Opinion, to carry or not to carry?

Question

I have a permit for the state of Minnesota, and another permit for the state of Florida ( about 30 states) to carry a firearm of my choice. I do carry quit a bit. I also help teach A permit to carry class in Minnesota. An eight hour class that teaches the rules, regulations, and dangers of carrying a sidearm. I would like to know what you think. Buy the way there are to diffrent kids of "carry". In Minnesota it's a "carry" permit. In Florida it's a concial and carry permit. In Minnesota we don't have to conceal our firearm, but it is recomended. how do you feel about carrying a sidearm for your protection and your famileys protection???

Do people understand that police are hear for society, NOT for a individual person? If you call the police, they have the right not to show up!!!

Answer 1

There is something horribly, excruciatingly wrong with any person -- most especially a WOMAN -- who believes that law-abiding citizens ought to be denied the right to protect themselves.

FACT: Women are almost exclusively the targets of sexually-motivated violent crimes. Pray tell, what chance does a 5'4", 115-pound woman have against a 6'4", 250-pound man? Perhaps we could ask some of the many women who've faced such circumstances... oh, that's right: we can't, because they've died a slow, excruciatingly painful death. Even a fairly accomplished martial artist stands little chance against odds like that.

Why is it that liberals (whom I usually count myself among proudly) are always shouting about EQUALITY, but we've forgotten that firearms are the ultimate EQUALIZER? Without a way to defend ourselves, "might makes right."

As modern women, we should be taking the right to bear arms as seriously as we do the right to obtain an abortion. Yet I am deeply ashamed to count myself among the female sex when I realize that, too often, it's a WOMAN who wants to do away with guns. It's sad, particularly considering that women are the least likely to commit a violent crime in the first place.

You can take my gun away... when you've had the experience of being woken up in the dead of night by a man as he slowly settles his weight onto your bed -- when you are supposed to be alone in the house. When you freeze in abject terror, knowing he's behind you, trying not to alert him to the fact that you're awake as you hear the unzipping of this stranger's fly. When your immediate gut reaction is to pray, "Oh god, please, please, let him rape me and go away -- just please, PLEASE don't let him have a knife so he can cut me to pieces." I know, because this happened to me. I didn't own a gun then, and I escaped unscathed by sheer LUCK -- but many women aren't so lucky.

Some end up raped, dismembered, and stuffed in a drum -- as recently happened in Philadelphia, where I live.

You can take my gun away... when you have no choice but to walk home from work at night, alone, on the streets of Philly... while thinking about the women you've known personally over the years who have been accosted on these same streets. And, men: these are your mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters... would you want them at the complete mercy of some psychopath?

And I won't even go into how retarded it is to think that taking guns away from law-abiding citizens is going to do anything but put the odds in the criminals' favor (newsflash: a person who is willing to commit murder is NOT going to obey gun laws. And if he can't find a gun, he'll likely substitute a much more gruesome weapon). Jeez, MOST GUN CRIMES INVOLVE ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION ANYWAY!!!!

(Here's a quirky idea: how about we remedy the justice system and stop releasing violent criminals back into society? And mandatory sentencing of 30 or more years for anyone caught illegally supplying firearms?)

In a world where it's not unheard of for a person (in this case, a gay man) to be mutilated with a chainsaw while still ALIVE, his body parts distributed in garbage bags throughout a New York subway, or for young women to be abducted and locked in a basement for use as "sex slaves" -- in a world where you're not always going to have the opportunity to dial 911 -- NO ONE can afford to be without the right to protect oneself and one's family.

Answer 2

If you or others use it responsibly I don't think there is a problem. Since you are concerned about whether or not to do it I think you are the right type of person to carry it.
Be prepared to get some strange or nervous looks from people who may not be used to seeing a non-officer with a gun. And consider that it will take you longer getting through security at courthouses and certain other government buildings that don't allow weapons inside.

Answer 3

Everyone is different. I used to be a very skinny person. I had difficulty concealing a compact pistol or revolver. Now I'm much heavier and can effectively conceal much larger firearms, more comfortably. If you are a large person, you won't have any problems. How you conceal has a great deal to do with it also. I know a gal who cc's a 1911 very well. A quality holster will help a great deal and everyone loves new leather. Oh. Personally, I dislike Glocks, and pistols with the safety built into the trigger. Take care with that thing.

Answer 4

I've never carried or used a gun but I see nothing wrong with it
as long as people are properly trained. We all have the right to
protect ourselves,especially in a world that is getting more violent.
However,I don't think people with criminal records or a history
of mental illness should be allowed to carry.

Answer 5

I know that you can't always predict crime but I feel that by being aware of my surroundings, I can increase the odds of not becoming a victum. A lot of crime is opportunism. Some people go about their business unaware, caught up in the moment.
I've taught my kids to make a game of "look whose watching" when they are out and about.
Concerning, carrying a gun, I suppose that if I routinely had to do business in "the war zones" in the cities, I would pack iron. Otherwise, I just stay aware.

Answer 6

I am a proponent of freedom and the constitution, so I am in favor of allowing proven, law abiding, well trained citizens to carry. That being said, I am not convinced of the need to carry and some of the people who do carry, frankly scare me. I would not want to be in a bank where a holdup is taking place and the average citizen pulled out a gun to "be the hero". I think the potential for innocent casualties is much greater in that situation then if only the criminal and trained police personnel had fire arms. So it is a right that I am in favor of and, under normal circumstances, I would prefer citizens not avail themselves of that right.

Answer 7

Police aren’t required to protect you. In Warren v. District of Columbia (1981), the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled, “official police personnel and the government employing them are not generally liable to victims of criminal acts for failure to provide adequate police protection. . . a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular citizen.” In Bowers v. DeVito (1982), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, “[T]here is no constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen.”

Therefore, every citizen should be packing a weapon... I carry a .38 revolver.... and I don't care about getting a permit, either...

Answer 8

I think after training and a background check people should be able to carry...

I'd love to know crime / shooting statistics for an area that allows and promotes carrying a sidearm !

Answer 9

It is one of many constitutional rights and I exercise it.
I have a CCW from Florida.
Would the hijackers of 9-11 tried anything if we could carry on airplanes? I don't think they would have.

Michael Moore is an IDIOT!!!

Answer 10

Everyone who's not a felon should avail themselves of this PRIVILEGE and RIGHT.....

There are so many beautiful slogans/bumper stickers to insert but I'll respectfully only allude to them....

I am planning on getting mine when I have my first child in a few months. My husband and I plan on protecting him/her and ourselves and being responsible citizens.

Guns aren't the problem...it's stupid idiots who use them for their own agenda....