Is there someone in this thread that can provide readers digest version answers to the following,
1. What, if any reason must you provide when applying for a permit to carry a concealed weapon?
2. What, if any reason must you provide when applying for a permit to carry?
3. Is it generally accepted to assume someone is carrying a weapon (in America) when out in public?
I ask these questions so as to maybe bring forth some clarity as to the strong sense of entitlement that Americans have to carry arms. Does a society that permits concealed weapons feel threatened? or is it inherently cultured?
There is a saying that I'm sure most have heard but it fits - "Weapons are most dangerous when regarded as being perfectly safe"
1. It depends on the state. Some states are "must issue" meaning that if you meet the requirements they have to issue you the permit. Some are "may issue" meaning that if you meet the requirements and have a "valid" reason they will issue you the permit - up to the discretion of law enforcement. Those reasons can be anything from fear of a known threat, to job related (maybe someone who carries a lot of cash or gems or valuables), etc,,, Some states don't have concealed carry permits. http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_information.html
2. Do you mean "open carry"? Many states allow open carry with no permit. Many states allow open carry with a permit. Some states do not allow open carry. I am not a big fan of open carry because I think it can be antagonistic. And the people who were open carrying at Starbucks just because they could were idiots. They intentionally made people feel uncomfortable and some of them could have been considered brandishing, which is a crime even in open carry states. http://blogs.wsj.com/numbers/map-where-is-open-carry-legal-1715/
3. No. I think it is safe to assume that most of us are not carrying.
I don't carry, but I don't feel threatened by people who do, because I typically would never know if they're carrying or not.
Thanks,
and
I didn't know the term "Open carry" but yes that is what I was getting at.
@kce8, fair enough, but you have to understand where I come from hunting is very big. big is an understatement, it's part of the culture here(south central texas). people start their kids very young. I ran into a cat at the bar that was showing pictures of his 12 year old and the hogs he shot. never got into hunting myself. too much work with so much butchered meat already available. I've gutted a hog before and that's something I never care to do again, but i'll shoot at targets till I get BLISTERS ON ME FINGERS!!!!!
if you think what I believe is stupid, bizarre, ridiculous or outrageous.....it's ok, I think I had a brain tumor when I wrote that.
Ok, if you want to shoot at targets...I get it...that´s fun. Go on and get the gun locked in after that.
So this is not my problem. I have a problem with people who want to tell me that people need guns to protect themselves and carry it around. And I know all the arguments...but nobody can tell people in Europe just only one good reason this person (most of them) would agree with. IF NOBODY CAN LEGALLY CARRY IT AROUND YOU WILL HAVE NO NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF! AND NOBODY CAN TELL ME YOU DO NOT HAVE A LOWER INHIBITION TRESHOLD TO USE A GUN IF YOU USED TO USE/HANDLE IT!
AS SOMEONE MEANTIONED IT BEFORE: GUNS ARE MADE TO KILL...NOT TO WARN YOU!
Most of us can live without guns here! No problem...
@kce8, unfortunately that's not true. in America, people still commit crimes against other people even though it's illegal. wouldn't it be nice if we could say hey, don't murder people, don't rob people, don't rape women, and people would actually do it? that's not the world we live in though. so while the idea of not having to defend yourself against a person with a gun because it would be illegal to carry one and people would choose to follow the law, that's a fantasy. if a person is going out to kill, rob, or rape, I hate to break it to you ya, but they aren't gonna check on what the local carry laws are to make sure they're following the rules.
as far as the lower inhibition goes, so what? not sure if that's a human rights thing or what, but there are billions and billions of humans on this planet, so what if some murderers, rapists, and thieves get blasted when they're traumatizing people and ruining their lives? less people murdering, raping and robbing, in my opinion, is a good thing. and like I said there are billions and billions more out there.
and I can live without guns just fine, there's not a single thing in my life that requires a gun for me to survive. I CHOOSE to have guns. and I've never killed anyone, never threatened anyone, never done a single negative thing with them. i only have loads of fun and enjoy the peace of mind knowing I have the ability to defend myself against any threat out there. i'm literally surrounded by guns where I live, and the only thing here that is indiscriminately killing people and animals..........are cars.
if you think what I believe is stupid, bizarre, ridiculous or outrageous.....it's ok, I think I had a brain tumor when I wrote that.
Dear goingtoverona...I´m a little bit...am irritated...
People commit crimes everywhere in the world! And sometimes it´s even more worse than in USA. I think about Africa or Near East where little kids get kidnaped to become a destroyed human killing machine! Yes, people do that to them but what do they use to kill other human beings? Right, weapons...and where do this weapons come frome? Yes, we give it to them and then the guns go from one to the next war...(but that´s another problem).
Ok, You say: Only cars are killing people and animals where you live. So why do you need the ability to defend yourself then? Sorry, I don´t get it...I´m just glad I don´t need the ability...
Oh and you are right...really bad people use guns anyways, I know that...but that was not what I meant. One point is if usually nobody caries a weapon around they cannot shoot if they get in trouble. And no kid would get the chance to accidental take a f..g gun and destroy their lifes.
The complete keynote is wrong! It sure depends on and includes all laws, politic activity (police etc) and human behavior..education...etc. (we need to ask ourselves why young people need to grow up to a criminal persons)
So do you in person really need the ability to defend yourself when you live in an area where only cars kill the people??? If you had told me you live in a dangerous hotspot...then I maybe could get it.... This is exact the way of thinking - where all my comprehension is finding an end... You choose to have guns...the people around the kids (who took guns) had done the same, and I seriously assume they didn´t want or thought of that such tragedie could happen to them! You might will just agree to me in this one point.
Oh and I don´t want to offend you in person - I offend thinking in general that way.
All in all it´s obvious to me that not only new gun laws can change this situations/behavior.
*maybe it sounds a little bit messy - sorry, I deleted some lines... ...and just wrote what comes to my mind.
@kce8, don't ever apologize for speaking your mind friend. and you didn't offend me at all, I completely respect your opinion, I hope I wasn't coming across as offensive as that was not my intention.
as far as your question is concerned, which is a good question, carrying a gun for me is just preparing for a possible tragedy despite how unlikely it is to occur. i wear a seatbelt because i don't want to fly out of the windshield if i get into a wreck. just because I've been driving for 20 years and have never needed it, doesn't mean i shouldn't wear it. same thing applies for my pistol, I've been carrying concealed for over a decade and have never even thought about needing to use it, but i'm not gonna stop carrying it just because i will probably never in my life need it.
and i could go on and on about how despicable i think people are who leave guns laying around for kids to play with, unfortunately with little to no penalty, that will continue. and for what it's worth, i'm all for nailing peoples asses to the wall that are that irresponsible.
if you think what I believe is stupid, bizarre, ridiculous or outrageous.....it's ok, I think I had a brain tumor when I wrote that.
Comments
and
I didn't know the term "Open carry" but yes that is what I was getting at.
So this is not my problem. I have a problem with people who want to tell me that people need guns to protect themselves and carry it around.
And I know all the arguments...but nobody can tell people in Europe just only one good reason this person (most of them) would agree with.
IF NOBODY CAN LEGALLY CARRY IT AROUND YOU WILL HAVE NO NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF!
AND NOBODY CAN TELL ME YOU DO NOT HAVE A LOWER INHIBITION TRESHOLD TO USE A GUN IF YOU USED TO USE/HANDLE IT!
AS SOMEONE MEANTIONED IT BEFORE: GUNS ARE MADE TO KILL...NOT TO WARN YOU!
Most of us can live without guns here! No problem...
as far as the lower inhibition goes, so what? not sure if that's a human rights thing or what, but there are billions and billions of humans on this planet, so what if some murderers, rapists, and thieves get blasted when they're traumatizing people and ruining their lives? less people murdering, raping and robbing, in my opinion, is a good thing. and like I said there are billions and billions more out there.
and I can live without guns just fine, there's not a single thing in my life that requires a gun for me to survive. I CHOOSE to have guns. and I've never killed anyone, never threatened anyone, never done a single negative thing with them. i only have loads of fun and enjoy the peace of mind knowing I have the ability to defend myself against any threat out there. i'm literally surrounded by guns where I live, and the only thing here that is indiscriminately killing people and animals..........are cars.
People commit crimes everywhere in the world!
And sometimes it´s even more worse than in USA.
I think about Africa or Near East where little kids get kidnaped to become a destroyed human killing machine! Yes, people do that to them but what do they use to kill other human beings? Right, weapons...and where do this weapons come frome? Yes, we give it to them and then the guns go from one to the next war...(but that´s another problem).
Ok, You say: Only cars are killing people and animals where you live.
So why do you need the ability to defend yourself then?
Sorry, I don´t get it...I´m just glad I don´t need the ability...
Oh and you are right...really bad people use guns anyways, I know that...but that was not what I meant. One point is if usually nobody caries a weapon around they cannot shoot if they get in trouble. And no kid would get the chance to accidental take a f..g gun and destroy their lifes.
The complete keynote is wrong! It sure depends on and includes all laws, politic activity (police etc) and human behavior..education...etc. (we need to ask ourselves why young people need to grow up to a criminal persons)
So do you in person really need the ability to defend yourself when you live in an area where only cars kill the people???
If you had told me you live in a dangerous hotspot...then I maybe could get it....
This is exact the way of thinking - where all my comprehension is finding an end...
You choose to have guns...the people around the kids (who took guns) had done the same, and I seriously assume they didn´t want or thought of that such tragedie could happen to them!
You might will just agree to me in this one point.
Oh and I don´t want to offend you in person - I offend thinking in general that way.
All in all it´s obvious to me that not only new gun laws can change this situations/behavior.
*maybe it sounds a little bit messy - sorry, I deleted some lines...
...and just wrote what comes to my mind.
as far as your question is concerned, which is a good question, carrying a gun for me is just preparing for a possible tragedy despite how unlikely it is to occur. i wear a seatbelt because i don't want to fly out of the windshield if i get into a wreck. just because I've been driving for 20 years and have never needed it, doesn't mean i shouldn't wear it. same thing applies for my pistol, I've been carrying concealed for over a decade and have never even thought about needing to use it, but i'm not gonna stop carrying it just because i will probably never in my life need it.
and i could go on and on about how despicable i think people are who leave guns laying around for kids to play with, unfortunately with little to no penalty, that will continue. and for what it's worth, i'm all for nailing peoples asses to the wall that are that irresponsible.