What scares me

[Sedalia Dave]

Borrowed from a friend of a friend. I borrowed it because I agree with every word.

 

<quote>

 

I’ve heard people ask, of those who carry a gun, “What are you afraid of?” Seems kinda like a stupid question, but I’ll try to answer it here, as best my feeble communications can.

 

First of all, I think it is mostly just a challenge from people who are unwilling to put themselves into a defensive position, or perhaps, just living with the notion that the world is full of sunshine, lollipops and roses.

 

I don’t fear for myself. That left a long time ago. Want to scare me real good? Don’t threaten to kill me, because I really don’t care very much. Except for the obstinate streak that won’t let me just lay down and take it.

 

What I fear, is that evil people, and deranged, and misguided, or whatever you want to call them, will attempt to do harm to those I love. To those about me, to innocents, to people who carry an expectation of a long and fulfilling life. To people who do no harm, live right, and are trying to better themselves, build a future and a family. These are folks who deserve the opportunity to do so.

I fear not being able to step in and make a difference, I fear cowering in a corner unable to protect, I fear the loss of innocent life.

 

Again I do not fear for myself.

 

So keep passing laws and restrictions that make it impossible for myself and those like me from being able to legally defend others.

 

In the end, I’ll do it anyway, and likely be in more trouble than those intent on doing great harm to those I care about.

 

Criminals do not respect rules or reason.

Criminals do not respect gun free zones.

Criminals do not have issues obtaining firearms by deception.

Criminals do not need firearms to harm others.

Criminals have no issues killing innocents.

 

What keeps me up at night is that there are not enough people of good conscience to stop them.

 

That is what I’m afraid of.

<end quote>

 

One Last thought... "The scariest thing about monsters is that they look just like us."

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

33 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

I’ve heard people ask, of those who carry a gun, “What are you afraid of?”

One Last thought... "The scariest thing about monsters is that they look just like us."

I've had people ask me that too. I tell them that it's not that I'm afraid of something, but I want to be prepared if something Bad happens. I ask them if they wear a seatbelt. Why? Are you afraid you'll get in an accident? No, you're just being prepared in case you do. Same thing with a fire extinguisher. 

And I'm not afraid to admit that I DO fear for myself. I don't want to die. I'm not READY to die. I want to be around long enough to be a Grumpy Old Man. At 71, some would say that I've made it. but I think that I've got more to do. I don't know what, but I just don't feel like I'm done yet. Part of that is that I DO want to be around to protect my loved ones. Sometimes it seems like the world HAS gone insane. Now nobody's ever exactly accused ME of not being at least a little crazy, but to quote Waylon, "I've always been crazy, it's kept me from going insane". My kind of crazy doesn't want to hurt anybody, but it DOES think that I just might make a difference if insanity breaks out and I have my gun to handle it.

[Stump Water]

12 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I ask them if they wear a seatbelt. Why? Are you afraid you'll get in an accident? No, you're just being prepared in case you do. Same thing with a fire extinguisher. 

 

I had this posted in my office for many years.

 

 

[Pat Riot]

I have been asked that question. I used to have a fairly lengthy response that usually tweaked people’s political noses a bit. One day a couple of years ago I was asked why I carried a gun. 
I responded with “Because I want to and it’s my right as an American citizen.”

That pretty much stops any more smarmy questioning. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

1. I carry a gun because I can.

2. I am afraid of only two things:

       A. Rust

       B. Left wing politicians.

 

Even though I am not required to, I have a CCW permit because with it I no longer have to go through a background check to buy a gun.

 

 

[Texas Maverick]

I usually don't say anything to them. The bottom line is there are not enough sheepdogs around to protect the sheep from the wolves. Just look at that poor girl in NY. Around 10 people around her and all they did was video her being murdered. If someone with a gun had been there they could have stopped this senseless killing. I hope and pray I never have to use my gun but if I do I will at least have it with me to do so. I don't look for trouble  but I am not running from it either. I also have my CHL here in Texas even though not needed. It allows me to travel through some states that require one from your home state and it also bypasses the background check for firearm purchases. As they say in the scouts, better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. I also have US Lawshield just in case I ever have to use it.

 

TM

Edited October 6, 2025 by Texas Maverick

[Dantankerous]

I use the spare tire in your vehicle analogy. That logic seems to work. 

 

Fire extinguisher, seat belt, motorcycle helmet, and if I want to get a laugh... condom. 

 

 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Dantankerous said:

I use the spare tire in your vehicle analogy. That logic seems to work. 

In days past, I would have agreed with you. But combine the fact that many cars today don't even come with a spare, just a can of Fix A Flat and a plug-in air pump, AND the fact that many people nowadays can't even CHANGE a tire, and a lot of people wouldn't get it. Seat belts are the law, and we KNOW the sheeple ALWAYS follow the law.

[Rip Snorter]

Just FYI, the Canned Spare won't work with at least some of the valves that read tire pressure - got caught that way a couple of years ago, fortunately at a friend's Ranch with a full auto shop.

 

BTW Responses on carrying a gun "What are you afraid of?"  Not much.

Second, Officers are too heavy and don't want to cooperate.

Edited October 6, 2025 by Rip Snorter

[Pat Riot]

2 hours ago, Dantankerous said:

I use the spare tire in your vehicle analogy. That logic seems to work. 

 

Fire extinguisher, seat belt, motorcycle helmet, and if I want to get a laugh... condom. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

In days past, I would have agreed with you. But combine the fact that many cars today don't even come with a spare, just a can of Fix A Flat and a plug-in air pump, AND the fact that many people nowadays can't even CHANGE a tire, and a lot of people wouldn't get it. Seat belts are the law, and we KNOW the sheeple ALWAYS follow the law.

Just say “Spare phone charger”. They’ll get it then. 

[Jiminy Cricket]

I’ve never been asked what I’m afraid of but was asked once why I carry, I showed them my flashlight and pocket knife and said “same reason I carry these.”

 

That seemed to be enough.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

3 hours ago, Dantankerous said:

I use the spare tire in your vehicle analogy. That logic seems to work. 

 

Fire extinguisher, seat belt, motorcycle helmet, and if I want to get a laugh... condom. 

 

 

And what could you do with a condom, make balloon animals?

[J-BAR #18287]

I don't understand how they know you are carrying concealed, unless you tell them or show them...

 

Very few people other than close family members know that I carry concealed.  I thought that was the main idea.

 

 I have never been asked why I carry, so I haven't had to prepare an answer.  If asked, I would likely ignore them and walk away.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

15 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

And what could you do with a condom, make balloon animals?

We'll tell you when you're older.

[Rip Snorter]

15 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

And what could you do with a condom, make balloon animals?

Over the end of a rifle barrel?

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

3 minutes ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

I don't understand how they know you are carrying concealed, unless you tell them or show them...

I don't carry concealed. I carry open for God and everybody to see. Here in Arizona, nobody worries about it much. If anybody asks, it usually somebody from out of town.

[J-BAR #18287]

13 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I don't carry concealed. I carry open for God and everybody to see. Here in Arizona, nobody worries about it much. If anybody asks, it usually somebody from out of town.

I would be honored to hang out with you;  folks are going to be watching you, not me.  I prefer anonymity.

[Rip Snorter]

Off the property, only a couple of places I will go open carry.  Seems like a shoot me first signal, my tactical awareness is fairly decent, but not foolproof.

[Matthew Duncan]

I carry because my wife knows I can save her from harm a whole lot quicker then dialing 911 could.

Edited October 7, 2025 by Matthew Duncan

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

I would be honored to hang out with you;  folks are going to be watching you, not me.  I prefer anonymity.

 

59 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

Off the property, only a couple of places I will go open carry.  Seems like a shoot me first signal, my tactical awareness is fairly decent, but not foolproof.

Here in Arizona nobody really worries about it. As for a "shoot me first' signal, I consider open carry to be a "leave me alone, go looking for easier prey" signal. I've been doing it for 30 years with no problems. Obviously I don't go absolutely anywhere, I don't go looking for trouble. 

When I made my Ohio trips, I open carried the whole trip except when going through Illinois. Anybody that paid attention was complimentary. Same as around here. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

11 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

Over the end of a rifle barrel?

Did you learn that in Vietnam?  It was widely used and wasn't a new idea even then.

 

Lots of uses for other products that were not what they were designed to do.  Kotex and nylon hose are only two examples.

[Alpo]

11 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

As for a "shoot me first' signal, I consider open carry to be a "leave me alone, go looking for easier prey" signal.

 

I keep hearing this - if the bad guy sees you're wearing a gun he will shoot you first!!!!!!!

 

If I'm in the convenience store, and the thug comes in to knock over the convenience store for the $50 that's available in the register, I don't think he's going to commit two murders. Not for $50.

 

He's going to come in the store with the intention of scaring the clerk into giving him money, see me there wearing a gun openly, and leave to go knock over some other store where there's not an armed man there.

 

If wearing a gun openly with an invitation to SHOOT ME FIRST!!!!!, uniformed policeman would be shot at a rate of 4 or 5 hundred a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But if a guy goes into a store with the intention of robbing it and he sees a cop in there getting a cup of coffee, he's going to leave. He's not going to get in a gunfight with a policeman.

 

If a gang of bank robbers has spent weeks planning this job, and when they all rush into the bank carrying automatic weapons, and they see me wearing a gun - yeah I can see them shooting me.

 

But your average criminal is going to leave.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

16 minutes ago, Alpo said:

 

I keep hearing this - if the bad guy sees you're wearing a gun he will shoot you first!!!!!!!

 

If I'm in the convenience store, and the thug comes in to knock over the convenience store for the $50 that's available in the register, I don't think he's going to commit two murders. Not for $50.

 

He's going to come in the store with the intention of scaring the clerk into giving him money, see me there wearing a gun openly, and leave to go knock over some other store where there's not an armed man there.

 

If wearing a gun openly with an invitation to SHOOT ME FIRST!!!!!, uniformed policeman would be shot at a rate of 4 or 5 hundred a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But if a guy goes into a store with the intention of robbing it and he sees a cop in there getting a cup of coffee, he's going to leave. He's not going to get in a gunfight with a policeman.

 

If a gang of bank robbers has spent weeks planning this job, and when they all rush into the bank carrying automatic weapons, and they see me wearing a gun - yeah I can see them shooting me.

 

But your average criminal is going to leave.

My thinking exactly. My friend Tex used to preach the "shoot me first" train of thought. His sole example was that of a uniformed, armed security guard at a bank. When I visited him open carrying, in Ohio, and this was when it was first determined to be perfectly legal, he was amazed that nobody, even there, seemed concerned about it, and that I was in fact complimented on it a few times.

The average Thug on the Street is a coward. He's looking for an easy score. He's not looking for a fight, and absolutely not a gunfight. He's NOT looking to kill anybody, he's looking to frighten them into submission. If he thinks that he's going to meet ANY resistance from an armed bystander, he's going to go elsewhere.

[Pat Riot]

@Alpo I am glad you know exactly what’s going to happen in that regard. 
 

——————————————————

 

All,

When I lived in Oregon many guys wore concealed carry vests. I used to hear people refer to them as “Shoot me first vests”. Of course many of those vests had tactical logos on them. 
 

Anyway, I occasionally see men carrying openly here. no one seems to get excited about it. 
I do see guys wearing vests, which I assume some are concealed carry vests, but I never hear the term “Shoot me first vest”.

I only open carry at the shooting range. I do not open carry in public. 
 

 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

14 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

@Alpo I am glad you know exactly what’s going to happen in that regard. 
 

All,

When I lived in Oregon many guys wore concealed carry vests. I used to hear people refer to them as “Shoot me first vests”. Of course many of those vests had tactical logos on them. 
 

Anyway, I occasionally see men carrying openly here. no one seems to get excited about it. 
I do see guys wearing vests, which I assume some are concealed carry vests, but I never hear the term “Shoot me first vest”.

I only open carry at the shooting range. I do not open carry in public. 

While I am only a survey sample of one, my experience backs up Alpo's observations.

As for the term "Shoot me first" vest, I've heard it used back when a oversized, photographer type vest with a lot of pockets was what CCW carriers were wearing, usually by somebody who doesn't carry a gun. 

[Eyesa Horg]

I rarely carry open, but on the occasions that I have, nobody really seems to notice! Never had anybody say anything good or bad. I typically carry concealed.

[John Kloehr]

I sort of carry concealed, but I am a carry slob. And OWB, and my T shirt is tucked in my pants. My summer cover is basically a tactical vest just because I have not found a nice light non-tactical vest. And this is also only "sort of" concealed because only carriers wanting to cover will have any extra layers in the summer (90 degrees, 90% humidity).

 

I too am of the opinion a common criminal will abort rather than taking me out first in some petty robbery. The bank robbery example above is different, as in any mass shooter including the guy at the NFL headquarters. He did shoot the guard first. The unarmed but uniformed guard, but it makes the point.

 

I also occasionally get asked about carrying, less so when covered which suggests only those who think about details notice details (like an extra layer of clothing). For them, I do accept the interruption politely rather than rudely. I think it is important to represent well as a carrier in the community.

 

I break those who notice into three groups, I'll get to the "Karens" last.

 

First, there are those who will change direction instantly on seeing the arm on my belt. While some might be people of low repute, I think most are just fearful. I do not know what they are really afraid of, but they project this onto any carrier. Let them go, I can see no good coming from approaching them. Minimal concealment is enough to keep all but people of ill repute from noticing it.

 

The generally and genuinely curious, or possibly a fellow carrier being friendly. This may be simply wanting to know what I am carrying and why I chose it, or it could be someone who has been thinking about carrying. Or letting me know I carry is a bit obvious... Depending on circumstances and time, I do my best to be helpful.

 

Possible Karens until confirmed. When asked if I am a cop (or officer), my response is "No, do you need one?" There have been a couple times when people have needed some help. But Karens are likely then to move into some level of "what are you afraid of?" or "Do you really expect trouble here at the [grocery store/gas station/etc.]?" For them, I explain I bought my first handgun the day after someone tried to break into my home at night when I was there. I don't expect trouble out here in public, I just do not want to walk in to my house with my groceries and have no way to defend myself if someone is already in there. I know this will percolate up in their brain when they get to their home and start to unlock their own front door. Anyway, for me, this is the truth.

[Sedalia Dave]

My 5 cents worth. 
 

 The reason I carry concealed is that it gives me the options that open carry can’t. 
 

 If I’m somewhere where a criminal decides to commit a crime, I have two choices; get involved or do nothing. Sometimes your best option is to not get involved. Sometimes the best option is to administer a dose of lead poisoning. 

It’s JMNSHO that concealed carry gives me more options. 

[John Kloehr]

22 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

The reason I carry concealed is that it gives me the options that open carry can’t. 
 

... get involved or do nothing.

I don't disagree, and it is sometimes best to just be a good witness. For a mass shooting, "run, hide, fight" is a sensible guideline of preferred actions. Having taught carry classes and qualified shooters to state standards, a barely passing target is a bit of an eye-opener. I do not expect those carriers to be even that accurate when shooting under stress. While I have never said it to a student, my thought is they are "making good use of the entire target."

 

I am still a bit of a carry slob in terms of concealment. I also can "make" most carriers whether through printing, asymmetry, stance, or demeanor (clearly aware of their surroundings).

[Alpo]

I believe that Pat has the best answer so far. Although he said too much.

 

Why do you carry a gun?

 

Because I want to carry a gun, - and that's where he should have stopped - and because I'm a citizen I can (I know that last bit is paraphrased because I don't remember exactly what he said and I'm too lazy to go looking for the Post).

 

When people ask me why I carry a gun, depending on how nicely they ask, and how I feel that day, I tell them one of two things.

 

Why do you carry a gun?

 

Because I carry a gun.

 

That's my response when they ask nicely and I'm feeling good. And when they make a demanding question of it, or I'm in a bad mood

 

F*** Off!

 

But however they ask, and however I'm feeling that day, I don't justify why I carry again. And that's what most of these responses have been. Justification.

 

I carry a gun because a policeman is too heavy.

I carry a gun for the same reason I wear a seat belt and have a fire extinguisher.

I carry a gun in case I need one.

 

You're justifying your decision to carry a gun. I gave up justifying myself years ago. For anything. I do what I do because I want to do it. I don't need a reason.

[DeaconKC]

I wish I could have thought to say this so well, but it was great. I gave the man a fine slow hand clap when he was done. Some snotty twerp saw my friend was carrying and said "What are you trying to compensate for?" Dan looked him up and down slowly, then said, "I'm  compensating for self-emasculating, simpering cowards who have abandoned their responsibility to stand and protect the weaker members of society." 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

6 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

I don't disagree, and it is sometimes best to just be a good witness.

 

I am still a bit of a carry slob in terms of concealment. I also can "make" most carriers whether through printing, asymmetry, stance, or demeanor (clearly aware of their surroundings).

MY best friend is a retired Cop. He doesn't carry because he doesn't want to get into a situation where he has to take another life. He does state that he will be the best witness that he can be, if the situation ever comes up. 

I find it interesting that someone being "clearly aware of their surroundings" is such a tell, though it's not that hard to spot theses days. Just watch for somebody NOT with his head stuck in his phone.