This discussion is becoming almost as good as the ones about seat saving or dog poop.

From the post you quoted it has the feel of someone who is not happy about guns and is trying to present a negative view. Don't know how many ladies are concealed carry holders and exercise that right. Good for them. I conceal carry all the time, always have, luckily never had to use it.

It's about time you chimed in.

I only asked a question. How am I presenting a negative view?

Good for you for exercising your right. I as well certainly hope you never have to use it.

You say I give you the feeling that I am "not happy" about guns. You give me the feeling of someone who is very defensive of carrying.

I found your initial post very interesting. Obviously others did as well.

>>>>>>

So true. We all hope that someone is there to tell us when it's time to change our lifestyle and give up things that could cause harm to ourselves or others.

That's because they are packing. No worries. Seriously, it isn't a fascination with guns. It's American values. Many look at a gun as a tool, just like a hammer. A hammer is used to drive nails. It could be used for self defense. But it is heavy and bulky. A gun is a self defense tool. That's all. No big deal to people who grew up around guns. It doesn't mean that a person carrying a gun is paranoid. It is just a matter of weighing your options and deciding that you don't want you or your loved ones to be a victim, however unlikely or likely that is. I know people that carry a golf club or a stick when they go on a walk. They are not paranoid. But if a rabid fox or a mean dog attacks them, at least they have some means of defense. I know people who have had to use a gun for self defense. I also know of several people who have been murdered simply for their wallet. If violence can happen to them, it can happen to anyone.

I think you are being overly defensive at the suggestion that you are uncomfortable around guns. There is nothing wrong with that feeling. I think that is all the poster was saying. With all the media hype, and not growing up around guns, I think the natural tendency is to be uncomfortable in the presence of guns.

I didn't grow up around handguns. (My grandfather who raised me was a police officer, but I can't recall seeing his weapon) Ohio people that I knew well only had hunting guns. I have been told that I am naïve and downright stupid by evangelistic gun people. I know darned well that people that I knew well did not have handguns in Ohio. I have NEVER EVER known a (civilian) person who had to use a gun for self protection. It depends where you grew up and where you lived and who you run around with.


I believe in second amendment rights. I don't tell people that I don't approve of gun totin'. I just know a lot of people who feel it isn't necessary. Here.


Yet.

Ask retired LEOs why they carry. Most will probably tell you that you have no idea the number of bad people around, and everywhere. I know an LEO that even carries in Disneyworld in Orlando. He carries everywhere, even in TV. He smiles at me when I tell him I don't carry in TV because I feel it is so safe. He gives me that look that says "you have no clue". He's a good guy to hang with. It's like having a personal bodyguard. Now I know how Bloomberg feels.

I am telling you that you can do whatever you want to do. I am not stupid. There are bad people everywhere. What folks have done that are my age is work hard, save their money, make sacrifices, work when they are sick, don't run up foolish things on their charges so they can buy and live where it is a little safer. They don't mess with other people's stuff or their spouses. They toe the line and go to church or toe the line and don't go to church.


They choose people who are not hot heads and who have common sense to hang out with and they try to do what is right.


We all don't need guns,especially HERE, this is not a place that at this time warrants carrying a gun.


But that may change. I am NOT anti gun. I am anti gun evangelism.


But knock yourself out.

"Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you."
When they wrote the second amendment it wasn't just an expression. It was a take-out dinner order.

Wolves, coyotes, and especially Native Americans too. Native American people would not eat you though. You might get eaten by a neighbor though if they were really hungry.

I only know of one woman who carries regularly and she had a violent stalker who might follow her.

As long as people are trained to use these firearms, I have no problem with them carrying.

Ya never know what tomorrow will bring.


I might start carrying a one iron.


But I would have to get rid of my Supa Dupa biggum hittum gigantic distance club.


(I was just kidding)

That's back then though, not now. I sure hope so. I have this one neighbor that seems to smile at me a lot.

I love you Tomwed. I hope Mrs. Wed knows I am happily wed and






OLD.

Believe me, after awhile my humor get's on your nerves. And I have a tendency to repeat myself.

Believe me, after awhile my humor get's on your nerves. And I have a tendency to repeat myself.

Discussing why anybody carries or not or feel better being with one who carries still rubs me the wrong way. I been around fire arms use all my life. Those who carry DO NOT go around telling folks they are doing so. They just don't.
One may have a close friend that brings it up in a pertinent discussion, but repeating....most do not. There are many good reasons.....no different than discussing who has insurance or not or what coverage or not. If not in a pertinent discussion it just does not come up.

As far as being selective as to when to carry or not. That discussion is usually for and by those who do not carry or are uninformed about carrying.

Police officers do not elect to carry or not based on the area they are in being safe or not. They carry all the time. Same goes for anybody who prefers to carry.

Many retired LEO carry for many reasons. Ditto for the rest of us.

One only needs to look at carrying to be similar to insurance. We all have it and we all hope to never use it. We do not insure or not based on one place being less or more safe than another.

It is really just that simple.

I find this conversation interesting mostly because there's not a lot of other conversations going on. It's not inherently interesting.

How about we think of something else to talk about that's a bit more fun?

It is a spectrum thing. If you live by a fire hydrant, your fire insurance is a little cheaper. If you live in one of the "hot spots" in Orlando, where crime is rampant, you need to protect yourself with a gun..


Some choose to make their risks go down by not living where drugs are dealt and where people hang around clubs and do drive by shootings. NO place is completely safe. It is a spectrum thing.


I am not disagreeing with you, I respect you mightily.


What galls me is being told by a law enforcement officer who lives here from New York that West Chester, Ohio is as dangerous as any other place when, it had ONE murder in thirty years.


He has not lived there. He knows the reality of where he is from. Not the reality of where I am from. Some places are safer than others. I don't carry insurance on being bitten by a snake. I try to stay away from snakes. I don't keep them in the spare room. I may be bitten by a snake. There are snakes around outside that are dangerous, but it isn't likely.


It is a selling point for a philosophy that I don't disagree with...I have no argument with people who carry. I just am still pretty smart...and I don't carry.


Please don't shoot me. And don't tell me not to advertise I don't carry. I have a bunch of friends who might carry.

I shouldn't have yelled at you Billethekid. I think you are one smart person and a very reasonable person and I get what you are saying...I do.

That is interesting that you feel I may be uncomfortable around guns. I lived for 40 years with a LEO. He never, ever carried when not working. I can think of a few times (maybe twice) that we would be going through a questionable area and he would inform me that he had the gun under the seat of the car. His 3 guns have been given to each of 3 children. His fellow officers never carried off duty. ( the new generation police might be different). My sister is married to a retired LEO. In the 30 years he was LEO he never, ever carried off duty....doesn't even own a gun. My brother was LEO in Tampa....never, ever carried off duty. Never owned a gun. My nephew is an active LEO...does not carry off duty. So...no, I'm not uncomfortable around guns. I will say that the 30 years my husband was LEO, I never touched his guns....had no interest.

I also feel that those that carry here in TV, do NOT carry because they are concerned with crime or needing protection. I feel they carry only because they can. Now, going out of the bubble...maybe they carry for protection; but here in TV just because they can. .......makes them feel...not sure, in control, powerful, manly....not sure......

A few months ago the Straight Shooters club had a presentation on how much trouble you can get into when using your gun in self defense. Supposedly you can be convicted of a crime and sent to jail for defending yourself with a gun if your attacker is not also armed. You have a duty to retreat unless you are in your home. And, of course, you should join one of those legal assistance groups that specialize in armed self defense. So, based on those constraints, it is better to carry pepper gel or a stun gun.

I never said you were anti-gun. There is really no need to be defensive. Many of us worked hard our whole life, led a good life. That does not exempt you from becoming a victim. I'm not trying to convince you of anything. I was just presenting my viewpoint. Do you do your own shopping, or do you have servants do your shopping for you? If you go to Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, etc., you are venturing outside your dome of tranquility. Do you think everyone at the squares are all squeaky clean? Do you think you really live in a gated community with push button openers on every gate? Do you think the knife stabbing in the historic district, or the murder in the wherever village, or the recent bat wielding golf cart driver did not involve TV residents? Don't carry or do carry. I don't care.

I am shocked that every leo you know including all of your husband's coworkers never carried while off duty or retired. But I guess you must have discussed it with them because how else would you know.

Anyone think we may be scaring the newbies???

That is the whole reason for the stand your ground law in Florida. It relieved you of the duty to retreat in Florida even if you could. I'm not saying you can't be charged. Obviously, if you're arguing with someone and he spits on you, you don't want to shoot him. Just call the cops and have him arrested. But if he physically attacks you, and you fear serious harm, you can defend yourself with a gun. At least that is the way I understand the law. I'm not a lawyer.

I hope so. It's getting too crowded.

Ask George Zimmerman how Florida's stand your ground law worked out for him. He may have been acquitted, but..........

I think many carry because of the mindset that if you don't carry all the time you're not going to have it when you need it. Kind of like seat belts or motorcycle protective gear. You never know when you will have an accident, so you always hook up your seat belt, and you always wear the safety gear whenever you ride your motorcycle. Also, many people view the 2nd A as a duty of every citizen to contribute to protecting themselves and others, including their neighbors. Don't laugh. It's serious stuff. Many CC people feel a responsibility to help others and protect their loved ones knowing that there are not enough government employees (leo's) to protect everyone. In fact, very few crimes against victims are thwarted by the police. The police show up AFTER the crime.

This is a common misunderstanding of SYG in Florida. GZ claimed self defense, not SYG. Two different defenses. In GZ's case, he could not retreat because TM was on top of him before GZ could even bolt.

None of the above are why people carry.

It is unfortunate that the majority of the populations education and knowledge of fire arms is what they see in the movies, on television and the biased news media.

That is not real life.

Law enforcement has a belt full of equipment each of which is for a specific purpose. One of the items happens to be a pistol. They will use every other piece of equipment on their belt day in and day out....except for the pistol.
Some never ever have had to use their pistol for anything other than training.

They do not have an air of needing it or feeling macho, in control, manly or womanly. None what so ever.

All that training and expense and maintenance just in case....just like insurance. Ditto for those not in law enforcement.

Like everything else in our lives gun recreation, gun ownership, gun self defense are personal choices, just like sky diving, being a pprivate pilot, the military and of course law enforcement. And like evrything else in life the discussion is always about the few who do not do what is right, while the other 98% of us do!

It is a personal choice!

GG I sense no "yelling" at all in your post. I admire those who state their case without infringing on others views/opinions/etc.

Thank you, didn't know that. In NY, you pretty much have to seconds away from getting killed yourself, otherwise you're guilty

Wanna talk about nuclear weapons and their everyday uses?

In NY you're probably better off getting killed before you try to defend yourself with a gun. And then, you still may be convicted posthumously.

"How about a nice game of checkers instead" (WOMPR, War Games)

Many years ago the officers on his dept. HAD to carry at all times. We all went out tabogoning one day.....officers and wives. While going down the hill, I felt something hard in my back. I questioned it....he said it was his gun. I was concerned about the safety of a gun during recreational times. I approached the chief and voiced my concerns. The rule was changed and they did NOT have to carry off duty. After that a few officers carried when in the village that they were employed in, but no where else. After a few years, they all stopped carrying. I certainly don't know where they all are now that they are retired or weather they carry now, but I would guess that they don't. By the way, it was a very safe suburb, like TV.
I also still stand by my thought that people carry here for a reason other than fear of crime. TV is very, very safe.