Yet we haven’t seen a single substantive thought from you on the question raised.

What possible reasons are their to carry other than for self-defense?

Publishing names in the paper is a problem on several fronts.

1. many who get CCW’s do so because there’s someone they’ve put a restraining order against and they want protection beyond a piece of paper. Publishing their name, address, and intention to apply for a CCDW puts them at risk. They rely on anonymity.

2. There are those who carry who may have some contact with unsavory characters and don’t wish for those people to know they carry/own guns nor know their address.

3. There have been several instances of asshole reporters who decided the public had a “right to know” who in their communities had CCW permits. They would compile lists of CCW holders in a state/locality and publish the information for all to see.

In one case the reporter wrote a piece critical of CCW, outed people, and compiled an online searchable database of CCW holders with their personal info. I don’t want my address, full name and the fact that I own guns posted all over the net, and especially not in a searchable database. Not only might I not want everyone and their mother knowing I carry (hence the term “concealed”) but I also don’t want folks providing criminals with a shopping list that says “these guys all have guns, here are the addresses.”

Many states now have laws that shield info on CCW holders from being part of public record. This is due largely because of the case I cited above, which occurred a few years ago in Northern Virginia.

To be honest, I could care less about CCW’s overall impact on crime. I own & carry for myself, in accordance with my rights. Public safety is a nice by-product of allowing carry, but it doesn’t really matter one way or the other as far as the exercise of my rights is concerned.

My comments aren’t anti-carry at all, I’m just a farmer. Like I said before, I don’t care if you carry.

My point is that you are not carrying merely to protect yourself. Otherwise, why aren’t you also choosing to protect yourself from a whole host of more likely life threatening situations?

Maybe you are but, if you aren’t, there must also be some other reason you carry, no?

And dude, look at your last 2 or 3 comments. They certainly sound anti-carry.

It isn’t a “hole in my argument.” I never claimed I HAD to carry, only that I choose to because I believe it’s my responsibility to protect myself.

To me claiming that you “have to CC” to protect yourself from some “bad shit” going down while ignoring the the litany other “bad shit” that is far more likely to happen to you on a daily basis, is a major hole in your argument.

It’s also why 2a issues aren’t on the top of my list of priorities.

For all you know I may already have a CC permit, right? Isn’t that the idea.

You might also want to wear a hazmat suit, repirator, hell why not a ventilator, geiger counter, short wave radio, lead lined bomb shelter, beer making supplies, alcohol still, etc.

If you guys aren’t carrying this stuff with you everywhere you go, then you are woefully underprepared when some “bad shit” goes down.
If you are carrying this stuff around, then I can see why the mantra to “drill, drill, drill” exists.

It really isn’t that simple. This woman was working at a dry cleaners on a seemingly normal Friday afternoon. She ends up lying on the floor, left for dead with a bullet wound to the head.

http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/09/danger-of-compliance.html

so don’t put yourself in a situation where that safety is compromised

You do not always have the luxury of that choice.

Case in point: a man stopped by a Wal-Mart around midnight to pick up a few things he needed (something I do occasionally myself). He had put everything back in his car, and was getting in his vehicle, when some idiot punk approached him with a weapon drawn. By sheer dumb luck, the punk fired and missed, and the victim fell to the ground, drew his own firearm, and successfully wounded the aggressor as he tried to flee the scene. Police later apprehended the idiot. (Source)

Accepting that there are people out there willing, able, and ready to cause you harm is not weak – that is just plain intelligent.

“Paranoid is a good observation you made. ”

No, I specifically made the point that carrying is NOT paranoid, since your comment came across as trying to paint me as such.

You’re right. You and I both are more likely to die of old age, a heart attack, or in a car accident than we are to die at the hands of some violent criminal.

I hope neither of us ever have to use our weapons in self-defense, but carrying and being prepared is no more paranoid than keeping a fire extinguisher at home “just in case.” Call it a life insurance policy if you will.

Of course you shouldn’t get into situations where your safety is compromised, but life is not certain. People get attacked in the slums of Philly, but also get attacked while walking their dog in the suburbs. Or hell, they get attacked while sitting at home watching TV.

Sometimes your safety is compromised with no fault or bad judgment by the victim. My grandfather was the victim of a home invasion years ago. It wasn’t his fault, he just happened to be targeted. That’s not something you’d expect to happen, but let’s face it, bad shit can and does happen.

Paranoid is a good observation you made. If you really want to keep from having “bad shit” happen to you, make sure you eat right and exercise regularly. That will likely get you further along the road of life than packin’ heat. Carry away, bro.

p.s. I am also a card carrying member of the NRA and I didn’t even ask to be.

Funny how the anti-gunners are the ones who constantly talk like this. Where did I imply that the U.S. is like the Wild West with someone waiting behind every rock to attack me? Oh that’s right, I didn’t, YOU did.

We simply recognize that bad shit can happen to good people and in “nice” areas and that the police most likely wont be there to save us, therefore we decide to be responsible for our own safety.

Accepting that it is possible you could be a victim of violence and preparing yourself accordingly is by no means “obsessing” or “living in fear.” What it is is taking a rational, common-sense approach to individual safety.

You interpret this common-sense view of reality to mean that us “gun nuts” are paranoid nutjobs waiting to kill anyone who looks at us wrong. You are out of touch with basic reality and are merely projecting your fears and insecurities onto us so that you “feel” better.

If you don’t want a gun for self-defense fine, don’t buy or carry one, but don’t imply that the millions of Americans who do are “silly” “weak” or “paranoid.” They make a choice, as do you. Unfortunately one side of the gun debate simply wants to retain their rights, while the other side tries to deny ALL Americans that fundamental choice.