Gun question. To carry or not to carry.

[Bob Denman]

You don't EVER carry out of fear... you'll be ineffective if the chips ever fall! :yikes:
You carry prepared!
Sorry; but I need to shout this...

Firearms ownership is a right that carries with it a tremendous responsibility
Simply put; it's advanced citizenship... :shocked:

 

[grumpybob]

I have a CCW for NY state and I do carry.

I shot and killed my first of many humans when I was 18 in Vietnam. Used to hunt bad guys/groups in the USA. There are others on this site that have probably done the same. The purpose of saying this is so you know where I am coming from.

I have found that a sane person has a problem taking another persons life. A not so sane person is another story.

Lag time is the time between when you pull a weapon and fire it at a person. If you are sane and have never shot at least 5 - 10 people your lag time is going to be higher/longer than that of someone that is mentallly altered, for whatever reason, drugs, drunk, under a lot of stress, insane, etc.. Only a considerable amount of training that drills into your head that you have to do this will cut your lag time down. For some people all the training in the world will not help you to actually pull the trigger in a quick time, or pull it all, not that that makes you anything but a good person.



Just saying you won't know until it happens. Keep this in mind if/when the time arises. Always be mentally prepared to kill before you pull a weapon on another person, and do it as fast as possible.


Just my 2 sense/cents.

 

[Bob Denman]

True... but WarTime is another matter! :shocked:
I agree with your assessment; most folks will fall short when the :cus: hits the fan. You won't have time for that steely-eyed gaze through the sights...
You'll have time to pull, point, fire and crap yourself... that's about it! :yikes:
There's nothing romantic about it, and you're not a hero; you're just a survivor! :thumbup: (If you get a bit lucky!)
Now that I've depressed everybody:
RECOGNIZING the start of an ugly situation helps to tip the odds in your favor; live life alert! :2thumbs:

 

[bruiser]

I realize this is going to make me the most unpopular kid on this block (Gunlovers.com) but I believe it is a matter of choice.
The Second Amendment guarantees it.

But, here's the part that will make me unpopular.
I think if you are afraid and that if in your mind you can construct a scenario where you, as Dirty Harry, triumph over the bad guys, then by all means carry.
It makes you feel better and there is nothing wrong in that.

For me, I choose not to live my life afraid.
Flame retardant shorts are on.

No heartburn here Sparks.

 

[bruiser]

RECOGNIZING the start of an ugly situation helps to tip the odds in your favor; live life alert! :2thumbs:

Amen Brother!! I call it situational awareness.

 

[grumpybob]

True... but WarTime is another matter! :shocked:
I agree with your assessment; most folks will fall short when the :cus: hits the fan. You won't have time for that steely-eyed gaze through the sights...
You'll have time to pull, point, fire and crap yourself... that's about it! :yikes:
There's nothing romantic about it, and you're not a hero; you're just a survivor! :thumbup: (If you get a bit lucky!)
Now that I've depressed everybody:
RECOGNIZING the start of an ugly situation helps to tip the odds in your favor; live life alert! :2thumbs:

Used to hunt bad guys/groups in the USA.

I agree with what you are saying Bob. Will also add PTSD is real, and it doesn't have to be combat that causes it. If you make a mistake you will live with it the rest of your life, even if it was warranted you will still have to live with it - I know I do.

 

[Bob Denman]

RECOGNIZING the start of an ugly situation helps to tip the odds in your favor; live life alert! :2thumbs:

Amen Brother!! I call it situational awareness.

It's funny that you should mention that... :roflblack:

 

[serf]

I have dual citizenship as I was born in Canada. When I visit friends in Canada I have to leave my weapon at home. I don't feel it is unsafe there but I feel a bit naked without it. Canada doesn't have much of a gun culture but you have your share of crazies up there.

My reason to carry is that I really don't trust law enforcement to protect me. If I call 911 no matter where I may be, the response time for help is going to run from twenty minutes to two hours. If you say 'shots fired' they may bust their ass to get there faster but by then it could be much too late. I don't want it to be too late for me or my wife. We both have CCW permits, we both spend a lot of time on the range, we're both in our seventies and we both would like to enjoy our eighties.

whats the saying... "when seconds count, the police are just minutes away."?

 

[IWN2RYD]

Everyone has great input on this. And really this is a subject I have a few hours of thoughts on, but respect everyone else's thoughts and opinions to much to make a wall of text two pages long... So I offer...

Simple... Cars kill people more than Guns do in this Country by a landslide. Yet you do not see folks banging down doors to the Manufactures demanding they stop manufacturing them. Instead they demand improvements. And boy have they delivered the last 20+ years!

There are more crimes used with a "Weapon" in this Country than all types of Auto Accidents combined.

The weapon could be anything from a fist, to a stick, ax, gun or what have you.

I have taken Driver ed, defensive driver courses and a few other so that I can better protect my family when behind the wheel. And it has paid off not only for us, but those that I might have had an accident with had I not of had the training. Recent example... Icy road, saw a driver coming through a corner a bit to fast in my estimation... Saw a little to much activity with the steering wheel, made a reactive decision to what I was seeing and I pulled into the next driveway I could (Covered in snow BTW). As soon as I was making that decision (Simultaneously)... The other car lost traction and began to spin uncontrollably. Barely, and I mean I thought for sure the impact was coming, barely missed us, and destroyed the SUV on the telephone pole one driveway down from the driveway I pulled into... Now we believe things happen for a reason, however I am 99% confident that if I did not take that Defensive Driver course, we may have been what that SUV hit... Training and being prepared saves lives.

That is one of many reasons why we both CCW in multiple States. For the Training experience, and preparedness for what "Can" happen. We pray we never ever have to present our weapons. However, I have seen my fare share of folks that would not ever have the ability to get a weapon legitimately harm those who could, can or have.

We all do not live in the "Leave it to Beaver" world. Police officers are being cut everywhere. In fact... Our Sheriffs Dept has one Officer per 10,000 people right now.

It took 22 minutes for one to show up (First on scene BTW) to the accident our now deceased Son was in. Another Seven minutes for the Ambulance. My son lost his life to a regular every day situation that we all see.

Now why I should have the confidence in an Officer being at a crime scene any faster to stop the situation from going bad?

And exactly how do we really think we can stop a person in the middle of a violent act, ask them to stop while we wait for an Officer to assist in the situation?

I do not live on Main Street where Officers roam. I live in a town of 25,000 that has Four Officers in total on duty.

That said, the best lesson I have ever learned from my Officer friends, is to listen to my instincts, always do the best I can to be "Aware" of my surroundings (Meaning other humans movements, actions ETC) and never be perceived as a threat.

Kind of like never being the fastest one on a stretch of HWY... Stay cool, inconspicuous and survive... nojoke

 

[minerdoug]

You never know what kind of "crazies" that you will run into out in the middle of "no where". It is best to try to avoid any situation where self defense is needed, but have a back up plan--Remington 1911 .45!:yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

That's an old GI-issued one; right? :thumbup:
Is it really just a 1911, and not an A1 model?? :thumbup::bowdown::thumbup:

 

[grumpybob]

That's an old GI-issued one; right? :thumbup:
Is it really just a 1911, and not an A1 model?? :thumbup::bowdown::thumbup:

The M1911-A1 was first built/manufactured in 1922or 1923 I think 1922 for sure, slept with an A1 way to many nights.
these upgrades were made to the M1911.

Tang on the grip safety was lengthened to protect the shooter's hand from the hammer

Receiver is cut back on the right side behind the trigger to allow a more natural position for the shooter's trigger finger

Trigger face is cut back and ridged for better finger pressure control


Mainspring housing at the bottom, rear of the handle is arched and knurled to improve shooter's grip

Front sight top is wider to facilitate aiming

 

[Bob Denman]

Correct! :thumbup: But a non-cobbled-up original 1911... :2thumbs:

 

[devilrider]

i to carry here in MI not all the time because of my job but when off work yes i do feel safe too many nut case's out their its time we take our FREEDEOM BACK THAT SO MANY OF SERVICE MEN AND WOMAN GAVE THERE LIVES FOR AND THE ONES STILL FIGHTING

GOOD BLESS AMERCIA HOME OF THE BRAVE AND FREE:doorag:

 

[Bob Denman]

Welcome aboard! :2thumbs:

 

[grumpybob]

i to carry here in MI not all the time because of my job but when off work yes i do feel safe too many nut case's out their its time we take our FREEDEOM BACK THAT SO MANY OF SERVICE MEN AND WOMAN GAVE THERE LIVES FOR AND THE ONES STILL FIGHTING

GOOD BLESS AMERCIA HOME OF THE BRAVE AND FREE:doorag:

Max Beilke unofficially last soldier out of Vietnam. Killed on flight 22 - 911 at Pentagon. I believe this to be true. Hope I spelled his name correctly

 

[effgjamis]

You never know when you are going to need the firearm but when you do need it, it can mean the difference between life and death. Why wouldn’t you carry one on a trip? Most trips I never see it and it is in the front case between my knees. You cannot predict what situations you may encounter in life. I try to be ready for all of them I can imagine.
In this modern world we live in, where we give long leashes to crazy people, make excuses for previous dangerous/sociopathic behaviors and actions, empty our prisons early and have a general social disdain for once commonplace morals and values, there are, in fact, thousands of opportunists walking the streets and highways. The police cannot be everywhere nor should they be. Your personal protection is your responsiblity. Get handgun training, practice regularly and be ready to act to save yourself from someone who wants what you have and will kill or injure you to get it. Calling 911 will be worthless in an emergency.

I do not know about you but I am too old to take a beating and too young to die. I do not look for fights but I am going to protect my property and self, period. In Texas, major crime has dropped considerably since conceal/carry rights of Texas citizens. You rarely hear of CHL citizens shooting someone without cause and there are hundreds of examples every year where crimes were averted because of citizens having a firearm. A better question would be, “Why not carry”?

Very well said and I agree 150%. I also carry and I do have a CWL. I also carry a list of all the states which have or have not a reciprocal agreement with my license state. I do try and obey and respect those states by securing my weapon while going through those states of which are getting fewer and fewer.
It was my understanding when, I went into Canada that I best not have any weapon, secured or not regardless of my credentials. ( this was the time of the Magog Spyder Event). Not sure what it would be for a Canadian entering in US.

 

[bruiser]

Max Beilke unofficially last soldier out of Vietnam. Killed on flight 22 - 911 at Pentagon. I believe this to be true. Hope I spelled his name correctly

You have it correct. But he was officially the last combat soldier to leave Viet Nam in 1973. And the flight he was killed on was American 77. Max was the Ops NCOIC at Camp Alpha when he departed Viet Nam. This is confussing since there were just over 200 GIs remaining in country but they were Marine Guards at the Embassy and military attaches (they replaced MACV).

 

[bruiser]

It's funny that you should mention that... :roflblack:

View attachment 61060

Holy Crap :yikes:. Here kitty kitty, nice kitty.

 

[grumpybob]

You have it correct. But he was officially the last combat soldier to leave Viet Nam in 1973. And the flight he was killed on was American 77. Max was the Ops NCOIC at Camp Alpha when he departed Viet Nam. This is confussing since there were just over 200 GIs remaining in country but they were Marine Guards at the Embassy and military attaches (they replaced MACV).

Very happy to know somebody else knows/remembers this!! Wasn't sure if it was official or not that he was the last combat soldier to leave, he served in the Army.