Why I Carry A GUN - The Firearms Forum

KING64 · 12-04-2008, 06:55 PM

I received this in an email today from the widow of a very good friend and fellow retired LEO.

My apologies if it has been posted before.

WHY I CARRY A GUN

I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes
this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I am paranoid. I carry a gun because there are
real threats in this world.

I don't carry a gun because I am evil. I carry a gun because I have lived
long enough to see the evil in this world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I
understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I am angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have
to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because
I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere at the hands of another.

I don't carry a gun because I am a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy who cowboyed up.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because being unarmed and facing an armed threat I am inadequate to protect my life and yours.

I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

-author unknown-

45nut · 12-12-2008, 07:56 AM

I've seen it before, but it's always a good read.

oscarmayer · 12-12-2008, 08:14 AM

thank you for that posting i used to keep a copy of that in my wallet in case i ever got hauled in front of a judge. i lost it and glad to see it again so i can get a new copy. this one i'll laminate.

Jay · 12-12-2008, 09:30 AM

Good post. I do think that a gent by the name of Marko Kloos says it best.....

Article titled, "Why the Gun Is Civilization" copyright 2007 by Marko Kloos.

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

jacksonco · 12-12-2008, 09:51 AM

Excellent post, thank you

Marlin · 12-12-2008, 12:18 PM

Both items are excellent. Thanks.

308 at my gate · 12-12-2008, 12:39 PM

I only wish I could carry a concealed weapon with a permit. I have tried applying twice but in southern Cal its good luck. It is better to be tried by 12 than to be carried by 6.

12-04-2008, 06:55 PM	#1
KING64 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 517	Why I Carry A GUN I received this in an email today from the widow of a very good friend and fellow retired LEO. My apologies if it has been posted before. WHY I CARRY A GUN I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed. I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place. I don't carry a gun because I am paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in this world. I don't carry a gun because I am evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in this world. I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government. I don't carry a gun because I am angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared. I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere at the hands of another. I don't carry a gun because I am a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy who cowboyed up. I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because being unarmed and facing an armed threat I am inadequate to protect my life and yours. I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me. -author unknown- __________________ Conlige suspectos semper habitos -->

12-12-2008, 07:56 AM	#2
45nut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,433	Re: Why I Carry A GUN I've seen it before, but it's always a good read. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that. Shane Nemo me impune lacesset We recall the case of the Shoshone war band which showed up complete with one 30-30 rifle per man the week after Pearl Harbor, and simply wanted to have the enemy pointed out to them. "We hear there's a war going on and we want to go fight it." Jeff Cooper *KCCO*

12-12-2008, 08:14 AM	#3
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Why I Carry A GUN thank you for that posting i used to keep a copy of that in my wallet in case i ever got hauled in front of a judge. i lost it and glad to see it again so i can get a new copy. this one i'll laminate.

12-12-2008, 09:30 AM	#4
Jay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,286	Re: Why I Carry A GUN Good post. I do think that a gent by the name of Marko Kloos says it best..... Article titled, "Why the Gun Is Civilization" copyright 2007 by Marko Kloos. Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it. In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some. When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender. There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable. When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act. __________________ "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected cannot taste." "USMC 8652, 2531, RVN Jun '67, - May 69"

12-12-2008, 09:51 AM	#5
jacksonco Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jackson County West Virginia Posts: 2,237	Re: Why I Carry A GUN Excellent post, thank you

12-12-2008, 12:18 PM	#6
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,854	Re: Why I Carry A GUN Both items are excellent. Thanks. __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

12-12-2008, 12:39 PM	#7
308 at my gate Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lost in SW USA. Posts: 847	Re: Why I Carry A GUN I only wish I could carry a concealed weapon with a permit. I have tried applying twice but in southern Cal its good luck. It is better to be tried by 12 than to be carried by 6.