Think about it: Concealed Carry is actually about fear

[Bighouse Doc]

Having much dealings with criminal types. They aren't to be "Reasoned with." They aren't interested in your "Respect" or "understanding" of their plight and needs! They won't be "De-escalated" by anything you can say!

They really don't care that you might be a mother, father, sister, brother. They could care less if you are left traumatized or worse from encountering them. They are NOT the least bit concerned for your pain or suffering.

They want something you have and you are nothing more than the wrapper on the candy. Something to be thrown away without any concern. Even less so if the are on drugs. In fact, even if you give them what they want, maybe it's not enough, or maybe they might have some fun hurting you.

Nightmare had it totally correct about looking like food to them.

Of course, there is lots of money to be made selling things like the above product!

-Doc

[tcox4freedom]

I agree with titaniumman & deserteagle.

No fear here:
I carry for the same reason I wear a seat belt; it's just the "smart" thing to do.

-

[Shawn Jarman]

When you boil it all down, we carry weapons (concealed or open) because we're fearful of what might happen. And it makes sense, because bad things sometimes DO happen and we feel the need to be prepared for such situations.

OK, that said, how much sense does it make that we DON'T spend time and money "victim-proofing" ourselves, our families, and our surroundings, to PREVENT as many bad situations as possible? As we used to say in the Army, "Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance" (the 7 P's). So what if we learned how to recognize "warning signs" of situations developing, and learned what to do to stop them from escalating. What if we learned better situational awareness and what to look out for? What if we learned a few simple habits that would keep us and our families safer, so we'd never need to draw a weapon? What if we had it in our power to make it more likely that we'd be struck by lightning than become a victim of violent crime? Would that be worth less than $100 and a few hours of our time?

I'm not selling anything, and I have no financial or other connection with what I'm going to recommend. Still, I'd urge all of us on the Carry Forum to go take a look at http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com...fevidfull.html, and read the description of the various "don't be a victim" DVD's and books that they have available (you can probably get the same DVDs from Amazon or elsewhere, it's just that No Nonsense Self Defense has them all in one place, at very competitive prices).

And, importantly, once you've learned these prevention techniques for yourself, TEACH THEM TO OTHERS. Pass it on; it'll help make for a safer society for all of us, and the way I see it, that's a duty we all owe each other.

Although, there are times, violence may be talked down, but the fact is it cant allways be, It almost seems like some thing the gun grabbers would put out, we can train to be aware of our surroundings, aware of (BG) intentions, but we cant see everything all the time, i have been a victim on more than one occation, And as I refuse to live like a hermit, never enjoying life, being in fear at all times, I will prepare myself as best as possible, I do carry 24/7/365, im just not going to let life just pass me by, if that means i must let my guard down from time to time, so be it, and before i get ridiculed for that last statement, i dont let my guard down completely, But I will have some fun in my life, stay safe

[Tucker's Mom]

I am the other way around -- when I wasn't carrying, I was scared : of guns and BGs. I was raised with fear in guns and BGs instilled in me for so long that I became scared that every man that will approach me was a BG. Now I carry a gun not because I am scared. I carry a gun because I do not want that chalk line around my body nor my husband and children's. I am a mother and a wife after all...

[luv2shoot]

I like options. I like to be prepared in more ways than one.

With BGs, I don't need to get bogged down in my fear. I carry because of THEIR fear: the unknown, pain, and death. They don't fear my skin and bones, but they fear my weapons and not knowing how well I may use them. Our weapons provide the capability to turn away threats and prevent unnecessary pain/death.

[kelcarry]

Many interesting and good replies. In particular, I would like to thank Keykutter and Desearteagle for replies #4 & 8 respectively; I agree with your comments. I can only add one other non-fear comment to having the ability to be CC and to even owning a firearm. With the current assault on our Constitution, particularly 2A, and our historic American way of life, I purchased my several firearms only within the last 3 years and also have my CC; I did these things not only for the reasons mentioned by my fellow forum members but as a middle finger to Washington DC and a despicable federal government.

[olsparky]

I don't think that fear is my motivation. As an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster I have always subscribed to the motto "Be Prepared." I view the reasons for my desire to carry as being responsible, alert, prepared, and confident. Fear is only a factor when I am not armed, or in other words unprepared.

I am very much in favor of increasing situational awareness. This is why I am a Refuse To Be A Victim instructor. It is my hope that because of my awareness of potential situations I will never find myself in a position where I have to draw my weapon. That is actually the opposite of fear, it is confidence. To enhance that confidence, and further eliminate fear, I remain prepared for the very small chance that I may need my weapon.

I carry a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, sleeping bag, food, fire building supplies, etc in my cars not because I think I will need them, but for the peace of mind that I can handle any situation that might happen.

Situational awareness is not expecting bad things to happen around every corner, but understanding what potential situations can exist and having a plan ahead of time in order to eliminate the fear of the unknown.

I understand what you are trying to say, but I don't think alert, prepared, and responsible should be included in the definition of fear.

[fiasconva]

A lot of the things we do are based on fear, or knowing that there are really evil people out there. That is also why we have police departments and the military.

[Hamilton Felix]

Saying "Concealed Carry is actually about fear," makes precisely as much (or as little) sense as saying "carrying a spare tire is actually about fear." The subject line is simply trolling.

I carry an axe, shovel and chainsaw in my car in winter, because I may encounter a tree or other obstacle across the road. It's not because I fear trees, but because it's prudent to be prepared to deal with them.

I carry a sidearm because it's prudent to be prepared to deal with Goblins. In historical fact, it is my Right and my Responsibility to be "at all times armed."

Likewise, my wife carries because she may have to deal with goblins, not because of fear. True, the worst of her knife scars was given to her by a child rapist trying to kill her; and true, she survived the encounter while he did not because she had a .357 Magnum. But she does not carry because of fear. We both carry because we are practical minded realists who have seen the world around us.

So quit trolling. The man who is not armed, shirks his responsibility as a man and as a free citizen.

[Huskybiker]

I hate to be the guy that has something negative to say. But seriously... 6 or 7 what if's? This is the real world. Bad people are around and they do bad things. You can train for all the "what if's" in the world and you will still never hit the exact situation with the exact conditions twice. Truth of the matter is. I am not afraid of the world. That's not why i carry. I am a husband, a father, a provider, and a protector. I don't know about you but i am afraid when i do not carry. Not afraid of the BG as much as i am afraid of being a failure. Failing to be that protector that i have vowed to be.

Yep, that's it in a "nutshell". If something unspeakable happened to my family because I didn't have the foresight to prepare for it, I would NEVER forgive myself.