TexasCHLforum.com

Lykoi wrote:

Odin wrote:
Not to mention we managed to survive the last 6000 years without the things, I don't go into a panic when there's not a cell phone around.

I find my cell phone is more valuable a tool 99% of the time than the firearm i'm carrying...

I would say that I use my cell phone nearly every day and I haven't needed to use a concealed handgun to this point, so the phone is more used, but I wouldn't call it a "more valuable" tool than my firearm. Just my opinion.

Lykoi wrote: I've taken photos of bg's and even a license plate that helped Arlington PD find a guy who tried to shoot someone.

I've called in domestic disturbances on my old neighbors when he decided to show her he was a "man"...

I've called in multiple car wrecks, a heart attack, several "drunk drivers" while i was a bouncer, a guy who drunk when he left a gas station i walked into, and even when i "happened" upon the guy who was riding my stolen motorcycle... in all these cases my phone was used to prevent someone from losing their life, taking another's life, causing injury to another, or to report a crime.

All very valid reasons for having the phone on you. i choose to not always carry a phone on my person. it's a compromise that I understand and accept.

There are many times I could have really used a flashlight, a pen and paper, a pair of pliers, etc...but I don't carry those things all the time either.

I carry a gun only because in a worst case scenario it can save me from a violent felon intent on suddenly ending my life. Not because I think I'll ever need it, but because if I ever need it I probably won't live without it. The other items I think I can survive without. I'm not against people always carrying a phone, I think ti's an excellent idea, but I choose not to always carry a phone.

Lykoi wrote: I've drawn my CCW once... i wouldn't be without it b/c that 1% is all it takes to make the other 99% unimportant...

you should always have the phone for multiple reasons...

you can call for help... if you're outnumbered, cornered, anything you might NEED help, the ability to get it is paramount to your "having one more thing on the belt"

You might witness a crime and be able to follow/identify the suspect... waiting for the police might allow a worse crime to be committed.

There a method to track your phone's location if you are in trouble... I've accidentally dialed 911 on one occasion (don't ask how) and before i knew i'd done it, there were to local LEO's at my door knocking.

If you do use your CCW in defense of yourself, who's to say the BG won't survive and need an ambulance... who's to say you won't be the one injured and need that ambulance? When you're bleeding out and the BG who shot you runs off, are you going to think "man i'm glad i wasn't inconvenienced by falling on one of those "darn cell phones".

In the end it's another tool.. one you should carry every time you walk outside... If you don't "like them" get "good reception" then your choice is what effects your life... but not carrying a cell phone makes less sense that not carrying a firearm.. as it doesn't matter if your finger is on the "trigger" or where you point it... no training is really needed, and not many safety issues or classes to take to learn to use it to prevent/stop a crime.

I always have the phone in my vehicle, which covers most of those scenarios. I just don't often carry it on my person when I exit the vehicle.

Lykoi wrote: If you care enough to be armed, be armed for the majority of situations and not the minority.

I'm armed to potentially save my life, if I felt those other items were likely to be needed to save my life I'd carry them as well.

I can think of dozens of items that could theoretically save my life in an emergency, but I don't keep any of them on my person because I feel that the compromise of not carrying them outweighs the inconvenience of carrying them.

Elotemuygrande wrote:

Odin wrote: Not to mention we managed to survive the last 6000 years without the things

I spy a Creationist. But a Creationist named Odin?

Yes.

mr surveyor wrote:the argument of "always" having you cell phone on your person is an urban issue. We don't all live in the wonderful world of perfect cell service coverage. At least half of the area in which I work in the NE Tx area is a "no talkie" zone where cell coverage is almost non existent. There just isn't a one size fits all for everyone, everywhere. I carry my cell phone, as well as a whole lot of "other" things on a daily basis, but the cell phone is the very least dependable of my tools.

Not to mention we managed to survive the last 6000 years without the things, I don't go into a panic when there's not a cell phone around.

Lykoi wrote:

Odin wrote: When I'm walking around in my everyday street clothes I'm already carrying on my belt or in my pockets my car keys (required), a folding knife (used almost daily), sometimes a cell phone (used daily, carried sometimes), a holstered firearm and sometimes a spare magazine in a belt pouch.

the fact that you will ALWAYS carry a hangun and not always have your cell phone means you aren't carrying proper tools all the time.

I agree that a cell phone is a good thing to have on you in an emergency, but often I don't want to bother with carrying it, as it's just one more thing to tote around. I'm not one of those people who uses the cell phone much, so I don't miss it. I managed to live many decades without a cell phone so I don't feel lost without one. It's always in the truck if it's not on me.

Lykoi wrote:

The only item there that won't be used daily is the handgun, and the handgun is the only item I know of that in a worst case scenario if the a problem arises can be used to stop an immediate threat on and save my life or the life of a person with me.

If all you have is a hammer, then EVERY problem begins to look like a nail

You're right, but where does it end? What about all the other tools that one could theoretically carry just in case of emergency? In my opinion OC can escalate a situation that may have otherwise been avoided just as easily as it can solve a problem, and I'm not overly confident in its ability to stop a fight. I've seen too much evidence of that.

Lykoi wrote:

I'm not saying that OC isn't a useful item, but how much stuff should I be reasonably expected to carry around on my person on a daily basis? I'm not discounting OC or other items as useful, but compromises must be made in the name of practicality (otherwise we'd all be carrying shotguns).

you not expected to carry ANYTHING... you choose to carry what you want... you don't seem to mind having a handgun, but no way to call for LE if the situation demands it... OC is simply ANOTHER tool... it's a way to deal with some situations where you can't legally justify shooting someone... I once had a drunk person use my front tire as a toilet.. he refused to move despite my being in the vehicle, and he began yelling profanity at me through the headlights... i'm not about to shoot some moron for urinating on my truck, but i'm not going to let him block my exit, abuse my property and yell threats (however idle) at me while i'm trying to leave... he got the spray, and he deserved it...

In that case I would have simply locked my doors and called 911 if the drunk wouldn't move and there was no other possible way to drive away. I'm not going to fight a guy because he peed on my tire. I'd be fighting neighborhood dogs all the time of that were the case.

OC is notoriously poor at controlling drunks and people who are on drugs. That might have escalated a non-physical situation into something worse. Also, if you spray the guy and drive away do you call him an ambulance. Some people have had adverse medical reactions to OC spray, especially when they are under the influence of something.

Lykoi wrote: OC is a two edged sword, no you don't "need" it... but it can be useful when you feel the situation does not call for you to shoot the person. It's also dangerous as if used ineffectively it can incapacitate you and leave you open to an escalated attack in which you now have less ability to control your firearm or see your target.. it's not for everyone, but it's simply another tool...

OC is very unpredictable in its ability to incapacitate someone. I do know that just about anyone is capable of ignoring the OC and fighting through it effectively if they are determined to do so. In my opinion a person who is determined to do me physical harm should be able to fight through the OC to carry out that threat. OC can be useful (or useless) in distracting someone long enough to get the cuffs on them, but in a case like you described above I wouldn't use it. It worked for you so that's what matters.

Lykoi wrote: however your cell phone should be on you at all times when you think carrying is necessary. It's the only method you might have to prevent greater injury to others etc...

I agree that it's a good idea, although I sometimes compromise and don't carry it.

To comment on the subjec tof OC, which was brought up related to this topic...

I don't agree that a CHL holder (or any other citizen) has any real need to carry OC, but that's just my opinion based on my life experience. Other people may feel that it's necessary but I do not.

When I'm walking around in my everyday street clothes I'm already carrying on my belt or in my pockets my car keys (required), a folding knife (used almost daily), sometimes a cell phone (used daily, carried sometimes), a holstered firearm and sometimes a spare magazine in a belt pouch.

The only item there that won't be used daily is the handgun, and the handgun is the only item I know of that in a worst case scenario if the a problem arises can be used to stop an immediate threat on and save my life or the life of a person with me.

Intermediate weapons (batons, OC, Taser, etc.) are commonly used by police to take subjects into custody, but the police routinely go headfirst into trouble and confront combative people by nature of their job.

I find that it's better to avoid those situations, and I am minding my own business and approached by someone who suddenly threatens me with violence (never happened) my personal approach is to ignore the threat and leave the area while remaining alert, if possible. If that isn't possible and I feel threatened with imminent serious bodily injury or death then my handgun is coming out.

I can't imagine a situation where I would take out OC and spray someone. What sort of scenarios are people getting in to where they are being threatened enough to use force, but not threatened seriously enough to warrant defending themselves by producing their handgun?

I'm not saying that OC isn't a useful item, but how much stuff should I be reasonably expected to carry around on my person on a daily basis? I'm not discounting OC or other items as useful, but compromises must be made in the name of practicality (otherwise we'd all be carrying shotguns).