I carry... and it wasn't an easy over night decision.
After working for 911 for a couple of years and seeing what is happening out there that the news isn't reporting I thought I should learn to protect myself and my family. It really became an issue when a guy tried to get into my jeep late at night at a stop light while coming home from work. He opened the door and tried to hop in. The light turned green and he fell out before he was completely in. After this incident my number one priority is to return home safely to my family.
Its a tool just like any other... I have a fire extinguisher in case of fires I have a gun in case of violence. The only real difference is that one is a lot more controversial because its designed to end a life. Some people can understand the power some can't. My wife thought I had lost my mind and freaked out. She now understands it a lot better and in fact has her own carry permit.
I take owning a gun very very seriously. I am not a gun noobie, I have shot a lot of different guns all my life. But before I carried it. I went out and got training. I shot a lot of different guns thanks to my boss. I chose one that was right for me. I didn't start carrying until I was comfortable with my weapon. IE: I could operate it safely, I could draw, present and shoot adequately, effectively and safely. I continue to shoot it a lot between 500 and 1000 rounds a month. I shoot at the range and I shoot in different scenario shoots with a club and friends. Over the last year I have found that the average conceal and carry permit holder doesn't fit a mold or stereo type but runs a large range of different types of people.
Very few people know I carry... 99% of the time my family has no idea.
An interesting thing happened during this process. When I started talking to close friends and family who the majority of are conservative, hunters and outdoors people, most started to freak out and question my decision to purchase a handgun. I had people who stopped coming over to hang out because of it. They all have these misconceptions about it and I really think that they thought that I would have it locked and loaded and sitting on the coffee table. Not the case... Its in a lock box when its not on me physically.
