How many here carries a concealed weapon?

[Stealhead]

I know at least in my own experience when I am in an area that does not look right I'll head some other direction.

Once while I was stationed in Germany I got a bit turned around in a larger town.I could tell that it was not the best area so I figured it was best to turn around and head in the opposite direction.A German later told me that I was wise to not head that way there had been a string of muggings in that same area.

I did have a close call once at a gas station.I usually do a little scan as a I drive up and if I do not like what I see I'll go elsewhere.Well once I was distracted and not notice a group of bad dudes standing in the lot and by the door.

By the time I saw them I was too close would have had to put my back to them to head away a no-go in this situation.So I just kept walking though I was ready for action(I did not have a gun this day). So I just got myself into Zen mode like the old time samurai did before a battle.(I am a master of this I was so relaxed during a wisdom tooth operation I kept setting of the heart monitor deal they had on my finger)

One guy who was obviously the ring leader was watching me pretty close no doubt sizing me up.Well the one nearest me started to move towards me.Just as he was about to make a move the "leader" said "nah nah bro not him" Not sure what there plan was could have been anything from heckling for money to mugging.

Anyway point of the story is that the leader of this little pack must have observed my level of awareness made him decide not to play ball.Good thing as I'd have gone off like a damn rabid badger.Might not have won but I'd have taken a few down with me.

[Armistead]

My wife and I both conceal carry with permit of course. I know she always has hers, mine usually stays in the car. I do open carry a lot in the summer when I metal detect.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

When I have to draw my sidearm my hope is that this will act as the deterrent and stop whatever is happening. Try to avoid pulling that trigger unless you absolutely have to

My personal opinion is that if i handle myself correctly, and do everything i can to avoid or defuse a situation, then I should never have to draw my firearm. Going by this train of though, If I am forced to draw, then everything else has gone horribly wrong, and while I can always hope that just the presentation of a firearm will stop an attack, I do not expect it to.

The main reason for this train of thought is because the very act of presenting your gun, is in fact, Brandishing, which may be a misdemeanor or a felony. Depending on your state, municipality, etc. Regardless, it is a chargeable crime, which will land you in court, and most likely loss of your permit with possible fines and jail time. The best compromise that I have been able to find through reading, between not brandishing, but yet warning off an attack, is to assume a draw stance, put your hand over or on your firearm, but do not present, nor let them see it, nor can you say, "I have a gun" believe it or not. In other words, you have to use body language that says "I'm about to open a lead bang stick of whoop ass if you don't back off", without actual presentation. If that makes any sense, It's just one of those things best explained in a demonstration.

Originally Posted by Stealhead

In my humble opinion everyone carries a weapon 24/7.It is right on top of your head between your ears.

Sometimes I do carry a Kimber Super Carry Ultra.

Stuff happens that is true but I am a firm believer that just having good situational awareness is a useful "tool" that can keep you out of trouble or make you less likely to be the victim of a crime. Now I am not talking about spending every second sitting in fear.I mean simply paying attention to your surroundings when you are doing this the the kind of people that are looking for an easy target are looking and 99% of the time they will avoid you.

Agreed. Situational awareness is something everyone should be doing. Simply paying attention to your surroundings will get keep you out of most trouble. Of course having said that, I can't help but comment on idiots absorbed in their own little world by going around with ear buds, or madly texting on their smart phones.

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

My personal opinion is that if i handle myself correctly, and do everything i can to avoid or defuse a situation, then I should never have to draw my firearm. Going by this train of though, If I am forced to draw, then everything else has gone horribly wrong, and while I can always hope that just the presentation of a firearm will stop an attack, I do not expect it to.

I am inclined to think in the same way, I would only reveal a weapon with every intent to put it to immediate and effective use. Now, should the cosmic dice roll deter hostile actions towards me without me actually having to pull the trigger, I would obviously not pull the trigger.

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Never feeling the need never even occurred to me.

The fact that a very simple and obvious answer never even occurred to you speaks volumes.

But it is understandable.....

Probably because at the earliest age, i at times felt a need to carry something, even if only temporary.

....from an early age you have been conditioned to live in fear and the conditioning has stuck.

In sum, i think having felt the need is all about perspective or what one experiences in life.

Pespective only, two people can encounter exactly the same experiences and come away with different perspectives

[August]

I have a license to carry concealed, I don't often do though.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Agreed. Situational awareness is something everyone should be doing. Simply paying attention to your surroundings will get keep you out of most trouble. Of course having said that, I can't help but comment on idiots absorbed in their own little world by going around with ear buds, or madly texting on their smart phones.

Yeah those types are asking for trouble in general just due to not being able to hear or see general hazards coming.I think some man in New York City got squashed by a Mack truck(well some brand of dump truck) that was backing up he was jamming out to his music till he got crushed by 10 tons of love seems he was standing at the rear of the truck and the driver could not see him I think the driver got a minor fine for not getting out and checking before he started backing up.Still the pedestrian failed to notice the diesel pumping away right near him or the air brakes and the reverse beeper.

No doubt a few people have walked into traffic or a hole in the ground tapping away on their gadgets.

I learned situational awareness from my dad.Back in the 80's he used to write a sports column and he'd go to the high school football games and take photos from the side line.I wanted to go with him once and he let me go.He said "pay attention on the sidelines or you'll get hit" well I was busy watching him take photos and barely missed getting nailed by a few players that got knocked out of bounds scared the crap out of me but I learned.

[Platapus]

"How many here carries a concealed weapon?"

Yikes!

[Oberon]

Not...honestly...quite sure why Tribesman was brigged for that reply...

There is seemingly a culture of 'fear' in the US based around the need to arm or be the victim of someone who is armed (the firearm gap?). In the UK there is no such culture, yes there are criminals with guns, but this does not mean that the average citizen feels an urge to purchase a firearm (legally or illegally) unless they are likely to interact with these elements in a close manner (ie, becoming a gang member). I don't know what the situation is like in other nations, but I would wager that the desire to own a firearm is relatively proportioned to the firearm laws of the nation in question. The UK has not had a permissive firearms law for many years, so there is no real culture behind firearms and thus no real average citizen desire to own one.

In regards to perceptions, I also concur, two people can have completely different viewpoints based upon one experience, and that is just human nature. Certainly it would seem that the moderators and I have different viewpoints on the inflection of Tribesmans post. Could well be another one of those Atlantic differences perhaps...

Would never carry a weapon out in public, and would only ever own a gun with historical value. (Like a musket or something)

Don't see why I should carry a "One hit dead" button around, life is to valuable. Furthermore I don't know how I would act in a situation where I was scared and armed. The fight or flight instinct can kick in situations that aren't necessarily "Evil people coming to get you" and I don't want to be in a position where I could react with such finality that easily. It definitely happens a fair bit in the US where someone gets in an accident or stranded, etc and try to go to a house for help only to get shot because the person behind the door is (naturally) afraid and reacts.

[August]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I don't know what the situation is like in other nations, but I would wager that the desire to own a firearm is relatively proportioned to the firearm laws of the nation in question. The UK has not had a permissive firearms law for many years, so there is no real culture behind firearms and thus no real average citizen desire to own one.

I guess one can become used to the chains of oppression if one wears them long enough.

I wonder, and this is a serious question Oberon, what would make the British take to the streets in protest? What would be unacceptable no matter how long your government took it away? The loss of free speech, the right to privacy, Free association, what?

[August]

Originally Posted by Rilder

It definitely happens a fair bit in the US where someone gets in an accident or stranded, etc and try to go to a house for help only to get shot because the person behind the door is (naturally) afraid and reacts.

"A fair bit"? Any evidence or statistics to justify that opinion?

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Oberon

There is seemingly a culture of 'fear' in the US based around the need to arm or be the victim of someone who is armed (the firearm gap?).

I disagree. Personally, I only carry, because I have too much time effort and energy invested into having the option to. Carrying every day was not my intention, it's just how it worked out. My original intention was that If i thought that I may be heading into a situation i'd rather avoid, but can't, then i would have the option to carry for protection. There are many who also have carry licenses, but do not carry every day. In fact, ill wager most do not. And as I explained earlier, in all my life, having grown up in california, I never even considered getting a concealed firearm license until after the "Shady movers" event that I explained on page two. That is what in fact prompted me to get one.

In all reality, all I will ever use my carry gun for, is a paper hole puncher, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I do not expect bad men to come jumping out of the bushes at me at any minute. Being prepared and being afraid are two different things.

The only culture of fear I would agree to, is the after effects of 911, but is another topic entirely.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by August

I guess one can become used to the chains of oppression if one wears them long enough.

I wonder, and this is a serious question Oberon, what would make the British take to the streets in protest? What would be unacceptable no matter how long your government took it away? The loss of free speech, the right to privacy, Free association, what?

I guess it would depend on how it was framed by the media, certainly if things like secret police were created that would probably cause an uproar. Free speech, it would depend on how it was curtailed, but I imagine that most attempts at curtailment would see a protest. Privacy, not really sure about to be honest, in regards to electronic privacy, well I think most people have just assumed that they are being monitored, hence the complete lack of surprise to the Snowden 'revelations'. Free Association...I doubt that exists completely in a modern society, not even in America...because let's face it, a good percentage of Americans just parrot what the biased media sources feed them, likewise Brits.

You seem to think that just because we don't have the right to bear arms that we are an oppressed society? That makes a good portion of the whole planet oppressed, and some rather dodgy nations unoppressed, Somalia for one. I think that there may just be a smidge of bias in your assumptions.
I for one am reasonably content, I have a roof over my head, I've got access to free healthcare (for the moment), access to food and water, and access to a relatively uncensored internet (with the only real censoring being pirates and porn).

Besides, Brits do protest, it just rarely makes the news because we generally don't make too much of a fuss about it, the war against Iraq saw over a million people in protest in London, in fact if you go down outside the Houses of Parliament on any day of the week you will find a group protesting on something.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

I disagree. Personally, I only carry, because I have too much time effort and energy invested into having the option to. Carrying every day was not my intention, it's just how it worked out. My original intention was that If i thought that I may be heading into a situation i'd rather avoid, but can't, then i would have the option to carry for protection. There are many who also have carry licenses, but do not carry every day. In fact, ill wager most do not. And as I explained earlier, in all my life, having grown up in california, I never even considered getting a concealed firearm license until after the "Shady movers" event that I explained on page two. That is what in fact prompted me to get one.

In all reality, all I will ever use my carry gun for, is a paper hole puncher, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I do not expect bad men to come jumping out of the bushes at me at any minute. Being prepared and being afraid are two different things.

The only culture of fear I would agree to, is the after effects of 911, but is another topic entirely.

That's fair enough, although I would interject that there was an element of...if not fear, then certainly unease based upon your encounter with the shady movers that prompted you to consider a concealed license.
Certainly I will not, or ever, question the right of Americans to bear arms, as I have mentioned before, it is a quintessential American thing, like the Eagle, the Stars and Stripes and so on and so forth. Any President who tries to impose such laws is just asking for an impeachment, that is pretty certain.
I think also that it would depend upon your daily situation, I have been to places in London where I have felt uneasy, but generally I try to avoid such areas after nightfall. Obviously if you are unable to for some reason then you would want to take measures to protect yourself. Is a gun the answer? Perhaps, but equally a gun is also a contributor to the creation of dangerous situations by accident, as Rilder mentioned, the accidental shootings caused by fear of home invasion. Once that bullet leaves the gun, you can't take it back, and it's designed to be as damaging as possible to the human body.

I think the problem is, is that anyone who isn't an American, who hasn't been brought up with that right to bear arms drummed into them by society (for good or for ill) will struggle to understand it, I know I certainly do.
Does this mean that America is more free because of firearms laws? I would personally question that deeply, especially in an era of drone warfare and stand-off armaments. I have and always will, question the effectiveness of the 2nd Amendment in overthrowing a government, particularly one as sprawling and well armed as that of the United States. Whilst certainly you would get military personnel turning against the government, whether it would be enough to make a difference, especially when the nuclear launch codes are held by the government...I don't know. I think it would take a lot to make a government nuke its own citizens, but M16s, SPAS-12s and Berettas would only do so much against airstrikes and artillery.

In regards to 9/11, I hear you, I hear you loud and clear and I think that is a problem that has faced the whole world over the last decade.