Justifying the Gun

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Would anyone be surprised if at some point in the future the feds decided that issuing more ccw's was a threat to national security?

They might not take away those issued as retroactive laws are much harder to pass. They might just up the fees for renewal, or add more ways to revoke licences, like if you get a parking ticket.

You already loose your right to buy guns if a restraining order is issued against you. As I learned in divorce court, Judges issue these on demand, without any investigation, in order to, "protect the innocent."

If you wait till a series of events motivates you, it might be motivating others as well...that is motivating them to stop or freeze permits.

Remember, the anti gun folks first step to reducing guns is taking them from legal owners.

CCW gives you more rights than ordinary citizens. Those who do not exercize these rights may loose them.
 
I always have , liked hunting & shooting.
I grew up in a small rual area & both grandparents had plenty of land to do such.
I moved to Houston after the army & national guard.
As time has progressed ,crime has become where it happens everywhere [ small towns & big cities ]
So now, I have rifles for hunting ,pistols are for self defense & target shooting.
 
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it's better to have a gun and not need it than it is
to need it and NOT have it.
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That often repeated phrase may have reached cliche status but it is still very true and an extremely important point to remember.
 
I guess I don't understand the delima here. Why do you need justification to own a gun? This is America and you simply have the freedom to own firearms and use them for whatever legal purpose you choose. Whether you hunt for food, for sport, competition shoot or just like the engineering and or the look, of guns is purely your choice.

Justification with your wife may be a different thing but if she's buying the reloader for you......... I think it's great that so many people are now seriously looking into guns of all types and are finally standing up for their rights that have been slowly taken away. There is only strength in numbers!
 
MTHanded said:
Why do you need justification to own a gun? This is America and you simply have the freedom to own firearms and use them for whatever legal purpose you choose.
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Sometimes people don't want to buy things just because they can. They want an actual reason. There are plenty of things that I *could* do that I DON'T do simply because I have no reason to do them.
 
First, welcome back :)

Dodge DeBoulet said:
I live in a neighborhood in an area of Maine where crime just doesn't seem to happen.
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Not saying I don't believe you, but how many times have you read a news story about some crime and the neighbor quoted says "This is a quiet neighborhood" or "We never expected it to happen here". No one ever expects it to happen to them, that's kinda how human nature is.

Now I'm not in peetza's second category, like you said you probably won't ever need a gun, just like the rest of us. But I don't think, now that you have one, that "I don't think it's going to happen here" is a reason to not carry. There are better reasons, "I don't want to risk an accidental discharge", "I won't be comfortable", "I just don't want to", or even "It's too much of a hassle". Those are all fine reasons. Just don't tell yourself it won't happen and hope you're right. You'd much rather be at least a little prepared and hope you're wrong.

Also, good find your wife is ;)
 
I bought my first handgun shortly after there was an armed home intrustion the next block over from my home and 50 yards from the school bus stop that my daughter used.

I got the "bug" and got my CCL and now carry concealed all the time. Thankfully, I have not felt the need to remove the pistol from my pocket under duress.

That said, I can think of two occasions in my life before guns that I now wish I had had the comfort of knowing I had a gun on me.

Once, I accidently cut off a driver who was in the "slow lane" and whom I did not see because of the blind spot. There ensued a chase in which I tried to escape him and he tried to catch me -- to what end I did not know. I was finally unable to avoid him pulling up next to me at a stop light, and he exchanged words only.

On another occasion I was walking my dogs late at night, and an SUV with tinted glass seemed to be on my tail for half a block or so. I just kept walking and eventually the SUV pulled away.

As I type this, I do not believe that either of these situations would have justified my pulling and brandishing a gun. But, as I said, I would have felt less endangered if I had had one to pull.

My wife is not keen on my carrying. But I justify it to her by insisting that I would much rather have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.
 
Owning a gun does not mean it’s for only one purpose. A shotgun is for hunting but can also be for self defense, or vice versa, or for just one but not the other. However, most of the shotguns in this country are for hunting.

The reasons and uses for rifles are identical to shotguns.

Handguns are a bit different in that few are truly designed for just target shooting, but many of those not designed just for targets are used for only that.

Whatever might be the firearm, or even a bow and arrow, many persons enjoy just seeing how well they can nail the bullseye, even with a sub-compact with its 2 inch barrel.

Of equal importance is that it enhances our 2A rights by establishing a base of gun owners to oppose the Brady Bunch.

I’m not paranoid but I enjoy punching paper, and a benefit from that is I get better at marksmanship, a necessity because I know they’re out to get me.
 
Sefner said:
First, welcome back
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Thanks, but I don't remember going away . . . :confused::D

Sefner said:
Dodge DeBoulet said:
I live in a neighborhood in an area of Maine where crime just doesn't seem to happen.
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Not saying I don't believe you, but how many times have you read a news story about some crime and the neighbor quoted says "This is a quiet neighborhood" or "We never expected it to happen here". No one ever expects it to happen to them, that's kinda how human nature is.
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Well, yes, but every time they show a picture of the neighborhood the neighbor lives in, it looks a lot more like a place I'd avoid at night than my neighborhood :D

Now I'm not in peetza's second category, like you said you probably won't ever need a gun, just like the rest of us. But I don't think, now that you have one, that "I don't think it's going to happen here" is a reason to not carry. There are better reasons, "I don't want to risk an accidental discharge", "I won't be comfortable", "I just don't want to", or even "It's too much of a hassle". Those are all fine reasons. Just don't tell yourself it won't happen and hope you're right. You'd much rather be at least a little prepared and hope you're wrong.
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When put in the same context as seat belts, home insurance, fire/smoke alarms, etc. . . . owning a gun for self defense makes sense. I suspect my potential for a situation where I will need to defend myself is roughly equal to any of those other life-threatening events.

Also, good find your wife is
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Well, buying her a new car probably greased the skids on the gun thing ;)

She's a good find nonetheless :D
 
Dodge DeBoulet said:
When put in the same context as seat belts, home insurance, fire/smoke alarms, etc. . . . owning a gun for self defense makes sense. I suspect my potential for a situation where I will need to defend myself is roughly equal to any of those other life-threatening events.
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Far be it from me to dissuade your purchase of a firearm for self defense but the likelihood of needing to defend yourself with lethal force is MUCH, much lower than any of the other aforementioned reasons. Most of us can do a little "personal survey" and arrive safely at that conclusion. How many people do you know that have been in car accidents? Had house fires or floods? How many people do you know that have needed/used a firearms in self defense.

I know of NO ONE that I have any connection to (besides the internet) that has ever fired a gun in self defense, and that includes police officers (and I know quite a lot of cops). No civilian that I know has ever even been in a situation that MIGHT have needed a firearm, say nothing of drawing or firing one.

Still though, like I said, I carry every day, every where.

There are plenty of things that fall along the lines of "better to have and not need than need and not have". Some of those things simply fall to far off the probability slide or are exceeding cost prohibitive. Think of it. Is a nuclear bomb shelter not one such thing? Why are (most) of us not building them? Too damn expensive, too damn unlikely, too damn inconvenient. Guns are "cheap", easy and *relatively* likely to be needed.
 
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No reason to justify it. I really dont like the idea of carrying a pistol around. That doesnt mean i'm against the right to own, or carry guns. I'd be really concerned if politicians started pressing laws to eradicate OUR rights to own, and even carry pistols, we should have those rights. I still dont like carrying a pistol. There was a time, where i carried a big .40 caliber semi auto, but that was when i was doing bad things. I wont talk about them for legal reasons. After that passed, i saw no reason to carry a gun around. I can fight pretty well, dont really need one. Now that i'm doing the civily correct thing and working, my new job is smack downtown, and its actually right across the street from some bad neigboorhoods i used to frequent. I pocket carry a PF-9 but only to and from work. If someone tried to do somethin, i'd beat the **** out of them, not shoot them. If they pull a knife or gun, i'd shoot em through my pocket. Thats just my reasons for carrying but i own several guns. Only one i carry is a tiny little 9mm.
 
Well I guess I am the odd ball of people I know. (Always have been.):D
I have survived violent unprovoked attacks by multiple attackers more than once. I was stabbed 17 times in one of those by 4 gangbangers. I was only 18 that time and was unarmed. It was a rural town ouside of Ft. Worth, Tx. A place where the only crime that happened was vandalism, and the occasional domestic disturbace. Second time I was at a family member's house in a small town. I left my gun at home because I was planning on having some drinks. Long story short some of the neighbors jumped me when I was walking into the driveway. I fought off 8 of them. I suffered a broken nose, 2 black eyes, my lips looked like a pound of ground beef, 3 broken ribs, and broken right hand.
I have brandished my gun in defense. By the Good Lord's Grace never had to fire it. My girlfriend asked why I carry. I showed her the scars and she understood. I do not drink any more so I do not go to bars. I stay away from know trouble areas if I have no reason to be there. I live in a town of about 55 thousand and crime does happen here. Usualy nothing serious. Most is domestic disturbance, and theft. However murders, and home invasions have happened here. I live 4 blocks from a halfway house, and directly behind a no tell motel. I hope to never have to use a firearm in self defense. I will if I absoloutly positively have to. Honestly I have a lot of fun target shooting. I go to the range usualy at least once a week. My girlfriend goes with me, shortly after we started dating she went to the range with me. She has since obtained her CHL (her choice, and no pressure from me.) She now carries every day.
Can I justify why I carry? Yes. Do I carry when I can? Yes. Have I had to draw my weapon in the past 4 years? No. I practice the principle of Bruce Lee's teaching. If you see that there could be a problem if you continue walking up the street, cross the street and walk on the other side.
Nate
 
I own guns because my right to do so is inalienable. I'd own guns even if I never shot one of them. Just knowing I have the capacity to defend myself and my loved ones is a comfort and since it is my right, I choose to exercise it.
 
If you want some examples you might want to spend some time reading the posts over in "Tactics and Training". Lots of people post their experiences there.

Personally the reasons for my first handgun purchase only had a little to do with immediate personal/home security. Mostly it just seemed like a skill that I really should have in my tool box, like being able to change a tire or knowing some basic first aid. I had also been out shooting a few times with friends and found that I really enjoyed it. The only personal security issue I had really thought of had to do with camping/hiking/traveling with my girlfriend (now wife). I'd never been all that concerned about my personal safety but having someone else to protect changed my attitude somewhat. About the only time I've ever been glad I had a gun along was once when some "kids" came into our camp. They never overtly threatened us but at the same time they clearly weren't campers/hikers and made us both a bit nervous. Even then I was at least as happy to have our dog around as my gun (our dog didn't like these guys either and he liked everyone).

I don't carry on a daily basis because violent crime around here is still very rare and I've already got too much stuff I have to drag around with me. Also, there are a number of places where I can't carry and I'm not comfortable leaving it in the car. I do carry when out in the woods because even though the odds of finding trouble are low the penalty for being wrong when you're many hours away from the most rudimentary help is high.
 
Self Defense is a Good Thing

I simply enjoy the mechanical engineering aspect of firearms, not to mention the historical value of some, the variety in design, the physics of shooting.

The fact that they can serve in a moment of defense (or offense if need be), that they can bring meat to the table is added gravy to the recipe.

Justify, rationalize or just buying one (or more) you want, whatever the reason, I am glad I live in these U.S. of A., today and have more options than I can shake a stick at with regards to ownership.

Remembering Col Coopers words (paraphrasing here so I'm sorta remembering) that simply owning a firearm does not make one proficient just as owning a guitar does not make one a musician. Thus it is that training is fun and good for you.

There's always the FUN factor to throw into the mix.

As always, YMMV

Dodge... your wife... priceless, you lucky man.
 
My initial purpose in buying my first gun was self defense. That is still my primary purpose in owning them. That said, I do really enjoy sport shooting, target practice, etc. Heck, I even love cleaning them! I am a gun nut, no doubt about it. One issue I never dance around though is that my guns all have a primary purpose: self defense.
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Couldn't have said it better myself. Taking out a gun to "diffuse" or "neutralize" a situation is a pretty good way to get yourself a ride to the lock-up which will probably run up lots of legal bills and headaches. If that gun is coming out, the trigger is going to be pulled. If you don't have that mind-set, you will not survive and would probably be better off if you never had a gun in the first place. You must know in the far reaches of your mind that when you pull that gun, it best be to save your life or that of another human. You must be able to defend that in a court of law because you WILL be sued.

This topic has been debated here before. It is much better to stand before a jury of your peers with only your side of the story. A dead BG cannot testify against you.

It is your right to carry as well as your right not to carry. You have to make that decision and you have to live with the outcome of that decision. You must be comfortable with whichever decision you make.
 
Justifying the gun

My opinion is when you get older like most of many shooters .YOU WILL BE PREPARED FOR WHAT EVER COMES DOWN THE PIKE .Take this from a word of experience .Have it and not nead it is the best reason .:D
 
I have been an avid shooter for over 40 years. Unfortunately, I live in California....which means that getting a CCW is next to impossible in LA County. So, I don't have one.

I have never been the victim of a violent crime or used my firearms to save my life/property/protect my family. That doesn't mean that my firearms haven't been useful. Several times I've walked downstairs with my .357 to check out "noises" that frightened my wife. During the Rodney King riots, peace of mind was had as a result of these firearms (can't admit to any misdemeanors, but may have carried without a permit during this time).

My wife likes to ride her horse at night...no one is at the stables and my presence (armed) provides the peace of mind needed to enjoy that ride. We make a lot of road trips and travel in the security of knowing I have protection, if needed.

I have LOTS of justification for the gun.....
 
You don't need a car, a TV, a radio, a DVD player, or your computer either.

I don't "need" a gun; I need my rights and so therefore I can have one, or ten, or 100...but justifying it?

Seems like a need must be cited to make it "OK" to have? personally I'd say that's a losing proposition- the argument exists becasue one side of the equation wants to never want to think 'guns are ok', in my opinion. It's just a fight, an argument that nobody will end up being the good guy on
 
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