Concealed weapons. Yes or No ???
 

Concealed weapons. Yes or No?
Coming from a transplanted State. To which the law, has exceptions. Via- Ex. Pre's. Bush. I have the right to bear arms.
Now coming from Hawaii,to which I didn't need to bear arms, unless hunting.
My question is to Bear Arms or Not?
Now mind you, Texas is one of the most "up status states" for violent crimes. To which one is even afraid to answer a door bell, yet alone go to a gas station to pump gas after 8:00 P. M Yet we are "Not known for vigilantly styles, or aggressiveness".
My question, is... Do you feel that there is "a right to bear arms," more so a concealed weapon with a license. Or do you. Take your chances and go without?
I struggle with this issue. I have used a riffle for hunting. I have used a weapon in the military. But I have true issue with people getting a concealed license, with the right to carry. And not knowing how to use the weapon properly yet alone with a history of violent past involved. What is your thought on this?

Hell No
 

I don't interpret the right to bear arms (which we do have and I cool with being able to fend off an occupying force) as the right to carry a concealed weapon. It's bad enough out here. We can have everybody blasting away at each other. And no I can't do it just because everybody else is doing it.

It boils down to I have to be the world I want to see.

The police can't protect you every second. It is YOUR duty to protect and defend yourself and your loved ones. Even if your in pro gun Texas, I heard even letting part of your holster show, or even an outline of your gun is called "printing", and may get you in trouble.

There's a reason that 70% of murders in the USA are done with guns, while only 30% of murders in Canada are done with guns.

That's all I have to say about that.

Great thread Blaze!!!
 

I don't like guns. I have a scar on my forehead from being hit by one and I will never forget the smell of it in my face after it had been used. I do however believe in a persons' right to get a concealed weapons license if it is deemed necessary to their safety. A dear friend of mine has one because she had a guy stalk her and threaten to kill her over and over again. It goes everywhere with her no matter where she goes, even church on Sundays. Her philososphy is "if he finds me I am dead no matter what, with my gun I have a chance".

I mirror this statement. I think the right to bear arms doesn't necessarily mean carry one with you at all times. Defending your home is one thing, but to carry one with you at all times? No. (Most) people cannot be trusted with a gun.

I have mixed feelings about it. In a perfect world, my world, there wouldnt be a need for guns at all. I have shot guns but I also like to shoot skeet and target. I agree with Turtle that its my spiritual responsibility to create a consciousness that doesnt manifest any violence. At the same time I know that we live in an insane world where change is happening rapidly. I prepare myself for disaster and this includes guns and ammo to protect myself and property. I may get a handgun but at this time I dont feel a need to carry it around "concealed" but I certainly want the right to do so. Anyone can obtain a gun and conceal it. It all boils down to intention.

I do believe in conceal carry. I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. I am a avid shooter. Both shotgun and pistols. The sheriffs
dept. here has a fantastic facility here to use.
My dad taught me to shoot when I was very young. I was taught gun safety, and have always been a responsible gun owner.

Yes, if properly trained.

By the way, most crimes commited in the US, where guns are involved, have more to do with illegal weapons. It's not the people running around with CCW's killing people and commiting crimes.

You have to take a very informative class to obtain a CCW. One of the many things that stuck out in that class was the fact that most people trying to protect themselves are killed with their own gun.
Even more important to consider is that if you are in bed and say have your hand gun in your night stand and someone comes in to your room, you have less than 3 seconds to react. Not good odds to bring a gun into the mix.
I think everyone should take that course, not get the CCW but educate themselves on the topic.

I'm sorry this happened to you Weatherboi.

In case you or your friend don't know, it is illegal to take a fire arm into a church. CCW or not. That includes hospitals, schools (any type) obviously any type of government building. The list goes on. This information is obtainable with the CCW or just asking at any police department.

Wow, now this is very interesting indeed. Yesterday at lunch with a bunch of Doctors and Nurses. We got into this conversation/argument. It all started because when one of our Nurses went to Starbucks to get coffee, she walked into the cafe and looked around and said that pretty much everyone in the cafe had their holsters openly showing and pistols just a shinning. She said she felt safe, knowing she could walk out without worrying about getting mugged with all the hardware she seen.
Oh and what really hit the nail in the coffin to say... Is Harris County just made a new law, to which everyone is jumping aboard and trying to get a CC Lic. The law is; If you have a Concealed document, you don't have to stand in the long court lines like everyone else, You present your document and you are let in on the side entrance, So you get your stuff done faster and no more standing in an hour or so line.
To which started off the conversation/argument. I for one have a CC lic. But I haven't felt the need (Yet) to carry on my persons as Blade stated. And yes, I agree with Mr.Sunshine. You should be trained and educated and everyone should take the course. It's true, higher crimes are carried out by those who are not trained, and have illegal weapons. I have learned more from this group than with our one hour argument/convo at work. It got kind of testy lol, glad none of our faculty can't carry a weapon into the hospital. I want to thank everyone for their points of views, knowledge and in depth feelings, and I look forward to hearing more.

Sure, go ahead, give everyone a carry permit. Let them stuff as many concealed guns down their jeans as it takes to make their dicks look nice and big.

Ban bullets instead.

48 states allow CCW; many for a very long time. The premise that these permits would result in a return to the Wild West has not borne out. Most people do not want to shoot another person just for the heck of it - it's for self-defense when faced with a choice between life and death/serious harm. I'm not afraid of CCW permit holders; it's the citizens with firearms who have no formal training that I'm scared of. And, the criminals, of course.

I think an interesting fact that many may not know is, certain sizes of self-defense sprays, and any electronic device designed to shock an individual are indeed considered to be concealed weapons by the CCW.

Concealed Permits are Far Reaching
 

Its a tough issue, really.

I dont want my rights limited. I want the option to carry (though surprisingly enough I dont) if and when I want to. I also want the public to have the means to protect themselves if and when a violent incident occurs.

And, I would rather know who is carrying by seeing it strapped in a retentive holster, rather than concealed under clothing or tucked in a waistband...

But Open Carry laws dont require a Concealed Permit.
You can strap it visibly to your hip, in a retentive holster, without concealing it and be protected under Open Carry with no training, certificationor license.

You must be 21
you cannot have been convicted of a felony, DV, addicted to drugs/alcohol or involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
there are a host of other "rules" one must follow.

And if you do have a permit, WA's Concealed Permit is recognized in these states : AK, AR, AZ, FL, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, MT, MO, NC, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT

And if youre a bad guy your going to carry no matter what, for whatever reason or intent you may have...

So I just have to assume that everyone is carrying.

Yes, Blaze, you are correct. Not all states have reciprocity with concealed weapon permits. And for those who choose to travel with a weapon, know the laws of the states you are visiting, or traveling through.


Assuming people are armed is not a hinderance to the quality of my life. I am fearful of drunk , buzzed and medicated drivers, and wish drug and alcohol laws were given more attention than gun control.

A drunk driver scares me a helluva lot more than a law abiding citizen, armed with a weapon.

Now if you want to talk bad guys who pack...no matter what law we institute or restriction we impose, do you really think they will obey it?

Utah offers a non-resident carry permit :fastdraq: that's recognized by something like 30 other states. You don't even have to go to Utah to get it!! It's all about the :greendollar::greendollar::greendollar: they rake in.

I couldnt agree with you more...Armor piercing bullets dont have a place in my world. Remember the rush to buy ammo when President Obama was elected into office? Everyone thought the end was near and stockpiled ammo, not weapons.

"Let them stuff as many concealed guns down their jeans as it takes to make their dicks look nice and big"

LOL...and then there was the guy at Lowes who was wearing sweats with a handgun tucked in his waistband ... he bent over to get a widget off the shelf and blew his nuts off...

Florida CCW Reciprocity Map

Thinking there are 36 states that honor FL CCW permit, (if I counted right, and 34 states that Fl honors. But all of that honoring only goes as far as handguns or pistols, no other concealed weapon can be carried in the states that honor FL, such as billy clubs, mace etc.

Wondering how I would comfortably conceal a billy club. :|Key word here is comfortably. lol

Yes, I'd say Fl. is definitely a gun state.

Florida has issued more than 1.6 million permits since adopting its law in 1987, and had more than 600,000 licensed permit holders as of November 30, 2009. Reported permit holders are predominantly male.


States that Honor Florida's CCW Permit:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado*, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas*, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan*, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah*, Vermont*, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming



State CCW Permits that Florida Honors:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming,

After living in the U.S. since over 10 years and as a recently sworn in American citizen, reading discussions like this all the sudden make me feel like a foreigner again.

In international comparison the U.S. ranks #1 in firearm-related deaths (only closely followed by Brazil). I live in San Francisco and there not a week going by where I don't read about a shooting in the community. A horrific reality that for sure cannot be addressed by putting more firearms into peoples' hands.

It's sad that in this country people can get arrested for drinking a beer in public or exposing their boobs - but have the right to bare arms. An interesting concept of freedom.

Also, how about instead fighting for every American's right to have good education, a job, access to health care and healthy food? Something tells me a discussion on the 'right to bare arms' would not be as relevant if these issues would be resolved.

Oh my - this German/American has her undies in a twist over this topic :)

I thought only Michelle Obama had the right to 'bare arms'. ;)

Haha - looks like I am a foreigner after all :) I'm all for the right to bare boobs - how about that?? Oh wait, I'm in San Francisco - never mind.

How about this, then. Anyone can get a carry permit, and anyone who jumps the hoops can get a concealed carry permit. The day before the above laws go in to effect, however, another law must be in place - the minimum barrel length allowed on any weapon owned by any private citizen is 4 feet. Anyone caught in possession of a weapon shorter than that faces 6 months mandatory jail time.

That'd be a mighty long dick, for sure. Talk about having a third leg...

Out of curiosity have any of you who have a concealed weapons permit and/or carry regularly had a gun pulled on / leveled at you?

This conversation makes me physically ill. Seriously, I am not sure I can participate in it and maintain my sense of civility.

I thank those of you who are engaged and are expressing their thoughts, which I share, so nicely. You know who you are :)

I think everyone wished we lived in a (much) less violent society, where there was no need to protect one's self in such a manner. Like Boots, I never carried off-duty b/c I didn't want to live that way. I still don't carry. However, if there was a specific potentially deadly/serious harm threat to me or my wife, I absolutely would. I wouldn't want that right taken away, until violent predators are themselves disarmed.

I rest my case.

Will someone please sneak me into Canada. I hear we can get married there too and they have health care.

What is it? Didn't Michael Moore point this out? And Canadians tend to have just as many guns or buy as many or some such?

I was raised very Texan gun toting, and so I have mixed feelings here. I grew up around arsenals really. I learned severity and respect and also how to shoot--and not just 1 but several types of guns. My mom always carried a concealed handgun, and my parents had a few in the house. We learned gun safety, we knew not to mess with them. I don't know if it's in my blood per se (goodness) but I'm really Texan when it comes to guns, and concealed weapon permits, but don't carry. When I lived in Kansas City guns had to be visible, and this felt more threatening for some reason. I don't know. I have a hard time here. There is something in my genetic code, I swear, because as liberal and peaceful as I claim to be, I totally get all NRA about guns.