Someone asked why I had a gun...

[PirateQui]

I carry 'casual concealed' - OWB under a button up shirt (Not tucked in). I was at a picnic at a friend's house the other day and I was getting up and down a bit.. tossing the football. I just heard that after I left, the host's father, visiting from out of state, asked why I had a gun. My friends responded, "It's Tennessee everyone has a gun"... I love living in a state where that's an entirely reasonable explanation!

[RobertNashville]

I carry a gun so that I can save a life...maybe my own life...maybe the life of someone else...maybe your life (the life of the person asking the question).

That (above) answer works well whether you are taking to someone of the same mindset as you and, if you are talking to someone who is "anti-gun' or maybe just uninformed, it's a great object lesson about the purpose of a weapon in the hands of a "good guy". It's a simple truth and as the truth often does, it can quickly take the wind out of the sails of those who ask because they think something is wrong when someone carries.

[PirateQui]

That likely would've been my response. But he didn't ask me... I'm now kind of curious why he didn't ask me while we were chatting... Maybe he just thought it would be impolite.

[monkeylizard]

I don't believe this story one bit. Do you mean to tell us that you went to a picnic, ate food, and tossed a football around while armed and NOBODY was shot? I call on this one. I watch the news. I know how those things work. I bet you're one of those people that have those illegal hollow-point bullets in it.

Seriously, congrats on exposing someone to the reality of safe gun ownership, even if you didn't mean to.

[gregintenn]

I like the old sherrif's reply to a lady at a dinner party who asked him "Why do you have a pistol? Are you expecting trouble?" He politely responded "No maam! If I were expecting trouble, I'd have brought my shotgun.":D

[Guest Passenger]

"Welcome to Tennessee, patron state of shootin' stuff."

Best quote I've ever heard in a movie.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Reporter: Sir, why do you feel the need to carry a handgun?

Law abiding citizen: Because a policeman is too cumbersome and heavy to carry.

Reporter: Well, then why do you feel the need to carry such a large handgun?

Law abiding citizen: Ma'am, I carry this .45, because they don't make a .46!

Edited April 4, 2011 by BEARMAN
speltn' errar

[Guest Ranger Rick]

"Why do I carry a gun...

because policemen weigh too much, of course."

<grin>

[Guest TN_Mike]

I carry 'casual concealed' - OWB under a button up shirt (Not tucked in). I was at a picnic at a friend's house the other day and I was getting up and down a bit.. tossing the football. I just heard that after I left, the host's father, visiting from out of state, asked why I had a gun. My friends responded, "It's Tennessee everyone has a gun"... I love living in a state where that's an entirely reasonable explanation!

God how I miss living in Tennessee. Still trying to find a job back in Memphis so i can get myself and my family out of this yankee hell-hole called Indiana.

[clarky07]

"Welcome to Tennessee, patron state of shootin' stuff."

Best quote I've ever heard in a movie.

Agreed.

[tnhawk]

Why do I carry a gun...

The same reason I carry a spare tire, I wouldn't leave home without it.

[JGrasham]

I watch the news enough nowadays I think a gun may should be carried by all responsible citizens. Car jacking,home invasions,rape,etc.etc....

[ZZRguy]

For Life, Liberty and Little Lizzie!

“Why do you carry a gun?” - John Connor, GunCrankDiaries

From American Handgunner, the July/August 2005 Issue.

quote:“Why do you carry a gun?”

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked that question, I’d have, uh … as many guns as his firearm-festooned Editorial Immenseness, Roy-Boy. It’s been asked of me by all flavors of folks in all slices of society, with attitudes and expressions ranging from angry-arrogant to curtly-contemptuous, to brainless an’ befuddled. My answers to it have sorta formed three phases in my professional gun-carrying life. During that first and longest phase, I answered all of ’em sincerely and articulately, often following up with stacks of historic and legal documents. After many years, I concluded only a semi-significant sliver of people even heard what I was sayin’. The rest had already made up their muddled minds.

Finally, I just got sick of it, and moved on to Phase 2. If those asking seemed to have teensy open spaces in their minds, I gave ’em S & A: “Sincere & Articulate.” The more harshly-bleating sheep, however, often got exchanges like this:

“So,” queried Snidely Snotworth III, lookin’ down his un-busted but needed-bustin’ nose, “Why do you think you have to carry a gun?”

“Well,” bellowed the Brutish Neanderthal (that would be me): “Because you’re not QUALIFIED to carry one. You haven’t got the skills, the judgment, the sense of responsibility, or the courage for it.”

This answer often popped out after I’d just returned from some Heart-Of-Darkness where every living soul knew that the difference between slaves and free people is having the means and determination to defend their lives, property and liberties. That meant having guns and guts and God-given rights. Most of those people would quite literally die fighting for the freedoms so many Americans casually give away, and proudly bear social responsibilities those sheeple* won’t even recognize.

*Sheeple: Sheep-like people, many of whom deny the existence of wolves, and vote to pull the teeth of the sheepdogs who protect the flock.

The Voices

Then I matriculated to Phase 3, where I started having some fun with the Snidely Snotworth types. When they asked the Big Question, I’d go all hunchy-shouldered an’ secretive, then lean in close and mutter, “Because of the voices, ya know?” “The VOICES?” sniveled the Snidelies, suddenly scaredy-cattish. “Oh, yeah, the voices … They told me to be, you know, prepared for when the killer clowns come … ” I’d furtively goggle around. “The voices say the killer clowns are comin’ … They’re cannibals, some of ’em, and … ”

About that time the Snidelies would be skitterin’ away like mice on polished marble.

Yeah, I know, the “killer clowns” answer might not have been “helpful,” but it did just as much good as giving S&A answers to the sheeple, and it was a lot more fun for me. I know you already know why we carry these cannons. But sometimes, just sometimes, we all need a little reminder. That includes me, and I’ve got one to share with you. One that got me where I live.

The Connor Clan has been nomadic, and we’ve lived in a number of places. In one of ’em, we shared a side yard and friendship with a young woman we’ll call Miss Maine, and her knee-high daughter, Little Lizzie. Miss Maine quickly bonded with the Memsaab Helena. Clearly, Helena’s Amazon-warrior spirit and skill with arms impressed Miss Maine mightily, and much of their time and talk revolved around that fierce self-confidence — and guns.

As for Little Lizzie, the munchkin almost duct-taped herself to the Mem’s leg. She followed Helena everywhere, but always, always, kept glancing back to check on her momma, as though she were the worried parent.

There was something guarded, something hurt and defensive about both of them, and that fearfulness extended to me for a while. They got over it, thank God. Then I sorta became a moving bunker for ’em, representing cover and protection. Finally, we learned the story.

Miss Maine had been attacked — brutally and viciously. You don’t wanta know the details. As with so many such crimes, it wasn’t really about sex. It was about hate and domination, cowardice and cruelty. And an even younger Little Lizzie had witnessed it. I like to think the Memsaab and I helped them to recover emotionally.

Then one day Lizzie came and snuggled into my shadow, visibly disturbed. That morning her kindergarten had put on “Frighten The Munchkins Day.” Some schools do a pretty good job of alerting children to predators — don’t go with strangers and that kinda thing — but others do more harm than good. All they do is terrify the tots and give ’em no operating options. Lizzie already had twin tears glistening, ready to fall when she grabbed a tiny fistful of my trouser-leg and asked, “Connor-Sir, will you a’ways be here? Wouldja be here … When the bad mens come?”

My knees cracked on the sidewalk as she slammed into my shoulder, shaking with sobs as the hot tears came, splashing my neck and searing into my soul. “ ’Cause I’m a-scared!” she choked, and clutched me tighter.

Oh, GOD! Who would not — who could not — fight without fear, suffer without sense of sacrifice, and kill or die deliberately, using the most effective means available — to protect life, liberty and a Little Lizzie? For God’s sake, who?

Those who would not are no better than the predators.

Maybe in Phase 4, when somebody pops The Big Question I’ll just smile and say, “For life, liberty and Little Lizzie.” You guys can fill in the details.

hope this is ok , i pulled it from glocktalk and assume repost here is fine

“Why do you carry a gun?†- John Connor, GunCrankDiaries

[JGrasham]

That was outstanding! Puts it in perspective

[vontar]

Hmm, I thought I added to this thread.

Anyways, on a thread like this. this thread has most of the answers.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/general-off-topic/47351-why-carry-gun.html