honest answer to a serious question?

[butters]

about this gun stuff: i plan on moving to tennessee later in 2015, and H has guns. i shall probably learn how to fire one.

but my question is for those of you who carry on a regular basis:

would you feel less inclined to carry if you knew most other people didn't? would it make no difference? do you carry because you believe many others out there are carrying firearms too?

i'd imagine location will factor quite heavily in this but maybe not. tell me.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I carry a knife, all real Southern men carry knives. In my opinion guns invite trouble and reduce better options. Like...in a bad area I pull out my knife and whittle with it. So everyone see's the knife and few object to a man peacefully whittling a stick.

 

[unregistered]

 

[gravyrug]

From my own observations, a lot of people go on at length about wanting to be *able* to legally carry their guns, but very few of them actually do so on a regular basis. It's just not worth the effort for most situations. And that's from TX, where gun ownership is a religion.

 

[butters]

so, gravy, would you say that people's impression of others carrying might not reflect the reality?

and would anyone say that it's their fear of others being armed that drives them to carry? jtohispb came closest by her considering becoming armed for a reason, but the replies so far are from those who don't appear to go armed to the supermarket.

this isn't about proving a point or driving an agenda, just looking for insight.

 

[richard_daily]

about this gun stuff: i plan on moving to tennessee later in 2015, and H has guns. i shall probably learn how to fire one.

but my question is for those of you who carry on a regular basis:

would you feel less inclined to carry if you knew most other people didn't? would it make no difference? do you carry because you believe many others out there are carrying firearms too?

i'd imagine location will factor quite heavily in this but maybe not. tell me.

I carry because I don't know what's out there. I often have large amounts of cash on me for work, and I also grew up in a really shitty area of a really depressed city. I've seen what people are capable of.

Seeing that I do often carry it's my responsibility to make sure I don't ever escalate a situation. One of the first things that you'll learn if you get your CCL is when to NOT use your weapon... which is just about always.

You can't possibly know what other people are doing, or what their intent is.

Firearms aren't the only threats out there.

 

[thør]

about this gun stuff: i plan on moving to tennessee later in 2015, and H has guns. i shall probably learn how to fire one.

but my question is for those of you who carry on a regular basis:

would you feel less inclined to carry if you knew most other people didn't? would it make no difference? do you carry because you believe many others out there are carrying firearms too?

i'd imagine location will factor quite heavily in this but maybe not. tell me.

East or west TN?

From my own observations, a lot of people go on at length about wanting to be *able* to legally carry their guns, but very few of them actually do so on a regular basis. It's just not worth the effort for most situations. And that's from TX, where gun ownership is a religion.

You could substitute AK for TX and be entirely correct.

A permit is not required in this state to carry a concealed weapon. You'd really be surprised as to who the people are that actually carry firearms.

 

[butters]

I carry because I don't know what's out there. I often have large amounts of cash on me for work, and I also grew up in a really shitty area of a really depressed city. I've seen what people are capable of.

Seeing that I do often carry it's my responsibility to make sure I don't ever escalate a situation. One of the first things that you'll learn if you get your CCL is when to NOT use your weapon... which is just about always.

You can't possibly know what other people are doing, or what their intent is.

Firearms aren't the only threats out there.

so you carry because others may be and carrying cash places you at an elevated risk. even if you knew most others didn't carry, you'd still be in that position of risk.

i'd have no desire for a ccl.

 

[parodyluvr75]

I don't carry a gun or own one. I carry something else, usually blunt or edged, if I'm out. But my idea about carrying a weapon, is close to what Rich said. I grew up in a not so nice city and live close to one.

People can be crazy and you have to be cautious.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

In one occasion a crazy young man came to my hospital with the intent to kill someone, and I was IT. We'd never met. And so I invited him to my office and he pulled out a large knife and expressed his intent.

What followed was a royal cluster fuck. Staff was trained to deal with such emergencies, and no one recalled their training. Finally someone called 911 and the police swat team came but remained outside smoking scratching their heads. I waited and waited and waited and finally disarmed the guy and restrained him by my lonesome. Afterwards I always went to work armed tho its a felony to bring a weapon into a mental hospital. Cops are scardy cats.

 

[Mr Noone]

...One of the first things that you'll learn if you get your CCL is when to NOT use your weapon... which is just about always...Firearms aren't the only threats out there.

Indeed. Split infinitives abound.

 

[butters]

East or west TN?



You could substitute AK for TX and be entirely correct.

A permit is not required in this state to carry a concealed weapon. You'd really be surprised as to who the people are that actually carry firearms.

more south - closest marker's probably fayetteville

 

[CandiCame]

That's a difficult question to answer, because it's embedded in the culture. I don't carry a gun because I don't feel safe. You generally carry a gun because you do. If I get dressed, I have a gun. If I get in the car, I have a gun because it's under the seat. If I'm going in drag, I have a gun because it's in my purse. You don't remember you have it any more than you remember you have a belt. You're just conditioned to put it on. You'll remember if you have to. Like if you go to get your license renewed it'll click and you'll be like, "Oh yeah, I gotta leave that in the car." And where I sub it clicks pretty regularly to the point where I don't even put it on in the morning. But other people not having guns isn't gonna keep the coyotes out of my chickens. I think that people who aren't raised in gun culture don't realize that you don't carry guns to shoot humans. That's not the point of a gun. It's either a fashion accessory (You'd be amazed how many guns are never shot) a home accessory, or, like a condom, something you carry just in case you have to use it. I can't even fucking shoot. But I can fire into the air to scare off a predator.

 

[CandiCame]

so you carry because others may be and carrying cash places you at an elevated risk. even if you knew most others didn't carry, you'd still be in that position of risk.

i'd have no desire for a ccl.

I think you'd like the class, even if you're not going to carry.

 

[JohnnySavage]

more south - closest marker's probably fayetteville

You should also bear in mind, that while America has a gun culture, it's greatly exaggerated overseas.

 

[JeanLaFlu]

From http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/02/daily-chart-7?fsrc=scn/tw/te/dc/dangerofdeath

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Screen-Shot-2013-02-15-at-2.38.10-PM.png

I just want responsible gun ownership.

With an estimated 4 plus million weapons in the hands of law enforcement and the military, and over 310 million firearms owned by American citizens today, perhaps you meant more "responsible gun ownership", because the numbers reveal that American gun owners as a group are certainly responsible.

I have open- and canceled-carried throughout my life, but I do not own or carry today; that's simply my personal choice. I live in a part of the US that is heavily armed and I feel no less safe or any more threatened here in relation to anywhere else I've lived.

The incident with the 2-year-old fatally shooting Mom was evident irresponsibly on her part and she paid with it not only with her life, but maybe her child being messed up for life, too. Any weapon must always be either secured and waiting, or ready and able - the mother failed herself and her child on the first requirement. A tragedy that certainly did not need to happen, and one for which no one is left to punish.

 

[gravyrug]

so, gravy, would you say that people's impression of others carrying might not reflect the reality?

and would anyone say that it's their fear of others being armed that drives them to carry? jtohispb came closest by her considering becoming armed for a reason, but the replies so far are from those who don't appear to go armed to the supermarket.

this isn't about proving a point or driving an agenda, just looking for insight.

As Thor said, you'd be surprised who does and doesn't carry. The person I know who owns the most and most serious guns doesn't carry one. I've known people who never even talk about guns who do. I have one friend who has a CCL tell me after an incident with someone trying to rob him that he was glad he didn't have his gun with him, because he would have used it instead of simply getting away.

It's ultimately about what you feel comfortable with. I'm not particularly comfortable with guns in most circumstances, so I don't have one. You, I'd trust to be responsible with one.

 

[remy_lebeau8]

about this gun stuff: i plan on moving to tennessee later in 2015, and H has guns. i shall probably learn how to fire one.

but my question is for those of you who carry on a regular basis:

would you feel less inclined to carry if you knew most other people didn't? would it make no difference? do you carry because you believe many others out there are carrying firearms too?

i'd imagine location will factor quite heavily in this but maybe not. tell me.

If I remember right Tennessee is open carry and many people do. I was in a gas station once in Jackson, Tennessee and I'm pretty sure I was the only one unarmed.

To the other part of the question.

I own guns but no I do not carry. I've thought about it a few times but I always talk myself out of it. Guess I stay in nice enough areas (or know how to carry myself in the rougher ones) that I feel no need to carry. Honestly the thought never crossed my mind about what other people do. That being said an armed society is a polite society.

If nothing else take the class. You'll learn something and the range is a lot of fun. If you run in to friends with enough land nothing quite beats shooting up pop cans and car doors.

Note: I've lived in Michigan all my life but spent many a summer growing up in Georgia. My views may be skewed


Edit. Candi and Gravy hit it on the head. In the south especially a gun most often is seen as a tool to protect you home, Animals, yourself,or to put food on the table.

 

[smoothg103rd]

I carry a knife, all real Southern men carry knives. In my opinion guns invite trouble and reduce better options. Like...in a bad area I pull out my knife and whittle with it. So everyone see's the knife and few object to a man peacefully whittling a stick.

Ever heard don't bring a knife to a gun fight?

 

[Que]

I rarely actually carry. In the unlikely event I need it will likely be in the glovebox or at home.

If I need to be in an area where I have security concerns, most of the time I can casually arrange a meet-up someplace public. On rare occasions when prudence dictates I be armed, I used to worry about some stupid carry charge. Now my enlightened State gentlemanly (concealed) carry is 100% legal, no permit required.

I ignore signs saying "per ARS #______" carrying firearms on the premises is prohibited. Mostly because those signs piss me off for their stupidity and for their dishonesty. The referenced statutes allows the business (as it should) to disallow but it is their decision not the statute they are referencing.

If it is a polite "no firearms please" I obey. But before I do I ask some pointed questions about security. If they have no armed security or at least metal detectors or a handsey bouncer frisking everyone I don't go.

I have zero concerns about the high number of guns in places I go. In fact I like it. In the unlikely event someone starts shooting I figure duck and let someone else draw fire. It is more important to me to live amongst a lot of guns than to have one myself.

Whether others have guns. knives ball-bats, or fists, If I am in an area where an assault is even remotely possible, I prefer to be armed.

And yes, I realize that all sounds crazy to you from the anti-gun nut culture you come from. Do go shooting. Meet some rednecks. Watch the care they take with safety at a range or out at an informal shooting location.

Shooting is a lot of fun. People (often women) that did not grow up with cap pistols developing bad habits are usually remarkably good their first time out.

 

[bronzeage]

about this gun stuff: i plan on moving to tennessee later in 2015, and H has guns. i shall probably learn how to fire one.

but my question is for those of you who carry on a regular basis:

would you feel less inclined to carry if you knew most other people didn't? would it make no difference? do you carry because you believe many others out there are carrying firearms too?

i'd imagine location will factor quite heavily in this but maybe not. tell me.

If you want to learn to fire a gun and carry one, it is your choice. There is no reason to think you need to do either, unless you move to one of Kentucky's "shoot on sight" neighborhoods.

 

[Sean]

I rarely actually carry. In the unlikely event I need it will likely be in the glovebox or at home.

If I need to be in an area where I have security concerns, most of the time I can casually arrange a meet-up someplace public. On rare occasions when prudence dictates I be armed, I used to worry about some stupid carry charge. Now my enlightened State gentlemanly (concealed) carry is 100% legal, no permit required.

I ignore signs saying "per ARS #______" carrying firearms on the premises is prohibited. Mostly because those signs piss me off for their stupidity and for their dishonesty. The referenced statutes allows the business (as it should) to disallow but it is their decision not the statute they are referencing.

If it is a polite "no firearms please" I obey. But before I do I ask some pointed questions about security. If they have no armed security or at least metal detectors or a handsey bouncer frisking everyone I don't go.

I have zero concerns about the high number of guns in places I go. In fact I like it. In the unlikely event someone starts shooting I figure duck and let someone else draw fire. It is more important to me to live amongst a lot of guns than to have one myself.

Whether others have guns. knives ball-bats, or fists, If I am in an area where an assault is even remotely possible, I prefer to be armed.

And yes, I realize that all sounds crazy to you from the anti-gun nut culture you come from. Do go shooting. Meet some rednecks. Watch the care they take with safety at a range or out at an informal shooting location.

Shooting is a lot of fun. People (often women) that did not grow up with cap pistols developing bad habits are usually remarkably good their first time out.

It must be terrible to live in such fear all the time.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Ever heard don't bring a knife to a gun fight?

I just follow the niggaz example. The dopers got guns but the average nigga got a knife.

 

[smoothg103rd]

I just follow the niggaz example. The dopers got guns but the average nigga got a knife.

I see you are using niggA instead of niggER, good. But the average Latin person has a knife. The average niggA has a gun, trust me.

 

[Que]

It must be terrible to live in such fear all the time.

#ascriptionagain

A little old lady was pulled over. The cop asks for her papers. Digging through her purse she sets a long barreled .357.

"Ma'am that is an awfully big gun. What are you afraid of?"

"Absolutely nothing.

When I carry, I carry a little Walther p22 that shoots .22minimag. No recoil, might not even kill the other guy. Not going to go through the guy and harm someone unintended. Plenty for my needs.

About those TWO black belts you like to brag about?

It must be terrible to live in such fear all the time.

You will note the thread was about carrying a firearm in America where guns are prevalent. Not in England where shadow boxers are king.