Why I Carry...

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Got this in my email, didn't know if it had been posted before but thought it was worth another post! : )

Why I Carry a Gun

My old grandpa once said to me, "Son, there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin'.

I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to Heaven, I want to be a cowboy.

I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because, unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

"Police Protection" is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime; they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

Remember, the average response time to a 911 call is over 4 minutes.

The average response time of a 357 magnum is 1400 FPS.

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I think this has been posted several times before, but I don't mind reading it again.

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also a variation on a familiar retort:
I don't carry a gun because I feel like I need a security blanket... I carry a gun because its too heavy TO CARRY A COP!

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Even simpler....I carry a gun because I can. Explanations are optional.

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I've never seen this before but it is pretty well written. Good post.

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Nice post.

When asked, I simply state that I carry a gun for the same reason that a have a fire extinguisher on each floor of my house...and an extra one in the garage - because even though we have a fire department, I reserve the right not to be helpless. If a fire starts in my home, I want to be able to respond myself and stop the situation from getting worse before the engine and truck companies are dispatched, respond, get to my house, and stretch lines. I'll gladly accept their assistance when they arrive, but I am not going to sit there helpless in the meantime and watch my house burn down.

Do I not have confidence in the fire department and its firefighters? No, I have immense respect for them. In fact, I am one of them.


cheers,
Scuba

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richarcm wrote:

Even simpler....I carry a gun because I can. Explanations are optional.

Click to expand...

when I got arrested for OCing here, they took me to the police station to "interrogate" me. One of the questions asked by one of the officers present, asked me that same question.."Why are you carrying a gun"? I said to him "Because I can, is there a problem with that"? He scratched his head and looked at me funny. I asked him "Why are you carrying a gun"? He looked at me funny. He then says "Because I am a police officer and we're aloud to carry them".

I then asked him "Then explain to me the difference between you open carrying and my open carrying". I guess sometimes you just cant fix ignorance, no pun intended to you LEO out there. Great post though, first time I have read this.

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W.E.G. wrote:

also a variation on a familiar retort:
I don't carry a gun because I feel like I need a security blanket... I carry a gun because its too heavy TO CARRY A COP!

Click to expand...

NICE !! :lol::celebrate

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I own my life and my body. I carry a gun because I am the ONLY one responsible for that life or my safety. I'm happy to have help when necessary, but the bottom line is my personal responsibility for my actions and choices.

If I do not take the necessary steps to defend myself, nobody can help me.

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scuba_steve wrote:

Nice post.

When asked, I simply state that I carry a gun for the same reason that a have a fire extinguisher on each floor of my house...and an extra one in the garage - because even though we have a fire department, I reserve the right not to be helpless. If a fire starts in my home, I want to be able to respond myself and stop the situation from getting worse before the engine and truck companies are dispatched, respond, get to my house, and stretch lines. I'll gladly accept their assistance when they arrive, but I am not going to sit there helpless in the meantime and watch my house burn down.

Do I not have confidence in the fire department and its firefighters? No, I have immense respect for them. In fact, I am one of them.


cheers,
Scuba

Click to expand...

I have to say, I like your answerand if you don't mind, would love to use it if I am ever asked. I also like to say its like our children and school...we don't or shouldn't expect the schools and teachers to do 100% of the teaching of our children, that we should be taking on the load as well. I see that with the LEOs and protecting the people. They cant be everywhere at all times, so shouldn't we take some of the responsibility ourselves? Kinda like insurance, we have it, just hope we never have to use it, but if and when the time comes, we are damn glad we have it. I hope this is a good answer to give someone who asks why do I carry and not seem rude, but hopefully give an answer that sends them off thinking for the better. If anyone sees different, please let me know as I do not, and I say again, I DO NOT want to turn someone against those of us wanting to OC and hurt our rights.

Thanks for any input.

Semper Fi!

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Ratt402, the bottom line here is responsibility. Who is responsible for your safety? Even if you could hire a bodyguard 24/7, the actual responsibility for your safety would still be yours alone.

The police are NOT obligated to protect you, so it seems foolish to think they are relevant to your defense at any time.

Can you sue them if they fail to protect you? Of course not. You can't sue the fire department if they don't save your house either, so it is up to you to do everything in your power to PREVENT an attack or a fire. Yes, they might help... and then again, they might wait an hour or so to be sure THEY will be safe before they come in and find your body bled out...

As for being a good ambassador for open carry, some will be offended no matter what you say or do. But I'd urge you to stress the fact that you are accepting - and acting on - your personal responsibility for your life and that of your family. In the end, that's the only reason that counts.