I'm kind of curious what OT thinks and I thought a poll would be neat. The poll question assumes the people we're talking about are people following the state laws required to do so, not criminals carrying illegally.
Carrying a concealed handgun
- Thread starter Soybomb
- Start date
I'm surprised at the results so far. My guess was that we'd see older people more understanding and supportive of it but I didn't expect so many positive responses yet so maybe I'm way off.
Don Vito Corleone
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- Feb 10, 2000
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I am over 30 and can understand why people carry, but in my experience most people who carry do so due to their own feelings of inadequacy rather than any legitimate need.
Poll option added
If you don't mind, I'd like to hear more, I imagine there is a story or two that would go along with that. I'm also curious what constitutes a legitimate need.
While it is possible to live in a dangerous area, carrying a gun seems like an unwanted burden and I'd quickly try and figure out what's wrong with my own life that I wouldn't want to take better care of myself and move somewhere more hospitable. That would include upgrading my education and finding a better, higher-paying job.
You're working on the assumption that crime only happens in the bad part of town? Don't criminals want to take things from people with the money to actually have nice things? How about if I am trying to upgrade my education, say sitting at virginia tech, in a class room and someone starts shooting? I think tv and movies have kind of led us to believe that bad things only happen in the bad part of town or to bad people and thats kind of what I'm looking to see demonstrated in this poll. As people get older, do they see more of the bad things in the world and realize there is no safe zone where they won't be victims because they paid $1k a month in rent?
I'm 22-30 and I can understand why people would. but I think for a lot of people, it's ridiculous.
Capt Caveman
Lifer
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Don Vito Corleone
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I have a client who owns a residential contracting company. He routinely works in bad neighborhoods and carries large amounts of cash. Although he can handle himself (he is 6'2", and 265 pounds, and has a black belt), he carries. I get that.
Most people I have known who carried, though, are, for lack of a better phrase, paranoid geeks. They carry because, in my view, they know they can't fight, and they elect to see the world as a scary and dangerous place.
To each his own, but in my view (and I am a handgun owner who has been robbed at knifepoint), carrying a gun is a significant burden 99.999% of the time, and likely to add to the danger of most situations, rather than reducing it, since the bad guys have an easier time pulling the trigger than you or me (I am reminded of a member of the Glock Talk forum, which I used to frequent - he was killed when he pulled a gun and tried to interrupt a liquor-store robbery). My own view is that if there's no particular reason to carry, it's worse than worthless.
alkemyst
No Lifer
- Feb 13, 2001
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I think there is alot of reasons some should carry...however; there are too many just getting guns for the geek factor or trying to be cool. It's these people that give serious gun owners a bad name.
Most diehards that are packing for protection also know a little hand to hand. They aren't scared of the world, they just know sometimes they will be outmatched.
The worst case are these asshats that carry unloaded weapons and 'draw' on people in traffic and the like. It is more of a crime I think in all places to use an unloaded weapon than a loaded one on the basis that an unloaded gun can only be used to threaten, not defend.
Most diehards that are packing for protection also know a little hand to hand. They aren't scared of the world, they just know sometimes they will be outmatched.
The worst case are these asshats that carry unloaded weapons and 'draw' on people in traffic and the like. It is more of a crime I think in all places to use an unloaded weapon than a loaded one on the basis that an unloaded gun can only be used to threaten, not defend.
The problem I see with that though is criminals don't just go after people with large amount of cash. They go after anyone for their wallet or their car, anyone just because they're crazy and want to hurt people, young women for an easy rape target, etc. Aren't the bad things that happen everyday to good people all the reason a person needs? You're unlikely to need a gun going to college, but if you were sitting in a VT class room that day you might have needed one even if you were the local amateur boxing champion. Would the situation have been made worse if one of those students had been armed?
I'm in my 20s and unlikely to have health problems but have health insurance. My house probably won't burn down but I get home owners insurance. I probably won't be in a car wreck but I wear a seat belt. Why if I slip a few ounces of metal in my pocket do I turn into a paranoid geek who can't fight versus taking a small but reasonable precaution against an unlikely event with high stakes like I am with the others?
jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
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You must remember, though, that carrying CCW doesn't mean you have to interfere; many off-duty officers in that situation may not interfere either, even with training/etc. Unless someone's life is in imminent danger, you're probably best off being a good witness.
Criminals fear armed citizens more than they fear the police...
Don Vito Corleone
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I'd far rather give up a wallet or a car than kill someone, even if it's someone who richly deserves it. As I said, I've been mugged at knifepoint, and my feeling is that the situation would only have been worsened if I had been carrying at the time. Obviously there is SOME risk that some rogue criminal might kill me for no reason, but it has never happened to anyone I've known, nor anyone in my family. I would just as soon take that chance and be able to relax with my coworkers over a beer after work, rather than living in a constant state of vigilance.
Do you walk around with a hardhat on? Because your chances of getting hit from falling bricks on dilapidated buildings is higher than being shot.
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