I think you kind-of missed my point.

Let me explain: I carry a fire extinguisher in my car (and keep one in my home) even though I recognize that the odds of me ever needing it, to put out a fire, are extremely small. If I do need it though, it may very well be a matter of life-and-death.

I carry a firearm wherever possible and keep one accessible in my home. I recognize that the odds of me ever needing one are quite small, but I know that if a situation arises where I do need one, it will be a matter of life-and-death.

I'd rather have a firearm available most of the time and not need it, rather than not have one available when I really need one.

If you, personally, feel that you might shoot someone unprovoked (I'm referring to your comment "it could all go wrong quickly on the wrong day in the wrong mood), I will compliment you on understanding your own propensity toward "rage" and your precautions in assuring you won't hurt someone with a firearm you had in your possession.

Personally, I can have bad days and be in bad moods, but the thought of using a firearm against even someone who provoked me, with anything less than potentially lethal force, simply does not enter my consciousness. Even if confronted by a potentially deadly threat, my first reaction will be to "Get the hell away from the threat!" not try to confront the threatening person with my firearm.

I learned at a very early age -- from bullies on the school bus -- that there are (sadly) people in this world who are just plain mean. I see a firearm, particularly a handgun, as an extremely practical tool which I can use to defend myself against one, or multiple numbers, of those "just plain mean" people if any of them decide to attack me.

I wish I lived in a world where I could determine that the probabilities of me needing a firearm were so low, that it didn't make sense to actually carry one, but I look at the world as it is and live my life as I determine I need to based upon what I see around me.

I live in a nice neighborhood and town, but every week, within walking distance from my home there are robberies and other crimes of violence. I can't stop such things from happening, but can take precautions in case they happen to me.

Can't and don't carry in El Aye. I did carry for a few days after the Rodney King Riots.

I carry just about all the time. I usually leave it in the car when I go to a restaurant that serves alcohol, but not always. The only gun-free zones I always observe are those where I see a metal detector. I always open-carry on my motorcycle. I have never come close to unholstering. The one time I needed a gun, I was in NJ, where I can't carry. I had a knife pulled on me, but was able to get to my car before they decided to chase me. Had that happened anywhere other than 10' from my car in a deserted parking lot, I would have been in real trouble. No doubt those thugs have done the same to others, since they did not get shot by me and the cops didn't care at all when I reported it.

Today I rode a 175 mile route through Prescott Nat. Forest. I saw few cars and I was way, way out in the middle of nowhere. No one was gonna help me if I got into trouble, either by stumbling upon a meth lab or a hungry mountain lion. I carry because I refuse to rely on dial-a-prayer 911 and police response times to save my butt. If it were illegal to carry, I'd just do it extra concealed. All the usual sayings come to mind here - I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by six and I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

BTW, I've never heard of a single case of a legal CCW'er using their carry gun to commit a crime. All those warnings have never materialized.

Well put, Competentone. I understand what you meant now.

You know Rick...I was up in Shenandoah last weekend and thought about you then. You can be pretty alone out there. I read about some guy that killed a couple of people on the AT 20 years ago, and did it again recently. I took a trip out west about 9 years ago. I was mountain bike through the middle of nowhere in Moab, but myself. What a stupid idea. Hell I used to do it all the time in GA. I was scared of a Deliverence episode then. I can see why you'd wanna carry out there in BFE....I just read an article about people running huge pot operations on public land. Irrigation and everything. I'd hate to find that **** by accident and not be protected in some fashion.

Interestingly enough, I don't think I have ever shot a real gun.

I live in a decent neighborhood as well...this happened this week. :eek::eek::eek::eek:

http://www.nbc4.com/news/17653569/detail.html

I've been out riding on trails here where nothing but a dirt bike or a helicopter could come to get you. It's amazingly remote and desolate. First time I took an offroad ride here, I made to a general store about 20 miles from any pavement. Every single male I saw there was openly wearing a sidearm. There must have been about 50 folks there with quads or bike. All openly armed. Funny how I never heard about any shootouts because of that.

You will never meet a politer bunch than at a shooting range..................think about it.

Interesting thread, lots of good points on both side. I don't have my CCW, but will probably get it in the near future. I've never wished I had a gun while outside my home, but I'd also prefer to never be in that situation. I'd mostly like to legally carry inside my car, especially when going to unknown areas.

A shooting outside my rental duplex prompted my gun purchase. I never want to be in the situation of not being able to defend my family.

You just never know what you may run across.

If you have a weapon you have one more option that you wished you had with out it.

I don't agree with the fire extinguisher analogy - it trivializes the gun. They do not equate in application or need. There is no downside to having a fire extinguisher and using it in public. There are huge possible downsides to having a gun and using it in public.

I don't carry, don't have a nightstand gun, and don't plan to do either in the foreseeable future. I just do not live in that state of fear. ymmv.

Civil unrest? Totally different ball o' wax...

I always liked my wife to carry when she was doing home health nursing.

Only even showed it to one person, one of her drivers, who was appalled she would even go to the 'hood she was in, telling her not to get out of her car until he got there.

She did have it in her hand one time, when approached by some road rager in a shirt and tie, who beat on her window, cursing voluminously. He got to talk about his manners to several large hispanic men changing a tire on the shoulder who had precipitated the traffic jam in the first place.

"How would you feel if someone talked to your mother like that?"

My wife, "I don't have any kids"

"Sister, whatever, are you all right ma'am?"

She was, so she drove away, with the pale man talking about how women should be treated"

Go read in the PARF forum. :)

Even if there is one person in a million that would kill you in cold blood, there is 6,000 people in this world that would still do so. My safety is worth more then a scum bags life. case closed.

IIRC you own heat. So do I. In El Aye when the big bell rings, like a 7.8, things are going to go to crap real fast. Nothing like the Northridge Earthquake which in the big picture was really nothing. Three things you need food, water and something to protect the first two. At my employer one thing they tell you, besides having some long distance walking shoes, a hat, coat and emergency supplies in the trunk of your car in a backpack ,is that after the BIG BIG Bell rings, people who see you two days later still hiking home with a backpack will instantly know what you have in your backpack and try to take it from you.

I carry my .380 when I'm cycling. I'm more concerned with animals than humans. And yes, some of the areas I cycle through I've been concerned someone would take my $2500 worth of cycling equipment.

As far as sweat is concerned, I clean the pistol at least bi-monthly. It is in a small case, but it is not water proof. I have at times put a piece of plastic in between.

We had 500 murders last year, and 4,000,000 residents. So the odds are not 1 in a million but one in 8000.

Think about it.

I find it interesting to hear from so many that don't carry because they have done a fair assessment of their own personalities, and have determined that they would be more likely to escalate a situation if they were armed. My personal assessment runs the other way. I was a pretty fair fighter (boxer) in my day, and carried the confidence that came from that. And, admittedly, the b.s. ego that came along with it. Combine that with an innate stubborn bull-headedness intrinsic to an Irish/German make-up, and we are talking a recipe for trouble.

Not so since I started carrying. I go an extra measure out of my way to avoid anything that even starts to smell of a confrontation. I'm too old and slow to fight anymore. I would say "too wise", but you guys know better... That, and I don't feel as though I should have to. When the chips are really down, I no longer feel any need to risk personal injury (or to prove myself). I'll be looking for overwhelming force to end the situation as decisively as possible with as minimal risk to me as possible.

Another reason I carry is simply because I can. It's symbolic. Only free men get to do this. It's like voting; I will never take either for granted, and will exercise both rights until the day I die. Others have died so that I can do that. There is nothing I can ever do to repay them; I know that. Exercising the rights they have secure for me makes me think of them, makes me remember what they have done for me. And keeps me vigilant against those who would impinge upon those rights.

Thinking about my own post, I'm going to think about putting one of my small calibers in the trunk of my car with my earthquake backpack.