How Do You Answer "Why Do You Carry a Gun?"

[jocko]

Owned a gun business for over 40 years, was armed robbed twice, Once with a Mossberg 12 gauge pointed at my chest, and the other with a 38 pointed at my chest. Lots of things goes through one's mind in that instant, and one for me, was to never be a victim again. I have carried for 48 years, probably will take it to my grave to, for I am not sure where I am going and want to be prepared!!!!


My best friends and harley riding buddies are LEO's. but the can't prtotect you, just ask um! They carry boxes of "crime scene" tape????

[jeep45238]

I don't have to, and don't, justify it to people. Just learn to accept it or move on with life.

I DO rather like this statement though "the gun is civilization" as it describes what I have trouble saying.

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

[wyntrout]

I like the "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away".

Choice is good.

Wynn

[Raoul]

I quietly explain how several years ago in the process of doing my mundane job I walked into a house with a meth lab. Everyone is sympathetic after that.
Of course I do live in the patron state of shootin stuff.

[cgo99]

...for the same reasons I have fire extinguishers and wear my seatbelt.

I'm adding this one to me repertoire, very nice.

[jocko]

carried for 48 years, NO ONE EVER KNEW I was carrying so therefore I have not ever had to answer that question. My best friends and Harley riding buddies do not know I carry. Why should they. Hell maybe one of my buddies wifes who rides with him would be paranoid about my carrying a gun etc and then problems arise sometimes.

I just shut up, say nothing, pocket carry 24/7. What you don't know certanly can't hurt you...

[Little Dragon]

I use a line similar to the "• Because I can't carry a COP!!". But I have always said "Cause I cant fit a Police Officer in my pocket!" But then again I live in Nevada and everyone in Nevada carries a gun, just ask the border patrol in Canada, if your car has Nevada plates they totally hound and search you!! LOL
Joe

[OldLincoln]

When asked if I think the Bad Guys are out to get me, I just reply "No, They are out to get everybody."

[jlottmc]

My answer is very similar to the seatbelts and fire extinguishers bit, but I add the fact that I consider it solemn duty to protect those who are weaker and unable to do for themselves. I guess I was raised to help the little guy shake the bully. If they don't like the honest and sincere (and most won't you can tell quickly) then my dull (dull like not sharp, not dull like put coffee to sleep) rapier wit comes out and they become fair game...

[Tack]

Because I Can. And a SWAT TEAM won't fit in my holster like a 1911. It's not likely I'll dial 911, because 1911 has already arrived.

[recoilguy]

Normally I say....man I hate all the tax that get put on rich people. I never have to mention my weapon again ....Always carry never tell.

[joje]

the few times i've been asked i've answered that i carry for the same reason i vote; because the best way to protect a civil right is to exercise it.

i like the "doesn't everyone?" answer though - may have to try that one next time

[RagnarD]

While my CCW application just went into the mail today, I've already had one philosophical discussion with a close friend who's aware that I intend to start carrying. He's very sharp, somewhat reserved, but also leans a little further left than me. After I gave him the obvious self-defense and natural disaster oriented reasons he thought about it and said something like this...

"I guess I understand those, they're logical. But when I think about all the situations I've encountered in my life, I just can't think of any of them that would have been better if I had been armed... where I thought 'gee I wish I had a gun'."

To myself I thought... hmmm, me neither. As a debating point, I didn't have a good answer for him, and while it didn't change my mind, I kept running through the argument in my mind, trying to figure out the appropriate response. The next day it hit me, and I reminded him what he said and told him...

"I thought about it and I agree, I've never been in a situation where I really truly wished I had a gun either. But I think most people who have been in that situation and didn't have one, aren't with us anymore to tell us about it. And I refuse to be that person."


There was immediate recognition in his face as it clicked, and he just smiled and said "true... fair enough." I don't think he'll be carrying, or even buying a gun anytime soon, but I think he understands.

[OldLincoln]

Now that I've had mine for a while, I say "When do you call 911? (They answer when there's a problem.) By the time they arrive the crime has been committed. Perhaps I can either deter the crime or change the outcome if I'm there and armed. It's like I have a circle of protection around me wherever I go. If we're together and something happens you will be glad for that. Think of this when reading or seeing a crime report on TV."

Most of my friends are pro-gun so it's only their relatives should one see my gun. Happened one time so far.

[henshao]

So that I can take the first 7 guys with me.