Well, I KNOW that I have avoided a crime by being armed -- and I didn't even have to draw!
I guess if you were a good actor you could have done what I did without a gun. But I can tell you I was damn glad I had one.
I am a college professor, having taught computer science in Oklahoma for about 27 years. My wife and family & I live in Edmond, a well to do suburb of Oklahoma City. Edmond is known for having a lot of police -- so our crime rate is low (but far from non-existent).
My wife and I own a couple of businesses which I help her with (they are really her bailiwick, I already have a job that keeps me pretty busy). One of our businesses is a dry cleaners, at a major intersection in Edmond. One night about 10 pm I had to go there (the cleaners) to get something. Being a person who carries a gun, I am always watchful, especially at night and especially when doing high risk things (like going out to your car from Walmart, or operating an ATM, or unlocking the door to your business). As I was unlocking the door to the cleaners, I saw in the reflection of the store windows that a car passing through the parking lot behind me had stopped suddenly. This was enough to put me in condition Orange, as it is just plain suspect. I got the door unlocked, and moved in the store slightly, and whirled around to face this person. He had gotten out of his car, and was looking at me looking at him. This went on for a few seconds, then he got back in his car and took off.
Now, I am convinced this person wanted to rob my store, but was put off because he could tell I knew he was up to no good and was watching him. Perhaps he figured I was armed because otherwise I would probably try to lock the door to keep him out, or maybe go in and call police. Hard to say. I know if he had approached me I would have drawn my gun and gone to low ready -- if he produced a weapon, mine would be pointed at him and he would have to decide if he really wanted to go on with this.
If I wasn't armed, I probably never would have even seen him (judging from the way I used to be) and would probably have become a victim. Having the gun gave me the confidence to face him down, and ward off any attack.
I have had my concealed carry license for over 8 years, and I have never had to draw it to defend myself so far. Thank God!
Still, it is better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and not have it.
Anti-gunners often promise utopia if we pass more gun control laws -- but utopia is NOT one of our choices.
