I don’t carry a gun anymore.

[UpDok]

Besides the legal jeopardy and gun-free zones, there are many other forces at work to dissuade pistol permit holders from carrying all the time: There are social forces of shame and embarrassment from those who feel guns are evil and sick. There are political forces and propaganda from political leaders, bureaucrats and the media. There are religious forces from some priests, ministers and rabbis, etc. who may feel strongly against "ordinary" people carrying guns, and preach against guns from the pulpit.

Just about everywhere I look; my senators, legislators, wok congressperson, officials, leaders and talking heads are telling me in the strongest terms not to carry. They can wear down even the most enthusiastic pistol carrying zealot. We each can rebel against the anti-gun hoplophobic world system only at a cost to our souls and threats to our livelihoods, unless we strengthen our resolve in the face of overwhelming odds to just do it anyway and be a rebel with a cause

[45dotACP]

If you truly feel helpless without a gun , you probably are.

This is something I have been trying to find a way to express.


A big myth is that the gun is the "equalizer".

But is it?

Is a 240lb street thug who has been victimizing people for years really at a disadvantage to the average "gun guy" who has never fired a shot outside of a range stall?

Is someone with no experience with violence and no ability to understand just what kind of people are out there...I mean does that person have as much of an advantage? Are they truly "equal"?

I have my doubts.

Sure it allows someone to kill someone larger and stronger...but that's assuming they can get a weapon into play, that they saw what was coming and understood what was happening.

To say nothing of whether the other person is armed as well.


You sure can lose the fight because you weren't armed. But there's a lot of other ways to lose as well.




Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

[Paul Blackburn]

Having had a DGU….. and all the ancillary trouble along with it I feel, not to be rude, more qualified than most to determine my actual increase of security based on being armed or not at all times.

Again I’m not trying to be rude. I don’t know better than you. But I am willing to challenge my bias to make a choice not grounded in trauma/turmoil.

Spouting off all the cliche gun guy stuff doesn’t make a point as well as we feel like it does.

At no time have I said or felt as if evil has magically vanished nor that it will never find its way to me again.

What I did say - and I stand by it - you, me/we - if outside a war zone are no where near as likely to have to resort to offensive trigger pulling as we want to believe we are.

Factually. Statistically it is not that relevant


I’d wager the most ridiculing this mindset dont have all their own household layers tightened up.

Have you deeded your valuables to a trust to remove asset motivation of attack or litigation? Have you a detailed arrangement with your attorneys as to your protocol given a crisis ? Does your legal council have access to your home security cameras ? Do you have home security cameras, fences, a spare car, wallet, cash, credentials at your other home to fall back on should your primary residence be deemed unlivable or inaccessible?

What about the basics ? Is your car at 1/4 a tank of fuel with mismatched tire pressure or expired date codes on the rubber ?

What about your general health? Self defense is about your health right ? How’s your current performance as an athlete in terms of the scope of a capable person ?


Again I’m not in any way trying to be rude. But a gun carrier 24/7 is never going to solve all these aspects.

If you truly feel helpless without a gun , you probably are.

I appreciate your engagement and willingness to explain.

What was your motivation and rational for carrying to start with and what has changed?

[Duke]

Besides the legal jeopardy and gun-free zones, there are many other forces at work to dissuade pistol permit holders from carrying all the time: There are social forces of shame and embarrassment from those who feel guns are evil and sick. There are political forces and propaganda from political leaders, bureaucrats and the media. There are religious forces from some priests, ministers and rabbis, etc. who may feel strongly against "ordinary" people carrying guns, and preach against guns from the pulpit.

Just about everywhere I look; my senators, legislators, wok congressperson, officials, leaders and talking heads are telling me in the strongest terms not to carry. They can wear down even the most enthusiastic pistol carrying zealot. We each can rebel against the anti-gun hoplophobic world system only at a cost to our souls and threats to our livelihoods, unless we strengthen our resolve in the face of overwhelming odds to just do it anyway and be a rebel with a cause

Indeed.


And oddly - despite my tone in this thread - I think if you feel like you need to carry but it against the “law”…well you can do about anything If you just don’t tell.

Yea. It’ll be another aspect of the fight afterward if it comes into play but that’s just part of it.

Some folks won’t risk their employment to carry at work and some will. I get either way

[FrankinCA]

@Duke, agree pretty much with what others have said. But please have some empty hand skills.

[Stephanie B]

I'm a pretty fit 70-year-old, but I'm still a 70-year-old. Going hands-on with a young guy is a losing proposition. I'm armed where I legally can be, maintain awareness and adhere to the Rule of the Three Stupids. Where I live, the geezer uniform tends to be cargo pants and an untucked shirt, so it's not that difficult even with a full-size gun. If I go somewhere I can't be legally armed, I just live with it.

Drop a little time and change the gender and you have me. There were a couple of times where I asked a bailiff to escort me to my car.

[Stephanie B]

But when it does collapse, Tesla technicals with M2s pulled out of abandoned National guard armories would be so California.

Until the grid goes down, that is.

[Stephanie B]

Granted a lot of handguns and cartridges don't have the ballistic arc of a catapult. Still knowing that arc is important for holdover depending on equipment. Scaling won't teach you what it is or build an intuitive feel for it on demand.

I found that out when I was shooting at empty 2-liter bottles at 100 yards. I could usually hit them with a .44 Mag. A 1911 took some holdover.

[rob_s]

I just threw my fire extinguisher in the the trash. I have not used it in years. Not planning a kitchen fire so it’s not necessary. Same logic.

Not even remotely.

But thanks for disqualifying yourself for further engagement.

[Totem Polar]

This thread continues to bring out some great points. I love this place, when it’s firing on all 8 cylinders, as it is in this conversation.

The gun is the most efficient SD/violence tool. The user is more important than the tool. You should try to have the best tool for the job, and since the job is life, your lifestyle absolutely affects which tool is “best” on a case-by-case basis.

@Duke, I sure appreciate you opening up this conversation, and I’m grokking your points so far.


To riff a bit on @45dotACP’s concepts: if a VCA really, truly, has to worry about Totem Polar with a gun, the same dude still has to worry about Totem Polar without a gun.

Lastly, age has its capability penalties. May we *all* get to the point where those taxes start to become due; it’s a privilege denied to many.

JMO.