Are You Too Stupid For Concealed Carry?

[Meiko]

Last edited Thu Jul 12, 2012, 01:54 PM - Edit history (1)

This article contains some valid points...enjoy.

(edited for potential snark made by me)

By Paul McCain
Let’s face it, aside from owning the right gun and gear, not everyone is equipped to carry a concealed weapon. With the boom in firearm ownership in recent years, there are a lot of new gun owners. And plenty of first-timers seem to have picked up that first gun as an impulse buy, apparently thinking, “Hey, I’m going to buy me a gun and carry it!” Their friends pack heat so how hard can it really be, right? If you’re too stupid to think through some really important questions before you start carrying, you have no business walking around with a concealed weapon. You need to stop to consider that . . .
There are legal, ethical, moral and competency implications whenever you strap on a firearm. Here are just some of the things you need to be aware of:

Legal Implications
If you carry a gun, you need to be prepared to accept the legal consequences, whatever they may be. Are you willing to go through the trouble and expense – both financially and emotionally – of being arrested, charged and tried if you have to use your firearm? If not, leave the heater at home. Can you deal with whatever might come your way when it comes to encounters with law enforcement officials who may or may not understand and respect your state and local carry laws? If not, don’t carry.

Ethical Implications
When you take on the responsibility of being an armed citizen, you also assume a greater level of ethical responsibility for every aspect of your behavior while packing. You don’t pick fights. You don’t respond to aggressive comments or gestures by going for your gat. You never go looking for trouble. You don’t – ever – drink while armed. And you never brandish it or joke around about carrying concealed. Concealed means concealed…in every possible sense. If you can’t conceal it, do not tote it. You aren’t trying to impress anyone by carrying. Your ethical posture hasto be above reproach when carrying.

Moral Implications
Are you mentally prepared to actually shoot and kill somebody? If not, the gun should stay in your safe. If you think you are just going to pull the gun out and wave it around to scare somebody off, don’t carry. If you think you can “shoot to wound,” you have another thing coming.
If the gun comes out of its holster, you must already have decided to kill somebody. Period. There is no middle ground. Can you do that? Have you thought long and hard about what that means? Are you willing to see what a bullet will do to a human body? People don’t always just fall over dead like in the movies. You have to prepare yourself for the emotional trauma of gravely wounding or killing another human being.

Competency Implications
If you are going to carry a concealed weapon, you need to be rigorous about safe, competent gun handling. Your heater is always loaded – or it better be. That means you must never ever, under any circumstance, draw it while carrying unless you’re truly in a life or death situation.
You do not pull it out to show to your buddies. You never cover anyone with the muzzle. Your finger should be indexed. You simply do not “play around” with your concealed firearm. It goes in the holster and never comes out, unless absolutely necessary.
And you need to be fully trained in the use of your firearm. Find a competent instructor and take a class. Better yet, take several classes. Just as if you want to get to Carnegie hall, you need to practice, practice and practice some more. You owe it to yourself to get in as much range time with your carry gun as you possibly can. If you aren’t willing to master all aspects of handling your concealed carry firearm, don’t strap it on.
Are you too stupid to handle all of this? Most likely not. But these are just some of the things you will need to consider before you take on the responsibility of concealed carry. Yes, it’s your right, but you need to exercise that right legally, ethically, morally and competently or you’ll hurt the cause of those that do. Got it?

***LINKY DINK***

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/07/daniel-zimmerman/are-you-too-stupid-for-concealed-carry/

[permatex]

1. I wrestled with the decision to get my permit for about a year.

I asked myself all those questions and did alot of research before I made my final decision to apply for a permit.
Damn good article, thanks for posting it.

[Starboard Tack]

2. Excellent post!

Last edited Thu Jul 12, 2012, 02:24 PM - Edit history (1)

I wonder how many realize this.

"If the gun comes out of its holster, you must already have decided to kill somebody."

I might add that the moment you strap it on and walk out the door you have decided that today you are in the frame of mind to possibly kill someone or be killed.

[TPaine7]

8. The author doesn't understand the basic principles of legal self-defense.

If the gun comes out of its holster, you must already have decided to STOP THE THREAT POSED BY somebody USING POTENTIALLY DEADLY FORCE.

There, I fixed it.

[Starboard Tack]

12. No, I think the author nailed it perfectly.

This is one of the best posts I have seen here. All of you who carry or consider carrying would be wise to heed his advice. But hey, it's your decision and your life.

[Spoonman]

20. Let me fix the author's article and your post:

Let’s face it, criminals are criminals, and not everyone is mentally equipped to be a criminal.

Legal Implications
If you commit a crime, you need to be prepared to accept the legal consequences that include being legally shot and killed.

Ethical Implications
When you become a criminal, you have no ethics, and thereby negate any reciprocal ethical courtesies.

Moral Implications
Are you mentally prepared to be called out as a morally corrupt shit-bag in your eulogy?

Competency Implications
If you are going to be a criminal, you need to be safe. That means you must never ever, under any circumstance, break into the home of, or attempt to rob a gun owner (good luck figuring out who is or isn't), unless you’re truly willing to surrender your meaningless worthless life.

- The End

Now your comment:

All of you who consider committing a crime, it's your decision and your life.

All fixed.

[Starboard Tack]

22. All very true and nothing to do with the OP

Ignoring good advice is always foolish.

[Glassunion]

10. Nah...

My baser toter instincts to have the biggest and baddest hardware jam packed full of hot loads and cowboy/cop wanna-be instincts drown out any other frame of mind mentality. So you sir are incorrect to make such assumptions on what is in other's minds.

[sarisataka]

14. Agree and disagree

"If the gun comes out of its holster, you must already have decided to kill somebody."

This I agree in a legal sense of be prepared for the worst. Assume the person will die if you draw the gun. Practically you know you are shooting to stop the threat, no more, no less.

I might add that the moment you strap it on and walk out the door you have decided that today you are in the frame of mind to kill someone or be killed.

Here I must disagree, perhaps with the phrasing but not your meaning. You are not necessarily in the frame of mind to kill as that sounds like you are seeking the opportunity to do so.

I would say leaving the house armed means you are committed to awareness, avoidance and deescalation in order to avoid any sort of conflict. You are prepared, however, that if despite your best efforts a conflict occurs you will end it with the least force possible, even if that is lethal force.

[Starboard Tack]

18. I agree, and I edited my post by adding "possibly".

Unless you are a hitman or deranged, I doubt you would be seeking the opportunity. Being in the frame of mind to possibly kill someone in a SD situation is normal, but it is enhanced by carrying a weapon of any kind, and further enhanced by using that weapon. What I'm saying is, if you are not prepared to kill, don't carry a gun. If you are prepared to kill, be aware of the potential consequences, and ask yourself if you are truly doing it for the right reason.

[sarisataka]

19. Now we're tracking

[Starboard Tack]

3. You might want to edit out the snark.

It really isn't necessary and only serves to detract from an otherwise good post. Just sayin'.

[PavePusher]

4. You might want to follow your own advice, re Post #2. n/t

[Starboard Tack]

5. There is no snark there

What on earth are you talking about?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. You assume to know someone's frame of mind ---

yes, that could be construed as snark.

[Meiko]

7. Removed by OP

I don't want any problems or misunderstandings.Enjoy the information.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. good enough. thanks.

[Starboard Tack]

13. Don't you think that it's a pretty fair assumption?

If I decide to carry a concealed weapon outside my home, there are only 3 reasons. One, to do harm to another. Two, to defend myself, if necessary, by doing harm to another. Three, I'm crazy.

[Clames]

16. You should know better than to make such assumptions.

Now those assumptions might be particularly relevant to you carrying a concealed weapon. Not so much for others.

[Starboard Tack]

17. Instead of the constant personal attacks, why don't you make a valid point?

Try addressing my points, or the OP's which I agree with 100%, and we might be able to have a conversation.

[Clames]

30. Personal attacks? Another erroneous assumption.

I did address your point (dubious it was) though I can't be held responsible if you missed it in your rush to assume a defensive posture for whatever reason...

[Tuesday Afternoon]

23. sorry. no. I have no expectations. I assume nothing about NoOne.

[Starboard Tack]

25. I find that hard to believe.

I have few expectations, but we all have assumptions as a consequence of a functioning brain.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. I deduce. I don't assume

de·duce (d-ds, -dys) KEY

TRANSITIVE VERB:
de·duced, de·duc·ing, de·duc·es
To reach (a conclusion) by reasoning.
To infer from a general principle; reason deductively: deduced from the laws of physics that the new airplane would fly.
To trace the origin or derivation of.

[Starboard Tack]

28. Don't we all, hopefully. They are not mutually exclusive.

I assume you are being honest in your responses. I assume your participation in this group is to contribute. I also deduce that from your previous posts. I have no similar expectations, nor assumptions from all our members.
However, let's not get bogged down in the semantics, lest we lose the point.
Change the word "ASSUMPTION" TO "DEDUCTION" in post #13. Is it a fair deduction that one of the three would apply?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

29. no. a gun on a person is not evidence of intent. sorry.

[Starboard Tack]

33. You may well be right. Interesting.

Maybe, for some, there is no intent. Could be nothing more than a mindless habit. No intent to use it if provoked. No intent to defend oneself or others when threatened. Maybe just a psychological blankie.

[Clames]

38. Mindless habit?

Tell that to the police patrolling London with MP5 sub-machine guns and those mounting surface-to-air missiles on apartment houses. Or would you rather just ignore the inconvenient fact that police there are now heavily armed (far more so than their American counterparts during the Athen's games) in the chance of responding to a threat? Deploying military assets to perform law enforcement activities? What happened to all that civility I wonder...

[Starboard Tack]

55. Yeah you're right, as usual and right on topic.

All those fucking Brits carrying concealed MP5 sub-machine guns and SAMs. Americans in Athens?
I give up.

[Clames]

59. Like you have room to complain.

Give up if you must.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

41. there are legal ramifications to be considered. legal terminology if you prefer.

[Clames]

11. Plan on following your own advice?

Decency for others but not from you huh...

[sarisataka]

15. I use my recs rarely

but did not hesitate on this one.

Excellent post, thanks

[bongbong]

21. Real title should be

"Are You Too Scared To Walk Out Of Your 'Fortress Of Solitude' Without Manly Guns?"

[Tuesday Afternoon]

42. manly ?!

this is your username personified ----> bong bong bong bong

[sarisataka]

47. No pink guns allowed

It is so embarrassing for the criminal to be shot with a girly gun

[Tuesday Afternoon]

48. god forbid!

[bongbong]

56. Username

Wow, a joke about my screenname. I NEVER get that from gun-religionists. What a creative bunch you guys are, with such substantive posts.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

57. Hey, Manly! One good Post deserved Another.

Doncha think. If you dish it out ya better be ready to take it, Manly.

[bongbong]

58. Your mama

> If you dish it out ya better be ready to take it.

Yeah, I guess my rofl meant I was all hurt & stuff.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

60. oh lord. you called in the mamas. --

I just figured you were too stoned to get up off the floor

[ileus]

24. I bellieve in safety first...therefore I carry.

[upaloopa]

27. If you decide to carry a gun, concealed or not I think you have made up your mind that you are

willing to kill someone.


My question is this, how hard is it for various people to come to that kind of decision? Is it ok to kill to protect your property? Is it ok to kill to protect someone else's life? Is it ok to kill to protect your own life?

Do gun carriers go through this thought process? Or are there those who want to carry a gun for some other reason and would hesitate to use it if need be?

I'm not asking about law abiding citizens only. Why do gang members carry guns?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

31. you might believe it but, to think it, is to think wrongly. sorry.

[gejohnston]

32. speaking for myself..

depends on the property (life support equipment for example), yes, yes.

[Starboard Tack]

35. I'd probably shoot or stab someone if they tried to steal my iron lung.

Reminds me of an incident in NYC about 30 years ago. This guy in a wheelchair was mugged on Houston Street and thrown from his wheelchair. The mugger ran off. As the victim was crawling along the sidewalk to reclaim his wheelchair, a pickup truck stopped, guy jumped out and threw the wheelchair in the back and drove away. It's a sick fucking world.

[gejohnston]

36. kind of hard to do

but then, if I were confined to one I let them take it with the TV.

[Clames]

46. Kind of hard and rather silly...

...firing a gun in an oxygen enriched environment...

[Clames]

34. You should put those questions to yourself first.

My question is this, how hard is it for various people to come to that kind of decision?

Impossible to answer since it is uniquely dependent on the individual.

Is it ok to kill to protect your property?

Depends. Someone stealing a yard decorations, I probably wouldn't. Someone breaking into my house, certainly a serious option.

Is it ok to kill to protect someone else's life?

Yes.

Is it ok to kill to protect your own life?

Absolutely.

[upaloopa]

37. I put that question to myself in Viet Nam. Because of that I don't carry a gun now.

I'm counting on the odds being that I won't be in that situation again.

[Clames]

39. We all hope for the best.

Some of us prepare for the worst.

[upaloopa]

40. I understand. I know there are DUers who are vets and carry a gun today. Just not my choice.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

43. that is your choice and that is fine but, to assume that others carry daily with intent to kill

is to base your thought process on a past conception. This is not Nam. CCW is not INTENT to harm. that thought process would never stand in court.

[Meiko]

49. Yes I am

I will use deadly force if necessary to protect myself from death or serious injury. I can't speak for every gun owner, every persons reasons for carrying a gun are different. If you look at the number of CCW permits vs the actual number who carry there is somewhat of a gap. For those who have a permit but choose not to carry a gun I would suggest that they are undecided on whether or not they are willing to use the gun if necessary. You have to be sure you are willing to take a life if necessary, if not then why carry a gun?

For myself I would never kill another person in defense of property. If someone were stealing my truck I wouldn't shoot them to stop the theft. If someone breaks into my home I have no idea why they are there. Maybe they are there just to steal, how am I suppose to know. If an intruder is unarmed and I have a gun I see no reason to shoot someone just because I can. If the intruder is armed then that is a different matter, I will defend myself.

You have to be mentally prepared if you are going to carry a gun, some people take the responsibility too lightly. Certainly there are people out there who carry guns because it makes them feel tough and they have watched too many movies and too much TV. I would even say that there are some who carry just hoping they can use the gun for one reason or another, fortunately these people are few are far between. With most of these wanna be tough guys it is bravado and most never follow up on their little dreams, unfortunately some do. It is a fact that some people should not own a gun let alone carry it but it is hard to weed these people out, how are you going to do it? I once knew a guy who carried a gun all the time and it was never loaded. I asked him why he did it and he told me it made him feel good, who knows what some people are thinking.

Why do gang members carry guns? To kill people with I suppose. Gangs represent the very worst of society. They are vicious killers who show no remorse. They are drug dealers, addicts, rapists and murderers. They run with the worst of the worst. Not all gang members are armed but many are. If I ran with these types of people I guess I would see a gun as a necessity as well. They also use guns to intimidate the local population and the police. I suppose there are some who will make the comparison that lawful gun owners are the same as gang members since both carry guns, such an assertion would be ludicrous.

In all the years I have carried a gun I have never had to shoot anyone and of that I am thankful. I have drawn my weapon twice in defense. In both instances the individuals were armed with a knife. In both cases I was unable to retreat and felt my life was in danger. By state law I could have shot both of these individuals and walked, since they were armed it would have been self defense. When I drew my gun I was prepared to use it, I removed the safety and could have fired, why didn't I? I am not in a hurry to kill someone for one thing and I could tell by the persons demeanor that they knew they were about to get shot, lost their nerve and retreated.The gun itself was enough to defuse the situation, killing the man was not necessary. I called the police and gave them a report and that was it. The second incident was about the same.

I don't carry a gun to feel tough or because I am afraid. I carry it so I can defend myself if needed, to me it's a tool. Because of physical limitations I am unable to adequately defend myself if the need should arise so I carry a gun.

[4th law of robotics]

50. "Why do gang members carry guns?"

Good question. Since they should know, from a brief perusal of the internet, that it's basically guaranteed that they (as criminals) can just snatch away any gun pointed at them and use it on the owner.

It is literally impossible for a law abiding citizen to not have a gun simply taken away from him/her by a criminal.

So why bother?

[ileus]

51. You're shooting to save a life.

Not to kill an attacker but to save yours...

[Meiko]

53. You could put it that way

I do not walk around with a chip on my shoulder looking for someone to shoot, even though it has been suggested that that's exactly what CCW holders do. I practice avoidance and situational awareness, it keeps me out of trouble.

[permatex]

54. I do that also

when OC, hell, even if I'm not carrying, I still practice situational awareness, comes from a lifetime of having to know whats going on around me at all times.

[mvccd1000]

52. One quibble:

The author wrote:

Concealed means concealed…in every possible sense. If you can’t conceal it, do not tote it. You aren’t trying to impress anyone by carrying. Your ethical posture has to be above reproach when carrying.

This must have been written by someone from the northeast. Why conceal? Of what deterrent value is that? Sure, if you're hoping to spring your "tactical advantage" on someone, concealed is great. Otherwise, I'm all for open carry. Let some lowlife who's on the fence about whether to commit a robbery tonight see the openly carried pistol and decide there are other, easier, targets out there somewhere. I'll be home in bed without ever interacting with him, while the concealed carrier will still be explaining to the police why he had to draw his hidden weapon.