When I took a class to get my Concealed Carry Permit, on the very first day the instructor made a very interesting statement.
“If you are somewhere where you feel you need a gun to feel safe… Why are you there in the first place?”
While I did go on to get my permit I never once carried. I never went anywhere where I felt I needed it. If I became uncomfortable at a location, I left.
I got mine so it would be easier to transport weapons to a range. I got the weapons in case trump starts a civil war or something.
As well reciprocal states that recognize it so you can transport them with minimal issues as well. It’s one reason to get one regardless of being in a constitutional carry state.
I did self-defense training, both learning and teaching for close to 15 years or so, I did the CCW thing, took classes in firearms as well as martial arts and the whole nine-yards for many years.
I will often reiterate what you cited there, that if you’re in a dangerous situation that you already expect to be dangerous, your first priority is changing your situation. Not going to that place, working towards moving, etc. Kind of like step-one of any fight is to not get into a fight.
I eventually also stopped carrying my gun, because all it did was add extra stress to my life. Always making sure you know where it is, if you’re somewhere that legally prohibits you having it, then if you do have to leave it outside of a store or business, you are always thinking about it inside your car. My greatest worry was someone breaking into my vehicle and using the gun to commit a crime, which statistically is much, much more likely than actually being in a situation where you need to use it.
I still own guns but keep them locked up. But I don’t enjoy guns broadly because I’ve had too much time think about it. I’ve had to learn the law, I’ve had to take responsibility for teaching others how to defend themselves, I’ve spent too much time playing out situations and the post-event situations that most gun-chuds NEVER spend a moment thinking about.
I feel strongly now that a lot of the gun violence in the US can be connected to the general lack of respect and knowledge about firearms. The only “training” most owners get is action movies. I think if more people were required to actually study the law and play out scenarios they might be far less likely to reach for a gun to solve all their problems.
Never really thought about the logistics of having to leave it in your car. Are you allowed to take the ammo in with you?
It depends a lot on your local laws. Not every state even makes the distinction, so to err on the side of caution, I always treated ammo the same as a gun, and never separated them.
Some laws let you transport guns anywhere in your car if it’s in a locked box, some laws are written in a way where that could mean your glove compartment, other states have wording that excludes a glove compartment, just as an example of the ambiguity involved in gun laws.
Also, your proximity to schools or other public services can override all the other laws. It was when I was drawing kilometer radiuses from local schools that I started to feel such stress from planning my trips outside that I decided to stop taking the damn thing out all the time, and eventually just stopped entirely.
A good CCW class will give you the most basic stuff you need to know for your area, but it does change frequently so you would need to refresh on the laws frequently.
If it’s a state/federal building you can’t even bring the ammo and that’s still the least of concern. The person getting a firearm can get replacement magazines and ammunition for it easily. People concerned for the safety of others and not wanting it stolen will get small gun safe boxes that bolt into the car someway to stow it.
Interestingly, a lot of gun violence in the US comes down to neglected spaces. Without changing anything else, cleaning up vacant lots, demolishing abandoned buildings, adding street lights, and general neighborhood beautification cuts down on a LOT of gun violence. Violence intervention programs–teaching kids restraint, essentially–does a lot too.
I know that building community is not only an answer to violence, but broadly speaking the answer to a lot of social problems. I am curious though if you’re referencing a source or study, if the neighborhood beautification projects lead to people becoming more involved in their communities, or if it’s communities already coming together to beautify their neighborhoods.
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As another carry permit holder, this is most certainly true. But there are a few places I will carry due to the remoteness and some of the wildlife that can eat you if they really want to. But mostly it remains at my bedside as an “in case” if it’s needed. If something were to go sideways, law enforcement is probably going to be at least 20 to 30 minutes away and possibly up to 90 minutes. I cannot rely on either one of the two deputies on duty at 2AM to be anywhere near me if things go bad. Things will be well and done long before I can expect help.
Another thing most of the rabid “Gotta have my pistol and 3 spare mags on me at all times” never think about is the cost of shooting someone even in self-defense. By the time it’s all said and done, it can cost upwards and beyond of $100,000+ in lawyer, expert testimony, and court fees. And you are likely to lose your job due to being jailed for at least large parts of it.
But mostly it remains at my bedside as an “in case” if it’s needed. If something were to go sideways, law enforcement is probably going to be at least 20 to 30 minutes away and possibly up to 90 minutes. I cannot rely on either one of the two deputies on duty at 2AM to be anywhere near me if things go bad.
If something goes ‘sideways’ at 2AM, you expect anyone breaking into your house to ring the doorbell and wait for you to wake up?
Even if you carried at all times, and you were specifically trained (think special forces training, not I spend my weekends at the gun range training) then it’s still a toss-up if you will be able to respond fast enough. If they want to harm you, they will. You cannot be hyper-aware of your surroundings 24/7, you need to relax, you need to sleep.
I can’t imagine what life must be like when you’re so afraid that you think you need to have a gun within reach at all times.
I do not keep a gun on me at all times. Merely when hunting. I do have a first layer warning system called dogs. Hopefully the barking is all it takes to drive away a bad situation. But I WILL be awake before you can get out of your car.
And it’s not about being afraid of my surroundings. It’s about understanding that public safety, (police, fire, ems, and even neighbors), is a long ways away and I cannot expect timely help from anyone. If I have a heart attack at home, I will die for sure because EMS will never get there in time. So I need to be at least somewhat prepared for situations you don’t even consider living in a city. Where help is a mere phone call and a few minutes away. Hell, I don’t even have cell service in my yard to even call or text with.
So yes, you are at least somewhat correct. You can’t imagine.
Most people don’t sleep next to doors to the outside. Most windows are always locked. The least common way of a burglary happening is someone picking a lock.
You will be awake with a significant amount of seconds to grab a gun if someone breaks into your home.
As to doing it 24/7? Jesus, did you even read the rest of the post? That was the whole point of what you were replying to. They specifically said they think it’s true that carrying it most of the time isn’t the point.
The least common way of a burglary happening is someone picking a lock.
You don’t need a gun to defend against a burglar. Burglars are generally cowards and run away when caught. The whole point of sneaking into your house is to not be detected and commit theft. (taking something without a person noticing it).
What you might need protection from is robbery (taking things under thread of violence). A robber is not going to sneak into your house. They will either kick down your door while you sleep or simply ring the doorbell and wait for you to open. Do you bring your gun every time someone is at the door?
They specifically said they think it’s true that carrying it most of the time isn’t the point.
Then there is no point. They will just wait until you are not carrying to rob you.
There might be someone dangerous in Publix!!!
I have, it’s not fun
Okay, but what if my self-esteem is predicated on the knowledge that I could kill anyone at a moment’s notice.
Surely that suppressed libidinal desire to inflict unimaginable pain and suffering on everyone around me is worth something.
You’ve got a good point there… Have you ever considered using your car as a weapon against bicyclists who have indirectly offended you?
It’s incredible that we feel the need to make up monsters for our movies and ghost stories when we’ve got prime examples living amongst us.
Realistic movies scare the shit out of me. Prisoners, Blue Ruin, The Tall Man. True psychos are way scarier than any fucking ghost or demon.
A bicyclist’s very existence is offensive. But I consider the .50 mounted on the back of the pickup a more sporting way to handle things. Alternatively, mini-gun mounted from a helicopter, and if anyone asks I’ll just say I was hunting wild hogs.
Motorized bicycles?
Okay, what I said before but totally unironically for everyone in this picture except Macy.
I’m happy for you. It sucks having to use one. But it sucks more not having one and having to use one.
I can see situations where having one would be handy, especially in the US, but I think the likelihood of me blowing my brains out is greater than needing one to defend myself, so I don’t have one.
Queer leftist person with a trans partner and I have a Mexican name in a red state.
I really, really, REALLY don’t want to need it.
I dread the day I might need it.
I’ll probably just die. But I wanna believe it’ll be on my feet if it comes to that.
I’ve never been in a situation where I’d need to know how to do cpr. Yet I’ve learned how to do it.
I hunt. I depend on venison for food. Does that count? Honest question.
As a pro gun pro hunting guy
Do you actually need to depend on venison for food or do you choose to?
Personally, I think hunting is a good way to stay mindful of the food chain and what it takes to eat meat. If one is going to eat meat I view this as the most ethical way to do it.
But its not necessary.
Unless you’re doing the whole process yourself (which you might be) then its not cheaper than purchasing meat. And also its not better for you health wise unless you have some sorta allergy to beef. I guess its more lean, but truthfully I’d rather have smaller portions of fatty meat for flavor and health benefit reasons than more frequent lean meat.
I’d personally prefer to keep my ability to obtain protein myself if needed and the easiest way to do that is with a gun, but I have been looking I to bow hunting because that feels more ethical environmentally and in a lot of ways safer than explosion tubes that I hold next to my face.
So I guess I have two questions. Do you need to hunt? Do you need a gun specifically to hunt?
Deer are giant rats and need to have their population controlled. Meat in the store is expensive. Hunting deer for food, not trophies, is a winning move.
Deer come up to eat the apples and other berries from the garden, now deer is in freezer ready for grill.
Hillbilly tip: soak venison in buttermilk for a few hours to remove the gamey taste
Don’t hang your deer and clean every ounce of fat off and you shouldn’t ever have any gamey taste.
Well, while I don’t really need to deer hunt anymore, I do enjoy bird hunting. Just upland these days. So, yes, I need my shotgun and dog. There is a reason that ruffed grouse are called the King of the Table. And I live in the middle of the best area to hunt them. And I really, really like eating them. But I also forage the forest and garden and fish too. Everything I do shrinks my food budget spent. The fish I caught Saturday ice fishing is one less meal I need to buy. The 6 grouse, (possession limit), is 6 fewer meals I need to buy. Though the 25lbs of bacon I smoked this year is a wash. Still, it’s a tradition I still do.
That said, there are families here that need to hunt, forage, and garden here. And if the hunt is poor, it can well determine not only how good a Christmas they will have, but how warm the house might be this winter and maybe getting new winter boots.
And there is the tradition of the hunt. Families get together and small towns around here have “hunter’s breakfasts and suppers” to build community. And you haven’t lived until you stand in a classroom and listened to a bunch of 5th grade students, (boys and girls both), talk about getting their first deer rifle. Almost always a hand me down from Grandpa or an Uncle. It’s both a tool and an Heirloom passed down.
So yes, where I live, firearms and hunting are necessary tools to living.
How do you plan on doing the revolution without a gun?
“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun” -Mao
“By any means necessary” - Malcolm X
“I don’t care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting.” - Che Guevera
etc, etc…
“Hold mah beer. I gotta go to work.” – My Uncle defending his home.
I have, but it’s because I’m trans and I lived in a bad place for trans people.
Give it a bit, we all will.
I think guns make sense if you live in the wilderness and need to protect yourself from bears
The city is a concrete jungle. We already said we’d choose the bear. Its not the bear we need guns for.
Bears with guns
Many do.
Not just bears and really there’s better ways to deal with bears generally to avoid confrontation with them as well as other critters. Still, there’s definitely instances where people will want to be carrying regardless for self protection. Hiking in remote areas you should have a rifle, farmers in the more rural areas of the country are likely to have something to deal with coyotes, wolves, bears, etc. that may threaten them or their live stock. I remember seeing a youtube video about living far north in Alaska that when it’s time to take the dogs out to do their business they bring a high powered rifle for polar bears. But me going to my local game store, there’s no real reason to be packing. ESPECIALLY open carry.
Yeah I’ve had the tent I was sleeping in broken by a bear while solo backpacking. I didn’t end up needing to shoot it but I always carry bear spray and a gun when I’m solo camping in bear country.
And Iam thankful that in my life this is true. But not everyone is so lucky.
But what if you wanted to shoot a gun? Surely that would make that situation better.
Glory to Mankind
I have. I’ve been in places and situations where being able to get someone to back down and slow their roll would have been a better outcome than what I was able to get without being armed. Shit just happened around me, and I couldn’t exit the situation in good conscience. It’s terrifying to try to stand up to stop shit from going really sideways knowing that if it does, there’s not a lot you can do except be a meat shield for someone else. Almost all defensive gun use doesn’t involve shooting; it involves having a gun, knowing how to use it, and using the threat of force to stop someone else from escalating a situation.
People say that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away, and fuck me, that is extremely optimistic. I’ve never had the cops show up in under five minutes; the closest was about ten minutes, and that was after a shooting in my 'hood in Chicago. CPD showed up after the ambulance.
Let’s imagine that the weapons are extremely hard to get, and people can’t afford even legal ones (because of checks and prices), not to say about illegal. Wouldn’t your place be better one if that was so?
