Are you armed?

[Grover48]

I have a permit and have legally carried in the state of California for over 40 years. I have only presented my weapon one time. I had two fleeing felons try to beat me up. I was able to detain one, the other fled only to be arrested less than a half hour later. If I had not a had a way of protecting myself, the two young punks would have tried to do me harm. As it was, one hit me in the jaw with a right hand punch. I grabbed his shirt and put the barrel of my gun under his chin.. Fight over. His partner ran off into the night.

 

[ozziworld]

I don't carry since I am not sure how temper might play into a situation I might regret but must admit that I feel comfortable knowing I have a certain amount of control over defending my home.

The one time I did feel compelled to carry was during the LA riots during the Rodney King trial. That was such a zoo with all the armed rioters and citizens defending their property. Glad I did not have to use my .45 during that episode. I do remember the unusual feeling of loading a firearm thinking I may have to use it on a human as opposed to paper target.

Situations like that make one wonder about the different sides to the gun control issue.

Citizens would very much like appreciate the need to be armed when:

The state is abusing their liberties.

The state is unable to protect their citizens.

 

[MBD0607]

Yes, I am.
Only dangerous if you threaten my Family or my life.

That being said, with over 20 years of arresting/chasing/investigating bad guys/crooks/dirt balls, the one major thing I learned was that the Government, be it Federal, State, County or City, has no legal requirement to protect you. That is up to you.
Now do I want every nut case to own/carrry a gun? No, I do not. Do I believe that if an individual is trained, practices what they have been taught, and shows the knowledge needed to safely protect themselves if they choose to carry a weapon, should they be allowed to? Yes, I do.
What scares me about gun control, is that individuals are placing the blame on an inantimate object, instead of where it belongs; squarely on the shoulders of the criminal who did the crime.
If people would actually take the time to read and learn how hard the sentances are for Weapons Violations, they would be shocked. The Federal Sentencing guidelines are no joke, and some Cities have used these to clean up known areas where high crime rates where causing serious issues. Unfortunately, most people who have no idea of what is actually going on outside their own little part of the world, immediately assume that a "New" Gun Law would be the best for everyone, every time an incident happens.
The last report I read, stated that out of 100 armed criminals, ONE purchased a weapon through "legal" channels. Over 70% stole the weapon they used, with the remainder buying/purchasing/dealing for the weapon on the street.
I have seen and personally know individuals who owe their very lives to the fact they made an honest decision to exercise their right to own and carry a weapon, and had to use it.
The one constant in this world is that History repeats itself, and we, as individuals of this Country, need to realize that there is always a threat against individual liberty, be it Government Intrusion, Invasion, or just plane laziness of not caring about your rights being chipped away little by little.
You might not agree with me, and that is your right. However, every major Government overthrow or take over, all started with Gun Control.

 

[TCDiver1]

Now do I want every nut case to own/carrry a gun? No, I do not. Do I believe that if an individual is trained, practices what they have been taught, and shows the knowledge needed to safely protect themselves if they choose to carry a weapon, should they be allowed to? Yes, I do.

I agree. What many folks fail to understand is how restrictive the laws are in obtaining a concealed pistol license in most right to carry states.

In Michigan you have to have a very clean record just to qualify to take the required training. The list of things that disqualify one from obtaining a CPL is long and too extensive to repeat here. If one happens to meet the requirements to obtain a CPL, and actually completes the required training, the places they can legally carry concealed are very limited.

By and large the people who qualify for and go through the trouble to obtain such a license have to be good, mentally stable citizens. Carry laws are generally written with that in mind. Any criminal record, even at the lowest misdemeanor level, would simply disqualify one for a CPL here in this state.

So, most law abiding citizens with a CPL will continue to legally carry if they so chose and most crooks who can't qualify for a CPL will continue to carry illegally if they so chose. It's relatively logical which group one should be concerned about.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Old thread, but I just voted.
Armed and Dangerous.

I've had a CCW for years. I'm also an avid martial artist. Never pulled a gun on anyone, and sincerely hope I never need to, but it's rare for a week to go by that I don't use my MA training in the ER. Combative people are a fact of life in the ER, as I have no doubt Lynne will confirm.

 

[Lone Frogman]

Top Ten Reasons
Men Prefer Guns Over Women

#10. You can trade an old 44 for a new 22.

#9. You can keep one gun at home and have another for when you're on the road.

#8. If you admire a friend's gun and tell him so, he will probably let you try it out a few times..

#7. Your primary gun doesn't mind if you keep another gun for a backup.

#6. Your gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo.

#5. A gun doesn't take up a lot of closet space.

#4. Guns function normally every day of the month..

#3. A gun doesn't ask , "Do these new grips make me look fat?"

#2. A gun doesn't mind if you go to sleep after you use it.

And the number one reason a gun is favored over a woman.....

#1. YOU CAN BUY A SILENCER FOR A GUN

________________________________________

 

[Sinbad the Diver]

Yes, I am.
Only dangerous if you threaten my Family or my life.

That being said, with over 20 years of arresting/chasing/investigating bad guys/crooks/dirt balls, the one major thing I learned was that the Government, be it Federal, State, County or City, has no legal requirement to protect you. That is up to you.
Now do I want every nut case to own/carrry a gun? No, I do not. Do I believe that if an individual is trained, practices what they have been taught, and shows the knowledge needed to safely protect themselves if they choose to carry a weapon, should they be allowed to? Yes, I do.
What scares me about gun control, is that individuals are placing the blame on an inantimate object, instead of where it belongs; squarely on the shoulders of the criminal who did the crime.
If people would actually take the time to read and learn how hard the sentances are for Weapons Violations, they would be shocked. The Federal Sentencing guidelines are no joke, and some Cities have used these to clean up known areas where high crime rates where causing serious issues. Unfortunately, most people who have no idea of what is actually going on outside their own little part of the world, immediately assume that a "New" Gun Law would be the best for everyone, every time an incident happens.
The last report I read, stated that out of 100 armed criminals, ONE purchased a weapon through "legal" channels. Over 70% stole the weapon they used, with the remainder buying/purchasing/dealing for the weapon on the street.
I have seen and personally know individuals who owe their very lives to the fact they made an honest decision to exercise their right to own and carry a weapon, and had to use it.
The one constant in this world is that History repeats itself, and we, as individuals of this Country, need to realize that there is always a threat against individual liberty, be it Government Intrusion, Invasion, or just plane laziness of not caring about your rights being chipped away little by little.
You might not agree with me, and that is your right. However, every major Government overthrow or take over, all started with Gun Control.

falls back to the basic stupidity of the idea that someone who is willing to use a gun in the commision of a crime will somehow not have a gun because it's illegal. Drugs are illegal and they seem pretty easy to find. Imagine the incentive created to get guns illegaly if you know that people that obey the law won't have them.

 

[Splitlip]

falls back to the basic stupidity of the idea that someone who is willing to use a gun in the commision of a crime will somehow not have a gun because it's illegal. Drugs are illegal and they seem pretty easy to find. Imagine the incentive created to get guns illegaly if you know that people that obey the law won't have them.

"If guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns."

I believe that today, more than ever.

People from other first world countries think us nuts. But fact is, there are already sooo many fire arms out there and they are already in the hands of people who cannot legally own them, to take them away from us would make for open season.

Cops have a hard enough time as it is keeping us safe.

 

[humanbeing]

As for ownership of guns. All good. Provided they stay in and are used exclusively for the protection of house and family.

R..

Why do you believe people should be prevented from protecting themselves outside the home? Why do you believe that if someone threatened your family outside your home, your access to the tools you may need to do this should be restricted?

In the U. S., our approach to citizen armament is based on two ideas:
1. Self-defense is a human right, and no law or government can restrict this right.
2. Citizens have the right to use force to rise up against the government and oppose it.

As the saying goes, an armed society is a polite society. I would elaborate on that by saying that an armed society is a free society, and a disarmed society is in deep ****. Every major tyrannical regime in modern times has taken painstaking steps towards disarming its citizenry prior to imposing a police state. Hitler forced all Jews to turn in all of their guns and ammunition. Stalin did the same to citizens in Russia. Amin did it to people in Uganda. For an eye-opening experience, google "civilian disarmament."

 

[humanbeing]

Top Ten Reasons
Men Prefer Guns Over Women

#10. You can trade an old 44 for a new 22.

#9. You can keep one gun at home and have another for when you're on the road.

#8. If you admire a friend's gun and tell him so, he will probably let you try it out a few times..

#7. Your primary gun doesn't mind if you keep another gun for a backup.

#6. Your gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo.

#5. A gun doesn't take up a lot of closet space.

#4. Guns function normally every day of the month..

#3. A gun doesn't ask , "Do these new grips make me look fat?"

#2. A gun doesn't mind if you go to sleep after you use it.

And the number one reason a gun is favored over a woman.....

#1. YOU CAN BUY A SILENCER FOR A GUN

________________________________________

#1. Because they are terrified of women


Thought you wouldn't get called out on your misogynist drivel? Guess again!