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Why are you carrying that firearm?

Jared

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2006
Messages
892
Location
Michigan, USA
I hear you, and good points.

LEO (pick one): (Speaking in an artificially deep voice, all pumped up) "Sir, I must inform you that it's my job to protect you! I'm trained for it, and well, it's your right, but you should really leave these matters up to us..."

Yes, if you're there. The problem is, when seconds count, you're just minutes away. Don't get me wrong - if it's a heated dispute with a neighbor, you can usually arrive before things get too ugly, but not always. Regardless, I do a pretty good job of working through issues.

When robbers are in and out of a store in 30 seconds, having killed someone inside, or some lunatic starts shooting into a crowd, all that changes. Its over before you can get there. That's why I carry. It's not because it's not your job to protect me. That is your job, but only to a point, and that's where and how you can.

Where and how you can't protect me is my job to protect myself, and that's what I'm doing.

Frankly, I don't want your job. I do want mine.

Why get into all that? City of Castle Rock v Gonzalez is SCOTUS precedent. Police have no duty to protect anyone. They carry guns for THEIR safety, not to protect you. Just because it COULD be used to protect you doesn't mean it's their obilgation or purpose.

For me, the SCOTUS precendent is enough.
 

protias

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
7,308
Location
SE, WI
"am I being detained officer or am I free to go?"....if not...."I am recording this encounter"....the equivalent of....name, rank and serial number ....back in the day.

Be nice, really nice....be firm....think of the LEO as your 4 year old kid being a pain in the back-side while you are trying to change the oil in your car, in your driveway.

Don't get mad....get ahead....later....if you can.
Unfortunately that does not work in every state, like IL. :banghead::cuss:
 

protias

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
7,308
Location
SE, WI
I feel for ya brother....I really do.
I'm in WI, so I'm good. However, one time I was stopped for speeding and wanted to record everything. Unfortunately, their wiretapping laws are retarded. They are much worse than MD!
 

ZO6Vettever

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
38
Location
Deltona Florida
Never been stopped but my rehersed answer is, "as hard as you try sir, you cannot be everywhere and thankfully the State of Florida supports the 2nd ammendment and enables me to defend myself if needed".
 

DinFreemont

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
53
Location
Freemont County, CO
Reply:

Thankfully open carry is without unconstitutional restriction in this state, I prefer to open carry over uncomfortable concealed carry. As a statement protected under the first I wish to exercise the second.
 

Be Prepared

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
3
Location
Arkansas
Well said, we have the right and should exercise it with GUN CONTROL, Take good aim..

"because the Founders of this great nation saw fit to the enshrining of the inherent right to self-defense against the tyranny of intrusive government."
My idea of gun control is aiming with intentions to shoot to kill, one shot, one kill.
 

Be Prepared

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
3
Location
Arkansas
Why open carry, because it looks cool to show you are an American!

Show your freedom by open carry if you can.
 
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Be Prepared

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
3
Location
Arkansas
Why carry,,,duh,,,,,, 911 takes for ever!

When was the last time you tried to call 911 and got a response as quick as your own protection? With budget cuts all across America, you must protect yourself. In fact, the state should issue every person over 18, perhaps 21, a gun. Why is it a man can only protect his "castle". He should be able to protect his life and family outside his castle with the same lawful and deadly force.
 
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SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
When was the last time you tried to call 911 and got a response as quick as your own protection? With budget cuts all across America, you must protect yourself. In fact, the state should issue every person over 18, perhaps 21, a gun. Why is it a man can only protect his "castle". He should be able to protect his life and family outside his castle with the same lawful and deadly force.

OPERATOR: "911, what's your emergency"?
VICTIM : "Someone just broke into my house".
OPERATOR: "Can you describe what the individual looks like"?
(Bang... bang bang)
VICTIM : "He's lying on the floor".
OPERATOR: "Is he moving and able to speak"?
VICTIM : "No".
OPERATOR: "Do you need an ambulance"?
VICTIM : "No, a hearse". (hangs up)
 

aosailor

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2009
Messages
228
Location
Hampton, AR
several months back I had a kid(extremely early 20's) in regular clothes ask me why I was carrying openly like that. my answer back was "because I can" he then tells me that he is a cop and doesnt like it when civilians carry openly because we are not trained or knowledgeable about active shooter situations. I put my hand in his face and stopped them right there. told him straight up that I didnt give a damn what he liked or disliked, it is my right and I will carry like this. I then explained that during my time as a weapons specialist in the military, I had the privilege to work on creating the rules with handling an active shooter situations. I then asked him wear his weapon was. he said he wasnt carrying it. I then explained to him that he is walking around in the same town where part of his job is arresting the people of this town... I told him he was an idiot for NOT carrying a gun.

a criminal MIGHT attack me one day, but a criminal this idiot arrested WILL attack him given the chance....
 

Badger Johnson

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
1,213
Location
USA
"Why are you carrying pepper spray?"

I highly doubt that question is asked much. It is because of the bigotry against firearms. But the response is the same nonetheless.

I carry to protect myself against harm.

How about 'to back up my pepper spray'?

Seriously, that's not only a good one, but logical and truthful.
 

Badger Johnson

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
1,213
Location
USA
This is a great thread with lots of humor and some great replies, but there are two things I hope we can take out of it.

Given the situation where an ISPC master shot 5 rounds nearly point blank and missed the perps, I'd hope people who OC or CC would reconsider their 'mandate' to protect others in the event of an armed altercation and elect instead to protect themselves and better yet escape the situation. (An exception would be, of course, a mass-shooting like the fast food execution slayings.)

If I am a bystander in a store and some yahoo with a gun is protecting us and sweeps me a he follows the perp running out of the store, I am not going to be happy. There's too much potential for additional mayhem, IMO.

The other thing is that we are examples of law-abiding citizens who exercise our rights and have an image to uphold, since, being in a minority, there are few examples of this for others to look up to.

Now, sure, it's ok to tell a kid or a woman that you'd protect them, but I think our main emphasis has to be protect yourself and your loved ones - you are NOT a policeman, you are not there to serve in their absence, nor are you there to enforce any laws, though it may be tempting to think that.

I imagine there are two types of OC/CC people. The ones with a fantasy (though still level-headed) and ones who have been in a bad situation with reality. The former hopes to be able to use his HG and the latter hopes he never has to use it again.

So, rather than hope for a situation to righteous-shoot a BG, let's instead follow the example of the retiring LEO who never had to draw his gun, but served as both deterrent and law enforcer.
 

junglebob

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
361
Location
Southern Illinois, Illinois, USA
How about 'to back up my pepper spray'?

Seriously, that's not only a good one, but logical and truthful.

In Illinois the State Police, on the ISP website, tell women they should defend themselves with car keys, rat tail combs, a teasing brush or pens and pencils. They don't even mention pepper spray. Of course one of their great recommendations is to stop a rapist "if all else fails throw up on yourself to make yourself less appealing!"

I look forward to the day when Illinois will have open carry, probably quite a while after concealed carry legislation is enacted. We have a number of woosey Chicago area legislators to overcome first.
 
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