[JackF]

Both my wife and I have CCPs.

My442, I hope you never come across a situation where you wish you had a firearm for protection but if you do and you don't, I hope you survive. If you or a loved one don't survive, shame on you.

Jack.

[David Jones]

In my business there are times when I feel better armed.
I have a permit and a 40cal Steyr.

[My442]

I figured I would get bashed for what I said, but, in my 50+ years of traveling all over the USA and the world, I have not yet come into a situation that required me to be armed.

I was a long time FFL holder, hunter, shooter, and I still like guns.....but not to carry on a daily basis.

For all of you who do, good luck.

[T A 70]

That's cool, a bunch of good reasons to carry and not to carry IMO.

[Region Warrior]

Never had to reveal mine in 28 yrs.
Thought may have to a few times to protect other people in public though.
Never know when some crazy is gon'a flip a lid for no reason at Micky D's, Walmart, gas station, at an intersection, etc.
Theres ALOT of wack jobs around here.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by gtoric

I don't understand where the Constitution differentiates between the right to bear a stick or a blade or a concealed Mac10. we have the right to bear ANY ARMS, ballistic or not; deadly or not. If you want to walk around with a fully automatic MooseRaper strapped to your back, as long as you can carry it, you should be legally allowed to possess it and bear it, no infringements attached -- according to our Constitution. Unfortunately, the Founding Fathers, in their age of flintlocks and muzzle-loaders, did not envision today's diabolical firearms and their deadly portability. So today all we can ask for is the unfettered ability to protect ourselves and our families.

The right to bear arms was set down in doctrine to enable the United States of America's citizens to protect their lives, their private property, their State and their Country. The right was created to enable citizens to maintain a free state. To me, that means protecting themselves against those who would do us wrong by force, be it criminals or politicians, mobs or just a single bully in a dark alley with his own weapon and a mad-on grudge against you, and with no respect for your rights.

The second amendment has not itself been amended since it was ratified in 1791, but it sure has been infringed.

Why do we allow our government to continue to infringe upon our right to bear arms via the requirement of various carry/conceal permits? Permits primarily serve the government to record where the arms are held. How do you control a militia? Take away their weapons. How do you know where the weapons are? Record ownership via permits.

The most dangerous places in the country are those locations that are weapon-free zones, because the bad guys know that those are the sanctuaries where someone who holds a weapon is absolutely and uncontestably in control. By virtue of walking into a school, church, government office or any such weapon-free zone, these thoroughly detestable and cowardly criminals are assured to be in charge of any situation as long as they are the only ones who bear an arm. As soon as one other arm comes out of a holster or purse, the odds are evened.

All of that said, the consequences of pulling a trigger or swinging a nunchuk are subject to many and various forms of prosecution. If you pull out a weapon and use it, laws will have something to say about how you are treated afterward, whether you are using it in self-defense or not.

One more thing-- is ammunition considered to be a component part of the arm/weapon? In other words, are bullets and shells protected under the umbrella of the Second Amendment, or can they be restricted and banned without constitutional protection? Be aware of the bullet police confiscating any and all ammo so that your arms will be rendered useless without violating your rights.

Wow, don't get me started

Precisely why this is taking place!!
http://secondamendmentmarch.com/

[73FIREBIRD]

Carry every day for 10 plus years. One of the men that used to work at the shop that I do Just went off 2 days ago & shot two women at a school. You never know

[foxwolf321]

its threads like this that make me glad i live in Canada, where guns are not as prevalent in day to day activities. Too many mistakes can be made in a high pressure situation. If the criminal gets the 20 bucks in my wallet, who cares? His judgment day will come.

[johnsma22]

Originally Posted by foxwolf321

If the criminal gets the 20 bucks in my wallet, who cares? His judgment day will come.

Let me re-write this for you and let you think about it. "If the criminal slashes my wife's throat while I watch and she dies, who cares? His judgment day will come." That's what I was faced with and I'm glad I didn't carry a knife that night!

That's the difference between idealism and reality. Maybe in Canada you have the luxury to be idealistic, but I've seen first hand that I need to be grounded in the reality that man, apart from God, is inherently evil and I WILL protect my family from the inherently evil, with deadly force if necessary.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by foxwolf321

its threads like this that make me glad i live in Canada, where guns are not as prevalent in day to day activities. Too many mistakes can be made in a high pressure situation. If the criminal gets the 20 bucks in my wallet, who cares? His judgment day will come.

What planet do you live on?If you ascertion was correct there would be shootings daily(not counting criminals as you did)there aren't.

If you are NOT prepared to defend your family with deadly force-YOU HAVE ALREADY FAILED.

[tempest455]

Because I can!

In TN it's carry however you want, open or concealed.

[Captain Kirk]

I have had a pistol permit for over 40 years and during that timeframe, I have only pulled it three times and discharged it once. I do not carry it daily and only do when I feel that where I am going I may need to carry it. I truly believe that it saved my life on the four occasions mentioned above. I have always been an avid shooter at the range and in competition. Through military training and police/citizen training, I know when and when not to even display it. Through no fault of my own, I was shot outside my apartment in New Orleans by a would be mugger in the chest. I discarged my weapon one time and saved my and my girlfriends life. The force was not deadly and the mugger survived a left center mass hit via a 9mm.
I still suffer from post traumatic syndrome from being shot.

" Beware of the man who owns only one handgun. He know how to use it".

PS I did not marry that girlfriend, but we still stay in touch after these past 37 years, and still contends that she owes her life to me.

[JackF]

Captain Kirk,

Welcome aboard and glad you and your girlfriend survived. I have been carrying for 30 years and have never needed to use or display my weapon and if I never use or display it that will be great but if I ever need to I will be prepared.

Jack.

[1-GTO]

I took the CCW Classes and still have to run through the final preperations/paper work to get my permit...I can tell You when You take the Classes they do go over the "Rights" You have and the rights of other individuals and You had better be protecting your Life from danger and not wanting to carry a gun because it is the "In Thing" or cool.You can be Sued by a Family for killing someone its a big responsibilty and can be very traumatic.You will also have to get a new Drivers License showing You have a CCW permit so if You get pulled over by an Officer be prepared to be asked if your carrying a Gun.You also don't want to be out drinking and driving because you could loose your permit.


I choose to get the permit because I may travel or come home late at night and want to be able to carry a hand gun,or if I go Camping away from home I can take my gun with me and keep it in my Camper or carry it with me.With a CCW license I can also store my gun out of sight in my vehicle,locked up so no one else can get to it or a younger Family member.Another thing to consider when traveling through different States is you could be breaking their Laws by having a loaded gun,some States require that You have a gun stored away in one area or in a locked case away from the ammunition...this really makes a lot of sense but its the Law?


Either way I would rather have a permit to carry a gun and not need it...than to be out and get in a situation and not have it with me.

[INJUNTOM]

As a business owner in an industrial area that's close to some bad neighborhoods, I'm going to get one.

Already have a gun at my shop, and have it close by when I work late at night. Haven't had to come down for an alarm call in the middle of the night yet, but i'm sure there will be a day that i will.

I have had a few occasions where people in the neighborhood made me a little nervous. I got the gun for the shop after the first occasion.

I've had a couple vicious dog incidences on my property (I live in a country neighborhood on 3/4 acre), and do fear home invasions being a business owner.

I've since gotten another gun for my home shop, have one on my headboard, one in the room where my computer is located, a Glock .40 is in my kitchen cabinet not far from the door out of the house, and lastly, I picked up a .22 Mag revolver for my wife to learn to shoot.

I still want to get another Glock to replace the .357 S&W on my headboard with something with more rounds, and maybe a shotgun.

[lust4speed]

Originally Posted by foxwolf321

its threads like this that make me glad i live in Canada, where guns are not as prevalent in day to day activities. Too many mistakes can be made in a high pressure situation. If the criminal gets the 20 bucks in my wallet, who cares? His judgment day will come.

Don't you realize that IT COULD BE YOUR JUDGMENT DAY? Possibly after witnessing your wife being raped and killed before you die.

[tempest455]

Some random thoughts in response to some of the comments on here. In no particular order:

· For those thinking of a HCP but don’t own a gun or have never shot before, I feel if you desire to take the class and become a HCP holder, you should at least know how some firearm basics, practice shooting first before you take the course. The thought of people getting a permit that don’t know how to properly use and safety a firearm is scary. My buddy and I took the class together and there was a woman taking the HCP class that did not know how to load her weapon. The instructor also cited and example of a person once to took the class that missed the silhouette entirely from 9ft!

· The HCP class will explain laws that apply to your state regarding the HCP. If you ever needed to discharge the weapon, you are responsible for the bullet wherever it goes.

· I’m sure every state is different. In TN, if someone enters your home and you consider them a threat, you shoot and kill that person; the family or any other 3rd party cannot sue you for civil damages. It does not matter if they are armed or not and you are clearly in the wrong, a civil case has in this state has no legs.

· I think some HCP holders carry one wherever they go that is not posted because they have a “permit”. Here is my criteria:

· There is always one in my glove box of my car.

· Work? – Obviously No.

· Do I carry one into store/out to dinner? – No.

· Movie theater? – No

· Kids games/practices? - No

· Do I carry one at social gathering with friends/family? – No

· If I’m looking or buying something from an ad in the paper or internet? – Yes

· If I’m hiking in the woods w/ my kids or any other rural area w/ family? – Yes

· When your wife’s car gets a flat off the interstate near downtown – Yes

I posted all that just to point out, just because I have a HCP, I don’t have one with me all the time.

I have read statistics that it takes anywhere from 6-10 min on average in the US for a response to a 911 call. Worse if you are in a rural area. It took 30 min for a response to a breaking and entering 911 call when my buddy was robbed in Milwaukee. He was standing in the front yard talking to 911 dispatcher when they walked out the door w/ his stuff and guns, still took the cops over 30 min to get there!

I think it comes down to some common sense when/how to protect yourself and family. The police rarely prevent situations; they report and investigate what happened after the fact.

[T A 70]

In the event of a home invasion and you needed the lethal force of a gun just remember when you make that 911 call the "tape" will still be running after you report the incident. Perhaps one should consider hanging up after all necessary info has been provided to the dispatcher..
Also, people have been sent to prison for legit situations for using a gun and not keeping their mouths shut before representation. One that I know of involved a guy going to dinner with his wife carrying his gun legally, then shooting/killing a perp during an attempted mugging scenario. When asked if he "always carries his pistol" he replied "only when I come to bad parts of town like this". Big mistake, he got 10 ten years in a jury's mind for intent to use that weapon.
There plenty of good reasons to carry, and for others, stupidity may be a good reason not to.

[sixgunsblazing]

I've had my permit for 21 years now.
My motto has always been, it's better to not need it and have it, than to need it and not have it. I no longer need a permit to carry, but I keep it because I can purchase pistols in my state without a waiting period with a concealed carry permit.

[sixgunsblazing]

Originally Posted by tempest455

-snip-

· I think some HCP holders carry one wherever they go that is not posted because they have a “permit”. Here is my criteria:

· There is always one in my glove box of my car. NO

· Work? – Obviously No. YES

· Do I carry one into store/out to dinner? – No.YES

· Movie theater? – No YES

· Kids games/practices? - No YES

· Do I carry one at social gathering with friends/family? – No YES

· If I’m looking or buying something from an ad in the paper or internet? – Yes

· If I’m hiking in the woods w/ my kids or any other rural area w/ family? – Yes

· When your wife’s car gets a flat off the interstate near downtown – Yes

I posted all that just to point out, just because I have a HCP, I don’t have one with me all the time. I guess we differ, I carry 24/7, the only exception is when I'm drinking

-snip-
I think it comes down to some common sense when/how to protect yourself and family. The police rarely prevent situations; they report and investigate what happened after the fact. <= and I'm gonna leave that there

And my last snippet of advice is, Concealed means Concealed