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Why I carry a gun

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posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:36 PM
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In the following video, examples of individuals who were kidnapped/tortured or murdered (or some combination of the above) are given showing how quickly that violence can strike. The criminals in question are usually discovered, but that does nothing to save the lives of the innocent people involved.

I carry a gun to protect my life, the lives of my family members and the lives of anyone who is targeted by one of these monsters walking among us.


edit on 11/2/2017 by JBurns because: (no reason given)



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:43 PM
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a reply to: JBurns

God. what a horrible watch that was.

Anyway, You are American, the only reason you need to have a gun is "Because you can" trying to justify it just allows people to try and cut off certain avenues and open the door for restricting your right to bear arms.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:50 PM
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a reply to: JBurns

Firstly RIP to those in the video

I hope now not to sound flippant but could I ask how many murders you and your gun have stopped so far?

If zero do you hope it remains that way or do you hope one day to save someone?

Because it could just mean you carrying a gun all your life for no reason, I certainly hope it is that way for you

While guns are an inanimate object they do enable Humans to commit murder with little to no regard, and yes murder has and will always be part of society, why we choose to take life from one another is to me A great mystery.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:54 PM
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a reply to: SprocketUK

The only reason that matters is that one.

Because I can. I can buy as many as I can afford--which isn't all that many, unfortunately...as I am an unrepentant "gun nut". Hopefully that'll change in the future.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:54 PM
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a reply to: SprocketUK


Thanks for the reply Sprocket, and agreed it is one of the worst things I have ever seen. You could see the pain in the parent's eyes


I cringed during this video, and when I heard how the lady in that story died...well, lets just say my BP went up to about 200. The capacity to even do something like to another person simply shocks me.

I like the "because we can" statement as well. That is good enough for me!


I see you are from the UK, are guns banned entirely there or can you still possess certain weapons? Or is it like some major cities in the US where it almost takes an act of congress to get a CHL. I am ex LE and can carry in all 50 states, but my State of residence also has Constitutional carry (no permit required to carry concealed or openly) which gives our citizens a lot of options for self defense.

Oddly enough, there was a lot of fear mongering before the new Carry laws took effect, which absolutely never came true. Crime rates have dropped, if anything. There haven't been any mass murders or law enforcement deaths from the new law, and it has inspired a lot of local people to become more active in government (since everyone worked so hard to get the law passed).



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:57 PM
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a reply to: UpIsNowDown

Speaking only for myself, one. My own. Or possibly. Gentleman was standing at my door with a rather large hammer, and was thinking about breaking down my door. He saw me, was going to break the door down anyway, then he saw the revolver I had just pulled out of my desk drawer, where it resides at this very moment.

He went even whiter than he was naturally, and left. I got a nice sledge hammer out of the deal. I'm alive, and I've got a big hammer--win/win.

So. One.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 03:58 PM
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a reply to: seagull


I love the sentiment, seagull. Nothing wrong with that at all


It is always great to see others exercising their God given and Constitutionally protected rights. Heck, what is the point of having rights if you don't use em?



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:09 PM
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Double post.
edit on 2-11-2017 by Nickn3 because: (no reason given)



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:11 PM
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a reply to: UpIsNowDown


You don't sound flippant at all, and I appreciate calm and rational discussion


To answer your question, that number is zero for me. I hope it can stay that way too (I take great measures to avoid conflict), and do not relish the idea in any way of having to use it defensively. That would be a very bad day, for everyone involved. When it comes to handguns (and their relative anemic nature), there is no assurance your shots will stop the attack in time to prevent the attacker from carrying out their original deadly intent. So it stands to reason (to me at least) that there is at least a reasonable chance I (or the intended victim) could still be mortally injured in that time period.

I do understand (and hope) that I carry this for the rest of my life and never have to use it or even draw it.

Many years ago in my LE days, I did draw my weapon several times but never to actively stop a deadly threat. The usual cases would be felony stops, which were relatively rare and building searches which you would do on occasion (audible alarm, broken glass, open door when it should be locked etc) and any other time when you felt you may need it for self defense purposes. Another use would be destroying sick or injured animals, and last for training purposes. I suppose I was lucky, because I went my entire career without ever discharing a weapon in LOD. Totally different times than now. Nothing but respect for those men and women of today.

So like I said, if I am fortunate enough to continue to go through life without having to face down a deadly threat, I will count my blessings.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:13 PM
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originally posted by: UpIsNowDown
a reply to: JBurns

Firstly RIP to those in the video

I hope now not to sound flippant but could I ask how many murders you and your gun have stopped so far?

If zero do you hope it remains that way or do you hope one day to save someone?

Because it could just mean you carrying a gun all your life for no reason, I certainly hope it is that way for you

While guns are an inanimate object they do enable Humans to commit murder with little to no regard, and yes murder has and will always be part of society, why we choose to take life from one another is to me A great mystery.





I saved my wife’s and my own life because I was armed. The assailant was early 20s and well muscled and I was on the other side of 60. He thought he had found himself a victim. He had not.

BTW, closest police were stationed over an hour away at best.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:13 PM
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This happened in my home town, one of my good friends lived in the apartment complex where the couple was carjacked and I t is a nice neighbor hood. My wife worked with the young mans aunt, and these were good kids. Sh!t like this is one reason why I carry. The other is I spend a lot of time alone, in the deep back woods. A shooter comes in handy.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:19 PM
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a reply to: seagull


That had to be shocking to see a man standing there with a sledge, and is especially sobering because he didn't flea after seeing you. I remember when the home invasion was a relatively new concept, and it worries me just as much now as it did back then.

I am glad you were able to de-escalate the situation by simply having a weapon in your immediate possession, which I think counts as a "psychological stop" if I'm not mistaken

Scary stuff though, I can't imagine the thought process these people make when they decide to just bust into someone's home. That just shows total disregard for people in their home



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:42 PM
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Dear ATS Readers, Writers,

Thanks JBurns, good post.

One responder asked how many murders did your weapon prevent?

Well, when I lived in the USA, I carried a Colt .45 ACP with me at all times.

It prevented 2 murders... both of the times the life it saved was mine.

One was a car-jacking attempt. I saw it coming, so I grabbed my .45 as the scum was approaching my truck. I told him to stop, he kept coming, I presented the gun, and said I said STOP! He had an accomplice, who had positioned himself in front of my truck, forcing me to stop, or else run him over.

They demanded I give them a ride to a location about 90 miles to the west! I of course told him to *&##%& off. He turned and ran, as he turned around, he had a revolver stuffed in the back of his pants! The ONLY reason I didn't get shot, and my vehicle stolen was I got the drop on him first!

The second time was late at night at a service station, I was approached by some punk, and he flashed a huge knife at me, wanting money... I reached in my truck and pointed the .45 at him... END of discussion...

He looked like he was perfectly willing to stab me for money..but the .45 made him think otherwise. He was a young wise-a** punk.

Thankfully, I didn't need to fire the pistol... just showing it was enough to stop the crime.

Both times it scared the beejeezus out of me, and even more so it freaked me out because I almost had to shoot someone...

I probably would have needed a shrink afterwards to deal with it, if I had needed to shoot someone. I am very thankful that I didn't have to.

I am certain the .45 saved my life in the carjacking attempt, and "probably" did in the knife incident.

Pravdaseeker




a reply to: JBurns



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:42 PM
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I am glad I live in a less violent society.


originally posted by: JBurns
I see you are from the UK, are guns banned entirely there or can you still possess certain weapons?
There are over a million guns in the UK- about seven per 100 citizens. The culture around guns is completely different than the States.

I am not going to judge, but... this is why I (occasionally) carry a gun.


edit on 2/11/2017 by paraphi because: (no reason given)



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:51 PM
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a reply to: seagull

I have to ask. Why was the man thinking of beating on your door with a sledgehammer? Do not feel obliged to answer but I am curious.

edit on 2/11/17 by LightSpeedDriver because: Clarification



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:58 PM
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originally posted by: JBurns
a reply to: SprocketUK


Thanks for the reply Sprocket, and agreed it is one of the worst things I have ever seen. You could see the pain in the parent's eyes


I cringed during this video, and when I heard how the lady in that story died...well, lets just say my BP went up to about 200. The capacity to even do something like to another person simply shocks me.

I like the "because we can" statement as well. That is good enough for me!


I see you are from the UK, are guns banned entirely there or can you still possess certain weapons? Or is it like some major cities in the US where it almost takes an act of congress to get a CHL. I am ex LE and can carry in all 50 states, but my State of residence also has Constitutional carry (no permit required to carry concealed or openly) which gives our citizens a lot of options for self defense.

Oddly enough, there was a lot of fear mongering before the new Carry laws took effect, which absolutely never came true. Crime rates have dropped, if anything. There haven't been any mass murders or law enforcement deaths from the new law, and it has inspired a lot of local people to become more active in government (since everyone worked so hard to get the law passed).


Guns aren't banned completely, but you need to be checked out before you will be considered for a licence. If you have a history of mental illness you won't get one, nor if you are on any watch lists either. There are various levels of licencing too, Shotgun licences are easiest to get but you still need to have suitable storage for the gun and ammo and the cops will come by to make sure and you will not be licenced if you don't have a good reason and access to somewhere to shoot. Written permission off a landowner or membership of a sporting club will suffice. Handguns over .22Cal are also banned after the Dunblane shooting, though you can get one if you have a good enough reason. Semi auto rifles and shotguns were banned after the Hungerford shootings.

I don't see the same need for home protection using a gun here as not many people have them and the ones who are likely to have a gun tend to have bigger fish to fry than robbing my house. I always felt safe enough with a hammer by the door and a German Shepherd curled up on the couch
I think that's one of the main differences between the UK and US on gun laws really, pretty much every crim over there has one so I totally understand the need to have one yourself. Here though...not remotely the case.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:59 PM
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originally posted by: paraphi
I am glad I live in a less violent society.


originally posted by: JBurns
I see you are from the UK, are guns banned entirely there or can you still possess certain weapons?
There are over a million guns in the UK- about seven per 100 citizens. The culture around guns is completely different than the States.

I am not going to judge, but... this is why I (occasionally) carry a gun.



Probably the finest reason to carry a gun ever. I love pheasant...especially when there are a few rabbits to add to the pot as well



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 04:59 PM
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originally posted by: seagull
a reply to: SprocketUK

The only reason that matters is that one.

Because I can. I can buy as many as I can afford--which isn't all that many, unfortunately...as I am an unrepentant "gun nut". Hopefully that'll change in the future.



Bravo.....good enough for me. I did sell 4 of mine, but kept the good ones for my size. Except the Mossberg.....kick me on my ass, but just love the feel and heft of it.

Des



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 05:00 PM
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a reply to: LightSpeedDriver

Daylight robbery is my guess... It was my day off, but I usually would have been working. Why he didn't notice my car, is a mystery.

No idea who he was, never saw him before, nor after.



posted on Nov, 2 2017 @ 05:04 PM
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a reply to: JBurns

No idea. The adrenaline rush was instant, as you may imagine.

I don't ever want that to happen again. I much prefer to use my hand guns at the range shooting paper, and my shotgun in the wheatfields going after pheasant or grouse, and my rifle for deer, in those same fields.



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