For me it was the simple matter of it being possible. I researched the law and applied for the license. Didn't carry much for the first 10 - 15 years after that but do regularly now.

There are too many thugs that want what I have without working for it and too many that hate me because I have worked to get ahead. In my small town there are dozens of burglaries that are unsolved since the first of this year. Many of these while people were at home. This was a low crime area in the past and the citizens have been complacent to this type of behavior and still are because the reports of this activity isn't reaching the media or the media isn't reporting it. So the citizens in this community are easy prey to these punks. I was told this by a friend that is a local police officer, it was recommended to keep a house gun at ready or have some type of defense at hand if out alone at night. I'm not waiting until something happens. I'll try to prevent it by taking security measures tryng to divert criminal activity and try to limit my exposure as a target, but I am carrying a Smith & Wesson model 37 Airweight if I need it. I've been to CCW training and know better than trying any "John Wayne" type antics to defend myself and family. I pray and hope it never happens to my family or myself, but God please forgive me if it does.

I moved to a state where CC is legal.

Interesting question. What made me carry? Same thing that makes me carry a spare tire, a fire extinguisher, and insurance: A simple recognition of reality. I've never really been able to figure out why anyone would NOT carry...

A simple observation of the rising crime rate. Having worked as an Armed Security Officer showed me that the thugs of the community will kill, intimidate and rob you at each and every opportunity that you present!

Scott

The recognition that I could become a statistic. The safety and sanctity of my home and those that reside within, as a man, are my responsibility. I will defend, to death, the ones I love. You may get me but it won’t be without a fight. I wish to hurt or kill no one, however, I will not go quietly into the night!

Ditto...Redlevel's post. The "Deep South" tradition of packing a gun stood true in my area too.

MOONDAWG

It all started because it was my job, then I just never felt quite right without a gun, but all you have to do is read the paper or watch the news. If you still do not carry you must be some kind of Bruce Lee or something.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: charles isaac,

I just can't imagine how or why females wouldn't carry. I expect the ones who don't have never been on the receiving end of an irate male. As strong as you think you are, you just can't overpower them.

BarbC,

It doesn't have to be an irate male. Crazy is crazy. My wife was once a rabid anti-gun type...until she got a promotion at work that some psycho female that she worked with thought that she deserved. She went off the deep end big time and threatened my wife. My wife came home and the first thing she asked was "what is the biggest gun we have in the house, and how quickly can you load it and show me how to use it?" She still doesn't like guns, but she doesn't hate them anymore.

Regards,

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by BarbC:
I just can't imagine how or why females wouldn't carry. I expect the ones who don't have never been on the receiving end of an irate male. As strong as you think you are, you just can't overpower them.

Norm,
To answer your question, Mr. Murphy well and truly reared his ugly head that early AM!
Due to me being in the cab of a tractor trailer and approached from front and the left, as well as being right handed, I tactically was screwed. He unwrapped a shiny automatic, I fumbled around to get a 1911' into my left hand (strong side only safety) quickly. He saw it and shot. His shooting caused me to thrust the gun out between the mirror frame and fire. When I did, the slide struck the mirror frame and short stroked, FTE.
Good fortune was with me, in that his gun I believe(?) malfunctioned after a couple of rounds. I had drug mine back into the cab and cleared it by then. He ran off, I was relieved and no one went home with more holes in them than born with. If he'd have been carrying a wheel gun that night, I'd have been screwed!

quote:

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
Norm,
To answer your question, Mr. Murphy well and truly reared his ugly head that early AM!
Due to me being in the cab of a tractor trailer and approached from front and the left, as well as being right handed, I tactically was screwed. He unwrapped a shiny automatic, I fumbled around to get a 1911' into my left hand (strong side only safety) quickly. He saw it and shot. His shooting caused me to thrust the gun out between the mirror frame and fire. When I did, the slide struck the mirror frame and short stroked, FTE.
Good fortune was with me, in that his gun I believe(?) malfunctioned after a couple of rounds. I had drug mine back into the cab and cleared it by then. He ran off, I was relieved and no one went home with more holes in them than born with. If he'd have been carrying a wheel gun that night, I'd have been screwed!

Spot: That makes my toes curl and butt pucker thinking about that situation. How could you keep from firing at him as he ran (even though you would have been in deep doo doo if you did)?
So now you're a revolver man?

quote:

Originally posted by BarbC:
I just can't imagine how or why females wouldn't carry. I expect the ones who don't have never been on the receiving end of an irate male. As strong as you think you are, you just can't overpower them.

I roll my eyes when there's a local news story about women taking self defense classes and learning how to kick and gouge. Good grief, all it takes is a handfull of dirt or sand in their faces then they're at your mercy (not to mention a typically longer reach/punch for a man than a women.)

After years of fence sitting it was the events one year ago today at Va Tech that prompted both my wife and myself to get our permits.

quote:

Originally posted by redlevel:

Probably 75% had a handgun in their vehicle. In other words, it was a cultural thing.

That is probably the way it is or was in most Southern communities. I never really gave it much thought, guns were just a way of life in my little area of Tennessee. All the men in my family and my friends families carried guns or at least had one in their car or truck.

I can't remember the subject of a permit to carry a gun ever coming up. I really don't think there was such a thing back then in Tennessee or if there was I don't know of anyone that had one. I carried a gun for 35 plus years without a permit on up until about 1990 or there abouts. Then I heard about Florida making a big deal out of people getting the right to carry down there is when I first really gave it any thought. That's when my wife got concerned about me getting arrested and having a felony on my record that she talked me into to getting a permit or I probably still wouldn't have applied for one even today.

Since we travel a lot I went ahead and got my resident permit in Alabama and then applied in as many states as I could by mail for non resident permits so I could be covered in as many states as possible and now have 6 permits from different states. So now I'm legal...big whoop! I still don't like the idea of getting permission to do what the constitution already grants me the right to do.

Smitty