So I just heard that Florida has relaxed its gun laws. It is now legal to conceal carry a gun in Florida without a permit. That doesn’t effect me personally today, because I live in NC where “open carry” is available without a permit but concealed carry still requires one (for one).
I have owned a pistol since the 1990s. It’s for emergency protection only. I was glad to have it when I was living on the road because I stayed in remote wilderness areas where there was no way I could count on anyone to protect me. I was also glad to have it when I was in Florida during and after hurricane blackouts. It was like a bomb went off and there was no way you could cont on calling 911 to prevent looters, violence or theft. (I never needed to use my gun – but was reassured to have it.)
For that matter, even today, under normal non-emergency conditions, I don’t count on the police to protect me in the suburbs or the city either. Police arrive after the fact.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if NC follows Florida’s lead and make concealed carry legal here too. Which got me thinking – would I carry a gun with me if it was?
I could buy a holster and carry a gun openly right now. I don’t do this now.
Why?
Because I have never needed a gun to protect myself.
But – I suppose if I thought many people were carrying guns, whether open or concealed, all around me, maybe I would carry one with me to put me on a level playing field in case one was pulled on me.
It’s an interesting dilemma. The last thing I would want is to shoot someone and go to prison. It’s one of my worst nightmares.
But…even worse would be getting shot and being unable to defend myself (and others) because I did not have a gun.
In my daily life, I rarely go anywhere where I feel unsafe. I know a “mass shooting by a lunatic” can happen anywhere. But really, I suspect the odds of running not one at the pool in the early morning hours, the grocery store or the vets are extremely low.
I don’t go to concerts. I don’t go to parties. I don’t go to gang areas. I avoid crowds. I avoid sporting events.
So for now, for me at least, the gun stays home.