Buying a Gun and Getting my CCP (3 Viewers)

One of the good parts about carrying is it forces you to use good judgement and you will avoid confrontation at all costs. Well, let me be more specific and say if you are smart that’s what it does, there are stories everyday of stupid people doing stupid things, but it should calm you down to the point where you don’t honk back. I never could be the mature person on the road until I started carrying, I couldn’t let someone who cut me off or whatever go without honking or flipping the bird until I had that gun in my car. After that all of a sudden the last thing I wanted to do was start something, or escalate something somebody else started, because in all honesty I never want to have to shoot somebody.

what @FordPickup92 said is important to think about, just because you might have the ability to defend yourself with deadly force should the need ever arise you better hope you never need to. There is going to be the legal aspect you will have to negotiate- even the most righteous instances of self defense can cost you some money and time to get through. But also if you have to take someone’s life you are going to feel that if you are at all an empathetic person. It’s not going to feel good, and it’s something the average person will never forget and might never get over.

Don’t get me wrong, I am in 100% agreement with carrying and encourage everybody to do it. As the great warrior poet Dr Dre once opined “I ain't no bitch, neither/It's either my life or your life and I ain't leavin'/ I like breathin”. if its you or me I’m going to do everything possible for it to be you. But I’m a sensitive dude, and unless they were hurting my family at the time I know from experience it’s tough to watch another person in pain, even if that person had been trying to really hurt you right before.

I was in a situation a few summers ago where I ended up running over a person, I had gotten lazy about carrying over the years and didn’t keep anything in my work van because I am in and out of it so much during the day. I was attacked by three dudes, which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity (they had the wrong white work van), but the end result was I ran over one of the dudes getting away. Long story but the short part of it is the cops were there within 30 seconds of him going under my wheels so I was talking to cops not far from where dude was laying and his other two buddies are handcuffed. Listening to the guy screaming was tough, it was real tough, no matter how much I told myself there was no option, no matter how much the cops told me they believed me and all the witness statements were matching up with my story I was SCARED and sick to be in that position.
Dude ended up being fine, and looking back on it I hope he felt every broken bone he had, but that situation went nothing like I had ever pictured it happening.

I carry EVERYWHERE now because I didn’t like the feeling of legitimately fearing for my life and not having it, but I’m happy I didn’t have to kill a dude. It took me long enough to get rid of my anxiety about the whole situation and the bad feelings of what I had done to another person without having death be the outcome, I don’t want to deal with that again.

Let the gun be your reminder that you don’t need to honk back. That’s the most important thing it does for me besides just being there if I really need it, it keeps in my head I don’t want to ever have to touch it. and if that means swallowing my pride and not letting an inconsiderate asshole on the road know that they are an inconsiderate asshole by honking that’s a good thing.

Get one, learn it, and carry it-I think that’s our right and duty. But once you do start carrying it make it your life’s goal to NEVER have to use it.


Edit: @Highli99 and @monkeydog are saying the exact same thing while I was writing my mini book. It feels good knowing I’m not the only one who thinks like that.
 
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I'm sure a firearm would have diffused the situation.

I've learned over the years that being "right" in a situation like this is far less important than the piece of mind that comes with just not giving a shit about all the idiots and the stupid shit they do. Just let it go...
 
C'mon, that's just a squirt gun. He needs a real weapon.
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I'm sure a firearm would have diffused the situation.

I've learned over the years that being "right" in a situation like this is far less important than the piece of mind that comes with just not giving a shit about all the idiots and the stupid shit they do. Just let it go...

That is not a situation I feel called for a firearm. I'm in agreement with others, should've just ignored the twatweasal and not honked.

But it opened my eyes to how crazy some folks can be, and if he came out brandishing a gun my only option would be to try and drive away (and hope he doesn't follow in his 500-600hp vehicle I can't outrun) or hit him with my car.

I'd like to have the option of a firearm if I need it, I don't want to ever have to use it
 
TLDR: Get a permit and carry, but stop honking unless you are letting someone know your car is there when they can’t see you.
This.

Since I started carrying, I have noticed that my patience for other drivers has gone way up...because I have a responsibility to control my actions and my emotions. It’s no different than someone who doesn’t carry, but the stakes are much higher. It’s better to avoid conflict.
 
When a friend recently asked my advice on if she should buy a Glock and apply for a concealed carry permit, I told her two things: 1. It’s your Constitutional right to own a firearm, and 2. Are you mentally prepared to potentially use lethal force to stop a threat? She thought long and hard on the second point before replying, “I never thought about it that way.”

The underlying message of point No. 2 being the responsibility that comes with owning weapons, as @FordPickup92, @Highli99 and @12thMan mentioned in the thread. You’ll learn all of that in the CCW classes, which will even inform you of advocacy groups like the USCCA to consider joining.

Once you get your CCW, one of the best things to do is making sure you know each state's reciprocity laws. As an example, whenever I travel and know I have to drive through Illinois, I always stop at the last rest area or gas station before the Illinois state line and remove my weapon from my holster, place it in a lockable safe with mag removed and store it in the trunk. Illinois doesn’t honor other state reciprocity measures and I know I drive with a lead foot. I'm usually the guy leading the 5-car convoy (you know the ones I'm talking about on the interstates). One less thing to worry about if I ever get pulled over for a speeding ticket in Illinois.

As for my friend, she ended up purchasing a Glock 43x and we went to the indoor range a few times to send some rounds downrange and she now has her permit.
 
This.

Since I started carrying, I have noticed that my patience for other drivers has gone way up...because I have a responsibility to control my actions and my emotions. It’s no different than someone who doesn’t carry, but the stakes are much higher. It’s better to avoid conflict.

I had the same after I started riding my bike daily (30K/year)

Ps. I think USA's gun law is NUTS
 
You should check out the “guns you own“ thread. Lots of great information on various popular handguns that forum members own.

speaking about responsibility while caring, it reminds me of a local bar poker game that got robbed a few years ago. All of the local players got on the message boards and started talking tough about how they were going to start carrying their guns into the game, and will shoot anyone that tried to rob it. I tried to convey caution, because from my experience any use of a firearm in self-defense Will immediately cost you thousands of dollars in attorney fees, and lots of negative publicity and attention from the law.

So if you are being robbed of your wallet, gladly give it over If you truly care about money. If someone is shooting up a place, or shooting people and taking their wallets, then it’s an easy decision. The only reason I carry a firearm is for those instances where I am in a movie theater, As an example, and someone starts to shoot up the place. Honestly, the best course of action is to run to safety, but if I am unable to do so, or of the shooter is taking out other people, I am going to engage the shooter.

I don’t know if I would use a lethal response to a property crime. I’d want to protect my property, but the smart play is often to keep the gun in its holster.
 
One of the good parts about carrying is it forces you to use good judgement and you will avoid confrontation at all costs. Well, let me be more specific and say if you are smart that’s what it does, there are stories everyday of stupid people doing stupid things, but it should calm you down to the point where you don’t honk back. I never could be the mature person on the road until I started carrying, I couldn’t let someone who cut me off or whatever go without honking or flipping the bird until I had that gun in my car. After that all of a sudden the last thing I wanted to do was start something, or escalate something somebody else started, because in all honesty I never want to have to shoot somebody.

what @FordPickup92 said is important to think about, just because you might have the ability to defend yourself with deadly force should the need ever arise you better hope you never need to. There is going to be the legal aspect you will have to negotiate- even the most righteous instances of self defense can cost you some money and time to get through. But also if you have to take someone’s life you are going to feel that if you are at all an empathetic person. It’s not going to feel good, and it’s something the average person will never forget and might never get over.

Don’t get me wrong, I am in 100% agreement with carrying and encourage everybody to do it. As the great warrior poet Dr Dre once opined “I ain't no bitch, neither/It's either my life or your life and I ain't leavin'/ I like breathin”. if its you or me I’m going to do everything possible for it to be you. But I’m a sensitive dude, and unless they were hurting my family at the time I know from experience it’s tough to watch another person in pain, even if that person had been trying to really hurt you right before.

I was in a situation a few summers ago where I ended up running over a person, I had gotten lazy about carrying over the years and didn’t keep anything in my work van because I am in and out of it so much during the day. I was attacked by three dudes, which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity (they had the wrong white work van), but the end result was I ran over one of the dudes getting away. Long story but the short part of it is the cops were there within 30 seconds of him going under my wheels so I was talking to cops not far from where dude was laying and his other two buddies are handcuffed. Listening to the guy screaming was tough, it was real tough, no matter how much I told myself there was no option, no matter how much the cops told me they believed me and all the witness statements were matching up with my story I was SCARED and sick to be in that position.
Dude ended up being fine, and looking back on it I hope he felt every broken bone he had, but that situation went nothing like I had ever pictured it happening.

I carry EVERYWHERE now because I didn’t like the feeling of legitimately fearing for my life and not having it, but I’m happy I didn’t have to kill a dude. It took me long enough to get rid of my anxiety about the whole situation and the bad feelings of what I had done to another person without having death be the outcome, I don’t want to deal with that again.

Let the gun be your reminder that you don’t need to honk back. That’s the most important thing it does for me besides just being there if I really need it, it keeps in my head I don’t want to ever have to touch it. and if that means swallowing my pride and not letting an inconsiderate asshole on the road know that they are an inconsiderate asshole by honking that’s a good thing.

Get one, learn it, and carry it-I think that’s our right and duty. But once you do start carrying it make it your life’s goal to NEVER have to use it.


Edit: @Highli99 and @monkeydog are saying the exact same thing while I was writing my mini book. It feels good knowing I’m not the only one who thinks like that.
Having a gun is fine in my book, but pulling out your phone first and recording is a much better thing to do rather than speaking or acting out. Many people think twice when you’re recording them.
 
I carry, have a CCL from my state (though you don't need one, NH is a concealed carry state). I've carried for over 10 years, I've drawn my gun once, the people I drew it for did not know- I was driving on the highway and a couple of young guys tried to run me off the road for some reason I had no clue. I'm a super aggressive driver when I'm not carrying, but in this case I was actually being a normal person. I didn't know what they were trying to pull at 70 mph, so so unholstered my gun out of view until they went away. That's my only moment I've drawn. A few weeks ago I went to Hampton Beach at night...the place is interesting these days. My wife and I went to a low end casino and were walking back to our car in a private parking lot, there was a crew of young punks partyying in the parking lot out of their tailgate. They were a little too aggressive with their actions and walking towards us for no reason, the person ahead of me about 8 feet walking to their car put their hand on their abdomen ( my wife and I could tell at that moment he was carrying at 1 o'clock) I immediately went to ready and put my hand on my holstered sig. We went calmly to our car and got out of the parking lot.

I will always carry, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

I am ok with using deadly force if I am put in the position. I wouldn't carry if I did not accept this.
 
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Yesterday on the way into work I was the first car at a red light. There are three lanes at this red light. The right lane was blocked a bit further back with a utility vehicle doing work, so all the traffic going straight was funneled into the center lane I was in. The lane on the left was for left turns ONLY.

I'm sitting at the red light, when all of a sudden a new looking red Nissan GTR comes out of the left lane and jumps in front of me. So, of course, I honk.

When the light turns green, he fucking sits there. So I honk again, he doesn't move. I go to move right around him and he speeds up and swerves his car to block me, and I honk some more, knowing THAT will surely diffuse the situation (kinda like that middle aged lady in every fight video yelling STAAAAHHP! like that will fix it!)

When we get to the next red light, the guy jumps out of his car and walks to the back of it throwing his hands up with the classic "what's up bro, you want to fight?" pose.

I had just joined a gym in March and was ****this**** close to getting swoll when they shut them down. Then when they finally re-opened my gym had a fire and closed again! Had I achieved this swoll status I would've just stepped out of the car and flexed, the dude would've pissed himself, apologized and gotten back in his six-figure vehicle.

But, since that wasn't the case, I was thinking "I'm going to have to run this motherfucker over...." But then I thought "shit, I have a thousand-dollar deductible, I don't really want to be out a grand, especially since I'm on a bit of a downswing lately"

So anyway, he gets back in his car and goes after the light turns green and that was the end of it. But people are fucking crazy, especially in Florida and especially with all that's going on in the world.

I signed up for a class in early August for firearms safety and will have Jenn attend (I took a course in my teens up north but don't have the documentation anymore) and will take the course and then apply for our CCP's. Planning to purchase a 9mm and hoping to never need it, but don't want to be in a situation where I do need it and don't have it.

Oh yeah, noticed the car he was driving was using a dealer plate too. Not sure if he was doing a test-drive or if he works for a dealership.
I got my LTC last October & its been one of the best decisions I’ve made considering everything that’s going through right now. I really don’t think his actions would have been a good reason for you to shoot him unless he opened your door & tried to drag you out of tour vehicle. When carrying a gun on you, you really need to make sure that your life is being threatened in order to use your weapon. Bcz at the end of the day, you’re going to have to convince the jury that you feel that your life was in danger.
 
I got my LTC last October & its been one of the best decisions I’ve made considering everything that’s going through right now. I really don’t think his actions would have been a good reason for you to shoot him unless he opened your door & tried to drag you out of tour vehicle. When carrying a gun on you, you really need to make sure that your life is being threatened in order to use your weapon. Bcz at the end of the day, you’re going to have to convince the jury that you feel that your life was in danger.

I agree my situation didn't warrant the use of a firearm.
 
OK, I'll throw in my two cents here: Don't do it. Don't let your wife do it -- that's the most insane part of all this. My wife comes from an all-Army family, and arming her is the last thing in the world I'd do.

Unless you're a LEO, military, etc., IMO it's a bad idea. I discuss this with my baby brother all the time, since in the last two years he's become a 5-day-a week serious competitive shooter. I spent 26 months in 'Nam, did a lot of killing and wounding, and mangled bodies have never bothered me in the slightest, then or since. Still, I own, but I don't carry.

As others have suggested here: Plan ahead. Learn to better avoid bad situations. Always have an out. Learn de-escalation methods. Improve your self-control. Find other ways to carry your cash, even if it's just carrying a "donation" wallet, with the real cash and documents hidden elsewhere on your person.

I think you're a good guy. You already take a lot of crap just because of your stature, I know. And you might be reaching a psychological limit about that or something else, I have no idea.

But you never know who else is carrying, or how good they are. Maybe even how many of them there are.

Pulling a gun is going all-in on a random hand against an unknown player. That's not your game.
 
Pulling a gun is going all-in on a random hand against an unknown player. That's not your game.

Thank you Larry, I appreciate the insight and concern.

I could have just rushed out and purchased a gun right after this incident. I didn't. Shit, I could've just driven into the guy or his expensive car. I didn't do that in the heat of the moment either.

I don't want to ever need to use a firearm. But I also don't want to be in a situation where I need one and don't have it.

My experience in the OP wasn't one that would necessitate that level of response.

But this guy cut me off, swerved crazily in a car that costs over $100,000 and then jumped out looking to fight.

There is a level of crazy out there that I need to be ready for that I didn't experience growing up in a small city of 20k people.
 

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