Howdy Amigo!
Great thread. Thanks for that. Hope it stimulates some discussion on the Colorado forum.
I lived in Colorado Springs years ago, and twice my home was broken into. That leaves you feeling violated and vulnerable in a truly disturbing sort of way. That somebody broke into your private sanctum, and brings crime directly into your own home, really gets to you on a deeply personal level. But I didn't get a gun at that time.
A few years ago, while on a routine evening while working my job, I was robbed at gunpoint by a guy who came at me from behind my parked car. He pointed his pistol right at my face and demanded my money. I turned over what I had and he demanded my keys. Once he had those, he threw them as far as he could into the darkness and fled on foot. It dawned on me that he could have fired his weapon regardless of how I behaved during the robbery. I could have been shot and was defenseless in the face of imminent threat to my life.
Still, I didn't buy a gun at that point in time.
Then I met my pardner, bosom buddy and boon companion. He is from Texas. He also had several handguns and made the error of taking me to the range to shoot his pistols. I had not fired any weapon since I was a teenager. Firing his 9mm and .40 cal stimulated my juices, and I enjoyed shooting at the range. We made several visits there and I soon was looking at guns available for purchase and found myself drooling over them.
When Christmas rolled around, my pard bought me a Mossburg Maverick 12ga model 808 and I had my first defensive weapon in many years. But those pistols at the gun shop where they also have a range kept hanging in my mind. I came into a bit of money and bought my first handgun, a Ruger 94 .40 cal that I enjoy shooting. That led to my additional purchases of a Smith and Wesson .38 model 642 for the wife, and a Judge 45 Long Colt/.410 for myself. I also acquired a new XDm .40 compact with an eye toward eventual CCW permits for both the wife and myself. Subsequently, I got the wife a real nice looking Walther PK 380.
Since getting a CCW will take awhile, I decided I will open carry. Having been victimized in the past, I've concluded it was unpleasant to be defenseless. Now I carry everywhere I go where not prohibited. I carry when I take the car to the shop. I carry when at the grocery store. I carry when shopping for DVDs at the video store. I carry when we go out to eat. I am never without a handgun open carried.
Before buying my first weapon, I decided I should know something about the law. I also figured to carry open so decided I should research what the laws are in regard to that. As part of my research, I stumbled on this forum. Once I discovered OCDO, I consumed everything I could regarding laws, carry options, and case law. I learned a great deal and feel I can hold my own in an LEO encounter whenever that time comes. However, in several months and across three states, that ain't happened yet. (knocking wood as I write!)
So far, I've never been asked to remove my weapon or myself from any location and haven't had any encounter with anyone else that was unpleasant. I am content to be left alone and where criminals are concerned and do not respect my desire to be left alone, they'll soon discover I am no longer an easy victim. For them, it will be their turn for an unpleasant experience.
Blessings,
M-Taliesin