Yup. Almost 40 years ago a sweet young thing batted her big brown eyes at me across a pizza parlor table and asked if I always carried, even off-duty. I said I did, wondering if that would be the deal breaker. With a big smile she said "I feel so safe". She is not as young, every bit as sweet and carries her own these days, but I still feel good that she feels safe.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

That's interesting but totally not where I was going with that comment. I was alluding to the self defense stopping power caliber wars we regularly engage in here on the forum. This fella' could have been dropped by any one of the .380 caliber rounds tossed his way . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I don't think it was the .380, or the number of rounds that convicted him. I believe that it was Hatfield, and McCoy type of incident that influenced the jury.

Myself without reading the transcripts of the trial I cannot say whether he was credible or not in his claim. For me this is not one of those clear cut self defense cases. Anytime there is some type of personal dispute that results in a homicide it is harder to place blame.

Yeah, they might go arrest him after he beats or kills you.

Too Old to fight, and too slow to run!

Dvan 34:
Yeaa, I considered it, but, it seemed like a pretty stupid idea, and I didn't try it! OBTW, you answered your own question, I post your own quote, "You don't want anyone harmed, adults or especially children". My 2¢ worth.
Chubbo

Sol-Invictus:
Now would be a good time for you to, wake up to reality. Those rights that you stated. Your quote, "can not be given, or denied", ARE BEING DENIED, AND TAKEN AWAY "NOW". I once again suggest that, folks that are concerned, with the illegal elimination, of our gun rights, read the book, entitled "Best Quotations of Thomas Jefferson" My 2¢ worth.

Chubbo

Donald Pleasance, "It heightens my sense of security".

After 37 years of witnessing too many incidents of humanity at it's worst, I decided to keep my promise to God and the oath I took forty years ago to always be prepared to deal with evil, within my capacity. I've seen too many cases of innocent people being hurt because no one was either willing or able to assist and they were unable to help themselves. Now, that doesn't mean that I think I'm still active, but it does mean that I recognize that there are reasons we did what we did for all those years.

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Dave Frost

i carry a gun because in the past 3 years i have had 3 burglaries at my businesses and 1 attempted robbery at my home involving 2 men in a pickup truck and a firearm confrontation in my driveway. And one more thing, the sheriff was chasing 2 drug suspects on the state highway going past my house. The drug suspects baled and ended up running down my driveway. Spent the day with a SWAT team at my house and Bloodhounds in my yard. That happened 2 years ago. So yes, i carry a gun 24/7. Every time i call my kids, i get the same question! Now what Dad? Oh and i forgot to mention that my son had a burglary at his house too. Someone broke in and stole jewelry and valuables from his wife while they were out at dinner. Needless to say we are all a little skittish!

Because, I found myself, and my wife's life truly in danger, by someone armed, but, in a State, roadside rest area, in the middle of the night. That was before Right To Carry permits existed. I was glad to have had protection, in hand, that was not used, but that could have been, if things had taken a different turn. I've never been without protection, on a trip, before, since, or ever will be, as long as I'm alive.

Well, folks, I have let myself get stirred up, upset, and have made a donkey of myself enough. This is my last, but most memorable reason, why I carry, that I will give. I remember, many years ago, my first visit with, my eldest son in his hospital room, and seeing him with his jaw broken, and wired together in three places, his leg in traction, treating a dislocated, knee, his chest taped, over several broken ribs, His head shaved, and it's wounds stitched, over a concussion, and possible fractured skull, and many smaller wounds. This was after he relied, on his extensive martial arts training, and sense of fair play. Three thrill seeking thugs, using lug wrenches, and hobnail boots, almost beat, and stomped him to death. I will spare you anymore details. but, as of that day, I vowed never to let that happen to me, or any of my family members again, and to always be armed, to help, to prevent it, if at all possible. This I will do, as long as I am alive! "Now I'll shut up".

Chubbo

I just got my CCW. However I have been carrying for 40+ years. Or have had a pistol nearby. I have been robbed & stabbed.
I have been stopped by LEO's (traffic) & have never had a problem as the first thing I tell them is I have a weapon and its location.
Which is what the LEO'S told me to do with whom I shoot IDPA with.
I became "Legal" because of the system & lawyers + i am too old to be incarcerated (60+).
A piece of property I take care of in a remote area was broken into last year & I called the Sheriffs Office. The first thing the Deputy asked me when he showed up is if I had a weapon. I said Yes but i don't have a permit. He replied before he became a deputy he carried all the time without a permit & his family thought he was crazy. Now that he was a Deputy he knew he wasn't. Then he asked if gun was loaded Ï said YES , He said GOOD. After checking things he told me I should REALLY get a permit.
It could make my life simpler in the long run . So i took his advice.

Nah... Good ole .357 Silvertip......

If you had done that in my fascist state, you would have been arrested.

That is why I live south of the Mason Dixon line.
In fact there is a lot of open carry here & people are polite.

I have carried for 35+ years, and have had some kind of handgun within arm’s length since I was about 8. (Parents gave me .22 revolver about that age)

The main reason I carry? Iggy nailed the main reason.

But there is another reason I have not seen mentioned. Which is simply my desire to not feel really stupid someday !

I’m a gunny-gun gun nut. I have two full size safes full of all kinds of guns. I’ve long been an active competitive shooter (Bullseye, steel plate, IDPA). I dry fire daily. I reload my ammo. Cast my own bullets. Collect guns. Repair guns. I bought a house in the country largely so I could shoot my guns easily. Read about guns. Talk to my gunny friends. This is who I am.

Now suppose one day I am unfortunate enough to need a gun to defend myself or family. And suppose I did not have a gun on me. With my background and experience, I would then feel like the World’s Biggest Idiot for not having a gun when it really mattered.

So that is another reason I carry.

I have now carried for over 60 years. Good habits are very hard to break.

Why do I carry a concealed firearm? Because I was trained to be prepared to fight, to protect my country,I carry to protect myself, my family, and those unable or unwilling to protect themselves.

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Carpriver.

when evil comes it will come fast and swift. evil will not call 911 first, it will not yell to u first nor warn you first. u best be armed and ready , cause evil will come to u with the worst intent and the police will be 20 minutes late........thats why i carry ...

For the same reason I wear seat belts when I drive and keep my doors locked both at home and office and eat well and exercise and remain aware of my surroundings and situations.

After thinking about this question in depth after already giving an answer ..

I wrote all the reasons I could come up with on a list and came up with 15 .. then trying to decide which were the most important in my eyes !!

Number one ended up being to protect my wife then myself
next would be to protect my kids and grand kids when they
are with me !!

Those to me are the most important reasons I carry in
todays world of the unknown .. There are others where
circumstances might warrant intervention but that would
be on a case by case basis ..

When I first started to carry when Illinois got Conceal
Carry License my wife was unsure of me carrying as it
was so different then what had been the law before ..
Almost to the point of not wanting me too .. Over the
past couple of years she has flipped her reasoning 100%
and now asks if I have Old Betsy with me ..or one of my
other pistols .. She has never told me how she came up
with the name of " Old Betsy "for my Beretta ..

She doesn't feel safe with out it with me .. and she is
much more understanding of Situational Awareness !!

I carry because after being shot in the face and robbed, the police detective apologized to me and said they couldn't protect me. They were only called after a crime was committed , so I was going to have to protect myself. He then kindly explained all the places I could legally carry a gun, concealed, without needing a permit of any sort....and he pointed out I can legally carry non concealed anywhere in the state of La. There are a few prohibited places, which he outlined.
With that valuable information I can protect myself , in all the places I need protection, do not need any type permit and am not at the mercy of the police to protect me from armed robbers that will shoot and have no problem killing you for the contents of your wallet (I had $3.00 in it ).
Gary

it makes me feel warm and fuzzy and safe, and I love the fact that it makes liberal's cringe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

because there are more horses asses in the world then there are horses

Open carry (where legal of course) makes their hair catch on fire...they go into Panic Mode!
I love it too.
Gary

Because," Friends come and go; enemies accumulate." best, Joe

We all have our reasons and while they are personal I will share mine. For 29 years I was required to do so. Sadly, once while not working I was forced to use the weapon I was required to carry. The details are not for a public forum. I am now older, disabled, and not physically able to defend myself from aggression and I always do my very best to avoid ANY confrontations and strive to be the " Grey Man ", I fear that it may not be enough. I just want to be able to defend myself if all else fails me. Once again,.. I strive to avoid any and all disagreements and confrontations whenever and wherever I roam.

Hear! Hear!

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

If God didn't want me to carry then why did He make me into a life-long gun nut?

There are several answers to that.

1. I know how to shoot - quite well, quickly, and accurately under stress. Don't want to, but if I have to, I'm confident in my ability to protect myself or my loved ones.

2. If things go south, seconds count and the police are minutes away.

3. And the most important, I live in Arizona and have a clean record - if I want to, I can. Thank you, Arizona Civilian Defense League for effectively lobbying the smarter-than-most Arizona legislature! Proud to be a life member of a heads-up and extraordinarily effective state pro-gun organization...

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I’m surrounded by liberals.

Vote with your feet. A lot of (ex-) Californians live in Arizona now and are experiencing blessed freedom.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Originally Posted by badge
I am now older, disabled, and not physically able to defend myself from aggression and I always do my very best to avoid ANY confrontations and strive to be the " Grey Man ", I fear that it may not be enough. I just want to be able to defend myself if all else fails me. Once again,.. I strive to avoid any and all disagreements and confrontations whenever and wherever I roam.

Ironically, the Gray Man (Mark Greaneys character) is always able to defend himself and seldom goes out of his way to avoid trouble. In fact, he's more likely to search it out.

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Stay protected my friends.