What is your answer when you are asked why do you carry a gun.

When I carry a gun, it is to keep the idiots from beating my brains out for just about any reason. A gun is a great equalizer when faced with superior force or strength but it is not substitute for your brain.
 
Carrying

Other than my wife and sons, only a couple of others know because we shoot together and have discussed it. Concealed carry means concealed carry and you should not be in a position where anyone could tell you were carrying.
 
I see a lot of high & mighty stuff in this thread that I really want to call attention to, and hope you guys and gals will take it to heart rather than being offended by it.

First, let me concede a few points:
  1. Yes, concealed means concealed.
  2. Of course you lose the element of surprise if people find out you have a gun.
  3. Loose lips can cause problems.
  4. It's a bad idea to go around telling everyone you carry.

But, that's as far as I'll go with that line of reasoning. There are plenty of reasons people know that others carry.

As for me, I'm an advocate of both open and concealed carry. I spend a lot of time trying to educate my friends, co-workers and complete strangers about the second amendment and the carry of firearms. Not all people live in an area safe enough to make this known. I do. I'm very blessed. Therefore, I'm willing to sacrifice my "cover" and "privacy" in order to advance the cause and help those less fortunate.

If you really believe a firearm is just another tool (and it is!) why are you so concerned about trying to hide that you carry it? Do carpenters hide their hammers? Does a painter hide his brush? The trade is "staying alive", and ONE of my tools is my firearm.

Also, in some states you are required to inform the homeowner before entering their home with a concealed firearm. I happen to think that is a stupid law... but there you go. :)

Finally, for those of us who live in an area with a true gun culture (in my case it is Arkansas) guns are a topic of every day conversation. Eventually, concealed carry or open carry will come up. I don't go around telling people I carry! But if I have a gun conversation with another gun person I've never conversed with just once a week, I have 52 chances every year for someone to ask me whether or not I carry. I see no point in lying. I want people to know that they have friends and neighbors, all of whom are mentally competent and probably highly educated, who carry firearms on a regular basis. That promotes the gun culture and helps preserve and restore our rights.
 
I always tell people it is so my 3yr old son doesn't get killed by a meth head.

That usually shuts them up really quick. And if it doesn't you can to into details they usually don't like that.
 
There are so many possible answers of course. And many has been mentioned here...
I also think "because I can" is the simplest, hence most beautiful of all.

"I love them, don't you?" is also one of my favorites.

However regarding carrying, what I "would like" to say is probably "because I am no fool, who takes the risk of losing the most precious of all".
My one and only life...:)


All the best
 
Usually...it's 'because I can'.

As someone stated above, I try to avoid associating with anyone that would even ask that question.
 
A 9 year old boy gave me a hug the other day and felt my firearm on my right hip. He pulled back my coat and looked at it. His mother and father were standing behind him when he asked, "Why do you have that?" His parents, who both know I carry and why, looked at me to see how I would answer.

Remembering this is a 9 year old, I replied, "There are 3 kinds of people in the world.
"The good guys."
"The bad guys."
"And the guys whose job it is to keep the bad guys from taking over the world."
"I'm one of the last guys."

His dad spoke up and said it was to protect people who couldn't protect themselves. Now every time the little guy sees me he asks "Do you have my protection?" Yep. All the time. :)
 
Excellent, Old Timer! I've compiled a list of the most common things from this thread. I will post them below this post. But first: I think we should post some things specifically designed for children. My son is two and is finally noticing that Daddy carries. I'd love to hear how some of you talk to your kids and grandkids about why you carry. :)

Ok, here's the list, in no particular order.. some funny, some serious:
Because I refuse to be a victim.
Because when seconds count, the police are just minutes away.
Because cops are really busy and too heavy to carry around anyway.
The same reason I wear a seat belt and have home owner’s insurance.
Because I’m an impotent, rage-filled psychopath.
One word: Zombies.
Because I can.
Because it is useless in the gun safe.
A right unexercised is a right lost.
Because many men have wished they had a gun; few have ever wished they didn’t.
Because I love my children.
Because I’m a bitter conservative clinging to guns and religion.
Because evil never makes an appointment.
Because I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
“Why do you want to know”?
“Why don’t you?”
To prevent violence (if you open carry).
We can’t all be sheep or the wolves will run the place.
Because I’m an American.
Because hand grenades are too messy.
I’m too old to run and too weak to fight.
Because I know I’m sane - it’s the other guy I’m worried about.
Because I don’t want to get caught using a knife in a gunfight.
Because I am compensating for a small penis.
Because I am responsible for protecting my family. That isn’t something I outsource.
Because it gets scratched when I drag it.
Look around. Do you see anything else that will protect you right now?
Because the police frown upon carrying a Mossberg pump action 12-gauge.
Because my family needs me to be alive tomorrow.
Because free citizens protect themselves.
You’re wearing those shoes with that outfit and you’re asking me why I carry a gun?
To **** off liberals.
I used to carry a cop in my pocket, but I have small pockets and he ran out of air.
Same reason I carry a socket set and a couple wrenches in my car.
In case someone needs to be shot.
 
I can honestly say that in the last 20 years living in Wyoming, I have never had one person ask why I had guns or why I carried a gun. That's probably because 86% of all households own at least 1 gun.

I have had some people from other states; friends, family, etc... when I go to visit that like to talk about guns. But most understand the reasons. Even if they don't own guns. My mom; who still lives in New Jersey; LOVES coming out to visit. Even in her mid 60's, frail, and half blind; the first thing she asks when landing is: "What new toys did you buy? When are we going shooting". My sister in law came out with her this past summer and she had never held or shot a gun before. "Poor New Jersey". So; I brought out every single gun I own for her and my mom to shoot. Everything from 12 gauge to black poweder, to black rifles, to every handgun in the safes. After a lot of safety briefings, I let them go to town shooting a way. Their plan was to shoot for an hour or two and then we'd go to lunch and the lake. Well; 4 hours later and more than 1000 rounds later, they finally said we could go. But they had fun, and that's what matters.

So as long as you answer people will purposeful answers, I think they respect the gun owner/carrier. It's the "Because it's my right", "Because our forefathers..." type answers that don't do anything towards trying to educate and convert the anti-gunners, that make the gun owning community have to fight that much harder to keep our rights.
 
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