Does carrying concealed make you more paranoid?

[BarbC]

Or - just because you're paranoid, that doesn't mean they're not out to get you!

Yesterday, a fellow site manager and I went to Wilkes-Barre, PA to take a seminar. Wilkes-Barre is a mixed-type of city - some decent-looking places as they try to renovate, but definitely has seen better days. The crime rate is pretty high. For the first time, I let her do the driving to where we were going and she was a very slow, cautious driver, who had a difficult time with new areas. She's a lovely woman - that's just her personality. She'd rather chat than focus on driving.

Once at the seminar, we were presented with a choice of staying on premises for lunch or going out. I said, "Did you see the people in the street? Stay in for lunch." She thought I was being paranoid and joked, "Don't worry. I have a gun." She didn't really, though, and doesn't know I do either. I didn't say anything and let her kid me about being paranoid. I said, "Hey - I've worked in Newark NJ and Norfolk VA, and I know what roams the streets." We stayed in the Ramada for lunch.

But then afterwards, she and the other woman at our table insisted on walking around outside. Garrrr!!! I had no choice but to go along and keep an eye out for everything while they oblivously chatted and looked at the buildings as they slowly strolled around the block and back through a parking lot.

It was an uneventful walk, of course, but my main thought was that I have to bodyguard us all against a city purse-snatcher or whatever and please don't make me have to pull a gun because we'll be spending the rest of the afternoon down at the police station simply because they didn't know enough to STAY IN THE BUILDING!!

Ignorance is sometimes bliss. Does being armed and aware make you more secure or is it more stressful?

 

[2Loud4You]

I think it makes me more aware but I wouldn't say it adds any stress. A situation or location can add stress, as it did in your case but overall I'd say it offers me comfort. People who don't carry are just oblivious and are the "it will never happen to me" types. If it ever does, I can guarantee THEY'LL be more stressed in strange locations in the future.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I've gotten pretty used to carrying a gun over the years, so it probably doesn't affect me much directly, other than being aware of the few places where it is not permitted. However, both the gun and the concern that you describe are, in my opinion, simply a result of being aware of what goes on in certain places. If I weren't carrying a gun, I would be even more concerned.

That said, I carry a gun more for practice, and for the remote possibility of trouble with a canine, than for any great concern over human violence. It's just not that common where I live. However, I do travel frequently through or around places where such things do occasionally occur, and it helps to be used to what one is carrying on those occasions. Anyway, better safe than sorry, wherever.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Paranoid?

In my experience, the only real problem with paranoia is knowing just when one is being paranoid enough.

 

[Spotteddog]

Barb,
I just wish I'd have said what LGL said, first!
Situational awareness is NOT paranoia. Unfortunately, some folks go through life like Blanche DuBois, relying on the "kindness of strangers". Till they meet the wrong one that is?

 

[BarbC]

This same woman pulled close behind a vehicle at a red light and my thought was, "You didn't leave an escape route!"

Maybe it's just we people who have encountered enough incidents that see the world more fraught with danger and try to prepare ourselves accordingly.

Maybe they're lucky nothing bad has caught up to them ~ yet.

 

[elcruisr]

Well, as I was having a conversation with a recently returned from the sandbox soldier he asked me "Am I off or are most people here just clueless of what's around them?" He's right. I think carrying a gun hasn't made me paranoid but it is part of a package of decisions I made years ago to take care of myself and my wife's security. Upping awareness, training, carrying. Not so much paranoia as awareness and a knowledge of the reality that surrounds me.

But that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop wearing my tinfoil hat....

 

[jdkno]

To be honest I think there is a thin line between paranoia and situational awareness. I also think alot of people cross that line and don't even know it.

 

[bricker]

This same woman pulled close behind a vehicle at a red light and my thought was, "You didn't leave an escape route!".

.

I thought I was the only person who thought this way!

 

[Denny347]

Taking the responsibility in carrying a handgun means that you made a choice to be responsible for yourself as well as those around you. It is only natural that your mindset will cause you to be more observant to the things that go on around you. I have been an LEO for 12yrs now and keeping an eye on my surroundings is second nature. I was a "people watcher" before I became an officer so it was an easy transition for me. You are not being paranoid, just cautious. With time you will not even know you are doing it. Good for you in stepping up and being responsible. Sounds like you are doing just fine.

 

[38-44HD45]

"Paranoid" is one of the most overused and inappropriately used words in our language. Paranoia is fear of that which does not exist, or that which is so improbable that it borders on impossible. Carrying a firearm, concealed or otherwise, is no more an indicator of paranoia than is carrying a fire extinguisher or a spare tire in one's car, or coming in off the golf course when a thunderstorm is approaching. Armed robberies, murders, rapes and other crimes do occur, and they have victims, and these events are documented. They exist, undeniably. Preparing to counter them is not paranoia, and while being so prepared is one aspect of being aware, one's level of awareness should be the same, whether armed or unarmed. In fact, those of us who are regularly armed are probably more likely to have heightened awareness when we are not armed, since our tools have been limited.

 

[Frizzman]

Paranoia is fear of a threat that doesn't exist and is a psychiatric disorder. I carry because of concern about real threats. I was a LEO and frequently ride a two wheeled vehicle so I am used to paying attention and looking around for potential problems. I have carried a hundgun daily since 1978. It is am old habit for me and I am completely comfortable with that but never take it for granted and forget it's there. It's not a piece of jewelry. It's a piece of serious lifesaving equipment. If it makes you more aware to have it with you...that's a very good thing.

 

[J274895]

Paranoid? No. More aware of my surroundings as I venture out? Yes.

 

[NAYTH]

Paranoid IS NOT the issue. As stated, it is all about "situational awareness" and maintaining "Condition Yellow" attention to your surroundings.

Brings to mind two phrases from my Training Days:

"Controlled fear is ALERT, and alert is ALIVE"!

"Courage IS NOT the absence of fear, but rather the CONQUEST and CONTROL of it"!

Nayth

 

[cmort666]

Exactly the opposite.

I carry every day here in Ohio. I take reasonable precautions, but don't have an overly high expectation of trouble.

Contrast this to when I'm in Chicago. There's no legal CCW there AT ALL. Crime, including robberies and shootings are through the roof. When I'm there for Christmas, I have to chauffeur various relatives from and to places I'd avoid if I were carrying an MP5K, late at night. I'm hyper-vigilant, trust nobody, and since I have no sensible means of self-defense, plan for the use of my mother's automobile as a weapon against carjackers, of which there are no shortage.

I greatly prefer a place where lots of people carry guns and don't NEED to be "paranoid".

 

[Crazy K38]

I actually have a different feeling, before I was always afraid of what was going to happen, now that I am carrying, I am still aware but I am confident in my ability and in my guns ability enough that my mind is at piece, if anything happens I can do my duty. Regaurdless of if you carry or not you can't let 'them' make you afraid or they are winning.

 

[USAF385]

Barb,

I know you're around the area, so I'm sure you've heard of all the craziness going on in the news. WB/ Luzerne County has had a lot of shootings this past month or so. It's getting out of control!

My first real altercation with another person took place in WB just by Wilkes University (by real, I mean something other than a "scuffle" in school). I was out with a high school friend (he was attendind college), his girlfriend, and another girl. We had just come back from a trip to Wal Mart and were heading back to my friend's dorm. My friend's GF parked her car on the side of the street and we started walking to the dorm. Not even a block away she realized she left her purse in the car, so she ran back. I guess our mistake was we waited for her since she took off running and was half way to her car when we noticed.

Anyway, she got her purse and out of no where.. I'm assuming the side of the building or the alley.. some punk comes running out and snatches her purse.

His mistake.. he took off running... directly toward us.

He was a small punk. Maybe 5'8" 150lbs. All I really remember about him was he was scrawney, had pink hair and wore a grey coat with those pointy stud things.

My friend... 6'2'' 220 lbs. Many years of Karate.
Me.. 6' 210 lbs. 10 years of Shotokan Karate behind my belt, 7 years of boxing, and had just started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

He didn't see us at first. We were under a tree which made the dark.. even darker. He was also looking over his shoulder. Well.. he turned around right in time to see my friend's size 14 boot him him square in the face. No fancy karate style kick mind you. Just a solid boot. He hit the sidewalk like a sack of potatoes.

Luckily, we had our wits about us.. we did NOT beat him to a pulp. We DID deposit him in a dumpster though...... despite him apologizing and begging for forgiveness.

We called the cops who showed up about 90 minutes later and took statements. Never heard anything back, not like we expected to.

Good ol' Wilkes Barre!


Your original question... I don't think carrying makes me more paranoid, but I do think I'm more alert.

 

[haggis]

Ignorance is sometimes bliss. Does being armed and aware make you more secure or is it more stressful?

Nope. Your story just described the difference between sheep and sheepdogs.

Woof!


Buck

 

[conn ak]

Being armed gives me the confidence to venture trails and places I might not otherwise. It's a good thing, I think. We know what Thomas Jefferson said about the joys of walking the wilds while armed.

 

[conn ak]

Barb,

I know you're around the area, so I'm sure you've heard of all the craziness going on in the news. WB/ Luzerne County has had a lot of shootings this past month or so. It's getting out of control!

My first real altercation with another person took place in WB just by Wilkes University (by real, I mean something other than a "scuffle" in school). I was out with a high school friend (he was attendind college), his girlfriend, and another girl. We had just come back from a trip to Wal Mart and were heading back to my friend's dorm. My friend's GF parked her car on the side of the street and we started walking to the dorm. Not even a block away she realized she left her purse in the car, so she ran back. I guess our mistake was we waited for her since she took off running and was half way to her car when we noticed.

Anyway, she got her purse and out of no where.. I'm assuming the side of the building or the alley.. some punk comes running out and snatches her purse.

His mistake.. he took off running... directly toward us.

He was a small punk. Maybe 5'8" 150lbs. All I really remember about him was he was scrawney, had pink hair and wore a grey coat with those pointy stud things.

My friend... 6'2'' 220 lbs. Many years of Karate.
Me.. 6' 210 lbs. 10 years of Shotokan Karate behind my belt, 7 years of boxing, and had just started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

He didn't see us at first. We were under a tree which made the dark.. even darker. He was also looking over his shoulder. Well.. he turned around right in time to see my friend's size 14 boot him him square in the face. No fancy karate style kick mind you. Just a solid boot. He hit the sidewalk like a sack of potatoes.

Luckily, we had our wits about us.. we did NOT beat him to a pulp. We DID deposit him in a dumpster though...... despite him apologizing and begging for forgiveness.

We called the cops who showed up about 90 minutes later and took statements. Never heard anything back, not like we expected to.

Good ol' Wilkes Barre!


Your original question... I don't think carrying makes me more paranoid, but I do think I'm more alert.

You should have beaten him to a pulp to enlighten him to the hazards of his wanton lifestyle. Of course, the kick in the face might have done that.