imported post
Dr. CCW,
I can sympathize with your situation. I currently live in NC (grew up in WV, and lived in Northern VA for 15 years), so my history is full of living in 2A-friendly states....
My stepdaughters (and new granddaughter) lives in MD. Whe I go to visit them, I have to CONSTANTLY remind myself not to "strap on" every time I leave the house. I have to remember that the majority of the law-abiding citisens here are brain-washed anti-gunners who follow the lead of a corrupt, tyrannical government (anyone want to send some gift cards to the Mayor of Baltimore for Christmas this year?!?) I have to be ever vigilant to "properly stow and unload" every time I cross the border. And I have to be REALLY careful when Im driving on the Beltway that I don't take a wrong turn while I've got something in the car and end up in DC...
I ALWAYS bring at least one gun with me. My wife is a "traveling nurse" and is living in MD for a few months, to technically, we have a "secondary residence" in MD, so I'm covered. But I can't OC or CC in my car even though I have a NC CHP (whic is recognized by over 30 other states!) I can't OC or CC when we're out and about in MD. Visiting MD is like visiting a small dictatorial "banana repubic"...
But you can believe that when I visit friends in VA up here, I stop as SOON as I cross teh border, and arm up...
The funny thing is, when I cross that border, I DO NOT automatically transform into some sort of raving maniac. I DO NOT morph into some psycho racist mass murderer. I DO NOT change into a gang-banger, burgler, stick-up artist, or car jacker. I'm still just me--a law-abiding citizen exercising my rights. Imagine that...
There is NO WAY you are going to change the minds of your friends, neighbors and family if they are anti-2A. They have undergone decades of VERY subtle and pervasive psychological conditioning and are deeply traumatized with regards to firearms. The have essentially been given deeply wounding cases of PTSD by the media and their political leaders. So you need to know that there is NOTHING you can do in a conversation, or even in a few weeks of carrying that will snap them out of their zombie-lie stupor. They are damaged goods, and the only way out of it for them is a LOT of professional help from a properly trained psychologist...
But what you can do is keep exercising your rights. As a US citizen, and a CCW permit holder in your state, you have become one of those "annointed ones" who the STATE has deemed is trustworthy to own and carry. If they get in your face, just stand there with a sweet smile, and using a non threatening gesture, pull out your permit, show it to them, and tell them that the STATE has CERTIFIED you do carry. Say no more...
The Gun Control mentality is based on fear, trauma, and psychological conditioning that is VERY similar to the conditioning that was used inthe Soviet Union to keep the populace in fear of their government. People who have been exposed tom and bought into this line of thought are deeply traumatized, and suffer from a similar mental condition to POW's who have been tortured and brainwashed.
We should pity them. We should love them. We should watch over them. We should stand up to them when they regurgitate lies, not because THEY will be effected by the truth, but so that others they are spewing lies to will then have the opportunity to see how terrible and dangerous their lies are.
But you CAN'T reason with them...
You CAN, however, carry, and with that comes the responsibility of keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from violent criminals.
And THAT--the idea that individuals have PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY--is what these people are really afraid of...
It's sad, really.
But we claim that responsibility when we decide to exercise our 2A rights.
You should be PROUD that you have chosen to get the training, spend the time, and spend the money to become a more RESPONSIBLE citizen.
And if anyone can fault you for volunteering to become a more responsible citizen, and beig ever vigilant and prepared to defend the lives and safety of yourself and your family, then you KNOW they are truly psychotic.
Welcome to the world of OC/CC.
I hope you never have to "clear leather".
But isn't it good to know that if you NEEDED to, you could?...