Should You Always Carry a Gun?
My Friend - Happy Wednesday,
Should you always carry a gun? Why carry a gun at all? How do you communicate your convictions to be most helpful to others? How do you evaluate your circumstances and decide whether or not to carry? These are the things we’re going to discuss today.
I pulled this from my journal this week: “‘Why am I here?’ The answer to that question needs to be not one that motivates you to work, but one that drives you to work when motivation is lost and apathy is everywhere.” I then listed out my “whys.” From David Goggins’ book, Can’t Hurt Me: “[Rehearse] answers to the simple question that is sure to rise up like a thought bubble: “Why am I here?” If you know that moment [of weakness] is coming and have your answer ready, you will be equipped to make the split second-decision to ignore your weakened mind and keep moving. Know why you’re in the fight to stay in the fight!” Knowing your “why” is crucial.
The Good Stuff
Should You Always Carry a Gun? I ran a poll some time ago asking if there were any good reasons not to carry a gun every day. Keep in mind, the question isn’t “should you carry a gun?” But rather, “if you normally carry are there ever reasons not to?” If you are of legal age, acceptable mental and physical health, and live in the US, I don’t believe there are any legitimate reasons to never carry. Now, here are a few of your answers:
“There is none, “an armed society is a polite society.”
“Outfit restrictions, employment in some cases, areas with low threat levels, such as a beach.”
”Lack of confidence and training.”
“Live in an area where it’s illegal, not old enough, not allowed at college or place of employment.”
“You’re out at a bar or another place where the risk would take away far more freedoms.”
And a bunch of variations of “there is no good reason not to,” usually in less kind words.
Sometimes it’s Better NOT to Carry
Here is my answer: “There are plenty of bad reasons to leave your gun at home but I believe under certain circumstances it is not only acceptable to do so, it is advisable to do so.” These circumstances require wisdom and principle driven thought. Situations where you technically can but possibly or probably shouldn’t. There are also times where you absolutely can’t such as traveling to a foreign country or flying and going through airports. I came up with a list of environments ranked by how risky it is to concealed carry:
Not physically possible due to enforced legal restrictions. For example: Airports, foreign countries.
Illegal areas which are physically possible but have high risk of prosecution and severe penalties: NYC, D.C., some places of employment/education.
Illegal areas which are physically possible and have low risk of prosecution and less severe penalties: Gun free zones, some places of employment/education.
Areas with no legal restrictions, all reasons not to carry are self imposed.
The first point needs no comment. If you never have to go to these places, great, but don’t assume that applies to everyone. I want to talk about levels two through four. But before we can answer whether or not you should carry given those circumstances we have to answer “why carry a gun at all?” You have to know your “why.”
Why Carry a Gun
Carrying a gun is an act of personal responsibility. You recognize that your individual safety is your responsibility. Not the police’s and not the other people who might be carrying a gun because you know you live in a safe, conservative town. It’s yours. A step outside yourself, your family’s safety is your responsibility. Again, not the police’s, not the governments, YOURS. And yet a step further, it is each individual’s responsibility to see to it that their community is kept safe. Not by engaging in vigilantism, but by being vigilant. When every individual in the herd is strong and capable predators usually keep their distance. The best way to keep your community safe is by keeping yourself safe.
If you have more reasons I’d love to hear them, but I would argue every reason for carrying a gun falls under the categories of personal responsibility and ownership of your safety. There are many different BENEFITS such as improved situational awareness, empowerment and confidence, boosted feelings of badassery…oh wait that’s a bad one…but every REASON has responsibility and ownership of safety at its core. And this is the “why” that informs my decision when to strap up or leave it at home.
Risk vs Reward
If carrying a gun could compromise my responsibilities as a man, husband, and father, so that the risk of having a gun is greater than the risk of being without, I don’t carry. What does that look like? My job requires that I travel about 20 weekends a year. I’m often in cities like NYC and LA which would fall under level two; illegal, physically possible, high risk of prosecution. As a young, fit, alert man walking the streets of New York City, I am a hard target surrounded by soft targets. The risk of absolutely needing a gun is low. If I carry a gun and get caught, I would face imprisonment, a felony charge, firearm confiscation, loss of employment, and the list goes on. This risk is high and the consequences higher. If I incur those consequences I would be neglecting my responsibilities as a husband and father. To me, that risk is much higher than that of me absolutely needing a gun and not having one. So I choose not to carry.
When frequenting level three areas, illegal, physically possible, low risk of prosecution, I almost always carry. These locations, specifically gun free zones, tend to be soft targets and our responsibility to protect and defend is even greater. If the risk of prosecution and consequences of prosecution are lower than the risk of being without a gun, I bring my gun.
Level four areas would cover reasons like low threat levels, lack of confidence and training, going out for drinks, wardrobe restrictions, etc. Not carrying under these circumstances is entirely based on your decision and may or may not be a neglect of your responsibility. But that’s the thing, if this is an issue of personal responsibility then you are personally responsible for evaluating the circumstances, being honest about your motives, and making a decision one way or the other. Here I want to give three cautions:
It is easy to forgo responsibility out of convenience or fear. If either of those are influencing your decision not to carry, I believe you need to check yourself.
Just because it is irresponsible to carry under certain circumstances doesn’t mean you are being responsible by not carrying. The responsible decision might be to not put yourself in that position at all.
An illegitimate reason for me, might be a legitimate reason for you. If you are new to concealed carry then fear and comfort aren’t entirely bad reasons not to carry. Competence and confidence are extremely important when handling a firearm. Once again, you have to evaluate that decision for yourself.
A Final Caution
I believe it’s every individual’s responsibility to own and carry a gun. If you are reading this there is a good chance you share my conviction. If you do and you have conversations about gun ownership with others who don’t have the same point of view, I want to offer a fourth caution: be careful in presenting your position so as not to confine people to your life and circumstances. Our goal in discussing any aspect of gun ownership shouldn’t be to argue someone down and win the conversation. Our goal should be to educate, inform, and encourage. Why are we having that conversation to begin with? Why carry a gun at all? To assert our superiority and that of our position? Or to help others? If our goal is to help others then we need to approach these conversations with understanding. We need to know and be able to articulate our “why.”
I would love your feedback on this letter. Do you agree or disagree with my points? Did I leave anything out? Please let me know and please forward to a friend.
Be Civil, Stay Savage,
Peter
