A Nurse with a Gun

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Five Rules of Concealed Carry

We all should know the Four Rules of Firearms Safety. They should be ingrained in our bones. Recently I read of the Five Rules of Concealed Carry. It was a good start, but did not quite make the grade. I have borrowed heavily from them though, and present my own Rules of Concealed Carry here.

1. Your concealed handgun is for protection of life only.
Draw your concealed firearm solely in preparation to protect yourself or an innocent third party from the wrongful and life threatening criminal actions of another. A CCW license does not give you any greater rights or responsibilities than any other citizen. It merely provides you with the means of legally carrying a firearm to protect your own life or the lives of others.

2. Know exactly when you can use your gun.
A criminal adversary must have, or reasonably appear to have:

a. the ability to inflict serious bodily injury (he is armed, reasonably appears to be armed with a deadly weapon, or a considerable disparity of force exists),

b. the opportunity to inflict serious bodily harm (he is physically positioned to harm you), and

c. his intent (hostile actions or words) indicates that he means to place you in jeopardy -- to do you serious or fatal physical harm.

When all three of these "attack potential" elements are in place simultaneously, then you are facing a reasonably perceived deadly threat that can justify an emergency deadly force response.

3. If you can run away -- RUN!
Just because you are armed does not necessarily mean you must confront a bad guy at gunpoint. Develop your "situation awareness" skills so you can be alert to detect and avoid trouble altogether. Keep in mind that if you successfully evade a potential confrontation, the single negative consequence involved might be your bruised ego, which should heal with mature rationalization. By contrast, if you force a confrontation you risk the possibility of you or a family member being killed or suffering lifelong crippling/disfiguring physical injury, criminal liability and/or financial ruin from a civil lawsuit. Flee if you can, fight only as a last resort.

4. Display your CCW, be prepared to go to jail.
You should expect to be arrested by police at gunpoint, and be charged with a crime anytime your concealed handgun is seen by another citizen in public, regardless of how unintentional, innocent or justified the situation might seem. Choose a method of carry that keeps your gun reliably hidden from public view at all times.

You have no control over how a stranger will react to seeing (or learning about) your concealed handgun. He or she might become alarmed and report you to police as a "man or woman with a gun." Depending on his or her feelings about firearms, this person might be willing to maliciously embellish his or her story in an attempt to have your gun seized by police or to get you arrested. An alarmed citizen who reports a "man with a gun" is going to be more credible to police than you when you are stopped because you match the suspect's description, and you are found to have a concealed handgun in your possession. Under these circumstances, you have been accused, apprehended, and are in a defensive position. If you must draw your gun, make certain you are the first to notify police.

Before you deliberately expose your gun in public, ask yourself: "Is this worth going to jail for?" The only time this question should warrant a "yes" response is when an adversary has at least, both ability and intent, and is actively seeking the opportunity to do you great harm.

5. Don't let your emotions get the best of you.
Develop and practice self control. If, despite your best efforts to the contrary, you do get into some kind of heated dispute with another person while you are armed, never mention, imply or exhibit your gun for the purpose of intimidation or one-upmanship. You will simply make a bad situation worse -- for yourself. You can carry a gun, or you can have a temper. You may even do both for a while, but it will not last very long.

With the growing population of gun toters, it is imperative that we establish a few simple guidelines to help introduce others into the world of concealed carry. These five are the best I've found.

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49 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have health issues,and are not as mobile as(insert stereotypical dirtbag type here), dont take life lightly...but if someone threatens my God Given gift of life,or that of my loved ones...
their going down....permanent
and if I need to start shooting,I shoot to kill with the very first shot,no apologies,and no quarter given...engage me at your peril after enough warnings to not intrude on my property,attempt a personal assault,or cause harm to those who I will lay down my life for,in their defense

11:34 PM  
Blogger Robert said...

Unfortunately, when I was around 15 or so, I had the experience of someone breaking into my house. My brother and I were home alone, and it was about 10:00 PM or so. I did one smart thing - grabbed a shotgun - and one stupid thing - went looking for the intruder.

I was shaking like a leaf the whole damn time. Luckily, before I got to the point of entry - an unlocked back door in the upstairs kitchen - the intruder had fled. Never saw them, never fired a shot, and no one is gladder that it didn't go any further.

That experience pretty much made me give up the macho BS about shooting anything that moves if it comes into my house. My goal is for any future encounter to never get far enough for a gun to be drawn in the first place, and if it is for no shots to be fired. I'm going to give the perp every chance to get away if need be, so long as it doesn't open myself up to injury.

I don't ever want to have to shoot someone, ever, but I will not hesitate if my life or the life of another is in immediate danger.

To this day, I still have no idea who broke into my house. I have suspicions - I believe it may have been some of my "friends" playing a prank, but they never owned up to it. The fact that they called minutes later - about the same time it would have taken for them to run to one of their houses, makes their involvement likely. I don't think I could have lived with myself if I ended up killing a friend who was playing a prank.

4:04 AM  
Blogger Carteach said...

True to a word.

Well said my friend.

5:00 AM  
Blogger Ed Skinner said...

Good rules to know and follow.
But they leave one key situation open - what do you do if you're at the mall or church and someone shows up intending to terrorize and shoot everyone in range?
Rule #3, "Run", needs some modification for that one situation but the courage to do otherwise, to not run but, instead to place yourself in harm's way, to demonstrate the willingness to put it all on the line at that moment is, probably for most of us, simply beyond anything else we've ever considered in our lives.
We may pray that such an "opportunity" never will arise in our relatively mundane lives but, if we carry, it is a possibility that must be considered.

7:06 AM  
Blogger alath said...

I like your rules.

However, we will soon be hearing from the purists who will stridently assert that the second amendment applies to everyone, and that includes psychotic hotheads with volcanic tempers.

9:16 AM  
Blogger Mark Horning said...

#4 Varries state by state.

In Arizona I have no duty nor requirement to conceal. Further, no permit is required to open carry. The ONLY thing that a CCW allows you to do in AZ that one may not do without it is conceal the weapon. When we wrote the CCW law we were adamant that the CCW confer no extra privileges (except the NICS check) as we did not want to divide gun owners into open and concealed carry camps.

9:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As far as conceal carry I agree with you completely. However, in many states open carry is legal and I for one do it as often as legally possible. If some Joe citizen or LEO is up set about my gun. That is just a good opportunity for education and changing attitudes toward carrying guns. That not all gun toter's are criminals and it is a right in this state. I also agree that one should avoid or even flee, if possible, in a public setting. However,at least in my state,I have no legal duty,nor plan to, while in my home.

11:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Xavier, good post.

Anonymous, NO! You do not shoot to kill. You shoot to STOP the attack. It may so happen that the best way to stop the attack is a double tap into the cranial vault of the attacker but your intent is to STOP the attack. You are not a executioner. You are defending innocent life. There is a big difference legally even if there may not be a material difference in the outcome.

12:08 PM  
Blogger Paul said...

Been a while, I know. Sent here from Tam's. Let bygones be bygones, and all that.

I must take issue with point #4. As someone who open carries regularly, I can say that I have never had the first problem with people running away in terror, thugs diving from behind merchandise racks to grab for my pistol, or the cops pinning me to the ground and dragging me off to be questioned.

(Incidentally, were I to be pinned to the wall by one of Jackson's finest, I would be looking forward to a cash settlement and the officer's job on a platter. Open carry is 100% legal in TN.)

I open carry because, besides it being just too dang hot sometimes, I think it's important that people get used to the idea of a "man with a gun" who is just a regular guy doing regular stuff with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.

If it's legal where you live to open carry, and you never do so, you have no right to complain that folks are terrified at the thought of their neighbors carrying weapons. They may not even know that it's OK for responsible citizens to carry a pistol. It's our fault for not telling them. What exactly do we have to hide?

It's important if carrying concealed that one KEEP it concealed, but it's silly to say that a handgun is to sunlight what a gremlin is to water. Maybe it's a good idea to let our liberties get some fresh air once in a while?

1:43 PM  
Blogger Weetabix said...

Good rules. I'd never enumerated them for myself, but I think that's how I've been carrying.

I find myself much more alert to situations to avoid when I'm armed. It's good to know I'm prepared, but I want very much not to have to use it.

2:55 PM  
Blogger Weetabix said...

BTW, I carry the same firearm the guy has in his back pocket... but IWB and covered up.

2:56 PM  
Blogger GreatBlueWhale said...

Know exactly when you can use your gun.

This may require some effort on your part. Different jurisdictions, different rules. If your state doesn't have preemption, every town could have different standards. Does your state have Castle Doctrine, or are you required to retreat?

Knowledge is power.

3:15 PM  
Blogger Keith Walker said...

Xavier,
Good stuff. Since you mentioned that one must keep their weapon concealed, I'd like to have a greater explanation of "printing." I know it is a subjective issue, but what is usually considered printing and what is not?

3:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You might want to add two more points.

1. Be the first to call 911, even if no shots were fired, and you didn't see any witnesses.

2. Be LOUD, if you can. "STOP! Don't come any closer! I feel I am in danger!" Ensure potential witnesses understand your viewpoint.

3:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anonymous, I sure this forum is the only place you claimed an intent to "shoot to kill," and at least you did not use your name.

That won't help you if you ever do have to use your firearm defensively and are stupid enough to state what you just wrote.

You do not "shoot to kill." You aim at center mass, and you only shoot to stop the behavior that made it necessary for you to shoot. If you say or do anything in excess of that, then you are going to spend a very long time in prison.

4:24 PM  
Blogger Xavier said...

Keith, I consider a gun to be printing if an uninformed person can recognize the bulge as a gun. With cell phones Blackberrys and such on peoples belts, bulges have become commonplace. The key is whether the gun can be recognized as a gun.

4:33 PM  
Blogger nature223 said...

I was the one who did the anonymous entry...
if you read my entry I was making it clear,that the WARNINGS..came first.
after that,I shoot with no intent to wound,or stop the attack.
if deadly force is required,I mean exactly that,and if the house invaer is pepped up on crank,coke,pcp..or alot of other yummy stuff..mere phtsical harm wont stop them,their immune to pain and hydrostatic shock,inless you disable CNS,or said brainpan.
personally,I do my range work STARTING with long range target(25 meters),and then bring the targets to CQB/contact range,I do this for my TIRED,and the tachy/physic loss of fine motion skills keep you better trained,your ready for stress induced fumbles.
I also do some snapping in and repetative motion training to keep my muscle memory sharp,this is with my primary house guns,I'm able to use an ar-15 as well as my secondary house arm,with my declared fields of fire,with plenty of good down angle to ground/backstopping for pass throughs and misses.
like I said,I really cannot outrun them in the shape I'm in currently. but I sure as hell can lay a major hurt on them if they proceed with their attempts.
if it comes to that,Ikeep such a low profile,nobody in my block even knows I'm a gun owner,which is exactly how I wish to portrait it.

5:59 PM  
Blogger phlegmfatale said...

spot on.

6:04 PM  
Blogger SpeakerTweaker said...

Xavier,

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.
5. Yes.

Seems like we're all in agreement on this one. Extremely well done, sir. Your Five Rules (that looks SO good when capitalized:) seem to be quite applicable in all situations, and under all applicable law.

Another thing that I find remarkable is that, like the Four Rules, it goes beyond just a matter of good practice. It actually goes to create mindset, which is essential to making it second nature.

Bravo.



tweaker

6:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

nature223, you're scarey.

8:43 PM  
Blogger staghounds said...

Mr. Simer, you are 100% WRONG, "open carry" is a crime in Tennessee.

There are exceptions and defenses- like going hunting, it's a long gun and there is no ammunition access, or you have a permit.

But going around in public with a loaded gun on your hip won't get you anything but a misdemeanor conviction unless you're within an exception or defense.

You might want to carefully read Tennessee Code 39-17-1307. The pertinent part goes,

"A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4²), or a club."

That's pretty complicated, you might want to get someone to explain it to you.

As for getting a cash settlement and an officer who confronts you fired, it won't happen. Since a person armed in Tennessee is committing a crime UNLESS excepted, seeing or having a credible report of an armed man in a public place is certainly a reasonable articulable suspicion which gives an officer grounds to at least briefly detain you, pat you down, and investigate the situation.

If a police officer approaches you (especially if you are armed), you are incredibly stupid if you do anything other than what he tells you to do until he has rendered you unarmed and not a threat, to HIS satisfaction. He doesn't know who you are, and until he establishes otherwise he will assume you brought the gun to use it. Police officers intend to go home at the end of the shift.

And please stop giving wrong and dangerous legal advice.

The whole weapons section of the code can be found at:
http://www.michie.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=tncode

9:16 PM  
Blogger Xavier said...

"It's important if carrying concealed that one KEEP it concealed, but it's silly to say that a handgun is to sunlight what a gremlin is to water. Maybe it's a good idea to let our liberties get some fresh air once in a while?"

It's a mindset Paul. Kind of like the difference between "All guns are always loaded" vs "Treat all guns as if they are loaded."

9:20 PM  
Blogger nature223 said...

Beth,you are the one showing your complete and total lack of intellegence,the mindset you ascribe to shows you want to be made an easy victim.
I dont wish this on anyone...but,I hope you get a harsh and severe reality check in your thinking. then you'll have to reassign your blame to those who do the crimes..not the gunowners who prevent them every single day,more then the police you so ignorantly believe who'll be there in the moment after you dial 911,better then when I reach for a firearm.

9:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

nature223, you read a lot into two words Beth posted.

You need an attitude check, and maybe a BS filter between your brain and mouth. If you talk like you write, you're going to be in a world of hurt if you're ever unfortunate enough to need to use your handgun. Your ego is going to give the DA a happy hunting ground, make the jury very nervous, and put dollar signs in the eyes of your victim's NOK and their lawyers.

And incidentally, you make non swaggering gun owners devoid of braggadocio look as mouthy and aggressive as you do.

Thanks for nothing. At least try to sound less like you're itching to unload on somebody.

12:14 AM  
Blogger Keith said...

Nature223 I think were confusing the issue here and playing games with semantics. Shot to stop is shooting at the Bad Guy until he no longer presents a threat. The manner in which he stops presenting a threat could be anything from running away to catastrophic brain trauma. Either way when he stops presenting a threat YOU STOP SHOOTING. This is considered to be the proper way to do a self defense shooting in states that allow such things.

Saying that you "shoot to kill" implies that you will do something like continuing to shoot at the Bad Guy even if he drops his weapon and runs away or if he is crumpled on the floor and obviously out of the fight. I am aware of no state that considers shooting an unarmed man in the back or executing people on the floor to be self defense.

I urge you to take some sort of defensive handgun class so that you can learn the difference between shooting to stop and shooting to kill and other important things to know if your going to carry a gun.

12:19 AM  
Blogger nature223 said...

well..the "attitude"is that I dont "shoot to wound"...
and if the attack desists I STAND DOWN.
I dont for the life of me understand why a person cannot read a sentance,and understand the meaning thus imparted.
Deadly force is exactly that,a last means after you didnt get my intent for "warnings",and my careful setting up of lack of cross fire danger to others,and making sure my path of bullet track will not carry over to other peoples property.
as for the continued shooting of a person who isnt a threat anylonger,I think you failed to see my intent.and after seeing "beth's" other posts she is a liberal apologist of the highest order,and a troll here at Xavier's blog.

and if your so vapid as to assume I'm blasting away merrily at a downed person who isnt a threat any longer your not only reading my posts wrong,your misinformed and that is putting it politely.

as for making a easy prospect for enabling those who would disarm us gunowners by ME stating the patently obvious,I see no reason to even argue that point.

if it comes down to deadly force,the decision was made for you,their actively engaging you...
you have two choices at that point...
they die..or You die...
"stop" is something you have the luxury of making notice of after the fight is over,and they dont further their previous actions.
if you had other means before the gun was involved,IT WAS NOT A DEADLY FORCE ISSUE.
I think I know the difference between what is a needed,ala a deadly interaction or fist fight.
but,remember this...9 times out of ten a gun produced,or SHOWN makes the attacker withdraw,and look for easier victims.

2:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad I live in Virginia!!!

OC is legal, but still does put some one edge.

Ric

6:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Xavier,

I linked your blog as well as this specific topic to the DefensiveCarry.com forums. I didn't use any of your text in the post but for the title, purposely necessitating that they go to your site to read the post.

Very good response, all around. Nice post.

-JT

7:48 AM  
Blogger staghounds said...

Mark Steyn's dog crap principle applies to Nature223's words.

If you take a gallon of tasty vanilla ice cream and thoroughly mix in a tea spoon full of dog crap, the result will taste more like dog crap than ice cream.

"...I shoot to kill with the very first shot,no apologies,and no quarter given...engage me at your peril after enough warnings to not intrude on my property..."

"after that,I shoot with no intent to wound,or stop the attack."

"...I hope you get a harsh and severe reality check..."

Plenty of dog crap there.

"I dont for the life of me understand why a person cannot read a sentance,and understand the meaning thus imparted."

"No quarter given" means that you will not accept his surrender. Your words are perfectly clear.

Unfortunately people who talk like Nature223 are all over the 2A and self defense world. I often heard this sort of nonsense when I taught permit classes for the Sheriff's department.

Mr. Skubinna is absolutely right. If you can't present yourself thoughtfully, don't open your mouth. For your own sake and ours too.

11:36 AM  
Blogger nature223 said...

well mister "staghounds",apperently you ingest alot of that tainted "ice cream"...and as long as we are quoting people let me quote one.
Nathan Bedford Forrest;"Fustest with the mostest",not exactly a person hold dear in modern society,but a realist.
I know exactly what I said,how I meant it,and the inference needed to make my point clear.
you sir,are a gun snob,and I have nothing but my utter contempt for your words,and I hope freverently I never meet you,and receive your tutalage,both would be anathema to me at this point.
now to quote YOUR words:"I often heard this sort of nonsense when I taught permit classes for the Sheriff's department."

your a cop,or your associated with them,your never there when we need you,we dial 911 and wait.
I choose other means then you and your ilk,I will defend myself rather then rely on you.
frankly I have done exactly that which I say and both times the other person LEFT after I made it know and let them see I was armed...
but my mindset was that of "no quarter given",and they left to find easier pickings.
if you cannot stomach that...
sorry, your amoung people who arent ready to be sheep,and or rely on just you to save them.
I resent your implication that our opinion is diminished,with unless it has Your validity to enlighten us,with only you to show us the golden path...how dare you sir,how dare you,your arrogance proceeds you.

2:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lets get back on topic. Nature223 could be in another country for all we know, where the rules are different. He's shown his colors, has been picked apart, and let's move on.

The risk here, Xavier, is that you are not disclaiming this as legal advice. This is VERY risky in situations like this, as has been indicated by some of the other responses the laws differ from state to state.

Further, TN IS an open-carry state IF you have a permit. That makes it a non-traditional OC state, yes - see www.opencarry.com for more info.

4:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Quit jumping on Nature223. And you, calm down.

Just because he didn't get the Tacticool memo about "shooting to stop" instead of "shooting to kill" doesn't mean anything. In either case, the intent is the same: Shooting with serious intent to oppose a threat to one's life.

I will agree with the other side on one point: Whatever you do, keep your mouth shut once the cops get there. The more you frame the intruder's death as his own choice -- "Officer, I was in fear of my life," the less traction the other side -- i.e. a scumbag lawyer -- will have in his attempt to make crime pay, literally, for the dead hump's estranged family, who will undoubtedly come out of the woodwork once they smell dollar signs attached to his demise.

Also, remember that Mr. 223 was talking about a hypothetical attack on his property, not in a public place. This isn't England. A stranger in your home is a dead man.

Everybody please stand down from this imaginary contest to prove yourself the more responsible, less bloodthirsty, gun owner.

6:03 PM  
Blogger Xavier said...

ken s.

This is mindset advice, not legal advice. I am not an attorney.

Of course some would find legal advice contained in John Lennon songs.....But I don't think most people would confuse an internet blog article with legal advice.

Read #4 Display your gun, be prepared to go to jail. It doesn't necessarily mean you will go to jail. It means you might. Perhaps it should read "Display your CCW, be prepared to go to jail." (I went ahead and made the change from gun to CCW, thanks!)

Remember they are mindset rules. In other words, have it in your head that if you display your concealed gun, you may very well go to jail as a result. That is the reality of the situation. Keep it concealed until you intend to use it. If you feel you must draw, and then find you do not have to use it, notify law enforcement first.

Also, these are CCW rules. They do not apply to open carry. Open carry legislation (or more frequently, the abscence of open carry prohibition) does not mean you can defend an instance of brandishing a concealed weapon by claiming it was open carry.

Hope this helped clear things up a bit. Thanks for the read and constructive criticism!

6:15 PM  
Blogger Paul said...

Thanks for the clarification Xavier. I agree, and pointed out quite plainly, that the differences between concealed and open carry are important to keep in mind, and that "sloppy concealment" is a bad idea. Still, there's plenty of good folks out there who open carry, so I'm not sure the comparison with Rule #1 is a fair one. Sounds like a personal preference, not a safety absolute. What do you think?

Staghounds, it is in fact 100% legal to open carry in TN. The "exception" you listed (have a permit) is a prerequisite for carrying a gun in TN, period.

"That's pretty complicated, you might want to get someone to explain it to you."

I do understand my rights under the law. Do you?

9:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanx for the clarification, Xav.

I open carry when I can, as a political statement.

And yes, there is always a chance that some cop in a bad mood will creatively interpret the law to get you off the street.

Protesters have to deal with this all the time. Just go in with your eyes open.

9:42 PM  
Blogger Xavier said...

Paul, I think these rules concern concealed carry, not open carry.

Watering down rules decreases their ability to protect us, as it lowers our standards and mindset.

Here is what Col. Cooper had to say about the watering down of Rule 1.

"All guns are always loaded. There are no exceptions. Do not pretend that this is true. Some people and organizations take this rule and weaken it; e.g. "Treat all guns as if they were loaded." Unfortunately, the "as if" compromises the directness of the statement by implying that they are unloaded, but we will treat them as though they are loaded. No good! Safety rules must be worded forcefully so that they are never treated lightly or reduced to partial compliance.

All guns are always loaded. Period!

This must be your mindset. If someone hands you a firearm and says, "Don't worry, it's not loaded," you do not dare believe him. You need not be impolite, but check it yourself. Remember, there are no accidents, only negligent acts. Check it. Do not let yourself fall prey to a situation where you might feel compelled to squeal, "I didn't know it was loaded!"
Jeff Cooper


I find Cooper's position to be a wise one. Others chose to see things differently.

11:31 PM  
Blogger Paul said...

Xavier, you misunderstand me. I am in complete agreement about rule #1. It was the fact that you compared "conceal your gun at all times" to it that was an unfair comparison. My problem was that "conceal!" was presented as an absolute that only an irresponsible buffoon would consider watering down.

Rule #1 is an absolute.

Open Carry is open to discussion. If you don't want to do it, great, but I'm going to. I'm legal, and I think it benefits you even if you don't participate.

I'll move on and stop crapping all over your concealed carry post with my open carry zealotry now. :)

1:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes it is EXTREMELY important to know the rules of the road. I have a chl from Texas, and was in NM a while back. You can't carry in NM where alcohol is served or sold. That puts every gas station, restaurant, store, you name it, off limits. What a worthless chl law! I found that on my blackberry while sipping tea at a restaurant. "Excuse me miss, I have to go to my vehicle, I'll be right back!!!" Semper Paratus!

2:32 PM  
Blogger Assrot said...

You know when I was a very young man I had a quick temper. In those days I owned guns but did not carry. Once law abiding citizens were given the option to carry concealed in Florida I thought about it long and hard before I went and got a permit.

I spent some time with a psychologist and told her that I intended to get a CCW permit and that I wanted to discuss and make damn sure my prior short temper was not still a problem.

I went through about 6 months or so of therapy and the psychologist finally agreed that given the proper safety, self defense and CCW training that I would not have any issues with my previous bouts of short temper.

I took several classes before actually taking the CCW class and getting my permit. They included basic pistol, rifle and shotgun safety classes, personal defense classes for inside, outside and away from your home.

I also spent a lot of time talking to the many law enforcement personnel I have as family members about the decision to carry a gun. My main reason at the time was because of the business I was in I carried a large sum of cash several days a week and more people knew about that than I cared for.

All this therapy, training and talking went on for about an 18 month period. I finally took the CCW class in 1990, got my permit and started to carry where it is legal to do so.

I think back now and from reading your post I can honestly say that pretty much everything you mentioned was covered thoroughly in all this preparation I went through before getting my permit and starting to carry.

For me, I've been tested on a few occassions. I've had people fuck with me and make me so mad I wanted to kill them because of their actions or words to me or someone I cared about. I was carrying a gun on each of these occassions and sure, I thought in the back of my mind "Damn I'd like to kill this son of a bitch." but I did not do it and I never once even thought about pulling my gun out or even mentioning it.

The reason in each case was simple. Although the person or persons made me mad enough for my blood to boil and even threatened to beat my ass, break my legs, etc., the one thing I never felt was fear for my life.

So somebody disagrees with me or hates me enough to beat my ass or break my leg. I'm a grown man. I can fight back. As long as no deadly weapon was presented by the other party, even though I was mad enough to think I wanted to kill the bastard I knew how I would feel if I did.

I'd rather fight back and beat his ass than kill him or get my ass beat whatever the case may be. The last thing I ever want to do is kill another human being. I've had to do that before and it was not a good feeling. I did not want to do it then but he forced me to.

Many folks think that killing an asshole that is deserving of death will give them satisfaction. I think that this is not the case for anyone that is a good, moral human being. Taking a life is the last thing you want to do.

Only do it as the very last resort. I garauntee it will haunt you for the rest of your life even if you are in the right and justified by the law. It takes something from your soul that you never get back.

Good post Xavier.

Molon Labe,
Joe

5:06 PM  
Blogger staghounds said...

You didn't say open carry with a permit is legal, you said open carry is legal.

The way the law is written, going armed is a crime.

Carrying with a permit is a defense to the charge of unlawfully carrying.

That's what TCA 38-17-1308(a)(2) says.

"The "exception" you listed (have a permit) is a prerequisite for carrying a gun in TN, period." is wrong, too.

TCA lists eight other defenses, all of which are just as good as having a permit. Some are event specific (while legally hunting), some are person specific- judges, for example, don't need permits.

Your original post I replied to didn't say you had a permit, nor did it mention permits at all. A fair reading suggested to me that you didn't know the law, and that someone who took your post as accurate might get into trouble. My understanding is that there may be states where only concealed carry is a crime, and open carry without a permit is legal. Tennessee isn't one of those and I wanted to be sure that was clear.

As we both would tell 223, what you actually say is much more important than what you meant, or how you explain your words later.

I've been prosecuting criminals full time for sixteen years, and I try to help people avoid getting into trouble out of ignorance. Take my suggestions for what they are worth.

12:34 PM  
Blogger staghounds said...

You didn't say open carry with a permit is legal, you said open carry is legal.

The way the law is written, going armed is a crime.

Carrying with a permit is a defense to the charge of unlawfully carrying.

That's what TCA 38-17-1308(a)(2) says.

"The "exception" you listed (have a permit) is a prerequisite for carrying a gun in TN, period." is wrong, too.

TCA lists eight other defenses, all of which are just as good as having a permit. Some are event specific (while legally hunting), some are person specific- judges, for example, don't need permits.

Your original post I replied to didn't say you had a permit, nor did it mention permits at all. A fair reading suggested to me that you didn't know the law, and that someone who took your post as accurate might get into trouble. My understanding is that there may be states where only concealed carry is a crime, and open carry without a permit is legal. Tennessee isn't one of those and I wanted to be sure that was clear.

As we both would tell 223, what you actually say is much more important than what you meant, or how you explain your words later.

I've been prosecuting criminals full time for sixteen years, and I try to help people avoid getting into trouble out of ignorance. Take my suggestions for what they are worth.

12:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry, was just passing through, but I decided I needed to leave my thoughts. Your rules are only plausible through the eyes of regulation. Constitutionally, given rights to life liberty and property, yes I said property, you really miss the point of concealed carry or bearing arms of any type. You allow too much appeasement to those who don't like guns. If these ideas are your own philosophy for yourself, thats fine, but does not measure up in basic human rights issues, and especially constitutional rights and duties. Try looking at the issue from a second amendment viewpoint. However, I do like and respect that you expect a certain level of responsibility of yourself. But be careful not to infringe. The constitution does not apologize, neither should you.

4:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the rules are OK but I disagree with the interpretations of these rules

1) I do not look to be anyones hero or savior. Nor am I a vigilante looking to right all the wrongs in the world. Yet I do have a moral ethical obligation to my fellows. I will not stand by and allow a woman or child to be abused or raped even if their life is not in danger. I will not allow my property nor the property of my fellows to be wantonly damaged destroyed or stolen. I will not allow a violent dangerous felon to flee and continue to do harm to others. A gun is not the only way to stop those things but it is an option when nothing else will work. Honor dictates that I stand up for those who can not do so for themselves.


4) Open Carry is NOT illegal in 48 states. Check the laws in your state or see http://OpenCarry.org for more info

5) After you have a gun is way to late to develop self control and maturity. If you need to kill someone because they gave you a black eye or hurt your feelings than you should NOT carry a gun period until you grow up. Carrying a gun is for adults if you are not a grown up do not carry a gun until you are.

1:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I stumbled on this blog and would like to add my 2 cents. To me, carrying concealed puts a whole different spin on my dealings with the public, i find myself being overly gracious and polite,I am very nonconfrontational, much calmer driving in traffic , my thoughts are much more deliberate, , willing to give up the disputed parking spot. Carrying concealed has put me in a position of responsibility,Both for myself and my loved ones. No longer can I afford to get into verbal exchanges, or flip off drivers in my moment of stress, Im carrying a weapon and that takes precedence over any small fleeting moment of anger. Because guns have had such a bad rap, it is every gun owners responsibility weather they carry open or concealed, to be the best ambassador to the gun rights cause as they can be. if you carry in public, it is extremely important that you go out of your way to be polite, considerate, and non offensive. the image of the gun toting redneck is a negative image, and shooting off your mouth about perceived threats and coulda, woulda, shoulda scenarios just reinforces it. some may think of it as snobbish, but I take great pride in my appearance in public. Why?, because the public has a negative opinion on carrying guns, and looking my best, and acting my best puts an otherwise suspicious public at ease, I am projecting a sense of responsibility. if the situation ever arises that your weapon prints and you are made, you are much less likely to be looked at suspiciously if you look responsible, are well groomed, relaxed and friendly with people. A shabby looking character in baggy clothes, unkept and viewing the world suspiciously is much more likely to draw a negative response. Remember folks, everything about carrying does not need to be over shadowed by violent crimes or mass shootings. The public should see arm civilians as a positive addition to living in the United States, we should be projecting that we are law abiding, trained, even tempered, and pleasant. being armed should be desirable to the public, it should ( and does) carry with it an element of prestige. we have made choices in our lives that reflect responsibility. Much like a high credit score. if this sounds snobbish, it's only because in todays society, so many struggle with criminal records and civil records that prohibit their owning, let alone carrying a weapon. we talk about it as our "right"... but we all know the realities of "rights"... it is indeed a privilege to be allowed to carry a weapon concealed or otherwise.... if you question my logic, just ask any elderly Japanese citizen about their constitutional "right" back in 1941.

12:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A gun is your last weapon, you still have a brain (to avoid situations), use it, and you have a brain and a voice, talk your way out of a situation or defuse situations. The forcweful language is also good, worked well for an unarmed person in Los Angelos on more occasions than I wish, Somone else already said "run". I run better than i shoot and I shoot good.

12:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This person gets it...and we should all re-read this post a few times...and then again...and then once before bed...

As it is wholly true, that a educated and armed society, is a very polite one...GODSPEED!
ans keep that thing pointed down range...Be safe!

_________________________________

I stumbled on this blog and would like to add my 2 cents. To me, carrying concealed puts a whole different spin on my dealings with the public, i find myself being overly gracious and polite,I am very nonconfrontational, much calmer driving in traffic , my thoughts are much more deliberate, , willing to give up the disputed parking spot. Carrying concealed has put me in a position of responsibility,Both for myself and my loved ones. No longer can I afford to get into verbal exchanges, or flip off drivers in my moment of stress, Im carrying a weapon and that takes precedence over any small fleeting moment of anger. Because guns have had such a bad rap, it is every gun owners responsibility weather they carry open or concealed, to be the best ambassador to the gun rights cause as they can be. if you carry in public, it is extremely important that you go out of your way to be polite, considerate, and non offensive. the image of the gun toting redneck is a negative image, and shooting off your mouth about perceived threats and coulda, woulda, shoulda scenarios just reinforces it. some may think of it as snobbish, but I take great pride in my appearance in public. Why?, because the public has a negative opinion on carrying guns, and looking my best, and acting my best puts an otherwise suspicious public at ease, I am projecting a sense of responsibility. if the situation ever arises that your weapon prints and you are made, you are much less likely to be looked at suspiciously if you look responsible, are well groomed, relaxed and friendly with people. A shabby looking character in baggy clothes, unkept and viewing the world suspiciously is much more likely to draw a negative response. Remember folks, everything about carrying does not need to be over shadowed by violent crimes or mass shootings. The public should see arm civilians as a positive addition to living in the United States, we should be projecting that we are law abiding, trained, even tempered, and pleasant. being armed should be desirable to the public, it should ( and does) carry with it an element of prestige. we have made choices in our lives that reflect responsibility. Much like a high credit score. if this sounds snobbish, it's only because in todays society, so many struggle with criminal records and civil records that prohibit their owning, let alone carrying a weapon. we talk about it as our "right"... but we all know the realities of "rights"... it is indeed a privilege to be allowed to carry a weapon concealed or otherwise.... if you question my logic, just ask any elderly Japanese citizen about their constitutional "right" back in 1941.

2:17 PM  
Blogger aaronspuler said...

Good info, I linked to this post on my blog. Thanks for putting it up.

http://www.spuler.us/gunsandammo/

10:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shooting to kill is always the best option, lower chance of lawsuit, lower chance of run-on they-said/i-said court case, but most importantly less chance the criminal can harm someone else, or get better trained in prison. So as a law-abiding citizen you better believe I'll use every means at my disposal once one makes the mistake of confronting me to take them down like the rabid animals they are.

This isn't to imply I'm some crazy hunter-of-man type like in Most Dangerous Game though, if it takes too long from my training or from my environmental passions, he can go, I just like to implore others to treat the negative influences on their communities as harshly if they don't want to turn into Detroit. If I really wanted them offed I would go hand to hand as my terrible vision means I would need to be up close to shoot them anyway.

12:42 AM  
Anonymous concealment holster said...

Number 3 sounds hilarious but true! Sometimes avoiding a confrontation is more advisable than using your weapon. And to think, running away from a situation doesn't mean that you're a coward. Mostly, it means that you are courage enough to avoid using your weapon and to not harm anyone, as much as possible. Thanks for sharing!

2:33 AM  

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