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[jefflb916]

don't want to catch flak or ruffle any feathers, but i'd like to hear people's opinions on carrying concealed weapons. i'm sure i'll be the minority in here, but i think CCW's should be restricted to law enforcement and military personnel, with some exceptions. sidearms carried for hunting/sporting reasons being an exception, or carried by persons with high risk or high profile jobs being another.

i read and hear some of the things people say and ask regarding CCW's and shake my head. for instance, on a post earlier somebody wrote something to the effect of "our state just passed a CCW law. never thought about carrying before, what would you suggest?"

why in the world would you even consider carrying a concealed weapon just because the law says you can? i think the two problems are that people don't consider the liability associated with carrying a firearm, and that people don't have the necessary training or good judgement to use that firearm effectively or responsibly. besides, chances are that you are never going to be in a situation where you have to use a firearm. and if you are in that situation, take good mental notes and be a great witness for the cops.

there is no end to this debate, and people will always say "i'd rather have a gun and not need it then need it and not have it." and there are a lot of people outside of the law enforcement/military scope that i would completely trust to carry concealed and be responsible and use excellent judgement. but speaking in general, i think CCW's should be restricted to a very small portion of the population.

just my two cents... would love to hear yours.

[denverd0n]

I think you're wrong, and I think this discussion belongs in "Anything Goes."

[remington]

Been a cop for 10 years and have NEVER had and incident with a CCW holder that didn't act responcible. Wish I could say the same about people with drivers license. And you only have to be 16 to get one of those.

Every person has the right to protect themselves, family and property. If they/you/me have the option for CCW then I say have at it. I have a CCW and I don't need one as I'm allowed to CCW anywhere in the U.S. except airplanes. I have a CCW because I support the law and the people who voted for it. I refuse to be a victim.

[redrider]

Quote: i read and hear some of the things people say and ask regarding CCW's and shake my head. for instance, on a post earlier somebody wrote something to the effect of "our state just passed a CCW law. never thought about carrying before, what would you suggest?"

why in the world would you even consider carrying a concealed weapon just because the law says you can?

Hey Jeff, If that Quote was directed toward my post I think you should go back and reread it. I was not looking for suggestions to what I should carry, but instead I was asking for advice on the subject. Which I got great advice from the posters.
I had not thought of carrying a weapon before because there was no reason to with the subject being illegal. Wouldn't you rather I get advice and research the subjecct before I go out and buy a gun to protect myself if I felt the need?

[cowgal]

Number one, I believe that allowing CCW in an area/state, etc., is a deterrent to crime regardless if you actually carry or not. Its a known fact that Florida's crime rate went down when people were allowed to carry and protect themselves. Keeps the criminal wondering IF that person may be armed.

I personally believe that all states should allow CCW. Once a person has taken the required classes in their home state, gone through the background checks and paperwork, that CCW should be good anywhere. Jeff, its not the people with CCWs that are committing the armed crimes! I absolutely disagree with your statement about restricting to a very small portion of the population. If you pass the tests and background checks, there is no reason not to issue that person a CCW.

There are many reasons for carrying, the number one reason for me is simply feeling safer. I do believe a person should have adequate training and experience with a handgun before carrying.

Jeff, if you're against CCW are you also against the general public owning handguns?

[ADKBEAR]

Well there Jeff the great thing about forums is that it is just your opinion. That is your opinion and I respect it but I do not agree with it. Are there people out there that should not be allowed to carry a gun? Good question.

I have a CC as well as my wife who has one also. In NY it is regulated on a county level and we both had to go through extensive background checks. Where and when we got ours (got mine when I was 18 before I even knew her) there was no class that we needed to take. I was raised around guns and gun safety and have passed alot of that on to her.

Now I travel alot for my work, right now I am in a hotel in Southern Calif for meetings all week. We live out in the country without any streetlights and the nearest neighbor a half mile away. My wife gets home at about 11:30 pm from work. We have an old, fat Border Collie and some chickens that she comes home to. Her packing a hand gun and knowing how to use it is a piece of mind for not only her (like cowgal said) but also for me who cannot be there for the one I love to protect her.

Do I carry? Yes I do when and where I leagly can. I hope and pray that I never have to use a gun on another person, ever. There are a lot of people in this world and I approach everyone like a friend and equal. How the people react back? If it happens to be someone who wants to hurt me or the ones I love I do want to have a fighting chance of self protection.

[expatriate]

To me it's simple. Anyone that argues against CCWs needs to show me a state where passage of CCW legislation has produced an increase in crime. They can't do it, because it's gone down every time. Furthermore, I'd expect to see statistics that show CCW holders have committed crimes. However, the numbers are extremely low --- I believe lower than society as a whole. Science doesn't back the rhetoric thrown up against CCWs

IMO, one of the most basic rights we have as human beings is the right to protect ourselves from harm. Taking away that right is the ultimate form of enslavement.

Personally, I think denial of the right to carry a weapon is equivalent to the idea of laws that would deny motorcycle riders the right to wear helmets, remove seatbelts from cars, or criminalize having a fire extinguisher in the home.

[CVC]

Jeff,

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION!

Got your attention right?

Of course you are allowed to express your opinion not only here, but everywhere in the US. Why? Because it is a Constitutionally protected right just like the right to bear arms which I believe includes concealed carry.

Why does a law enforcement officer carry a weapon - because it is a dangerous world and a gun is a grea equalizer. So, should I not be afforded that same protection? Of course I should.

My wife is anti-gun, anti-concealed carry and I tell her that God forbid that I ever need to use the gun to protect you, but you will be glad that I have it if that day ever comes.

I will not use the gun unless my life or someone's elses life is in danger but I believe I have the right to protect myself. The government certainly doesn't do it. When is the last time that a cop prevented a robbery or a murder. They arrive on the scene after the fact.

You have the right to your opinion and the right not to carry, but I want to carry.

[Lmiers]

One of my main problems with restricting CCW is the people that restrict it. I turn 20 in one month and will still have to wait 3 years to be able to get my CCW. Its kinda ironic that some of the people that say i'm to young to carry a gun to the store or for a walk in my neighborhood don't think I'm to young to carry a gun down the streets of Baghdad. That really makes me wonder about the people we get to vote for and the society we live in.

I was discussing this with my father-in-law a while back who lives in a state where the age is 19 and he said that that was the last thing they needed was for a bunch of 19 yr old thugs running around with guns. I just looked at him and said but they can go run around Iraq with guns though right? He looked at me for a second and said your right I never thought about it like that.

The Brady campaing is probably right to say that I don't need to carry a gun but why who are they to say that I CANT carry a gun.

[CVC]

Your father in law is absolutely right - the last thing we need is a bunch of 19 year old thugs carrying guns. However, that is entirely different from a bunch of law abiding 19 year olds who are properly trained and licensed to legally carry a gun.

The point that the anti's miss is that the crooks are carrying guns. No one needs to worry about the citizen, who if not for being issued a permit to carry a gun, would not do it.

Here they put up no gun signs on their stores to keep out CCW. Excuse me, but I am not the one you need to be worried about. Yes, I will follow the law and leave my gun in the car, but the crook will just laugh at the sign and rob your butt without fear because he knows you don't have a gun.

Slightly off topic, but I was getting my hair cut and next to me was a young gentleman who was talking about being in Iraq. He was setting money aside for when he turned 21 so he could go to the casino and play in a poker tournament.

I thought how stupid. We send this young man over to a foriegn country, arm him with weapons, trust him to do his job and put his life on the line, but he can't legally gamble in a casino. WTF - are our laws screwed up or what????

Want to restrict people under 21 for anything great, but anyone in the armed services should be exempted. If they are old enough to serve their country they are old enough to do whaterver they want.

[holtzer1]

criminals will always have guns to commit the crimes. we passed CCW here in missouri last year---or the year before, dont remember exactly, but. why shouldnt I, a law abiding citizen with a wife and children not be able to defend myself and my family against people who would otherwise shoot us dead if they wanted to? i believe anyone with good gun handling education should carry a concealed weapon....

[pyle_mountain]

Quote: ....."why in the world would you even consider carrying a concealed weapon just because the law says you can?......"

I don't believe anyone should get a CCW permit "just because the law says you can" anymore than I believe you should get a drivers license just because the law says you can. You get a drivers license because you want to drive. Personally, I got a CCW permit because I wanted to be able to protect myself and family in that way if ever needed. Here in Oklahoma - CCW laws have been great and my hope is that one day all states will have good CCW laws.

[CVC]

A man from Oklahoma licensed to carry a concealed weapon successfully defended himself from a robber here in KS. We have reciprocal laws so he could carry here too and he used his gun to fend off a robber at a gas station.

[WeatherbyScott]

well crime goes down and people are safe. i live in pa and wouldnt consider not haveing my ccw. as others have said the people who want to keep us from carrying are the same ones who let us fight and die for them to have the right to speak their oppinions. criminals will always have guns to commit crimes and any type of restriction is a bad idea just ask the citizens of Austrailia where crime went up 300% after they lost their rights.

[CVC]

I spoke to an old friend yesterday. She used to be 100% anti-gun so I was expecting/baiting a fight when I told her I got a CCW license.

Her response floored me. She said she could understand why I would want one. She went on to say it would be a great world if all guns were gone, but that isn't going to happen. Criminals are going to have guns so we might as well be able to protect ourselves with guns too.

I couldn't believe it. This is the argument that I had been making with her for years before giving up. I think seeing the crime around her made her change her mind.