Interesting it is, how so many folks feel the need to carry. For example, I'm 54 years old and I've never been or felt physcially threatend in my life, except when I was a young teen (a few testosterone-related binges).
I get out a lot, go to bars once in a while, attend a few parties, do civic work, etc., and have traveled extensively all over europe, Mexico, Central and South America. Never felt threatened, not one single time. I've also taken public transportation (subways, buses, etc.) in practically every major city in the U.S., western europe, and Mexico. Neither my wife nor I ever felt threatened in any way, at any time. And as I'm in the safety biz, I work around some pretty tough guys (yes, lots of them carry). Violence, or the threat of it is no problemo for me.
I did have my pocket picked on a Chicago subway years ago, but didn't even know it happened 'til hours later (very skilled pickpocket)!
Many of my friends are the same as I: they never feel physically threatened, certainly not enough to compel them to carry a firearm. I do have friends who carry, but it's NOT normally because they have a concrete, compelling reason to expect violence: they all say it's for "protection". Sadly, this viewpoint is often fallacious and a dangerous miscalculation of the odds.
The statistical probability that my gun-toting friends, above, may find themselves in a scenario where they'll gain some advantage by using the concealed weapon is, in all likelihood, insignificant. If true, then the degree of risk they assume by carrying the firearm easily outweighs the probability that they'll benefit from using it. Such individuals are clearly at significantly greater risk by carrying a firearm than they would be without one.
For example, part of my reluctance to carry (I have many guns, mostly inherited and totally unused) is related to my concern about having the gun taken from me and possibly winding up protruding from my hind end. Clearly, those who are not physically fit and thoroughly trained <u>and adept</u> in self-defense put themselves at great risk by pulling a firearm. Ask any cop: in <u>many</u> cases (this is well-documented), your gun is turned on YOU, or you shoot yourself or an innocent bystander by accident.
As such, I'm not willing to put my family in a position to lose me in such a senseless, violent manner. I figure my risk of shooting myself or of having my gun taken away and used on me is a <u>significant</u> factor. Of course, others who have legitimate reasons to expect impending violence may and do feel differently.
BTW, I'm 6'2", about 195 pounds and I can defend myself if needed. However, I'm very (e.g., extremely) friendly and percieved as such by my fellow human beings. I don't threaten anyone, period, and I'm not afraid or ashamed to run from trouble if violence may be avoided. I can also run pretty fast!
When we carry a firearm, we place not only ourselves but our loved ones at <u>great</u> risk that's inexorably linked to firearm use. In many cases this risk goes entirely uncalculated. I really don't think most folks who carry have carefully considered the potentially tragic and dire consequences of assuming such a risk. I increasingly find that the decision to carry is made on false assumptions and emotional whims. Again, such hasty decisions about something as deadly as a concealed hand gun may lead to tragedy of the worst possible kind, and often does.
I hope all of you are very, very careful with your concealed weapons. Please be safe.
Hey Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
