Looking for some perspective on this CCW/CWL/CWP/etc. philosophy..
 

I'm a member of another forum on which a discussion regarding concealed carry began. At one point, a member said the following in response to why he doesn't carry with a round chambered:

I don't want to say anything of my opinion, but I'd like to hear the opinions out there from you guys.

This person is a wannabe LEO - not the reason at all to carry and incredibly stupid IMHO. I expect this person also bought a CCW "badge" to legitimize their "official" status. Having a permit to carry a gun is for one thing and one thing only - to protect you and yours - not to fight crime.

If you have a desire to fight crime - become an LEO. This type of person is potentially more dangerous than a criminal as they will try to insert themselves in a situation without the training and experience necessary to be of any use at all...

Carrying a weapon not chambered is carrying an unloaded weapon. An unloaded weapon is no more than an expensive club. These are the type that will all too many timeswill have their weapon used against them or just escalate a situation where they are killed because now someone has a gun on the gunman. If you are not prepared to use your weapon then you have no business with one on your person. Many times these are the people with the newest wizbanger they read about on some gun rag. They actually believe from all the movies they have watched that you have time to chamber a round and pull the hammer back in some dramatic manner to make the would be killer drop his weapon and they get to kiss the pretty girl.

Ask those that have had to use a weapon against another person just how fast everything happens. That dramatic stuff is great for Hollywierd but in the real world that will get you or God forbid some other innocent person killed.

Thanks for the responses. I just really needed to feel grounded. I had responded with essentially what NGIB illustrated to which he responded:

It's just incredibly frustrating reading someone with this kind of idea in his head and I wanted to hear those of you with some experience disagree with him so I can sleep tonight, knowing that most of the people who carry aren't this crazy. :)

I thnk NGIB put it best. I recent took my CCH test and plan on finishing the paper work next week. I thought long and hard about it and it boiled down to this. I want everything in my power to protect my wife and two little girls God forbid something happened. Carrying a weapon is great responsibiltiy and cannot be taken lightly.

The guy you described sounds scary and could get someone hurt :(

Chuck D

What NGIB said.

I carry for personal protect and the protection of family first. Having a CCWP does not grant me a right to enforce laws. But it does allow me to use said weapon in defense of life and property. That defense of life can include potential threats anywhere, and anyone.

This persons reasoning is dangerous to the safety and security of every gun owner in America.

A good friend was a LEO, now medically retired. One day on foot patrol, at about 3 in the afternoon, he was responding to a "trouble unknown". As he turned the corner, he was hit with a metal pole wielded by what we agreed had to be a crazy man. First hit broke his left collarbone. BTW, if you have never had a broken collarbone, the arm on that side is now useless. Goblin was still whaling away with the pole, so he center punched him twice at powder burn distance. Sitting with him in the ER, while he was still in shock, he looked at me and said "I figured I'd better shoot him while I could still draw."

Now, anybody want to try to draw and chamber and fire under those circumstances? Be sure to let me know how that works for you.

Things happen MUCH faster than you think. And as the man said, this ain't Dodge City, and you ain't Bill Hickok.

As always, C3 is right on the mark. The main problem with trying to be a crime fighter is figuring out when a crime is happening. Here's an example:

You walk out of Burger King after lunch and there is a scruffy looking guy grabbing a well dressed woman. Is the woman being attacked? Do you draw your gun to protect her and stop the apparent assault?

While it could be a scruffy looking bad guy assaulting a woman, it could also be a plain clothes LEO trying to arrest a well dressed female criminal. Just food for thought...

This person has a skewed view of the purpose behind CCW.
If he ever does what he says he carries for, he stands a good chance of finding himself in jail.

I cannot, and will not, speak regarding other places. However in Indiana if I, as an individual licensed by the State, shoot someone it has to be because I was in fear of death or serious bodily injury to myself or another. Any other reason, including stopping a crime, is going to land me in jail.