Why I carry a handgun

[Oldtrader3]

Rjm158 thanks for saying that about CCW holders, I believe that all of the ones I know take the responsibility very seriously. Plus, statistics show that despite liberals blathering about shooting ourselves, we do make the environment safer.

You mentioned small towns, Blight Washington is only 3,000 people but we have 2 million foreigners go through here monthly. Not all of them are well intentioned. Because of the border, many are felons or dope dealers. The head of operations here for Homeland Security was helping a prostitute smuggle cocaine across the border. It is safer with CCW implemented.

 

[Too Tall]

I too carry full time, like Guy. When I am not at work.

I am a big man, so people think they have to prove something, or test me.
When I was in the Service, I got teased all the time, about my size. I have had to dispatch several kinds of animals.
I will tell you a little story. Now I am not able to write like Guy, but I will try to get it down on here.

Every where we went 'In Country', the Army took us. All the time they were teasing us about me.
"What you guys going to do with Bigens there?'
'What is he going to do in the grass?'
'How much ammo can he carry?' You know stuff like that.

Well one time we were in a bad way, and the LT popped a purple smoke.
Half of the outfit was shot to hell. Some dead, others wounded. We were in theses 3 bomb craters, holding on, barely. I was in the one closest to the tree line, and I had my hands full, but I was holding them back. The LT crawls up to me and says, "When the Jolly Green gets here, load the wounded!"
It pissed me off, because I was holding the line by myself, and now he wants me to do something else. Well when the Jolly Green gets there, I grab a wounded man suspenders in each hand, and put them in the ship. Made several trips, but couldn't get them all in. So the next bird lands and I continue, with the wounded, then start on the dead.
Well to make a long story short, we all got out.

Later when we all got checked out, a bunch of us went 'uptown' to drink. Every time we got a round, I would get 2 or 3 bears at once. I asked the Waiter's, "Wheres all the beer coming from?" She said "Army Charley over there." I looked over and here are those pilots. I didn't get teased any more.

With the training I received at the 1/5, and all the practice I've dealt with over the years, I consider myself "Fairly Handy" with my hands. My Father was a real handy guy and I was his only son. I grew up handling livestock and horses. So I was used to getting 'trained.'

I have had several occasions to defend myself, but never had to pull my pistol. Most of the time I kinda trip them up, then get control of the situation.

I've had a couple men jump me and try to get my pistol out of the holster, but they didn't get it done. In fact one of them got his arm broke and the other one had to have his jaw wired shut, for awhile. Seen both of them in court.

As you men know, I travel around building buildings. I travel with a dog, all the time.
One time in Alabama, in the middle of the night, I was in the very back of this truck stop. Just checking my load, and letting the dog run. When I looked up and these 2 Black men were way too close.
They wanted to know if I had any spare change. So I squared up to them and said "No." Well they didn't like that answer. Then the big one tried to grab my arm. I jerked him forward and grabbed him by the seat of the pants, and threw him across the flatbed trailer. Then I turned and tried to grab the little feller, but learned he was just a cheer leader, and headed out. I went around the trailer, real quick. Picked the big guy up and explained the rules of engagement to him.

Another time, in Oregon, I was out with my wife, to eat a steak dinner. Run into this guy I had fired from the job, in California. I didn't try to hide, I said 'Hello.' He had been in there drinking for awhile, you could tell. Well he keep coming over and wanting to talk. I told him I just wanted to have a meal with my Wife. I had just got back to town that day. And we could get together tomorrow, to talk. He would leave for awhile then come back, again.
He was not picking up what I was putting down.
Then he walks around to the other side of the table, and puts his hand on my Wife's shoulder, and leans down to say something. Well I got a rule. You do not put your hands on my wife.
We were setting at one of those round tables, that stand alone. When he touched her, I got a left hand full of his hair, and a right hand full of pants. We went to the bar real fast, and he hit his head on it hard, twice.
Some how in the commotion, we broke the top off the table, and lost our dinner.

 

[Guy Miner]

Your stories brought a smile to my face this morning TT. Thanks!

Guy

 

[FOTIS]

That is funny!

 

[rquack]

I carry a weapon because I also know that there are bad people out there and trouble can come quickly, especially when you aren't prepared for it. I had a bad experience when I was 17 years old; I put it out of my mind for nearly 30 years. As I aged and society became "more coarse" and God blessed me with grandkids, I realized that I couldn't live with myself if trouble came calling and I was not able to protect my family.

My experience: I stopped in to the local stereo shop one Saturday afternoon to check on a piece of equipment I had taken in for repair. While standing at the counter speaking with the owner, a couple of young men came in carrying a paper sack; they split up, one went to a record rack behind me while his partner engaged the owner in conversation about a faulty piece of equipment he wanted them to repair. When he removed his equipment from the sack it was a sawed off shotgun; his partner had snuck up behind me and was now poking his stainless 357 revolver into my ribs. We were taken behind the counter and tied up; robbed of wallets, jewelry, watches. As they were finishing up tying us, a customer [maybe an angel from heaven] came into the store. She saw my feet, bound together and sticking out from behind the counter [I had the presence of mind to lay down with my feet visible from entrance]. She left immediately, the bad guys went outside to try and get her back into the store; she was gone. They knew that time was short; they cleaned out the till, stole the managers car and left the store.

I lived my early life and raised my kids ignoring the lessons of this experience. As I began to get older, and our society became rougher; my community had 5 murders during the first 6 days of the new year. I made the choice to purchase a handgun for self defense, my wife flipped out. Although I have had many rifles and shotguns around the house for nearly 30 years of marriage, she was uneasy about a pistol coming into the house. I told her I was also concerned about safety and invited her to take the handgun safety class with me; she did. At this time my daughter was already married, my son was 18 years old and in college; we didn't have to worry too much about undisciplined or unauthorized use by family.

I started carrying about 10 years ago, the wife enjoys shooting with me and will be getting her carry permit within the next several weeks. My son later took the pistol safety class to qualify for his permit, enjoys shooting, but wishes not to carry. [Oh, the liberal minded youth...]

And I feel much more secure being able to know that I can properly manage the safety of my family and grandchildren if trouble is visited upon us.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Even just dumb stuff like three teenagers shooting .22 rifles across a river where I was trout spin fishing alone. Pretty soon one of them had the bright idea that it might be more fun to shoot at my feet and see how close they could come or how scared they could make me. I just kept fishing until they were about 15 yards away and the bullets were getting pretty close. When the timing was right, I drew my Browning Highpower and cocked it. I told them that I had 14 shells imy 9mm and suggested that they move away quickly where I could not see their ugly little faces, before I lost my temper and their mama's had no sons.

 

[big rifle man]

Florida is great. You can carry a loaded handgun in the glove compartment of your vehicle as long as it's in a holster. To obtain a CCW is not a problem with a clean record the major requirement. As a retired Police officer I qualify under the HR-218 statute (combat course certification once a year) which is good in all states. I don't know whether anyone has yet heard of what congress is thinking of doing, but in regards to armed people in schools they are talking about using retired police officers that are HR-218 certified and would be willing to donate their time. This is one of the many suggestions brought forward. As far as personal carry, when I retired and moved to Florida, my town was extremely quiet (rolled the sidewalks up at 8PM) and I honestly felt that maybe concealed carry wasn't necessary. That thought changed quite quickly after the first armed holdup and the subsequent shooting death of a female convenience store clerk. I carry all the time and my wife also carries which makes me even more comfortable.

 

[onesonek]

I love Wyoming

open carry
No CCW required for in State carry
CCW is offered to all for outside state carry.

That is the way it should be in all 50 states.
And the crime rate would go down too. :wink:

JD338

Very true, and I nwish we had OC here as well. As for Washingtoncommon sense is in short supply along with ignoring the facts.
I have had two confrontations, with the second only being armed with a knife. But with that and sudden willingness to take on the challenge, fortunately the three backed off.
It was scary for a moment, which I decided not to be caugh without a gun.
The first time I was 16, and with my folks traveling to a job site. The travel trailer had a flat on the Interstate about 4 miles from the nearest ramp. Dad went to get the tire fixed, and said to stay in the camper and lock the doors,,,,don't open for anyone.
It may have not been the smartest move on my part at first by answering the knock, but figured if I didn't they would likely try and breakin. They replied by asking for water. Grabbing the shotgun first the water was set on the floor by the door, and I backed away as I unlatched the door just enough for them to open. Then seeing the 870 in a partially raised position, they had a visibily upset look as they had met up with something they didn't expect. I have no doubt they were looking to steal what they could or worse, but the 12ga. changed their mind.

Dad was not happy when we told him of the ordeal, but I felt it was better to let the two know what they were up against, instead of playing the silent game, hoping they wouldn't break in.
Had we not had the shotgun, I'm not sure of the outcome would have been a good one..

With that, I don't go anywhere unarmed these days, and without a firearm at that. One just don't know what or when a prepared defense or defensive posture is needed. Last thing I also want is to use force of any kind, but like other's I'm always aware of what's going on in my immediate surroundings evaluating the possibilities, as to not be caught off guard.
If not being ready mentally and physically for most any senario (read that as preparedness in all aspects), I feel one is left themselves open to be nothing more than a victim.

 

[onesonek]

I love Wyoming

open carry
No CCW required for in State carry
CCW is offered to all for outside state carry.

That is the way it should be in all 50 states.
And the crime rate would go down too. :wink:

JD338

Very true, and I wish we had OC here as well. As for Washingtoncommon sense is in short supply along with ignoring the facts.
I have had two confrontations, with the second only being armed with a knife. But with that and sudden willingness to take on the challenge, fortunately the three backed off.
It was scary for a moment, which I decided not to be caugh without a gun.
The first time I was 16, and with my folks traveling to a job site. The travel trailer had a flat on the Interstate about 4 miles from the nearest ramp. Dad went to get the tire fixed, and said to stay in the camper and lock the doors,,,,don't open for anyone.
It may have not been the smartest move on my part at first by answering the knock, but figured if I didn't they would likely try and breakin. They replied by asking for water. Grabbing the shotgun first the water was set on the floor by the door, and I backed away as I unlatched the door just enough for them to open. Then seeing the 870 in a partially raised position, they had a visibily upset look as they had met up with something they didn't expect. I have no doubt they were looking to steal what they could or worse, but the 12ga. changed their mind.

Dad was not happy when we told him of the ordeal, but I felt it was better to let the two know what they were up against, instead of playing the silent game, hoping they wouldn't break in.
Had we not had the shotgun, I'm not sure of the outcome would have been a good one..

With that, I don't go anywhere unarmed these days, and without a firearm at that. One just don't know what or when a prepared defense or defensive posture is needed. Last thing I also want is to use force of any kind, but like other's I'm always aware of what's going on in my immediate surroundings evaluating the possibilities, as to not be caught off guard.
If not being ready mentally and physically for most any senario (read that as preparedness in all aspects), I feel one is left themselves open to be nothing more than a victim.

 

[FOTIS]

Why I carry a handgun????











Cause a cop is too heavy! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Guy Miner]

Exactly! :grin:

"Okay - let's get the old joke out of the way: Because a cop is too heavy!"

Quoting myself from the first post on this thread. Silly me!

 

[mrandrew]

I once drug my new neighbors 120 pound rottweiler around my yard all in an attempt to get it to release my sisters dog. I eventually came to my senses and put one round of .357 into the dirt next to it's head. All dogs immedietely scattered.