Feeling Safe in the United States
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Pretty much this. I live in Texas now, and feel quite safe compared to other parts of the country. To preface this, and to the OP, try living in Baltimore for 22 years, then tell me you wouldn't appreciate the option to be armed, or to live somewhere where non-criminals are at least as armed as the criminals.bl4ckh4wk64 said:
Well, the boyish part of me thinks guns are cool and fun. But the rest of me would sooner they didn't really exist. It isn't up to me how a country dictates gun laws to its citizens, and I understand why guns are so free, culturally, in America.
I spent some time in the States, was around some gun owners, can't say I was "scared". Mainly because I knew them and they were well versed in gun handling.
I have a great deal of respect for America's gun culture. Despite such dangerous things being so free, there are (relatively) so few gun-related deaths, and even less so as a result of accidents or bad handling. Those interested in guns will almost always be very close to a local club to provide training and assistance, and even possibly members of their family to do the same.
I spent some time in the States, was around some gun owners, can't say I was "scared". Mainly because I knew them and they were well versed in gun handling.
I have a great deal of respect for America's gun culture. Despite such dangerous things being so free, there are (relatively) so few gun-related deaths, and even less so as a result of accidents or bad handling. Those interested in guns will almost always be very close to a local club to provide training and assistance, and even possibly members of their family to do the same.
I am from England. Around here we do not have a gun culture at all so it would probably be a culture shock for me to go somewhere where owning and carrying a gun is an every day occurrence.
That being said, I always have a knife on my person. Not a huge combat knife but a Swiss Army Knife like this:
I carry it mainly for everyday use (opening bottles, cutting loose threads, screwdriver), but I must admit it does make me feel safer knowing that I have something I could potentially use as a weapon on with me at all times.
That being said, I always have a knife on my person. Not a huge combat knife but a Swiss Army Knife like this:
I carry it mainly for everyday use (opening bottles, cutting loose threads, screwdriver), but I must admit it does make me feel safer knowing that I have something I could potentially use as a weapon on with me at all times.
As a US citizen who has lived in both rural areas and bigger cities, I am not terrified of being involved in a firefight at any moment. Why? Because I don't carry a gun. Studies have confirmed that carrying a gun (even legally) means that you are more likely to be shot by one.
Most people don't want to kill. There are the outlying sociopaths, but I'm excluding them as they are dangerous whether they have a gun or not. If someone is carrying/using a gun, it's for a purpose that can often be rendered null by you not being a threat. If they simply have murder on their mind, having a gun on you probably won't stop them, especially if they're even semi-competent at ambushing you from an unexpected angle.
Most people don't want to kill. There are the outlying sociopaths, but I'm excluding them as they are dangerous whether they have a gun or not. If someone is carrying/using a gun, it's for a purpose that can often be rendered null by you not being a threat. If they simply have murder on their mind, having a gun on you probably won't stop them, especially if they're even semi-competent at ambushing you from an unexpected angle.
I feel pretty safe living here... then again, I do have an AK-47 in my closet, along with 4 other guns. The whole idea of walking around with a gun is that we can. It is perfectly legal for me to carry that AK with me (they have open carry where I live), but I need a license to conceal my 9mm. In the past few years, I've had a pedophile try to get my in his car, my car broken into, another guy tried to break into my car a few weeks ago, my mom's ex breaking into her house (while I lived there), multiple break-ins within a few blocks when I lived there (one ending in a double homicide). Plus I like going shooting. I need to get my CCW just to feel a bit better since I end up bring in the wrong place at the wrong time a lot.
I own many guns. Pistols, rifles, shotguns, Bows, crossbows. I guess its got alot to do with our heritage, perhaps, and that we take alot of pride that we have the right to bear arms. It doesnt make everyone that has or owns firearms someone that would be out to harm you, I assure you.
*edit* I will add one more thing, too. I have taught my children how to use firearms, like I learned from my father. Basically, they are using BB guns, and .22s, but they know how to shoot. But the important thing is that I teach them to respect the weapons, and to treat them as if they are always loaded, etc. etc.
*edit* I will add one more thing, too. I have taught my children how to use firearms, like I learned from my father. Basically, they are using BB guns, and .22s, but they know how to shoot. But the important thing is that I teach them to respect the weapons, and to treat them as if they are always loaded, etc. etc.
So you've been to dangerous third world countries, and you were terrified by the fact that there's guns in Amerika? What the fucking hell am I hearing?
I live in Roswell/Marietta area, so yeah, not very redneck-y. However, I did go to school at Georgia Southern in Statesboro for four years and never ran into anyone walking openly with a gun there at any point. I found out just recently that a friend of mine had a conceal and carry, but I never even knew he was armed all those times we hung out.The7Sins said:
Where I live there is a reasonable bear population and I like to go through the woods and such where I see them occasionally. I like my concealed revolver for both potential bear-defense and on the off chance that I maim a deer with my car, I can put it out of it's misery (and subsequently put it in to my freezer. As to why I don't open carry, it intimidates people, which is not my goal. See, there can be sound reasons to carry a gun, sound tasty reasons.Daystar Clarion said:I understand what you mean and it's just one of those things I'll never really understand about the States.
I can understand why some Americans have guns in their home for self defence purposes, but to walk around a city with a firearm on your person?
How crappy is your town if you feel the need to walk around with a gun?
Bear wars, deer euthanasia, and subsequent consumption of said deer are probably the best reason I've heard so farVryyk said:Where I live there is a reasonable bear population and I like to go through the woods and such where I see them occasionally. I like my concealed revolver for both potential bear-defense and on the off chance that I maim a deer with my car, I can put it out of it's misery (and subsequently put it in to my freezer. As to why I don't open carry, it intimidates people, which is not my goal. See, there can be sound reasons to carry a gun, sound tasty reasons.Daystar Clarion said:I understand what you mean and it's just one of those things I'll never really understand about the States.
I can understand why some Americans have guns in their home for self defence purposes, but to walk around a city with a firearm on your person?
How crappy is your town if you feel the need to walk around with a gun?
Where did you go in USA?Azahul said:
I think its a bit judgemental to go to one city, see one man with one gun, and assume that it holds true for the rest of the country. I mean if I go to Australia, and see one person with a rifle or something, does that mean Australia is a gun-happy country?
And contrary to popular belief, you can't just walk around with a gun at your hip in most states(not going to say all, as I'm not entirely positive). And the majority of people don't carry guns. They're kept at home. And to be honest, that doesn't bother me.
I don't think it's fear related. It's just a cultural thing In the US. Most of us own guns (I have one) although I can see how that would be unnerving to see some random person pull one out at a store. What you saw was kind of inappropriate and would have made me uneasy too. Fortunately most people here don't feel a need to walk around with one in open sight like that. I have to admit though I feel more safe here then in a lot of other countries, mostly because I know the laws here and what to expect. The many gun owners here put my mind at ease. I like knowing if there's an incident someone might be able to take action. (I know someone that prevented a robbery because he had his gun on him).
Depends on which state you're in. States like Texas and Arizona have people carrying around guns all the time. States like California are different and nobody has a gun (unless your in a bad part LA or something). There are also different laws for whether its legal to just have your gun, what constitutes a concealed weapon and such that means their are different levels of legality. I don't understand why people have to have a gun with them to be safe, but then again I don't understand why I feel the need to not carry around cash because it can be stole but I carry credit cards and debit cards that can also get my money stolen without a second thought. Its a different way of life, and from what i hear its not about fear its more like having a knife in the woods, something that you don't clutch to for fear but have for utility and because its useful.
Apparently you've never been to Detroit or New York.Daystar Clarion said:I understand what you mean and it's just one of those things I'll never really understand about the States.
I can understand why some Americans have guns in their home for self defence purposes, but to walk around a city with a firearm on your person?
How crappy is your town if you feel the need to walk around with a gun?
Howdy, I live in South Dakota, where open carry of a firearm is legal except in government buildings, schools and bars. All knives are legal except one which shoots a blade out of the handle. Concealed carry permits cost 10 bucks and all you need is a SD Drivers License to obtain one, the day you apply for it, you are issued a 30 day temp and after the State insures you don't have a Felony Record and are not a mental case your permit will be mailed to you.
I am a disabled police officer, and well trained in the use of a Firearm, I have also worked and have been trained as a Gunsmith so I am knowledgeable of the workings of firearms, and have made my own rifles from parts, as well as making my own knives using files for the blades.
I am aware of the apprehension to someone in a store who is displaying their handgun by removing it from the holster even to show it to a friend, and I just would not do this simply because of the feelings of my fellow shoppers. It still shocks me a bit to see folks with a pistol on their hips in McDonalds since I worked most of my time on the PD in North Dakota where such things are not legal.
I have not yet used my carry permit having just got it a few weeks back however the reason I did get it was because of my disability and health problems that my wife and child have we are forced to drive long distances to the doctors, some well over 200 miles one way. I just feel safer having access to the old .45 ACP Semi-Auto pistol in my vehicle. You see the population here is so sparse that we drive over 70 miles between towns, and there are times when I only meet two or three cars in that space. It is getting better now that the cell phone system is catching up and we usually have cell service on those trips. Now that North Dakota (I can see the border from my living room window) is the second largest producer of Oil in the USA, the influx of people have made the once VERY peaceful State to one where crime is becoming the norm, and folks are being kidnapped, murdered and the women are subject to rape and such much like they are most anywhere else now days, it is simply a good idea to be prepared. At any rate to comment on the question, we simply carry guns here because we can, and since I can no longer defend myself with my broken body it is nice that I can take care of my family if the need arises. Oh I do have an old switchblade I took off a Felon in North Dakota that I find after a bit of research that I can legally carry here, however if I cross the tracks that separates me from North Dakota, the knife would be illegal however the concealed .45 would indeed be OK.
I am a disabled police officer, and well trained in the use of a Firearm, I have also worked and have been trained as a Gunsmith so I am knowledgeable of the workings of firearms, and have made my own rifles from parts, as well as making my own knives using files for the blades.
I am aware of the apprehension to someone in a store who is displaying their handgun by removing it from the holster even to show it to a friend, and I just would not do this simply because of the feelings of my fellow shoppers. It still shocks me a bit to see folks with a pistol on their hips in McDonalds since I worked most of my time on the PD in North Dakota where such things are not legal.
I have not yet used my carry permit having just got it a few weeks back however the reason I did get it was because of my disability and health problems that my wife and child have we are forced to drive long distances to the doctors, some well over 200 miles one way. I just feel safer having access to the old .45 ACP Semi-Auto pistol in my vehicle. You see the population here is so sparse that we drive over 70 miles between towns, and there are times when I only meet two or three cars in that space. It is getting better now that the cell phone system is catching up and we usually have cell service on those trips. Now that North Dakota (I can see the border from my living room window) is the second largest producer of Oil in the USA, the influx of people have made the once VERY peaceful State to one where crime is becoming the norm, and folks are being kidnapped, murdered and the women are subject to rape and such much like they are most anywhere else now days, it is simply a good idea to be prepared. At any rate to comment on the question, we simply carry guns here because we can, and since I can no longer defend myself with my broken body it is nice that I can take care of my family if the need arises. Oh I do have an old switchblade I took off a Felon in North Dakota that I find after a bit of research that I can legally carry here, however if I cross the tracks that separates me from North Dakota, the knife would be illegal however the concealed .45 would indeed be OK.
Perhaps you are too young to remember the Texas Stuckey's mass murder where one lone gunman went through the cafe and murdered many people, had one of those folks had a handgun the number murdered may have been many less, perhaps only one or two instead of 21 or 22 I don't recall the exact number, it's been many years now. The same with MANY workplace murders, school shootings plus many others. If I am carrying and such a thing begins, I would not think twice before I would use my weapon to stop the slaughter. That in itself is a very good reason to be able to carry, weather concealed or otherwise.