Duncan's experience is absolutely in accord with mine: People who carry concealed - and let you know it - are just looking for an excuse to use it. If they've been at it for any length of time, they've got at least one story about how they brandished it and made some punk run away in fear, a story they tell with great relish right after they show you their piece. The psychology of it is a total mystery.
I have experience with firearms and, given my temperment, I'm terrified by the idea of having a gun on me while driving, or at a bar after having a few drinks. So I have excellent reasons not to carry and no really good cause in the other direction.
People who say they have to carry concealed because of where they work or live have a very high standard of proof to meet, from my perspective. "I live in the city" certainly doesn't cut it. "I live in a really bad neighborhood" starts to get them there, but I would first also need to hear about how good they are at spotting trouble before it gets to them. If they don't have any stories about doing that, or worse, say they shouldn't have to avoid some situations, then they fail to have the proper mindset. Also, I have lived in the city for decades, and I know my definition of "really bad" is much different as a result.
Next, I don't care if they have the "Stand Your Ground" law in their state, if they don't readily acknowledge that their first duty is to retreat in any dangerous situation, then they fail. You are not a superhero. This is not a movie. If someone pulls out a gun and you can get away (with the people you need to protect), then get away. All else equal, if you don't pull a gun, there is a much lower chance of a gunfight. And fewer gunfights mean fewer dead and wounded people.
There is much more, but the above will eliminate most candidates.
I do not have this experience whatsoever. I have many friends who carry. Most but not all of them are cops. None of them run around brandishing weapons.
Anecdotes make bad policy anyways, as do vast stupid generalizations, like Duncan saying "people who carry handguns are just itching to murder black people."
Posted by: Adrian | December 16, 2012 at 01:28 PM
You're right about generalizations. A cop is a trained professional, so that's completely different.
Maybe I've met a lot of responsible people who carry but I never knew it. It rubs me the wrong way when anyone who is carrying concealed tells people that they are for no good reason.
If I'm armed, I don't announce it. Leaving aside the chance it might make people uncomfortable unnecessarily, I don't want people who will never themselves be a threat to know. The last thing I want is to find myself caught up in a situation that could be defused without bringing the gun into it, and having someone who is feeling afraid to mention that I am armed.
Second, telling people makes you a target for thieves. Making it common knowledge that I have a pistol on me increases the risk someone will ambush me in order to steal it.
Bottom line: a gun is a tool for a specific purpose, you carry it concealed for a reason, and people who go beyond that make me think they have something to prove.
Incidentally, where generally do you live? I was wondering if it's a Philly thing.
Posted by: Mithras | December 16, 2012 at 03:41 PM
Western New York.
"If I'm armed, I don't announce it."
That is key. You probably have no idea if your pizza delivery man, or your taxi driver, or your landlord/rent collector, etc., are carrying. But all of them are in jobs frequently targeted by armed robbers and all of them have good reasons to carry.
Posted by: Adrian | December 16, 2012 at 10:02 PM