Hey everyone i saw a thread like this on another board and decided to post one here to get the ball rolling.I decided to carry because of two things.1 My older brother was shot when i was younger,and 2 I once had a girl,I'll retype that GIRL put a 9mm Beretta to my head.I am not ashamed to admit here for all to see that i just about crapped myself.No kidding here guys if you've ever looked down the barrel of a gun you know what i mean.The broad even had the saftey off! I could see the orange dot on the slide,i don't know if it was loaded but the desired effect was a there i was scared s***.I don't belive i deserved this but it happened just the same. Earlier in the week her boyfreind had been driving her car and rear ended me at a red light.He was busy playing with his radio he said. Anyway there wasn't much damage to my car and i wasn't hurt so i said we didn't need to call the police and could handle it between us.So i go to her house the address he gave me, her house and there he is on the couch,so i say can we settle this or whatever.She goes atomic and says that it was my fault and she isn't giving me a dime.I say i don't want money and i'am not hurt i just want my car fixed.She didn't like my idea and out came the gun.Anyway i want to have a desicion in how i go out.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CARRY?
- Thread starter 45automan
- Start date
I carried off and on for years whenever I felt I might need to. This was before my son was born. For my first father's day gift, my wife paid for me to get my CHL. Now I carry all the time. I am a husband and father who has a responibility to protect my family. Since no one else cares about them like I do, I have no choice.
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Beware the three D's: The dumb, drunk, and deranged. Chadintex@hotmail.com
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Beware the three D's: The dumb, drunk, and deranged. Chadintex@hotmail.com
The area where I live in AZ has seen a massive growth in the last few yrs.A large percentage of it bad.I have a cousin who works in the sherrifs dept and he showed me the list of gangs operating here.
I had seen the signs before this(colors-graffite-baggy pants-low riders)
and had gotten my CCW. Found a site on the web where you punch in your zip and gives you the chances of being a victim of a crime.On a scale of 1 to 10 the area is now a 7.
Funny when I moved here 14 yrs ago 90% of police calls where for barking dogs.
I won't even say where most of the gangs are from!
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beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
I had seen the signs before this(colors-graffite-baggy pants-low riders)
and had gotten my CCW. Found a site on the web where you punch in your zip and gives you the chances of being a victim of a crime.On a scale of 1 to 10 the area is now a 7.
Funny when I moved here 14 yrs ago 90% of police calls where for barking dogs.
I won't even say where most of the gangs are from!
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beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
This is a very simple question for me; my rationale follows:
a) My ultimate responsibility is to protect myself, my family, and (if possible) other innocents.
b) The police do a fine job, but they cannot be on-scene continuously or immediately.
c) That means the responsibility for personal protection ("a" above) is mine.
d) Our society has many armed criminals.
e) Adequate protection from these felons requires the potential use of firearms.
f) Thus I carry concealed -- plus lots of training, practice, and sound judgement -- to provide constant, reliable self-protection.
a) My ultimate responsibility is to protect myself, my family, and (if possible) other innocents.
b) The police do a fine job, but they cannot be on-scene continuously or immediately.
c) That means the responsibility for personal protection ("a" above) is mine.
d) Our society has many armed criminals.
e) Adequate protection from these felons requires the potential use of firearms.
f) Thus I carry concealed -- plus lots of training, practice, and sound judgement -- to provide constant, reliable self-protection.
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello all. Recently retired from a 25 year police career, I "know what's out there." I always carried off-duty for self-protection and now do so because the only thing between you and the goblins is chance. I prefer to have a fighting chance than depend upon their sense of right and wrong...which, by their actions, is warped. Best to all.
45automan; It was 1979 or maybe '80 in the San Francisco bay area. It was late at night on a freeway entrance ramp. It was basically an attempted car jacking. Long story short I got out of the situation goin' four wheelin' in a two wheel drive Supra. Turned in a full report to the CHP. They wouldn't even accept the report because I couldn't describe the driver. Bought my first handgun after that (a Walther PPK). Bottom line is this- When you need them the most the police won't be there. There's just not enough of them to be everywhere. You and only you are responsible for the safety of yourself and family. The police will be there after the fact writing the report. Best, J. Parker
Daren Thompson
New member
Because I can and rights are like muscles they need to be used or you will lose them.
Later
Daren
Later
Daren
Let's step back in time to October 13th, of
1994. Time was a bit after noon, in broad
daylight. My mom and dad were both in area
hospital's. My wife entered the driveway to
their house, in order to feed and water two
small dog's that they owned. In her sub concious mind she exited the vechile, in
route to complete the task mentioned. Out
of nowhere, pops a BG gun in hand; and promptly applies the business end to the
side of her head, while his other arm is
choking her and states "Give me the f*****g key's or I will blow your GD head
off". Needless to say, she complied
after strongly considering tossing the key's
out into the yard. That SOB not only got the
car; but my mom and dad's social security
check's, wife's purse w/content's, and all
personal belongings that were in the car.
Five day's later, a Bessemer, AL police motorcycle officer see's the perp driving
her car!!!
After a "00" call he stopped
the car and a scuffle ensued. After backup
arrived, the perp was arrested, later convicted and is currently serving 32 years
in the "big house".
But, what if this SOB escapes, is pardoned,
or paroled? Who do you think would be his
1st victim? I don't plan on it being me or
my family; that's for sure!!!
Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
PS: Read and Understand; For This Was A Real
Life Experience, Not Made For the T.V. Series
"COPS".
1994. Time was a bit after noon, in broad
daylight. My mom and dad were both in area
hospital's. My wife entered the driveway to
their house, in order to feed and water two
small dog's that they owned. In her sub concious mind she exited the vechile, in
route to complete the task mentioned. Out
of nowhere, pops a BG gun in hand; and promptly applies the business end to the
side of her head, while his other arm is
choking her and states "Give me the f*****g key's or I will blow your GD head
off". Needless to say, she complied
after strongly considering tossing the key's
out into the yard. That SOB not only got the
car; but my mom and dad's social security
check's, wife's purse w/content's, and all
personal belongings that were in the car.
Five day's later, a Bessemer, AL police motorcycle officer see's the perp driving
her car!!!
After a "00" call he stoppedthe car and a scuffle ensued. After backup
arrived, the perp was arrested, later convicted and is currently serving 32 years
in the "big house".
But, what if this SOB escapes, is pardoned,
or paroled? Who do you think would be his
1st victim? I don't plan on it being me or
my family; that's for sure!!!
Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
PS: Read and Understand; For This Was A Real
Life Experience, Not Made For the T.V. Series
"COPS".
My incident goes a long way back, to when I was 18. That's 44 years ago, for the record. I was living in San francisco at the time. To make things simple, six punks pulled me out of my car at a busy intersection and stomped the crap out of me for kicks. There was a bus stop right there next to a busy gas station. About 15 people at the bus stop, and maybe 5 or 6 more at the gas station. Nobody intervened while I was getting stomped, nobody took the trouble to get their license number, or even call the cops. Some of the ba$tard$ even cheered the punks along. After they left, somebody finally called the cops. After 5 days in the hospital, which I could ill afford, I went to the gas station to get my car. That bum actually charged me $5.00 a day for storing my car.
The next day I bought a .45 ACP. Althugh the only way you can get a permit to carry is if your name is Feinstein, I carried anyway, and still do to this day. I also haven't live in S.F. or California for many blessed years.
Paul B.
The next day I bought a .45 ACP. Althugh the only way you can get a permit to carry is if your name is Feinstein, I carried anyway, and still do to this day. I also haven't live in S.F. or California for many blessed years.
Paul B.
When I was little bad people called the house and threatened to kill us. Sometimes FBI agents had to take me to school. We lived in 5 different states before I was 7 years old and when we finally settled in OKC we lived in 4 different residences between 1964 and 1977, when my dad retired. I would say that it was the environment that I grew up in is why I carry.
D Crockett
New member
I'm a decent sized guy, 6' tall and 230lbs., but twice I was almost accosted w/ my wife w/ me. Once my pistol was in my car while we were about to get in, the car was locked and I wouldn't have had time to get it. I decided to keep one on me at all times from then on. I now have a wonderful little son. I absolutely refuse to let anyone harm them if I can stop it.
My always piece is a Colt Pony .380 and my others are a "pre-coward" S&W 3913 and a Kimber .45. I love to shoot but my practice is also purposeful.
Dave
My always piece is a Colt Pony .380 and my others are a "pre-coward" S&W 3913 and a Kimber .45. I love to shoot but my practice is also purposeful.
Dave
I figured that when something really, really bad was about to happen to me, there would not be any police officer standing near by to save me. I got that smart shortly before I joined my first police department. After that I knew for sure that my thoughts were correct.
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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
[This message has been edited by Jim V (edited July 08, 2000).]
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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
[This message has been edited by Jim V (edited July 08, 2000).]
A friend of mine was raped and wanted someone to go to the classes with her. That's why I have the licence.
Why do I carry now? Because I can. I live in a "poorer" part of town and like to walk to places instead of driving, and Utah has a history of various types of people getting "jumped", Including smokers, of which I used to be one. Also people who wear leather, Ditto, and eat meat, Double ditto.
Why do I carry now? Because I can. I live in a "poorer" part of town and like to walk to places instead of driving, and Utah has a history of various types of people getting "jumped", Including smokers, of which I used to be one. Also people who wear leather, Ditto, and eat meat, Double ditto.
The world is a dangeruos place. If we don't take care of ourselves and our families, who will. What are the chances of the police being at the scene when a crime goes down? As we know bystanders will just watch and usually don't interevene out of fear for their own well being and some won't just because they don't care. I carry a gun because I need to. I also carry it because as someone else said it is my right to do so and I exercise that right. I live in the State of New York which has one of the toughest gun laws on the books. If I wanted too I could have an illegal gun in 5 minutes with just a phone call. Those laws only hinder those people who stay within the legal system. Do crooks and robbers get their guns thru proper channels? Of couse not so what good are gun laws. I'm sure that in those States that have less restrictive gun laws where people can carry guns, that the violent crime rate is less. A felon doesn't want to wind up in a gun fight. Geeze look at me up on the soap box! Anyway If you can legally carry a gun I recommend it. If ya can't legally carry then ------- ( But don't get caught! )
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***Torpedo***
Life is great if you can survive it!
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***Torpedo***
Life is great if you can survive it!
The small community I live in has damn near zero crime. I used to work nights in the nearby city, and that's when I started to carry. Loading out of clubs (I worked concert sound) at 3:30am in the back alleys with several thousand dollars in small, used bills and tens of thousands in equipment gets your guard up something fierce. Now I work days in the rural community, but my gun is still with me. Not on me 100% but with me %100. In the city, it's carry full time with a full size hi-cap automatic.
If I grab a smaller gun soon (which is the plan) I'm likely to go full time all the time, even with the low low crime rate.
Reasons?:
No big catalyst, just that if the detritus strikes the oscillator I'd rather have one than not. And having one does not put enough mental strain on me that I'm willing to run the odds that 'it won't happen to us'. Besides, it's my responsibility. If anything happened to my wife, my life would end.
If the situation arises, everything's going to change. If I ever had to shoot someone...I can't even imagine what that would be like. I'm a peaceful man, it would shatter me. But the reality is, if it ever came to that, my life is going to be forever changed whether I like it or not. And the decision has been taken out of my hands. I can either sweat out the aftermath in long fitfull nights of no sleep, or I can do it 6 feet under...or doom my friends or family to that fate, god forbid. If it happens, it happens. I plan on being ready to do my level best.
Honestly, if it came right down to it, if it was just me and him alone...I don't know if I'd hesitate. I just might. I just might think 'he's not really going to shoot me, no way'. It just might be the last thing I'll ever think. But if it's my wife (or someday my kids), not on your life. I'd have the weapon into action before I even realized it was happening. In an instant. I have no doubt. I just hope all those range hours will have taught the lizard brain to put enough of the rounds in the right place.
- gabe
If I grab a smaller gun soon (which is the plan) I'm likely to go full time all the time, even with the low low crime rate.
Reasons?:
No big catalyst, just that if the detritus strikes the oscillator I'd rather have one than not. And having one does not put enough mental strain on me that I'm willing to run the odds that 'it won't happen to us'. Besides, it's my responsibility. If anything happened to my wife, my life would end.
If the situation arises, everything's going to change. If I ever had to shoot someone...I can't even imagine what that would be like. I'm a peaceful man, it would shatter me. But the reality is, if it ever came to that, my life is going to be forever changed whether I like it or not. And the decision has been taken out of my hands. I can either sweat out the aftermath in long fitfull nights of no sleep, or I can do it 6 feet under...or doom my friends or family to that fate, god forbid. If it happens, it happens. I plan on being ready to do my level best.
Honestly, if it came right down to it, if it was just me and him alone...I don't know if I'd hesitate. I just might. I just might think 'he's not really going to shoot me, no way'. It just might be the last thing I'll ever think. But if it's my wife (or someday my kids), not on your life. I'd have the weapon into action before I even realized it was happening. In an instant. I have no doubt. I just hope all those range hours will have taught the lizard brain to put enough of the rounds in the right place.
- gabe
Will Beararms
New member
I had a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun aimed at my head at point blank range during a convenience store robbery in Lake Vilage, Arkansas at the age of 12 years. From that point on, I knew it was better to have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.
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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
[This message has been edited by Will Beararms (edited July 09, 2000).]
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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
[This message has been edited by Will Beararms (edited July 09, 2000).]
Hmmm, a lot of factors. Guess the pump was already primed in some senses, since I grew up hunting with my dad and wasn't afraid of things that go boom. Already knew that guns weren't evil in and of themselves.
Then there's the rights thing. I've always been pro-Bill of Rights. All of it. As Daren said, rights have to be excercised or you lose them.
Then there's the kids. We have a houseful of them and my husband often works late into the night. That means it is MY job to protect the little guys. No one else is going to do it for me and the nearest police station is 45 minutes away. So we got a home defense weapon and I learned how to use it.
I recently got my CHL at least partly because I believe that if everyone who believes the whole Bill of Rights would go out and get one, most the politicos would take that as a mandate to leave the 2nd Amendment alone. It's an election year and I want to be a statistic.
Then there was my sister who went to college in LA. Her car got stolen four (yes four) different times in six months -- one of those at gunpoint. She wasn't really fazed by this. As she put it, "he only got my car." She and I grew up in the same house but she's an alien to me ... what do you mean, he only got your car??! He got your human dignity as well, didn't he? And that guy is going to get bolder and bolder, probably go out and rape or kill the next victim because nothing stopped him THIS time. I honestly believe that I have a responsibility to the rest of society not to be a helpless victim.
So there were a lot of factors. Right now I am learning more and more. Have picked out my personal sidearm and am casting around for the best method to carry it.
pax
Then there's the rights thing. I've always been pro-Bill of Rights. All of it. As Daren said, rights have to be excercised or you lose them.
Then there's the kids. We have a houseful of them and my husband often works late into the night. That means it is MY job to protect the little guys. No one else is going to do it for me and the nearest police station is 45 minutes away. So we got a home defense weapon and I learned how to use it.
I recently got my CHL at least partly because I believe that if everyone who believes the whole Bill of Rights would go out and get one, most the politicos would take that as a mandate to leave the 2nd Amendment alone. It's an election year and I want to be a statistic.
Then there was my sister who went to college in LA. Her car got stolen four (yes four) different times in six months -- one of those at gunpoint. She wasn't really fazed by this. As she put it, "he only got my car." She and I grew up in the same house but she's an alien to me ... what do you mean, he only got your car??! He got your human dignity as well, didn't he? And that guy is going to get bolder and bolder, probably go out and rape or kill the next victim because nothing stopped him THIS time. I honestly believe that I have a responsibility to the rest of society not to be a helpless victim.
So there were a lot of factors. Right now I am learning more and more. Have picked out my personal sidearm and am casting around for the best method to carry it.
pax
P
PreserveFreedom
Guest
I carry because I can.