To Carry or Not – That is the Question

If you are a gun owner, then chances are you have dealt with the decision of whether or not to carry your gun every day.

CRIME PREVENTION

There are several arguments for the pro side of carrying on a regular basis. The most compelling of all may be the statistics that show that states that permit concealed carrying see a significant drop in major crimes. In fact, a 2000 study of relevant FBI data showed a 7% drop in aggravated assaults, a 5% drop in rapes and 8.5% reduction in murders, just to name a few.

Carrying your weapon regularly goes a long way in creating a sense of security and confidence as you go about your daily business. Knowing that in the event you are faced with a threatening situation that may endanger your life and the life of others is a scary reality. Being able to protect yourself and your loved ones are critical.

In light of the very real dangers in the news today and the increased chances of being confronted with a number of dangers affecting our safety, it is imperative that we be prepared to defend ourselves.

MAKING IT A HABIT

Creating a new habit generally requires 21 days to take hold. By making the act of carrying your weapon a daily thing, it will quickly become a habit. Then once you become comfortable with carrying and at ease doing so. That is not to say you should become complacent, instead just the opposite in fact.

Carrying your gun in public can take some getting used to and it is normal to experience a little anxiety and trepidation initially. But by doing so every day, it becomes second nature and you feel more relaxed and confident. This provides you with a certain level of self-assurance.

PROTECT AND DEFEND

There has been an increasing number of recent events relating to individuals who have been able to prevent criminal acts from being carried out on the general public, particularly “shooting spree” scenarios.

In these cases, an individual who is carrying has been able to stop a potential major tragedy due to the fact that the criminal/shooter was not the only one with a weapon. If not for these individuals, the victims would be completely helpless and powerless to stop a shooter.

Sadly, these types of scenarios are becoming all too commonplace and the need for citizens to be able to protect themselves is at a critical level. Law enforcement can be precious minutes away and those minutes are all someone intent on doing harm needs to accomplish their task.

PERSONAL CHOICE

In the end, it is a personal choice whether or not to carry daily. Only you can make that decision based on your comfort level and beliefs. Obviously, the laws of your state will also play a part in that factor and all laws should be maintained and upheld by its citizens.

Sources: FBI data research findings: http://concealedguns.procon.org/