Midnight0489
New member
Hey guys, well, as you can see, I'm new to the forum. That's not all I'm new to, though. Recently, I have purchased my first handgun, only having access to rifles and shotguns before that as I turned twenty-one (21) this year. That being said, due to the things that I may be saying in this post, I want to stress the fact that firearms are not new to me. My Father bought me my first rifle when I was 6 or 7, a .22 Ruger, and taught me his rules for safety. And boy, can I tell you that we've shot thousands of rounds through that gun. My Father's idea of spending time with his oldest son was buying a box of 500 rounds or so at Walmart and going out to my family's land and shooting for the better part of the afternoon. When I got older, he bought me a 12 gauge shotgun and took me hunting with me. We did all sorts of activities such as skeet shooting, gun shows, and the like as I was growing up.
Anyway, my point in that was that, again, I believe that I'm well-versed in the rules of firearm safety (not that accidents can't happen). As I said, I bought my first handgun, a 9mm XDM 3.8" by Springfield, and have recently begun to open carry. Given my size (more on that later), open carry is really the only option for me right now with this firearm. Given that where I am it costs nearly $200 for the conceal carry permit ($100 for the class where I've checked and $90 for the permit) in addition to the 6 weeks or so that it takes to get that permit, for the time being (and perhaps for a much longer time) I will open carry.
Reasons? There are numerous. My first reason is for personal safety. I am a relatively small man. Standing at 5' 6" tall and weighing around 160 pounds, I feel as though I may be a target when someone is looking for easy prey. I have only been approached once. Pulling over at a gas station around two (2) miles from my apartment one evening around 9 o'clock at night, I got out of my car and didn't think anything of my surroundings. This was around a year ago or so, so I can't claim young stupidity because I'm not much older, though perhaps a bit wiser, than I am now. As I get out of my car, a man, around 6'1" or so and maybe 220 pounds, comes out of "nowhere" and is standing at the front of 2000 Eclipse on the passenger side. As the man starts slowly walking around the car, he tells me, (paraphrasing) "Hey man, I need you to give me a ride. I'll give you a few bucks. I live right over there." At this point, he points over a set of railroad tracks where it was just completely pitch black. I am halfway taking my wallet out and suddenly realize what's going on as (in my mind). In that fraction of a second, (not as well-thought but with the same result) I realize that in this part of town, downtown Raleigh at the Exxon by S Person Street by 440, and at this time of night as a young half-white/half-hispanic (caucasian male), this was not the part of town I needed to be in. Unfortunately, for a few seconds, I froze as the man walks towards the driver's side and is at this point standing right in front of me. At this point, I snap and literally jump back into my car, and lock the door. The man is now at my door pulling at the handle trying to get in my car, telling me he just wants a ride and to get out of the car. The only thing I said was with the squealing of tires as I literally speed out of there.
I apologize for the excessively detailed story. I remain convinced that this was either going to end with my valuables being taken or with something much more precious being taken, IE: my life. This is a true story, and while I realize I could have called the police, at the moment, I was panicking and trying to get back home as fast as possible. I understand what happened now. I panicked. There was nothing there to help me against this physically superior man in this poorly lit area. Had he come from behind me, I don't think I'd be writing this. My point is that I have begun open carrying for my own personal defense. I remember reading on this forum, and I do read a lot on here, that someone said his firearm helped him remain calm. As I have not been in an altercation with someone while owning my firearm (and I pray that never happens!), I am praying that God will allow me to stay calm and alert. I now, of course, do not stop at that gas station. I happened to get off at exit 299 when I am returning from visiting my family in Fayetteville, so I had passed that gas station several times and thought nothing of it.
Who was going to help me? The police? While I have great respect for the men that put their lives on the line, they weren't there to help me. I only had myself to depend on. I realize now why I choose to carry a firearm in personal defense. As a post on this website told me (This post the firearm is an equalizer, in my opinion, allowing me an adequate chance to defend myself.
On the other hand, I agree that a firearm in an instrument of death. No matter how hard I try to rationalize, this is the purpose that firearms were created. To win wars, to defeat your enemies, and to take lives. I understand that many of you may not agree with me, and that's quite alright. I live in American, after all, but this is my opinion. In a perfect world, there would be no guns, or any reason to own them. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there that would do harm to me, and many of those people possess firearms. As I have explained to my girlfriend, and due to the article about sheep, wolves, and sheepdog (I lost the URL
), instead of being a victim, I would rather have teeth of my own.
What about the police? That's what so many people have been saying. The police can't protect me everytime I decide to go to the store! I have to protect myself. I dislike the necessity of personal protection, and as I said, if the gun controlists could rid the world of every firearm with magic, I would say, "Go for it." Instead, I feel as though they are trying to take away the guns that the law-abiding citizens have since they can't take away the guns that the BG's (picked that acronym up here) have!
I recently talked to the Night Watch Commander for Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, and whoever I talked to told me that I could carry my firearm anywhere that it was legal, with the risk that I could be charged with Going Armed to the Terror of the Public. When I talked to the Fayetteville Police (again, with the family), they told me that, "This isn't Texas. I strongly recommend you don't carry a gun without a badge." I understand that I might have gotten slightly rude, but I said something along the lines of, "No offense intended, but you, nor your friends, are going to be able to save us everytime. I need my own firearm protection." At this point, he actually asked me my name, and I told him, and afterwards, he warned me again that though he thought it was legal, he did not recommend carrying my firearm. There was something on this site in someone's signature that said, "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away." I'm not saying that the police don't provide a much-needed service, and in a world that did not have BG's, I would never bother to carry my firearm (no police would be needed, either, but that's besides the point).
Anyway, I'm coming to the end of my rant with the statement that I open carry for two reasons: 1. I have to protect myself and my family, and 2. This is my right as an American. I carry my firearm with the desire that I will never have to draw it in the defense of myself or my family, but with the realization that if that day ever comes, I hope that God gives me the strength to take the necessary actions.
I apologize once again for such a long-winded post, and completely understand if you don't want to read it all or disagree with my views. That being said, I look forward to communicating with you all now that I'm on this forum.
Anyway, my point in that was that, again, I believe that I'm well-versed in the rules of firearm safety (not that accidents can't happen). As I said, I bought my first handgun, a 9mm XDM 3.8" by Springfield, and have recently begun to open carry. Given my size (more on that later), open carry is really the only option for me right now with this firearm. Given that where I am it costs nearly $200 for the conceal carry permit ($100 for the class where I've checked and $90 for the permit) in addition to the 6 weeks or so that it takes to get that permit, for the time being (and perhaps for a much longer time) I will open carry.
Reasons? There are numerous. My first reason is for personal safety. I am a relatively small man. Standing at 5' 6" tall and weighing around 160 pounds, I feel as though I may be a target when someone is looking for easy prey. I have only been approached once. Pulling over at a gas station around two (2) miles from my apartment one evening around 9 o'clock at night, I got out of my car and didn't think anything of my surroundings. This was around a year ago or so, so I can't claim young stupidity because I'm not much older, though perhaps a bit wiser, than I am now. As I get out of my car, a man, around 6'1" or so and maybe 220 pounds, comes out of "nowhere" and is standing at the front of 2000 Eclipse on the passenger side. As the man starts slowly walking around the car, he tells me, (paraphrasing) "Hey man, I need you to give me a ride. I'll give you a few bucks. I live right over there." At this point, he points over a set of railroad tracks where it was just completely pitch black. I am halfway taking my wallet out and suddenly realize what's going on as (in my mind). In that fraction of a second, (not as well-thought but with the same result) I realize that in this part of town, downtown Raleigh at the Exxon by S Person Street by 440, and at this time of night as a young half-white/half-hispanic (caucasian male), this was not the part of town I needed to be in. Unfortunately, for a few seconds, I froze as the man walks towards the driver's side and is at this point standing right in front of me. At this point, I snap and literally jump back into my car, and lock the door. The man is now at my door pulling at the handle trying to get in my car, telling me he just wants a ride and to get out of the car. The only thing I said was with the squealing of tires as I literally speed out of there.
I apologize for the excessively detailed story. I remain convinced that this was either going to end with my valuables being taken or with something much more precious being taken, IE: my life. This is a true story, and while I realize I could have called the police, at the moment, I was panicking and trying to get back home as fast as possible. I understand what happened now. I panicked. There was nothing there to help me against this physically superior man in this poorly lit area. Had he come from behind me, I don't think I'd be writing this. My point is that I have begun open carrying for my own personal defense. I remember reading on this forum, and I do read a lot on here, that someone said his firearm helped him remain calm. As I have not been in an altercation with someone while owning my firearm (and I pray that never happens!), I am praying that God will allow me to stay calm and alert. I now, of course, do not stop at that gas station. I happened to get off at exit 299 when I am returning from visiting my family in Fayetteville, so I had passed that gas station several times and thought nothing of it.
Who was going to help me? The police? While I have great respect for the men that put their lives on the line, they weren't there to help me. I only had myself to depend on. I realize now why I choose to carry a firearm in personal defense. As a post on this website told me (This post the firearm is an equalizer, in my opinion, allowing me an adequate chance to defend myself.
On the other hand, I agree that a firearm in an instrument of death. No matter how hard I try to rationalize, this is the purpose that firearms were created. To win wars, to defeat your enemies, and to take lives. I understand that many of you may not agree with me, and that's quite alright. I live in American, after all, but this is my opinion. In a perfect world, there would be no guns, or any reason to own them. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there that would do harm to me, and many of those people possess firearms. As I have explained to my girlfriend, and due to the article about sheep, wolves, and sheepdog (I lost the URL
), instead of being a victim, I would rather have teeth of my own. What about the police? That's what so many people have been saying. The police can't protect me everytime I decide to go to the store! I have to protect myself. I dislike the necessity of personal protection, and as I said, if the gun controlists could rid the world of every firearm with magic, I would say, "Go for it." Instead, I feel as though they are trying to take away the guns that the law-abiding citizens have since they can't take away the guns that the BG's (picked that acronym up here) have!
I recently talked to the Night Watch Commander for Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, and whoever I talked to told me that I could carry my firearm anywhere that it was legal, with the risk that I could be charged with Going Armed to the Terror of the Public. When I talked to the Fayetteville Police (again, with the family), they told me that, "This isn't Texas. I strongly recommend you don't carry a gun without a badge." I understand that I might have gotten slightly rude, but I said something along the lines of, "No offense intended, but you, nor your friends, are going to be able to save us everytime. I need my own firearm protection." At this point, he actually asked me my name, and I told him, and afterwards, he warned me again that though he thought it was legal, he did not recommend carrying my firearm. There was something on this site in someone's signature that said, "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away." I'm not saying that the police don't provide a much-needed service, and in a world that did not have BG's, I would never bother to carry my firearm (no police would be needed, either, but that's besides the point).
Anyway, I'm coming to the end of my rant with the statement that I open carry for two reasons: 1. I have to protect myself and my family, and 2. This is my right as an American. I carry my firearm with the desire that I will never have to draw it in the defense of myself or my family, but with the realization that if that day ever comes, I hope that God gives me the strength to take the necessary actions.
I apologize once again for such a long-winded post, and completely understand if you don't want to read it all or disagree with my views. That being said, I look forward to communicating with you all now that I'm on this forum.
