Are You Crazy To Carry A Gun....Or Crazy Not To?

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I'll add another component to the discussion; Open carry. This seems like a 'Dick out' - or almost a challenge to me.

This summer I was out taking Bald Eagle photos on the shoulder of the road when this guy pulls up and asks me what I'm doing. I'm always a little cautious about these chit chats because when I've got all my shit out, I'm standing there with in excess of $20k worth of photography equipment.

Anyway, he was sitting in the drivers seat and we were talking through the open window on the passenger side of his truck. And there it was, just sitting on the seat, a handgun of some sort. I wouldn't know a Glock from a Ruger but it seemed completely unnecessary to have your gun on the seat of your truck.

He was nice enough and I didn't sense any threat but as he pulled away I thought: Yeah. OK pal. You've got a gun. BFD.

Interesting that you thought BFD as he pulled away, but were very aware of it's presence as the two of you spoke. That is pretty much the way it should work. Like the sign that says "Guard dog" or "This property protected by armed security". Only if you have bad intentions does it, or should it, matter.

[Nox]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I'll add another component to the discussion; Open carry. This seems like a 'Dick out' - or almost a challenge to me.

This summer I was out taking Bald Eagle photos on the shoulder of the road when this guy pulls up and asks me what I'm doing. I'm always a little cautious about these chit chats because when I've got all my shit out, I'm standing there with in excess of $20k worth of photography equipment.

Anyway, he was sitting in the drivers seat and we were talking through the open window on the passenger side of his truck. And there it was, just sitting on the seat, a handgun of some sort. I wouldn't know a Glock from a Ruger but it seemed completely unnecessary to have your gun on the seat of your truck.

He was nice enough and I didn't sense any threat but as he pulled away I thought: Yeah. OK pal. You've got a gun. BFD.

Technically speaking, that wasn’t open carry. That was fat **** carry. That’s when people sitting in cars are uncomfortable because their pistol is digging into their side in the car seat, so they remove their weapon and place it on the seat next to them. Of course, when the road rage incident happens, and you get rear-ended, the gun will end up under your seat, right next to your cellphone as your car lurches forward.

If the shit ever hits the fan and it becomes a zombie apocalypse, the first people I’ll be taking down are the ones who are open carrying.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I'll add another component to the discussion; Open carry. This seems like a 'Dick out' - or almost a challenge to me.

This summer I was out taking Bald Eagle photos on the shoulder of the road when this guy pulls up and asks me what I'm doing. I'm always a little cautious about these chit chats because when I've got all my shit out, I'm standing there with in excess of $20k worth of photography equipment.

Anyway, he was sitting in the drivers seat and we were talking through the open window on the passenger side of his truck. And there it was, just sitting on the seat, a handgun of some sort. I wouldn't know a Glock from a Ruger but it seemed completely unnecessary to have your gun on the seat of your truck.

He was nice enough and I didn't sense any threat but as he pulled away I thought: Yeah. OK pal. You've got a gun. BFD.

Thomas that was not "Open Carry", that was a person with a gun in a car. Who knows what he was doing, possible on way to/from range. Like you said there was no threat.

Open carry means a person carrying a gun in plain sight on his person, Vs concealed carry which means the gun should not be visible.

FWIW I have been able for close to 50 years to legally carry a concealed weapon and for many years was a authorized by my county as a pistol permit instructor. (pistol permit pre issue safety class.)

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

I should have been more clear. Yes, I understand open carry to mean walking around Target for example with your gun on display.

I was just sharing the truck story because I thought, and still think, it's silly to have your gun sitting on the front seat of your truck when you stop to chat with someone. Hell. What if *I* am some unhinged fool, sees that as a threat and acts on it?

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I should have been more clear. Yes, I understand open carry to mean walking around Target for example with your gun on display.

I was just sharing the truck story because I thought, and still think, it's silly to have your gun sitting on the front seat of your truck when you stop to chat with someone. Hell. What if *I* am some unhinged fool, sees that as a threat and acts on it?

I guess depending on who is faster, you could be a dead unhinged fool, or he could be a dead pick up truck driver.

[Nox]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I should have been more clear. Yes, I understand open carry to mean walking around Target for example with your gun on display.

I was just sharing the truck story because I thought, and still think, it's silly to have your gun sitting on the front seat of your truck when you stop to chat with someone. Hell. What if *I* am some unhinged fool, sees that as a threat and acts on it?

I personally think open carry is stupid, but then again, I rarely if ever see it myself. Here in California, some idiots who decided to open carry at Starbucks in downtown Los Angeles made it illegal for all Californians to open carry, even during deer season up North. So I personally don’t see it around my neighborhood. However, I do travel to various states in the south, and even then I rarely see it.

I have one personal open carry story. Since I always carry and don’t even give it a second thought, I was carrying concealed this one time in North Carolina. We decided to go to a bar, and my friend turns to me and says, “You do know you can’t carry concealed in a drinking establishment here in North Carolina, right?” Then he says, to me that it’s ok to open carry though. “Well hell, let me just set my Glock rights here on the bar then.......... Not.”

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Nox

Technically speaking, that wasn’t open carry. That was fat **** carry. That’s when people sitting in cars are uncomfortable because their pistol is digging into their side in the car seat, so they remove their weapon and place it on the seat next to them. Of course, when the road rage incident happens, and you get rear-ended, the gun will end up under your seat, right next to your cellphone as your car lurches forward.

If the shit ever hits the fan and it becomes a zombie apocalypse, the first people I’ll be taking down are the ones who are open carrying.

Why? How do you know they aren't on the same side you are?

[Nox]

Originally Posted by aerovette

Why? How do you know they aren't on the same side you are?

I gave you a reader’s digest version of events. If you want a long drawn out explanation, you can take my tactics 101 class.

In a nutshell, when you open carry, your opponents will know you are armed and will take appropriate action as necessary. The same concept applies to guys who are wearing tactical pants and carrying their TADGear backpacks with moral patches plastered all over the back. All your wanna be Ninjas always stand out in a crowd and it’s easy to know who you have to take out. In an ideal world, you come and go as a gray man, and that would include not letting anyone know you are armed.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

I don’t know what you do for a living Nox (None of my business) but judging by your posts it somewhat dictates you carry, would that be accurate? You’re not what I’d consider the ‘Average’ citizen carrying. No offense intended.

This would be akin to me showing up to work without a welding hood.

[mrvette]

I swear this is ALL true......used to go shooting with my Dad on an inlaws farmette 40 acres into a hillside.....22 LR, typical for a early/mid teen kid....

went and got older and so the DC riots in '68 and so, had a pistol under the car seat.....no sweat, nuttin happened.....

a buddy got back from the Navy, wanted to join another friend in Tejas, so I quit my mizzzzerable job and left for Tejas......Dallas/FW region....

never an issue or feel need for a gun, BUT did have a rifle and pistol......

I remember aiming at some illegals on the street from the apt/ window, they RAN like HELL.....point made.......nothing happened.....this all in spring '70.....

so back to DC, my buddy married a nurse and got a GOOD job at Miller Brew off the southbound freeway.....moved to Crowley and both their daughters are millionaires today.....

I went to work in the TV business, rode around with a pistol under my car seat.....car looked stock and boring, Pontiac B body.....for a reason, INSURANCE and then attracting attention, something to not do in Wash DC.....Wash Nat HI FI show '72.......pistol under the street riots all over town, closing down the show, drove around the corner after unloading the crap and there was a burned out VW bug upside down, I missed the action by about 15 minits.....

First wife Honeymoon....Pa. resort....I had a few guns with me, and so we had fun at the range....no biggie,

I have been lucky in that never had any issues, and the riots toning down, never had to use the pistols under the seat.....and stopped that long ago....

TODAY, I would not go anywhere NEAR WASH DC without a sub machine gun on full ready......

[DAB]

conservative: i think it is prudent that I carry a gun.

liberal: i don't think it is prudent that I carry a gun, therefore, you shouldn't either.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by DAB

conservative: i think it is prudent that I carry a gun.

liberal: i don't think it is prudent that I carry a gun, therefore, you shouldn't either.

And you’d be wrong. I don’t feel the need to carry. But it’s up to you if you choose to do so.

[Anjdog2003]

Originally Posted by Thomas

This summer I was out taking Bald Eagle photos on the shoulder of the road when this guy pulls up and asks me what I'm doing. I'm always a little cautious about these chit chats because when I've got all my shit out, I'm standing there with in excess of $20k worth of photography equipment.

Anyway, he was sitting in the drivers seat and we were talking through the open window on the passenger side of his truck. And there it was, just sitting on the seat, a handgun of some sort. I wouldn't know a Glock from a Ruger but it seemed completely unnecessary to have your gun on the seat of your truck.

He was nice enough and I didn't sense any threat but as he pulled away I thought: Yeah. OK pal. You've got a gun. BFD.

I would have just bitch slapped you and took your $20k worth of photography equipment. I don't need no weapon for you.

I'm a bad man, I'm pretty, and i shook up the world

[Stevedore]

I live in NJ, so the chances of carrying a gun around, concealed or otherwise, are essentially zero.

I got my NJ handgun permit just as the Covid crap was starting, & had been looking forward to learning & practicing at a nearby range. Ranges were closed for a while, but open with some restrictions now, so I may go out to some gun stores & see what's available.

And if it ever becomes possible to carry in NJ, I probably would. We live in a seemingly safe area, but one never knows, do one?

[Aerovette]

[DAB]

Originally Posted by Stevedore

I live in NJ, so the chances of carrying a gun around, concealed or otherwise, are essentially zero.

I got my NJ handgun permit just as the Covid crap was starting, & had been looking forward to learning & practicing at a nearby range. Ranges were closed for a while, but open with some restrictions now, so I may go out to some gun stores & see what's available.

And if it ever becomes possible to carry in NJ, I probably would. We live in a seemingly safe area, but one never knows, do one?

of course the armed robbers go thru the same process as you, and obey all the laws about where and when they can carry their pistol, so it sounds very safe.

[markids77]

Originally Posted by aerovette

Note to Cyber and Snik if you are watching... that ain't a shotgun.

[snide]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I don’t know what you do for a living Nox (None of my business) but judging by your posts it somewhat dictates you carry, would that be accurate? You’re not what I’d consider the ‘Average’ citizen carrying. No offense intended.

This would be akin to me showing up to work without a welding hood.

I heard that Nox knits watch bands for a living.

[Knooger]

Originally Posted by snide

I heard that Nox knits watch bands for a living.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by Knooger

What do they define as victim of a violent crime? I've never been the victim of a violent crime, I don't know of any story about someone I know being a victim of violent crime. Has anyone here been a victim of violent crime?

Obviously it does happen, I'm just skeptical about it being as high as 1 out of 2.
Maybe if you live in some shithole city, then I could see it maybe being true.

I've had a knife pulled on me three times, my life threatened each time, demands that I hand over my possessions. A guy shot a .357 revolver at my head and missed by inches. And all that happened with me being pretty much a poster boy for Eagle Scout Troop Leader. Your mileage may vary. I carry a weapon at all times, either a very effective knife or a very effective gun.