Simple answer------- Protection

To quote someone else on another forum, because cops carry guns to protect themselves, not you.

They can’t be everywhere and can only investigate crime after the fact most of the time.

Protection yes, but I live in a very safe area...it is a one-in-a-million chance that I need it...but I carry as much to exercise the rights given me by God, and protected for me by the 2nd Amendment.

Hope this helps:

Why do you carry?

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

To have the means to protect myself or another innocent person from the immediate and unavoidable threat of death or grievous bodily injury.

And,yes, I'm a former teacher of Personal Protection for the NRA and Law Enforcement firearms instructor. The above is a quote from Massad Ayoob, and I think it describes very succinctly why one carries a firearm.

Because I’m not skilled at martial arts and am too old, fragile and creaky to acquire hand to hand defensive skills.

The BOY SCOUT motto: Be Prepared

There's no way to be ready for everything, but being armed can get you pretty darn close. Plus, your VISA and debit cards, your keys...

I was a street cop for 30 years and went through more than one deadly confrontation so that’s the lens I see my world through. I want to celebrate a bunch more BDays, and I’m too old to fight and too cripled to run.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Well I carry a AAA single cell flashlight...... a Benchmade pocket knife......


so........................... what else might I need??????????????

Something that goes Bam-Bam?

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642-1, M&P15 TS

‘Cause I can......

Another vote for


'Cause I can......

Because I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6!

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

I carry because I refuse to be a victim, or allow those near and dear to become victims.

Because I should.

I carry homeowners insurance, but I don't want my house to burn down. I carry automobile insurance, but I don't look forward to an accident. I carry a sidearm, but I don't want to be in a gunfight.

Some things are better to have and never need than to ever need and not have.

There you go! I was A boy scout also.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Because I'm too old and too weak to carry a cop. Even if I could, I doubt if the cop would enjoy it very much.

Carry? What's carry? Oh, I forgot, you guys live in America, not Marylandistan. Where bad guys carry routinely, and the good guys get long sentances if they do.

Even in Baltimore, with the highest per capita Homicide rate in the country, the only gun charges you hear about are some poor bast... caught carrying to protect himself.

Sent from my SM-J320P using Tapatalk

Because I'm not going to let some blankety-blank punk end my priceless relationship with those I love.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I was a Street cop for 6 years and had to take a medical retirement. I can’t run nor fight so I carry my tried and true 38 special.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Wheel guns are real guns too.

I think of it as just another form of insurance. I sure wish there was a viable tiny fire extinguisher. I'd carry one of those too.

I feel the most vulnerable jogging. I found an awesome holster, that fits a 4" semi and I can carry my phone, keys and appropriate identification.

My Family.

Same reason as given in another topic thread in same forum, same forum section, same page of the forum section.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/139906951-post42.html

I've visited and lived in some 35+ states, 35+ countries on 5 continents. There's evil people everywhere so I carry. Now if I could do something about this indirect fire.

CD
(in Afghanistan)

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De Oppresso Liber

I know it is unlikely that I'll ever need to defend myself with a firearm. But, back in the day I carried a condom even though it was unlikely that I'd actually get lucky. I carry my J- frame for the same reason, just in case.

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Do it outdoors

Protection of self and others if needed. "The ONLY thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

I was a 2nd degree in karate and fought pka for 2 yrs. But 45 yrs. later and an artificial hip, I probably can't fight my way out of a paper bag. That's one reason why.

. . . because I like guns . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

My dad will be 88 this year and he's still going strong. I remember from the earliest years how he has been almost superstitious about his belief that "bad things you prepare for rarely happen." For me, carrying a gun is about being prepared. I was a crime scene investigator for many years and saw the results of not being prepared far too often. Just like wearing a seatbelt, you wear it because something could happen, not that you expect it to.

My left hip hitches a little so I need a little weight on the right hip to balance myself out. Actually it's because there are a lot of folks in this old world of ours that aren't as congenial as the folks here on this forum.

It irks me so much that states like Maryland can blatantly violate the 2nd Amendment with no repercussions.

My sister actually said to me "you don't need a gun, just call the police". Where I live (middle of nowhere), it takes the cavalry 20 minutes at best.

But what about that dedicated Gun Unit your PD has...oh right, they were all indicted. Sorry.

To answer the original question - because I made too many enemies while protecting others.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I'll second that one.

When seconds count the overworked,spread to thin police are minutes away..

Same reason why everybody carries...

FASHION!

I carry because I have spent my entire adult life carrying one. USMC 1968-1972 and LEO for 38 years and I would feel naked without one.

I

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I carry a gun because what if...................

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Two Handguns every day

Will be traveling through the most dangerous city in America later today, and back through it tomorrow. Another reason I carry . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

The question is not "why do you" it's "why don't you...!"

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Jorge

I'm too old to run or try to fight with a perp .. 30 minutes to get law enforcement here in the county .. so If accosted by a thug my Beretta will come in handy .. and extra mag on weak side ..

I live almost an equal distance between Chicago and St Louis 2 of the worst cities on the list ..

And just 8 miles From Peoria. Illinois .. where hoods from both of those cities come to hide out when it gets to hot for them there ..

I put a lot of people in prison. Most are not happy about it.

Me one of those Gun Nuts

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Spin The Wheel

I carry a gun because there is evil in this world. It strikes in churches, McDonalds, the library, at home, and in traffic. It comes in restaurants, parking lots, and movie theaters.

When it comes, you won't have time to wait for the police. It will come suddenly without warning and with unbelievable violence.

I believe it is my job as a man to protect my family and other innocents from this evil.
Generations of Americans have fought and died to protect this country, their families, and friends.

It is my right and my duty to follow in their footsteps if called upon to do so.

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Eccentric old coot

13th homicide this year last Sunday evening In Peoria, Il ..
I live just across the river and up a hill ..

Because most of the 47 post fit my life style too.

I'm glad the OP didn't decide that because a separate topically identical thread exists, he would forego asking his question in a new thread. Otherwise the 48 posts in this thread would not exist. Kudos to the OP. Bummer to those on all of these threads and all of these forums who think that an individual seeking a discussion must relegate themselves to the old threads on identical or similar topics. Heck, if we all did that we could almost eliminate posting in all of these forums and just create a sub-forum entitled "Current Events and New Topics".

My answer to the OP? Because I want to protect me and mine should that need arise. I hope I die of old age thinking to myself, "self, I'm sure glad I never had to use my concealed firearm in defense of me and mine".

The question should be, "Why wouldn't you carry" in todays environment?

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Dave Ramsey Cultist