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In shady neighborhoods, of any kind, you definitely should. For a trip to a gas station, driving to work (and leaving your gun in the car), getting groceries, those are all trips where it makes sense to go armed, if the neighborhood is shady.
Of course there is a whole group of extremists who are advancing the extreme notion that one should always carry.
....
I would never bring a weapon into church, unless church was in a shady neighborhood.
I would never bring a weapon into work, unless the owners permit it, and it is a shady workplace, with no security.
I would never bring a weapon into a restaurant or bar or fitness facility, unless again that too was in a shady neighborhood.
Obviously I am not an extremist.
California is a may issue / but does not issue state. That means you just should not go into shady neighborhoods no matter why.
If this place is shady, and they won't let you carry, then don't go there.
If not, you don't need to carry.
Let's start with "shady neighborhoods" - if the sun is shining, it's shady. And if the sun has set it's definately shady. How can you
guarantee a neighborhood to be "not shady"? Even the cops carry into "the best" neighborhoods because there just might be something shady there. If this philosophy/behavior is good enough for the cops it's good enough for me.
You are obviously an extremist, whether you want to admit it or not. You see degrees. You see places, times, situations when one can act as if there is no threat. (OK, most of where I go is Defcon Zero at the precise moment I am there, not Defcon ELEVENTY!!!11!!. That does not mean that it can't change in the blink of an eye.) But until
all things that might cause harm to me notify me at least 30 days in advance of the precise time, place and extent of the harm they will be inflicting, I'm taking precautions. Carrying is merely one of those precautions.
"Don't go stupid places with stupid people to do stupid things" has been a mantra for a loooong time. Care to guess why? Riiiight - 'cause it's true for all values of stupid, places, people, and things.
And since when were we carrying only because we
need to carry? When I was in the .mil I
needed to carry because they told me I had to. When I was employed as an armed security guard I
needed to carry because otherwise I would not be armed security. Now, whether I am sitting on the throne in the little room reading my favorite novel or shoppping for groceries or going to a restaurant or bar or fitness facility or church, I carry
because I can and because
if it turns out I in fact need it my handgun will be doing me no good at home in the safe.
Some day you should visit a place where you can do things just because you want to, not because the powers that be have graciously decided to permit you to. While it might be scary at first, you might get to like not having to ask for permission.
stay safe.