Quote from the article:
"For my part, I don’t see myself continuing to walk into Subway or go grocery shopping with a loaded .25-caliber pistol in my front pocket, or my .357 magnum on my hip.
It just seems like it would lead to way more problems than it would solve.
I’m glad to have the permit, should I ever feel the need to carry frequently, but for now, I think I’m going to stick with the pepper spray."
What he doesn’t understand is that he doesn’t get to decide when he will need his concealed firearm to defend himself or his loved ones, the bad guy does.
What a lot of people don’t understand is that some lifestyles in some locations of the country make the likelihood of an armed encounter so vastly low that the downside of carrying a gun substantially outweighs the upside.
One does have to think honestly about themselves, and realize one’s own individual limitations.
If one chooses to carry, and something happens, emotions will always enter into choosing the proper response. One must truly look into the mirror objectively, concerning what one knows about oneself, and rehearse different situations in one’s mind regularly if the choice is made to carry. With this being said, when a situation arises one may make the right choices. As we have seen, even trained police officers don’t always choose the right response.
For those who choose to carry, make sure the weapon of choice is always concealed, in order to avoid preventable negative situations.
Meh, if he does not feel up to it, he shouldn’t do it. I support his right 100% to not CCW because he feels “…it would lead to way more problems than it would solve” as long as he supports my right to do so. Now, if his position is no one else should be able to CCW regularly because it “would lead to way more problems than it would solve” then we have a problem and the data clearly shows otherwise.
It’s really not that bad an article as gun related articles written by a person who obviously knows little about the topic and is new to it.
Personally, I have no problem with the concept of using deadly force to protect my life of the life of others, and I train for that possibility as much as any civilian here and probably more than most police officers. Naturally, like 99.999 percent of people here, I have no way of knowing my actual response since I’ve never had the situation arise and the likelihood that it ever will is extraordinarily low. I do know that carrying a gun in my typical daily life can be very inconvenient, and that the need to do so is very low. So I don’t. Usually. It has nothing to do with emotional comfort, it’s more a matter of my life plan of trying to eliminate as many pains-in-the-ass as I can.
I agree, but tend to view it from the opposite direction. The downsides so low, and the upsides so high (regardless of actual risk) I can’t see a reason not to. However, I fully support anyone who views it from other perspective as long as they support this Rights (capital R) of either to approach is they see fit, as I know you do obviously.
For some, such say CCW to work where it’s not permitted per policy, and living and working in an area where the risks of armed encounter so vastly low, the loss of the job (for example) could outweigh the upsides, and so forth.
I suppose one could say the same about wearing a NASCAR-type helmet every time you get in your car, since the odds of being killed by head trauma in an MVA so vastly exceed the risk of a deadly force encounter. Low downside, bigger potential upside than CCW.
Don’t give the 'gubment any ideas man. Legally mandated NASCAR-type helmet is not far off the way we are going. But in all seriousness, everyone has to make their own risk/benefit assessment and act accordingly. I tend to take the better to have it and not needed vs need it and not have it approach where applicable/legal.
This ^^^. Both points of view are valid - to carry or not to carry. We each have to decide. To each his own.
But what was said in the OP (“What he doesn’t understand is that he doesn’t get to decide when he will need his concealed firearm to defend himself or his loved ones, the bad guy does.”) is still true, which is why I am in the better to have it and not need it camp.
I would generally agree with that statement, but where it falls down is the circumstance wherein it might not be better to have it. e.g some work environments, situations where you have to leave it in your car, traveling with it to some states, increased risk of theft, etc. It is indeed a daily risk/benefit assessment. I am inclined to carry when outside of my little slice of heaven here, even the “big city” 16 miles down the road (especially if going to WalMart), or trips to the Twin Cities. The problem is, if going to Minneapolis for work, now I gotta figure out where to securely store it while in my doctor/administrator/academician role and the various meetings where, in my grown-up clothes and in my grown-up role, and dealing with the types of people I typically deal with, carrying a firearm and having it accidentally noticed imposes a whole different level of perception about who and what I am…and one that tends to be counterproductive to the image I have to portray in order to be taken seriously. If the risk was high, I wouldn’t care. But, it’s not, and the reality of secure storage when on the road is always on my mind.
And I do know that carrying a gun while wearing scrubs all day is inconvenient. Interestingly, the hospital where I work is pretty indifferent to doctors carrying guns, and even provides acceptably secure storage for those that so choose. And this is Minnesota, not Texas.
Impressive! How it should be for all nut magnet locals such as schools, hospitals, malls etc. At the very least they should be indifferent to it, if not supportive of those legally able to CCW, but that’s dream land I know.
It’s just a WAG but the percentage of CHL holders who truly EDC is likely very low, say below 10%. Like the previous poster, I rarely carry in my rural (Texas) hometown but absolutely do when going to any larger city. Houston gives me the willies! A M249 would be about right there.
I dream of being an old man in my death bed and my only regret is that all the effort put into gun training and CCW was a waste. That would be a good life.
If a guy has the mindset that he shouldn’t carry because “it would lead to way more problems than it would solve” then this is they same guy who shouldn’t drink adult beverages, drive on the freeway, etc. as he comes across as an individual who has a problem with self control. Some people just can’t handle this thing we call freedom.
Please don’t impose your stupidity on the rest of us.