Really, the first two on the list both apply to me. I feel that the right to keep and bear arms is a natural right of any law-abiding citizen and by carrying, I'm helping preserve that right. Also, I sleep better at night knowing that if my wife and I are out to dinner one evening and some incredibly stupid individual decides he wants to rob us, that I will be able to certainly make him wish he had left us alone.
I don't carry (yet), but -- like patriot says -- my reasons encompass both 1 and 2. Unlike some, my daily rounds don't take me where there is significant risk, so 1 probably takes precedence, but you never know what tomorrow holds: http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2006/09/lubys-restaurant-shootings-impact-15.html
i have been wanting to ask this question for a while now. I carry because of someone scoping out my house to break in. Had my father not been there we would of been in serious trouble.
I'm a 2 and a 3. As far as #1, I do think it is a right, however, there are enough idiots in this world for me to ask for an IQ test as part of the CHL process. It's bad enough they have drivers licenses. I'll raise you one poll entry: Carry to defend yourself against some dumba$$ who is also carrying. Was it always this bad? or am i just getting older and grumpy? I think the problem is 'respect for guns' isn't being taught as it was when I was a kid.
I carry cause i can imagine being in a position where i'd need to defend myself. Ive had that helpless feeling being stranded or in tight spots before and i can imagine its multiplied greatly when its life threatening. I hate that feeling and never want to be in that position if i can help it. The typical "if you need bigger than a XXcaliber or more than X number of rounds you need to consider where you hang-out" just doesnt apply. im refering to the the killing sprees, yeah you can be fully aware of the dangers in a seedy part of town, but no one expects that creep to walk into a school/store/mall and just start gunning people down. Think you feel "naked" after you forget your cellphone?? Try forgetting your CCW After youve carried for a while. theres also been 1 incident: "ive got a knife!" "dont you DARE pull that knife! cause your not gonna like what happens" I think just the confidence in my voice was enough to de-escalate that situation.
my reasons are 1 and 2 been robbed once that was enough and I worked to hard to get ccw shall issue passed in MI :twisted:
+1 on#4.My real reason though is in the old days everywhere I went I made it more dangerous because I was there and so prone to violence.I carry now as sort of self imposed pennance so that now everywhere I go(restaurant,mall,grocery,etc..)people are that much safer cuz I'm there.
I'd say we could use an option 5 as well, that being "I live in one of two states left that will not allow CCW in any way, shape or form." :x
You know, I was about 2 seconds from going off on a rant about this (not what you said Ari, but about the fact that Wisconsin does not allow CCW at all) but decided not too as that would be best for the FF zone. Not that it would do much good anyway, but still, never hurts to vent a bit
I carry for I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. I also concur with Ari about the state of affairs. As far as carrying to counter another person carrying....I dont follow that logic, and perhaps you had a grumpy day today. Most people who chose to go the route of conforming and getting a CCW permit, or licsence, usually (not all) have thier head screwed on thier shoulders right. As for the wahoos who carry to be a wanna be gangbanger, or a real criminal...do they care about any laws anyway?
you need to add another option I carry cause my job forces me to also because it is better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it
All of the above choices in the original poll. I also see terrorist attacks happening in the not too distant future, malls, etc like in Israel. The terrorist could be foreign or domestic. At the least I want to lay down cover fire to get my family out.