and feel undergunned. But to each his own. i plan on having fun during my life and not live it constantly fearing someone else. I do carry but am not always looking for some one that may be a threat. Life is to short for that. I do use comon sense and that is the best weapon any of us have. at least if you have a good mind. and are wearing your tin foil hat!
 
Charles S said:
If you ever head my way I will be more than happy to take you to dinner...
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What I am hearing from this post, and the few that followed it, is that things are changing in many areas of the USA. What might have been paranoid in the 1960's is now prudent.

And again, we are all friends here and we are the good guys. From the quality of the responses here I would not be fearful if any of the members here carried under a CCW.

We are not the kind of folks who flash or brag. We are discussing an issue on how a family man shops for groceries, and has concerns about modern life.

In many areas of the country you can venture out in open carry. Right now, the most powerful handgun I own is a six-inch SW Classic 629-5 in .44 Rem. A common firearm for deer, and perhaps a common sight in our rural west.

If this discussion was to take place in Wyoming, we would think nothing of a rancher making a stop on the way home with that SW in open carry.

So, considering that, why is it such a jump in thinking to have a peaceful suburban man carrying a .380 ACP for the errands he has to run? And while a rancher faces a unique set of conditions, my conditions differ, but take many of the same safety considerations.

I didn't want to go toe-to-toe in a late night shoot-out with a 'banger and his homies pretending to be Seagal, (although I do want to sell him the .380).

I just want to be able to run errands safely and without fear.
 
It makes me sad when people make blanket statements based upon their own limited experience and assume their experience is a reality for the rest of the world.
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LOL

What I am hearing from this post, and the few that followed it, is that things are changing in many areas of the USA. What might have been paranoid in the 1960's is now prudent.
Click to expand...

And vice versa


WildbutowellthelurkersgettheideaAlaska TM
 
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