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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Point-Counterpoint Why do you carry (or want to carry) a firearm? Topic Closed|
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Highly Experienced Member |
BV suggested I post this as a separate thread, so here goes:
For me, I don't see a need to do so. I'm perfectly aware of all the violence in the United States; after all, I was born and raised in a city far more crowded and violent than most of you have, I'm sure (south side of Chicago, with gangs on the periphery of my neighborhood in three directions). I was once shot at from behind, and also was robbed once at gunpoint. I've survived on this planet for 50 years, only owning a rifle for a brief period of time when I was a hunter. I'm perfectly aware, as a person who has been the victim of racial-related hostility in the Midwest, of man's inhumanity to man. I can also read about it every single day. So I have no illusions about life on this planet. But I'm still here, and the odds of my demise from a gun-toter, though they have increased exponentially since my return to the States, are still very, very small. If someone wants to lay their hands on me or try to stab me, they may come out of that ordeal thinking that it wasn't a very good idea (the knife carrier may have slightly better odds). So I'm not afraid to defend myself and have always been perfectly capable of doing so. You see, in my personal experience, I see absolutely no reason to pack a pistol as an accessory when I leave my home. There are certainly thousands of them around me at any given time; I currently live in a concealed carry state. Now, I have no idea who has one and who doesn't, and frankly, I don't really care. But I also know that otherwise law-abiding citizens have a bad day, walk into a crowded restaurant, and shoot up the place. It happens every day. Fortunately for me, that sort of thing happens in the types of places I don't frequent anyway, so I don't worry much about that. I just don't see myself under that kind of threat. Call me what you want, I don't really care. I'm still here, and have no choice as to what my manner of passing will be. The day I have to carry a weapon to get through a day, that's when I need to find a better place to live. The Second Amendment assumed that America would not have a standing army. The framers of our Constitution were against the concept. So, the people would be called, when necessary, to do that which would be necessary to prevent America from falling under the control of a foreign power, or even perhaps from the tyranny of those from within. Now, with all the layers of law enforcement we have here - and the average American is subject to the control of at least four (municipal, county, state, and federal), one would hardly see a need for the average American to bear arms to protect himself. And those four layers are pretty well-regulated and populated by the average citizen, so one could assume further that those persons who bear arms as peacemakers would be all that is necessary, especially since all those persons, active and retired, usually have the right to bear arms on and off duty. But I'm not here to advocate taking anyone's guns from them. The Constitution gives that right, and I am not against it. My whole thing has to do with reasons, and nothing more. People can say that law enforcement is not there to protect, through active means or passive deterrent means. Fine. I'm not going to split hairs on that. My question, again, is why the environment you live in is such that you feel a need to be able to protect yourself with a firearm. Not your wits, not your hands or feet, a club, or a knife - but a gun. And guns are pretty much a thing that, once you let that little bullet fly, you can't take back, nor control. How 'bout it, guys? Forget the 2d Amendment and state law. Why is your environment so unsafe that you have to be strapped? We can do stuff "just in case" all the livelong day. It is said that the Vice President has a HAZMAT suit in the trunk of his car at all times, "just in case", but if nasty stuff is in the air, he ain't getting that suit without taking a whiff of what he thinks is going to kill him. So, again - why? No slogans, no quotes from someone else, no cutesy posters. Tell me, in your own words. I'm sure you don't do it because you want everyone to think you're a badass or something, so let's go in another direction here. Let's talk about how what we see, hear, or read makes us want to do so. |
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"The day is wasted in which you learn nothing" |
I can see why one might be curious about this matter. I can even imagine why one might ask this question. I have a hard time understanding why anyone would reveal, publically/online, why he believes himself vulnerable enough to pack. Seems like that's just inviting "bad guys" to test your vulnerability. Further, I wonder just who would reveal precisely whether he is armed, whether on his person or in his home. Again, declaring you possess weapons seems like an open invitation for a home invasion or home burglery at least. We can hope for annonymity but we can be found. A little paranoia is a healthy thing. I choose to let would-be invaders remain paranoid about whether/how well armed I am.
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"Sarcastic Member" |
Same reason yo get most forms of insurance: Better to have and not need than to need and not have.
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Experienced Member |
Because there are so many crazed lunatics running around loose?
 There is also a difference between the right to carry a gun, and actually doing it every day. Why would I carry a gun to shop at the Met? I can always run if necessary. But what if a particular task leaves me in a position where I cannot run? Perhaps it would be wise to make use of "My Right," and use it. What if someone has it in for me, and is a specific threat? The police wont do anything for some peasent like me. Dave |
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Set This World Ablaze |
Because to me, it's part of being an American.
The 1st Amendment guarantees my right to free speech. That's a right I exercise everyday (without a permit) and one I would not wish to simply ignore, or give away. Same thing with my right to keep & bear arms. Plus I'd just hate to be in a situation where my gun could possibly save my life but instead I left it home because it's too much trouble. |
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''Dance like no one is watching" |
How do you figure? If I was a burglar, or rapist, the last house I'd go into would be an armed one. "It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong" -- Leo Roskin |
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When I say "knock it off" I mean "knock it off".  |
Because I can and because there is a semblance of security in doing so. (Along with the knowledge and expertise in using said weapon.)
Maybe there is a lack of faith in the ability of the police to protect everybody all the time (which isn't really realistic now, is it?) and we should do our part to be vigilant. Of all escape mechanisms, Death is the most efficient. ~~ H.L. Mencken |
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Experienced Member |
Because....I can!!
And there are times when Mountain Lions or Cougars like to come into town. So I'd like to have something available to me. The cops cannot be everywhere. |
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Member |
I would like to NOT feel the need to have a firearm where I can get at it in a hurry. However, I am constantly amazed with disbelief how often I'll read about or hear the news of a horrific crime that occurred either within my neighborhood only blocks away and/or under typically innocent circumstances. While there are certain neighborhoods or parts of town we pretty much know are trouble spots, what can you do about the random shooting of people who were simply picking up groceries at the neighborhood store or the homeowner killed by burglars outside of those places? My neighborhood is NOT in the stereotypical "bad part" of town. I don't know if there's a transition occurring since the time I moved in 8 years ago since my retirement or if this is just a sign of the times. That's why it's such a shock to hear of a shooting or house invasion occurring just a few blocks away. Either way, I like improving my odds of surviving these types of incidents by having the means (and will) to do so.
Police, by definition, tend to only respond after a crime has occurred. Very rarely are they able to respond BEFORE a crime takes place outside of the scope of sting operations and the like. I will, however, make this statement: if you aren't willing to use deadly force, then don't buy a firearm. You need to be able to shoot center of mass, just like we were trained in the military, and then forget about it. |
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Highly Experienced Member |
I don't think the law allows for you to use a weapon to defend someone else - and I think you meant "vigilant", not vigilante. The latter takes the law into their own hands. Do you think that there's a problem in our society if you feel that you can't trust the law or the police? |
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Highly Experienced Member |
So what, in your environment, makes you feel as though you need to have one on your person at all times, 2d Amendment notwithstanding? Do you live in a violent area? |
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Highly Experienced Member |
So you carry it to shoot wild animals in your presence, threatening or not? |
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Member |
I would say as a rule of thumb, you cant trust the police.. a badge & gun does not an honest and upstanding citizen make. and those few bad cops DO ruin it for the multitude of good ones. i carry because i can, because i have the right to do so, and because theres never a cop around when you need one.  I think of my ruger as a fairly inexpensive life insurance policy, one i hope i never ever have to cash in on.Slow is smooth. Smooth is Fast. Speed is Fine, But Accuracy is Final. |
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Member |
You know, I am not so worried about what someone will do to me... I think I can handle that... but with the increased violence in the US against any and everyone... I will be prepared to protect my children and wife.
There is also the monster increase of violence against police officers.. we recently had a Texas DPS officer ambushed during a chase... the man pulled over around a turn, down behind his car, pulled a 12ga, fired 4 slugs... the first killing the officer before he even got his car stopped... two more rounds into the officer and then shot out his camera... I believe in rendering assistance as a responsibility of being an American... if the old man that witnessed the attack would have been armed, he wouldn't have saved the officers life, but maybe the outcome could have been different... the murderer ended up taking his own life when the police had him cornered in his girlfriends house... The officer left a wife of 5 years and a 5 month old daughter ... may he rest in peace and his family never doubt he was a great man to lay down his life to protect the people of the State of Texas. |
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When I say "knock it off" I mean "knock it off". |
Thanks for the correction on vigilant. Although that could have been a freudian slip???  And it isn't about not trusting the law or police it is more of an issue of whether they will be able to respond based on lack of size. Not enough cops means they can't be everywhere they are needed when they are needed. Therefore, it is prudent to do your part to ensure your own safety. I forgot to add: you are legally allowed to use whatever means necessary to defend anyone from a threat to their life. Of all escape mechanisms, Death is the most efficient. ~~ H.L. Mencken |
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Member |
In Texas if you are asked to render assistance you may... you have the right to protect youself, your family, and your property. You are also required to render assistance to law enforcement offiers that have been rendered incapable. I believe that almost all police officers are honest and honorable, that there are few that are reprobates and cause a problem for others. Maybe that is because my father was a law enforcement officer for 21 years and I personally know three that were shot in LOD, and one that was killed infront of my father while serving divorce papers. My biggest issue with the police of today is their attempt to militarize... I don't like them blousing their boots, wearing patrol caps, trying to look like a military unit... that is mostly city police around here... but still, they are the police not the Army or Marines. |
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Set This World Ablaze |
Not really, no. Plus I never said I feel the need to have one on my person at all times. I carry less than half the time I'm away from the house. When I do carry, it's partly just to flex the right itself or if I'm actually going someplace I would consider dangerous, like Lawrence, MA. Now as for having a gun in my house 100% of the time, I think it's important should something ever happen. |
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Member |
 I dont buy your BS. I grew up in the Bay area and spent alot of time in Oakland and Richmond California. The crime rate there is some of the worst in the country. But let me tell you that almost all of the criminals there dont go to your local K-Mart, buy a weapon, then register it and then carry out a crime. Criminals either buy their guns illegaly on the black market or steal them. 99.9999% of the Law abiding citizens do not use their guns to commit crimes. And for the Police, well if you want to wait for them when someone is breaking into your house and threatening to kill you or your family, then go ahead Moron and put your family at risk. But leave my rights to defend myself and family alone. Yes there is alot of crazy people out there, but those people would kill with a car or a bomb if they did not have a gun. So dont feed me your BS. If you want to give up your rights, then go ahead. Our founding fathers understood the problem of obsolute power and giving too much power to the government. The Government can become corrupt, therefore is it imperative to have a good system of checks and balances, and if need be to prevent tryanny, then the public should be well equipped to keep the government in check if due process and voting fails. Our founding fathers understood human nature very well, thats why we have the second admendment. Disarmament only leads to one thing, and that is submission to tryanny. The people of Fascists and Communists nations suffered severly because of this. Is this what you want for our country? |
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Basic Training |
You're killin me! "I've lived for fifty years, grew up in a violent crime area, been shot at and robbed at gun point and I'm still here, so all you gun totin people are just afraid and stupid. Just leave your guns at home and rely on LEO to protect you." Many posters have gaven you good responses in this thread and the other one, you choose to ignore them and snip out little one liners. I gave you a link, twice, about armed citizens stopping crimes and you still haven't addressed it. You don't really want to hear anyones rational opinion in why they carry, you're just looking for some reason to back up your own misguided opinion. That's why you say "2nd Amendment aside". |
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Highly Experienced Member |
So, when was the last time you shot someone or drew it on someone? |
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