Ten things you should know about HCP Holders

[ZenDog]

Found this on another board- Originally posted in California. It has some decent stuff in it. Uses the more prevalent term CCW instead of HCP like we have there on TN.

Ten things you should know about CCW Holders

Posted: 22 Jan 2009 07:52 PM CST

1. We don’t carry firearms so that we can ignore other basics of personal safety. Every permit holder that I know realizes that almost all dangerous situations can be avoided by vigilance, alertness and by simply making wise choices about where one goes and what one does. We don’t walk down dark alleys. We lock our cars. We don’t get intoxicated in public or hang out around people who do. We park our cars in well lighted spots and don’t hang out in bad parts of town where we have no business. A gun is our last resort, not our first.

2. We don’t think we are cops, spies, or superheroes. We aren’t hoping that somebody tries to rob the convenience store while we are there so we can shoot a criminal. We don’t take it upon ourselves to get involved in situations that are better handled by a 911 call or by simply standing by and being a good witness. We don’t believe our guns give us any authority over our fellow citizens. We also aren’t here to be your unpaid volunteer bodyguard. We’ll be glad to tell you where we trained and point you to some good gun shops if you feel you want to take this kind of responsibility for your personal safety. Except for extraordinary circumstances your business is your business, don’t expect us to help you out of situations you could have avoided.

3. We are LESS likely, not more likely, to be involved in fights or “rage†incidents than the general public. We recognize, better than many unarmed citizens, that we are responsible for our actions. We take the responsibility of carrying a firearm very seriously. We know that loss of temper, getting into fights or angrily confronting someone after a traffic incident could easily escalate into a dangerous situation. We are more likely to go out of our way to avoid these situations. We don’t pull our guns to settle arguments or to

attempt to threaten people into doing what we want.

4. We are responsible gun owners. We secure our firearms so that children and other unauthorized people cannot access them. Most of us have invested in safes, cases and lock boxes as well as other security measures to keep our firearms secure. Many of us belong to various organizations that promote firearms safety and ownership.

5. Guns are not unsafe or unpredictable. Modern firearms are well made precision instruments. Pieces do not simply break off causing them to fire. A hot day will not set them off. Most modern firearms will not discharge even if dropped. There is no reason to be afraid of a gun simply lying on a table or in a holster. It is not going to discharge on its own.

6. We do not believe in the concept of “accidental dischargesâ€. There are no accidental discharges only negligent discharges or intentional discharges. We take responsibility for our actions and have learned how to safely handle firearms. Any case you have ever heard of about a gun “going off†was the result of negligence on somebody’s part. Our recognition of our responsibility and familiarity with firearms makes us among the safest firearms owners in America.

7. Permit holders do their best to keep our concealed weapons exactly that: concealed. However, there are times when an observant fellow citizen may spot our firearm or the print of our firearm under our clothes. We are very cognizant that concerns about terrorism and crime are in the forefront of the minds of most citizens. We also realize that our society does much to condition our fellow citizens to have sometimes irrational fears about firearms. We would encourage citizens who do happen to spot someone carrying a firearm to use good judgment and clear thinking if they feel the need to take action. Please recognize that it’s very uncommon for a criminal to use a holster. However, if you feel the need to report having spotted a firearm we would ask that you please be specific and detailed in your call to the police or in your report to a store manager or private security. Please don’t generalize or sensationalize what you observed. Comments like “there’s a guy running around in the store with a gun†or even simply “I saw a man with a gun in the store†could possibly cause a misunderstanding as to the true nature of the incident.

8. The fact that we carry a firearm to any given place does not mean that we believe that place to be inherently unsafe. If we believe a place to be unsafe, most of us would avoid that place all together if possible. However, we recognize that trouble could occur at any place and at any time. Criminals do not observe “gun free zonesâ€. If trouble does come, we do not want the only armed persons to be perpetrators. Therefore, we don’t usually make a determination about whether or not to carry at any given time based on “how safe†we think a location is.

9. Concealed weapon permit holders are an asset to the public in times of trouble. The fact that most permit holders have the good judgment to stay out of situations better handled by a 911 call or by simply being a careful and vigilant witness does not mean that we would fail to act in situations where the use of deadly force is appropriate to save lives. Review of high profile public shooting incidents shows that when killers are confronted by armed resistance they tend to either break off the attack and flee or choose to end their own life. Lives are saved when resistance engages a violent

criminal. Lives are lost when the criminal can do as he pleases.

10. The fact that criminals know that some of the population may be armed at any given time helps to deter violence against all citizens. Permit holders don’t believe that every person should necessarily be armed. We recognize that some people may not be temperamentally suited to carry a firearm or simply may wish not to for personal reasons. However we do encourage you to respect our right to arm ourselves. Even if you choose not to carry a firearm yourself please oppose measures to limit the ability of law abiding citizens to be armed. As mentioned before: criminals do not observe “gun free zonesâ€. Help by not supporting laws that require citizens to be unarmed victims.

[Guest nraforlife]

Maybe that should be sent to the local newspapers

[towerclimber37]

the only problem with it is that this is a HANDGUN carry permit. we have no duty to carry concealed.

I would just as soon NOT give away that liberty, thank ya very much!

[MudBugjr]

Man I thought I was a SuperHero

[Punisher84]

Most of it's pretty good. I agree with Tower about open carry though. Like it or not it should still be a choice we have.

I also must add, I am a spy, well I was until I got burned, but I'm working on that...

[Guest GT_Rat]

Man I thought I was a SuperHero

And I have the Peter Gunn Theme playing as my personal soundtrack everywhere I go.

[ZenDog]

Yeah, I liked this in general. I rewrote some of it for myself and changed it all to TN terminology-- HCP etc. I think I will keep a copy on my computer and use it as talking points when I post on the local Memphis newspaper and TV websites about 2A/self defense issues.

[Guest johnmattwill]

Great article.. There are a couple people that I already want to show this to....... This sums things up nicely....

All but not including open carry..... Although I always carry concealed, the HCP laws are stronger because of the ability to open carry. I support that part of the law 100%

[Guest m&pc9]

I strongly agree with #3. I have had a hcp for about 1 year, and I have noticed I don't get angry near as much as I used to. And when I do get angry its not as sevier as it used to. I don't know why, but It has changed me for the better.

[Guest m&pc9]

Who ever wrote 5&6 doesnt own a glock:hiding:

[Guest SUNTZU]

Who ever wrote 5&6 doesnt own a glock:hiding:

It's 7:31 PM, do you know where your finger is?

[Guest bkelm18]

Who ever wrote 5&6 doesnt own a glock:hiding:

[Guest sling]

You have that saved on your hard drive dont you?

You've used that like 7 or 8 times. lol

(forgive me i had something to drink tonight)

[RoDan]

Who ever wrote 5&6 doesnt own a glock:hiding:

lol

I make it a habit to keep my finger on the trigger of guns that have external safeties, you know, because there is noway they will go off.

hmm... that could make a good avatar.

[Guest bkelm18]

You have that saved on your hard drive dont you?

You've used that like 7 or 8 times. lol

(forgive me i had something to drink tonight)

Yes. Thats probably one of my favorite commercials of all time.

[Guest TylerC]

Thats alot of awfully heavy text. No need to over complicate it, I carry to protect myself and loved ones.

And to keep everyone honest

[Fadex]

Man, I wish someone would send this to our new Speaker of the House! Maybe he could figure out that HCP holders are law abiding, voting, citizens too.

[Oh Shoot]

Man, I wish someone would send this to our new Speaker of the House!...

I have confidence that is within your powers.

- OS

[Fadex]

I think you're right.

[ZenDog]

I am inspired- I am going to edit it and send it to my TN House rep.

[Guest canynracer]

the only problem with it is that this is a HANDGUN carry permit. we have no duty to carry concealed.

I would just as soon NOT give away that liberty, thank ya very much!

correct, but in CA (where it was written) it is a CCW. in SOME rural counties, you can open carry. but yeah, CA is mainly concealed.

[Guest canynracer]

The original is here

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=176240