Quote:
Originally posted by farfromhome
And what I'm talking about is a fear culture.
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Undertoad made a comment some time back that I think really hit the bulleye on the desire to own guns.
Personal empowerment.
That wasnt his whole post but that was the bottom line driving the desire to own and carry.
If there is something to be fearful of, I'll handle it. The world's problems cannot be solved with a single handgun. My handgun in my little sphere is an insurance policy. The policy premium is taking the responsibility of having a lethal weapon with you and using it only as a last resort should you need it. The policy benefit is using the handgun as a tool for your own well being. That doesnt always mean shooting someone, as I have said here many times.
I cant wait for the cops to show up if a vicious dog wants to chew my leg off. I might need that leg sometime in the future and I would most definately shoot a dog locked onto any part of my body if he was big enough to hurt me. Most of the time the dog can "read" that you know you will kick his ass sideways should he decide to bite you. The body language thing also works in the animal world.
Having to shoot a dog certainly would not make my day, I love dogs, but I love me more.
In some unlikely yet possible situations you may be able to break up some life threatening confrontation by using a handgun to shoot into the ground or the air. I wouldnt recommend this but there have been times I have prepared to make a "distractionary" shot. Fortunately none have ever been needed.
Just like in the movie Pulp Fiction, an unexpected gunshot will break most people's concentration. In some situations, just long enough for someone to get away.
There is also a certain aspect to carrying that allows people to become more involved with witnessing crimes or criminals, thus reducing their likelihood because many criminals really dont want to be seen perpetrating their crime. If I see something suspicious, as a CCW holder, I'm much more likely to just take a walk by the individual, just to look at what might be going on and see who might be around. The prevailing attitude from the general citizenry of the last 20 years or so has been to call the cops and just stay out of harms way. Trying to be a cop without actually being in law enforcement is not something any thinking person would do, but just being an active individual in some "neighborhood watch" type program is the best grass roots method of keeping crime down. If the cops are called into an area every 20 minutes for a false alarm it reduces the urgency of each individual call. I say that people should be more aware and participate more in keeping their neighborhood square. This includes being a good witness for the court system. Reducing the fear of being hurt helps the legal system work.
And if for some reason the "suspicious" person attacks you (which is very unlikely IMO ) hold your ground and draw your weapon if you have to but know that you dont have to let them kill or fuck you.
The carry of a legal weapon encourages people to be nice....communicate effectively (dont want to freak anyone out when I'm carrying because I will be going to jail ) and to be aware. There are an incredibly few incidences of illegal use of a firearm by CCW holders. The system and the philosophy works.*
So, again, this is my take on the handgun carry thing. Many of the regulars have already read this post in different forms in the past.
* - It works here in Pa and several other states that have just recently passed the "shall issue" handgun permit system.