Why Won’t People Carry?

[w18764560]

I carried in Miami where I grew up as soon as it was legal.
Moved north to a small town and let my permit expire because crime was low. Now for the last 10 years violent crime through the roof! New Dem Sheriff got elected. LSS I carry always....in the house and outside working, Im armed.

 

[tops]

I won't denigrate people who choose not to carry, or don't even think about it. That's their choice in a free country. But I also won't come to their aid should the material hit the fan and it doesn't involve me or my family, because I am not going to introduce the potential liability to me for their poor decision. That may sound harsh to some folks, but I don't care. The protection of my family and I is the paramount thing, and that includes financially, so I won't introduce liability risk.
.

Great minds think alike. Larry

 

[oldiegoldie]

I've had my CWL since 1999, and I've only shot one person, that
being a drunk who attacked me in a parking lot, but this guy fought in tough-man contests, and I would have been beaten within an inch of my life, or worse* I have had some close calls since then, but haven't had to shoot anyone else* I carry ALL the time when I'm out & about, rather have it, and not need it, etc*
I know the odds of having to use your pistol to defend your life are slim, but if it DOES occur, then the odds have changed to 100%! I'll continue to carry 7 days-365!

Kreuz Market, in Lockhart....brings back alot of good memories....of course i never had to fight my way back to my car in a parking lot.

 

[steelslaver]

There have been 2 murders here in the last 20 years. The last 2 years ago, when 2 drunks got in an argument over their branches of service and settled it outside with guns. It has been 13 years since I moved back and in that time zero armed robberies. The nearest town of over 50,000 is over 100 miles away by a 2 lane road and we are on the way to no place near as large as our 6000 population. Farmers, ranchers, Hutterites and Amish make up the majority of our population.

I have a permit, I live in a no permit needed state. I have plenty of great carry guns. Not in the drug scene, haven't been drunk or to a bar for years, no longer consort with wild women, drive politely and keep my nose in my own business. If someone tried to rob the one of the stores or gas stations the people working at them would probably shoot him themselves. I don't carry unless I go out of town. Ya, something could happen to me here. More apt to have a tree fall on me than be the killed by a bad guy. I guess I am just to lazy. Besides my carry gun might get scuffed up out in my shop while I am working on other guns, making knives, welding, running my lathe, mill or industrial grinders.

PS, I went to the Scouts award ceremony Tuesday night. There was a pot luck, I sat beside the Sheriff's wife and he sat right across from me. If he was wearing a gun it was really well concealed. Most likely out in his rig.

 

[jcs266]

"It happens to other people... It won't happen to me"

For 29 yrs I met these people daily.

TRUST ME... It does happen and it's up to you whether you'll submit and hope for the best or be able to defend yourself and/or your family.

 

[biku324]

Different folks in different places have different experiences. You should weigh risks and liabilities with cold rationality, IMO.

 

[Trooperdan]

When you really consider the responsibility you assume when you carry a deadly weapon, it is huge. There are people that carry without considering that and they should have left it at home! You need to have a realistic understanding of the liability you assume when you carry, if you haven't considered that, you likely should not be carrying.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

According to statics, for what that's worth, only about 5% of people with carry permits carry a gun on any given day.

As for the criminal element, who knows?

Since my older brother, one brother-in-law, & I carry all day every day, do you think that might skew the percentages? Nah.

Sent with some arcane communications device.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

This ^^^



My mom is 88 and has never fired a gun in her life. Most of my extended family don't own guns yet somehow they survive.



Personal choice.

My late mother was like that. She didn't even like to acknowledge that my brother & I were always armed. That changed when a neighbor lady across the street & 3 doors down was executed when burglars found her in her home. I got a phone call from her saying, "I can't stay here alone. Come spend the night, & BRING YOUR GUNS." My brother, brother-in-law, & I took turns staying with her until the culprits were apprehended. Then my brother moved in with her with his whole freaking gun collection.

Sent with some arcane communications device.

 

[Drm50]

I don't carry around my area. I could get unlucky and get hit with a piece of space junk, about the same odds.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

For me it's a few things (I do carry, just rarely)

1. I am a teacher and sadly the most likely place I'd need my revolver is one of the places I'm not allowed to have it. So 5 days out of the week, and 182 days a year I have to leave it in my truck until after work.

2. I am a member at the YMCA which is also a no gun zone and I go there 5 days a week to workout, plus two nights a week I drop my wife off for English as a second language class. People say it's a suggestion but it's not worth it to ruin that for her and my daughter.

3. I don't feel like putting it on and taking it off all day long. I usually just leave it in my trucks glove box during the day, then my tactical shelf at home in my living room (99.9% of my time at home is spent there), then in my unlocked ammo vault by bed until morning.

Sometimes I carry it in rough neighborhoods or walks with my little girl, just in case. But most of the week I either can't have it on me, or I jump between places where I can/can't.

 

[biku324]

^^^^Indeed. Even if you're LE, carrying 24/365 is a PITA.

 

[Drm50]

Some people enjoy having gun and accessories hanging on them. Most are not folks who have to everyday. Cops duty belt, tradesmens tool pouch, military's guard belt… they ain't no fun. I had best buddy who was like that.
He passed but if I really wanted to know where he's at I could call NORAD.
I'm sure he is still packing enough stuff they can pick him up on radar.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Some people enjoy having gun and accessories hanging on them. Most are not folks who have to everyday. Cops duty belt, tradesmens tool pouch, military's guard belt… they ain't no fun.

LOL. After all the years of balancing squirming children and grandchildren on my hip, my PCR and spare mag are barely noticable.




Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Jessie]

Glad to see there are other sensible folks who aren't obsessed with and waiting for the "big gunfight".

The "big" gunfight will be the one I get shot in so my opinion differs some, but that's ok.

 

[zzclancy]

My Father WWII Vet

I'd say the huge majority of people don't carry anything, and get by just fine.

Every once in a while someone gets eaten. Most people think it won't happen to them, and are right.

When I was eight years old my father was shot in an armed robbery.

He never fully recovered. I never saw him without his model 37 until he went to hospice.

I'm biased, I'm always legally armed.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

This thread convinced me to carry more, so thanks for that! Still can't carry it at school, but I'll deal with the inconvenience of taking it off and on to have it when I need it. It is a pain as a teacher to constantly take it off and put it back on, but I think the inconvenience will be worth it God forbid I need it between work and home.

 

[Borderboss]

Those who think carrying every day is a PITA need to try carrying every day. It becomes second nature. If you only do it rarely, you'll never be fully comfortable with it and probably won't react properly when you need it. Practice makes perfect.

 

[biku324]

Those who think carrying every day is a PITA need to try carrying every day. It becomes second nature. If you only do it rarely, you'll never be fully comfortable with it and probably won't react properly when you need it. Practice makes perfect.

Friend, I carried every day from 1976 to 2001, and when it seemed useful since. It's a PITA.

 

[ladder13]

Everyone here has one thing in common, they're here, whether they carry all the time, none of the time, or occasionally.
There's a message in there somewhere.

 

[Borderboss]

Friend, I carried every day from 1976 to 2001, and when it seemed useful since. It's a PITA.

I carry every day and have for at least 15 years. It's second nature and not a PITA in the least.

 

[rockquarry]

Friend, I carried every day from 1976 to 2001, and when it seemed useful since. It's a PITA.

I certainly agree, but some will have a need to argue the point rather than accept the fact that we're all free to choose, carry or not, all the time or just some of the time.

 

[hostler]

My wife doesn't want to carry. She considered it, actually got her license to carry, and did an honest appraisal of herself and decided that she wasn't sure she could take someone's life. I wish she felt differently but I respect her honesty and I'm glad she understands the seriousness of being armed. She is absolutely not "anti-gun", she shoots with me, shows interest in my guns and is 100% in favor of me carrying, she just knows she isn't mentally prepared to follow through if put in a situation where she may need to take a life.

 

[ladder13]

Endless ………….

 

[hostler]

ladder13 has spoken...........

 

[Ranger17]

I can carry should I want to, the permit in my wallet says so. I've been a gun owner/hobbyist for about 10 yrs and have shot thousands of rounds for fun and practice. Not a bad shot either, so say (some of) my targets lol.
But I don't yet carry as I don't believe I am ready for all that is involved. I had a lot of confidence in my abilities, then took a couple LEO citizen academies and as part of the programs used their intense simulators. Nothing like the low level fun ones some ranges offer.
So as I took part in my simulations, each time I thought I had the situation handled, only to find I was so focused on one part (visually and audio wise) that I had no clue what was happening all around me. And for those who have not attempted an officer level simulation, they aren't video games. I came out of those realizing that while as a last ditch I would do whatever needed to protect myself/my family; I feel more real training would pay dividends.

Now most here may not agree and that is fine, only my .02 on how I handle this moving forward. And having so many closures and limitations the past 2 years by me meant even less range and practice time. Hoping that improves as time goes on.

 

[Pig Hunter]

There are 3 kinds of people, wolves, sheep and sheepdogs. The majority are sheep. ymmv

 

[max503]

I think its like asking, Why don't people play tennis?, or Why don't people drive race cars?

Unless non-gun people inhabit a threatening environment, IMHO they don't feel the need to carry, and they don't see the sense in putting in the effort.

 

[biku324]

There are 3 kinds of people, wolves, sheep and sheepdogs. The majority are sheep. ymmv

Human behavior isn't that simple. Ever.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I carry every day and have for at least 15 years. It's second nature and not a PITA in the least.

+1. After a career in LE, I'd feel naked without my little 442 on my belt. Besides, I'd probably get involved without thinking too much about it if I saw someone doing something really threatening to others (I get kinda angry at the stupidity).