[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I was taught to aim to kill (chest, shoot at least twice). Period. If I feel the need to use my gun, I better have a dang good reason. I was told that any "amateur" who carries should be prepared to kill another human being. Wounding sounds good but may just end up getting you killed instead. So, if you're going to use it, use it for the purpose it was made -- to kill another human being. (Sickening thought, isn't it? Something created to simply kill another person.)

I carry for one reason only -- because I had someone try to kill me and he's made it abundantly clear that he is still obsessed with me. I am not going to use my gun to protect my neighbor's property or even my own property. I am going to use it if I perceive my daughter, my grandson, my neighbor or me in true GRAVE physical danger and, if that happens, I'm not going to worry about just hurting that person -- I'm going to do my best to bring that person down. This is not being a vigilante. A vigilante goes after someone after the crime has been committed, not during and most certainly not to protect another.

Believe it or not, I am actually anti-handguns. I was given no choice. I had a judge (of a serious liberal bent), a DA and 3 police officers all tell me to start carrying and to be prepared to use it because my stalker was never going to stop until one of us was stopped permanently. The second this saga has ended, I turn my handgun in and I'll be happy to never handle a weapon again.

I honestly don't understand those who carry for no reason other than a strange sense of security and that it might be useful in certain incidents. I don't feel the least secure in having a handgun. I worry about my purse being stolen with it in it. I worry that someone may grab it. I even worry that it might discharge accidently, even though that possibility is very remote. If I only had to protect myself in my home, I would much rather use a shotgun -- really hard to miss with it.

Your explanation clarifies why you carry...and is much different than others who post on here advocate carrying a gun. Your last paragaraph sums up your feelings regarding them.