88 wrote:Shooting at people, even in self-defense, rarely works out good for anyone involved. The statistics for self-defense use of firearms is amazingly disappointing. Almost no one gets hit unless the range is very close.
Good points. YouTube is full of support for this.
I've had a concealed carry license for more than 10 years.
I have had one for 20 years. Good choice even if you choose not to carry.
That being said, I have never once carried a concealed handgun. Way too much responsibility. And if I ever thought I would be in a place where it would be a good idea to have a handgun with me, I simply choose not to go to that place.
I carry one every day. Some times two. Two extra mags. Cue the jokes and smack here trolls. I have drawn my weapon twice in 30 years. Once 30 years ago when a drunk former employee came to my house to fuck me up , or so he said,and I pointed a SW .357 at him when he tried to open my screen door. Second time was in 2014 when a convicted 2nd degree murderer decided to come in to my wifes store parking lot walk towards the door carrying a 1911 with a home made silencer on it. He saw me draw my pistol and hold it behind my leg and he went an robbed the store next door with a fight and multiple shots fired. He is doing 17 years in the state pen now. The store is in a nice section of town and if you had told me that morning that I was going to be doing that I would have never believed it. You never know when you need it.
I think handguns give people a false sense of security. You are likely not going to ever pull the weapon. And if you do, you are not likely going to discharge it. And if you do, you are not likely going to hit anything. In the meantime, you put yourself and everyone around you at risk. I don't want that responsibility and choose not to carry.
Valid points. My level of training is very high so I am pretty comfortable in those situations. Shooting sports is probably my number one hobby or free time pursuit. I have LEO and military level training, have done extensive tactical training and do refreshers twice a year, and shoot probably 5000 rounds a year or more.
In fact, I would have to beg a home intruder for a "time out" so that I could open my gun safe and my ammo locker to shoot at him.
You would not be able to beg a home intruder for anything before he hosed you. I have a SW .40 sitting 18 inches from this lap top computer, and have close at hand all night. The gun safe is one number from opening with loaded long guns in there.
The only thing I have is an unloaded pump shotgun in my bedroom closet, which I would rack as loudly as I could if I heard someone in my house (as I then proceeded to hide in said closet).
Ahhh.. the old rack the shotgun analogy. An empty rack has a different sound that a loaded one, but tweakers probably not that smart. You have no intrusion alarm on your house ??? Simpli Safe bro...$ 500 gets you all the gear you need and $ 25 a month for monitoring no contract. Panic alarm buttons and all. Works good, I have set mine off several times opening my shop before deactivating.
Not cracking on your choices or commentary at all here 88. I respect you for having the carry permit, and having the weapons and guns you do, and for your careful assessment of your skills and mindset. I have a couple AR's as well, I on the contrary love shooting them. I also have a Ruger Mini 14 which is the same caliber .223 and capacity as an "assault rifle" but since it is in a rifle shape, it is not an "assault" rifle.