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

Most don't ask as they don't know, And the ones that do know don't need to ask why as they know already or carry themselves.
I live outside Columbus,Ohio and in many places it can be a dangerous place, More than the small town i live in. Im constantly in town alone or with my disabled mother, Which i feel her safety is my responsibility.

She would have her own CHL if she could take the test, But mobility restricts that. But she does have my PPS 9mm next to her hospital bed.
My father paid his deposit and was supposed to take his required 12 hour Ohio course and he backed out the night before, He regrets that daily when he leaves the house and cant carry like he would like too. But i do encourage him to take a handgun and keep it in his locked glove box in his car for long out of state road trips.

I know thats wrong, But at times i see him protecting his life more important than breaking a law.
 
I relished the irony of owning a handgun as a boarder in a large home in SoCal with the owners being anti's.

They reluctantly gave me permission to possess it with conditions that it be kept secure.

I was all of 26 years old at the time.

Late one night the phone rang in my room, and it was the resident husband urgently whispering, "Do you have your gun?! We think someone has broken into the house!".

No, I didn't say what you're thinking. :D

All was good, no home invasion, but my point was made for me.
 
What is your answer when you are asked, "Why do you carry a gun?"
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The short answer is: "To be able to protect myself and my family."

All wrapped up in that answer is a complicated set of beliefs, ideals, and emotions. But that is the basic answer.
 
A good answer in my opinion is that we carry weapons out of love. Love for our families, friends and countrymen. Love to protect them from potential tyrannical government, from enemies at home or abroad. Evil never makes an appointment. I just shows up on your door step.
 
Reason to Carry

I would rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6. On that note I hope to God I never have to pull my pistol out except to store it.
 
I've been asked by people who I know have an interest in guns as part of friendly banter, but only once by a non-gun person.
To the non-gun person I answered the question with a question: "Why do you want to know?"
When asked a question, you are on the defensive. By returning the question, the other person is now on the defensive, a sales technique known for generations. As a result, this person stammered, thought a bit, then burbled out that he was curious.
I responded pleasantly that I suspected as much, thanked him for his interest, and went about my business.

Ron
 
All of the above plus "because I'm brown." I'm hispanic, but I also look any variety of mediterranean/middle eastern. When I'm driving through small towns, I do get my share of looks, some curious, others hostile. You never know when some people want to be more . . . proactive.

Hell, I was in a diner in some one-stop sign place and everyone, including the police, was looking. I even had my pocket New Testament out and was reading it. So much for fellowship.
 
I beleive the reason that not all, but many people oppose or question this issue is a sub-conscious spirit of fear. When they see someone that carries, it forces them to face the reality that the world is dangerous and that it is reality that someone can walk up to them or any other person or a function and begin to kill with no warning. It reminds them of this reality that otherwise they want to ignore so they dont have to face this fear and fact of reality. They want to keep their thoughts in a safe place and frankly, an unrealistic place to try to maintain peace and security.

I understand the desire to feel safe, i really do, but the state of mind i described above is not reality and i feel we owe it to our family and ourselves to ensure we do all thats in our power to return home to eachother each and every day. There is a great chance that the majority of the people who oppose carrying a gun would change their views immediately if themselves or a loved one was a victom of an assult/murder or what have you.
 
Do you wear your seatbelt ? My first car was a 1965 Volvo which was the first car to have standard seatbelts. I've also had a fire extinguisher in my car since then. I've never needed either one .Was it a waste of time ?
One the other hand I know those who needed and had seat belts and guns and they were gratefull they had them.
 
My Answer

I have a number of liberal friends so I've been asked and, at one time or another, have given most of the above replies.

However, the time that stands out, for me, was one time when I came in my Dad's house and put my.45 Frank Paris-built Commander up on the mantel. My Dad, who started taking me hunting when I was 8 years old (with my new-to-me .22 rifle), said he wouldn't carry a pistol, and that he'd rather die than have to take someone else's life. I answered him by agreeing that it would be his choice. At that point my five year old daughter came in the room, and I asked if he were prepared to give up her life as well, or if he'd prefer to be able to protect her. My Dad and I rarely disagreed, and I believe that our disagreement stopped precisely at that point.
KS
 
While I cannot disagree, I do think this understates the real issue. If you need a gun, whether or not you have it, you or someone you love is in extreme danger. Perhaps something along the lines of:

I'd rather have it and not need it, than have my need for it be the last regret I ever have.

Of course as gun-owners we all know that if you need a gun, you need it RIGHT NOW.
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Isn't a better answer that you carry a pistol for all the times you think you don't need a gun, because if you think you DID need it, you wouldn't be going to the place in question?

If I thought I was going to need my seatbelt tomorrow- ie: I am GOING to be in a car crash...why would I hop into the car? But I wear the seatbelt, because while I don't think I'll need it, I'm not willing to bet my life that I won't
 
I open carry. So my answer is that I carry because I care about myself and my family enough that I hope it will cause a criminal looking for a target to move on. Therefore, I carry my gun as an instrument to promote peace around me. In addition, I care about myself and my family enough to have the means available to protect us, should a criminal decide to target us anyway.
 
When someone asks why you carry a gun?

I believe Sir Winston Churchill summed it up best, “ a gentleman will seldom have need of a handgun, but when he needs one, he will need one badly.”

Safe Shooting All
 
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