[Paul]

I have been thinking how I can state in 1 sentance the reason for my decision to carry a concealed firearm. So here goes my 1 sentance reason. Lets hear yours.
***Must keep it to 1 sentance***
You can make multiple statements if you want. I really just want to hear well thought out concise statements.

1. I choose to carry a concealed firearm because I have taken personal responsibility for the protection of myself, my family, and those around me.

2. I choose to carry a concealed firearm because I would rather live with the consequences of using a gun to protect myself or my family, than to live with the consequences of not protecting myself or my family.

I typed a bunch of statements before I settled on these 2 as the best. Statement 1 is #1 for a reason. That is why I carry period. I have been using statement 2 alot lately though to get others to think about carrying in a different light. I have been talking a lot more lately to my friends and family about carrying and have kind of been using statement 2 as a primer to make them think. Noone ever thinks they will be the victim of a crime, but I think most people realize that having that attitude is kind of like sticking your head in the sand. Though noone wants to admit it, there is a very real chance that each and every one of us will be the victim of a violent crime at some point in our lives and you never know when. Now as I see it, if the time ever comes where you are in a situation where you need to protect yourself, there are very real consequences that will come with legally defending yourself. There are certainly mentall and emotional consequences. There also may be physical and legal consequences. However, in my opinion the physical, mental, emotional, and all other consequences that come from NOT protecting yourself are much worse. I ask people would you rather live with the consequence of shooting a criminal or predator or would you rather live with the consequences that this criminal inflicts on your life? Pretty sobering when you think about it that way and it seems to make people think.

 

[UtahCFP]

"I carry a gun 'cause I can't carry a cop."

 

[doconix]

- I carry because taxpayers won't give me the armed guards our (anti-gun) politicians all have. Shouldn't I have the same right to protection that they do?

- I carry for the same reason that I wear a seat belt in my car. I've lived three and a half decades without a single wreck -- but I still wear my seat belt.

- (sorry to be a typical Utah post, this one is a Mormon-oriented one) I carry because the Proclamation on the Family says I am responsible for the safety and well-being of my family.

- I carry because I'm can't physically fight most big people. I'm not insecure with it -- it's just a fact. If I were an animal, I'd have to live by the survival of the biggest and most fit rule. But I'm not; I'm a tool-using human and a gun makes things equal between people of all sizes.

- I carry because the Connecticut doctor event really shocked me. He lived in a great neighborhood, yet he lost his wife and two girls in a horrible way to two evil men because he didn't have a gun available. When he freed himself (where they had tied him) in the basement, he ran to get help (which arrived after his family were already dead).

- I carry because society is a fragile thing. We take it for granted, but it could collapse (as it has countless times in many countries, including ours, in recent years) at any time.

- I carry because I can. Because we are one of the last first-world countries left that have a 2nd Ammendment. It keeps me involved in the politics surrounding the issue.

- I carry because guns are needed just as much today as they were in the "wild" West. Modern society has romanticized the "daily" gunfights back then. In reality, most settlers lived and worked just like we do today, with only rare instances where their gun was needed for personal protection from other people. (obviously, their guns were more needed for other things like hunting or animal protection)

- I carry because shooting is fun. I go to the range whenever I can.

 

[divegeek]

"I carry a gun 'cause I can't carry a cop."

This is a winner. I really like it. Even better, in most cases you can drop the first few words:

Random Person: Why do you carry a gun?
Carrier: 'Cause I can't carry a cop.

 

[T-Man]

"I carry a gun for Justin."
"Justin who?"
"Justin Case."

 

[tapehoser]

"A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone."

"When seconds count, the police are just minutes away."

 

[Shaolin]

Awesome!

For Self Protection/Defense.

 

[Cinhil]

I carry because God gave me that right.

I carry because I am responsible for the protection of my family, property and self.

I carry because I am not physically capable of self defense normally due to injuries and this levels the playing field.

I carry because it is the right thing to do.

There are many reasons a person carries, those which have been presented are all good reasons. I will put forth one more;

I carry so I can protect myself from government gone awry and trust myself to know what is best for me and my family rather than to grovel at the feet of criminals as these bureaucrats would have us do.

 

[bane]

I carry because I have decided to make the choice to no longer be a helpless victim of random criminals.

I carry because I have realized that involved a concerned Citizens have more than just the 1st Amendment to concern themselves with.

 

[Strategic Tactical]

GREAT topic. I had a gentleman that saw my firearm once as my jacket swung open and he made a comment about me being affraid and thats why I had a gun.

I stopped and turned around and looked at him and then I said this:
"Sir, have you ever arrested someone for murder and book them into jail? Have you ever had that person that you are BOOKING INTO JAIL FOR MURDER say "When I get out, I'm coming to get you and your family"? I have... I love my children, I have seen reality....That is why I carry". He looked at me and didn't say a word. I walked out.

I know its a LOT more than one sentence but it seemed to get the point acrossed to this dip stick.

 

[Hunter]

I carry because:
I value my families life and mine.
I can and should.
I feel I have a moral obligation to carry.
I don't want to be a helpless victim begging for mercy from the merciless.
I'm not going down without a fight.
Some people take what I do personally and wouln't hesitate about going after my family.
The reality is there are people out there who want to make it thru life by victimizing other people.

 

[Crusader Smithy]

I carry for the protection of myself, my family, and my neighbors.

I carry because things like the Trolly Square tragidy happen all time these days.

 

[Dustin WJ]

There are too many violent criminals out there and I refuse to let myself or my family members become their victims.

By the way, this is a great thread.

 

[Guest]

I carry because I am a sheepdog in a world of sheep and wolves.

I carry because I was a cop, Police do not see the world the same as most people their eyes are more open.

Police are to society what proctologists are to the body, they are not there because you want them to be, they are not there because things are going well, they work on the same part of their respective fields,

 

[Kevin Jensen]

Mine is a little more blunt and to the point. Readers beware!

" In case I have to shoot someone."

That's what it all boils down to, right?

 

[apollosmith]

Mine is similar to SGT Jensen's:

I carry a gun to shoot someone.

The ultimate reason for having a gun is if, though the chances are remote, I have to shoot someone. While it could be used to scare someone away, that's not why I carry it. If someone chooses to put myself or my family in danger, I know that I have the ability and mechanism to stop them and stop them NOW. No other thing on the planet can make me or my 100 pound wife equal to a drug-crazed, 300 pound, prison-hardened, blood thirsty murdering rapist like a gun. I pray I never have to, but if it comes to it, the reason I carry is to shoot someone.

My full reasons for carrying are at http://smithplanet.com/archives/my-right-to-bear-arms

 

[davyut]

Ditto

 

[davyut]

There are many good answers to this question and I couldn't add anything other than this.
Why do I have to have this stupid permit when the constitution says I have that right already!

 

[The Scourge]

There are many good answers to this question and I couldn't add anything other than this.
Why do I have to have this stupid permit when the constitution says I have that right already!

+100000000000 and...

...

" In case I have to shoot someone."

That's what it all boils down to, right?

These, it's my responsibility (Proclamation and all that...), and I don't want to be at someone else's mercy- because they probably won't have any.

Now if I could only convince my wife to get in to shooting, I'd feel better about the times when I am at work and she's at home alone...

 

[lmj301]

" i would rather have it(the firearm) and not need it than need it and not have it."

" do you wear a seatbelt while driving? I wear a gun while awake."