Which Came First: The Gun or the Mindset?

N

NormOps

New member
Hopefully this is in the right section.

Lets have some thoughts on the concept of packing a weapon, concealed or otherwise.
The question is, when John Doe first started packing, was it because of a minset that he acquired, weather or not there appeared to be an immediate need?
Or did the idea of packing serve to make him more aware of possible threat?
How much does this mindset exist outside of the realm on CC?
Is the mindset (whatever you want to call it: survivor, prepared, aware, defensive) more important, or equal to the immediate access of a weapon?
Or, can we have one without the other and be effective?

Just some ideas to muse upon...

Eli W.
 
before they carried guns they carried bows and arrows
before that they carried knives and swords
before that they carried sticks and rocks

the desire to be protected is as old as humanity, the gun is just the latest tool for the job
 
I guess that would have to be where you are from or how your actual mindset is. It would probably be a "mindset" issue if you grew up in a tough neighborhood. If you grew up in a tough place you are probably thinking that you need to watch your own hide. It may be a "gun" issue if you are in a smaller more friendly town. Growing up you have seen the L.A. shootout and hearing about Columbine, and most recently V.A. Tech. I personally want to carry because of the mind set. I've seen this quote on here before but can't tell you who it is but props to them.

"It is better to have and not need than to need and not have."
 
Here, when I was a kid nobody thought much about open carry, a lot of folks did it. The Yankee's moved in and the town grew. They brought in their mindset, overwhelmed our goverment and sent the locals underground. 7-11 used to sell ammo on Las Olas Blvd. I can elaborate if you wish.
 
That's true, that things have changed pretty fast. When I was 4, it was "normal" for a bunch of us little 'uns to walk down the neighborhood street with our .22's, as long as we had an Eagle Scout with us. Just like Dennis the Menace with his omnipresent slingshot, it was just part of being a boy. There was little distinction made between a .22, a bow, an airgun, or a perfectly well behaved :rolleyes: little boy, totally unarmed, for the time being. It was self evident that you already got it in ya'. In that respect, the mindset came first, and I believe that it was in that mindset that the founding fathers found truth.
Today, I carried my P-95 while I was doing a bit of ammo testing with the .22's. On my own time, the P-95 is always nearby, because it's true that you just never know when trouble might find you.
I have never had to hurt anyone with a gun, though there have been times when I have held bad actors at gunpoint, and other times when I have fired, to let them know that I would. The gun is a tool that must be used wisely, and it's best to start learning that mindset at as early an age as possible.
 
Mindset

before they carried guns they carried bows and arrows
before that they carried knives and swords
before that they carried sticks and rocks

the desire to be protected is as old as humanity, the gun is just the latest tool for the job
Click to expand...
That says it all...the mindset has been there LONG before the gun. It's part of an instinct most of the "civilized world" has lost....it's called survival.
 
To have the mind set and not have a gun (or other weapon for that matter) means that your survival in a "bad" situation is at best precarious, . . . but not by any means pre-determined.

ON the other hand:

To have an M1A1 Abrams and not have the mindset, . . . in the exact same situation will just plain get you killed, burned, buried, forgotten, and the bg's that did it will laugh at you while they do it.

To me, . . . it's kind of a slam dunk which way I am, . . . and which way I prefer.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
This is from "The Dark Tower" series of books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(series)

Not a perfect fit for CC. But the idea that the mind and will is the weapon and everything else is just tools you just might have fits. (for me at least)

I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my gun; he who shoots with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I kill with my heart.
—Gunslinger's Creed.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not a warrior, I'm not a gunslinger, I'm just a fat old guy that carries a gun when he feels like it:D

WildiamthenormalguyAlaska ™
 
"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."


...and one of their unmentioned brothers thought "Hm, I could be next. We'll just see about that." and the arms war began.:D
 
"I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my gun; he who shoots with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I kill with my heart.
—Gunslinger's Creed. "

I like that, I'd never seen that before.

I think mindset is one of the things that we tend to overlook a lot in training. To me (and this is just my opinion) it goes hand in hand with a persons level of confidence.
 
Which Came First: The Gun or the Mindset?
Click to expand...

For me, the mindset. Once upon a time I was the victim of a crime. Now I am a gun owner and CHL holder. Call me a sheepdog (or anything else) if you like, but I am ready to protect myself and my family.
 
People have been armed since the dawn of civilization. As far as guns, the big change occurred around 1930 or so, when all of a sudden, for some reason, a "concealed" weapon was considered distasteful. This was probably a reaction to gangland crime, ala Capone, etc. Somehow the society thought we were elevated beyond the point of needing that, and that the police were there to protect us.
As we have always known, this is folly, pure and simple. But the public mindset is difficult to change. I for one, think that a concealed weapon is far more private, far less provoking, and far less disturbing to the sensitivites of the bleeding hearts. But somehow, it is perceived as "sneaky," and not fair.
 
I'm a husband who values his wife and knows he needs to be around for her, and do everything I can in whatever capacity possible to keep us safe. We have families who care about us and it's our responsibility to them as well. The responsibility came first, then the mindset, then the tools.
 
"I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my gun; he who shoots with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I kill with my heart.
—Gunslinger's Creed. "

I like that, I'd never seen that before.
Click to expand...

GlockJockey, if you like that you might like the book it came from:

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

This is the first book of a series, and it is quite good even for those who don't normally like King since it is written a little differently than most of his other novels. The Gunslingers are like knights in their day, and they are the ultimate Sheepdogs.
 
Read A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho). Written by Miyamoto Musashi. It will show you which is more important.

But I'll give you a hint. Musashi killed his last 30 men in duals with a wooden sword made out of whatever was handy. They used live blades.
 
Mindset

For me, mindset came first. I've carried a knife since I learned how to open one. I bought my first handgun at 21. Kept it in the car (legally) until I could afford the cost of a FL CCW. Mindset is THE most important aspect of self defense.
 
In my case, in Cali CCW was out, so I packed cutlery. Now in AZ I've got both cutlery and boomthing and after 20 years of packing the sharp stuff, in a close-range mess I'm more comfortable with that than a gun.

Same mindset, different tools.
 
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