There you go, the essential evil of restrictive gun law, and I applaud the rational thinking.The Annoyed Man wrote:I am NOT going to apologize for having illegally carried a firearm from time to time when I lived in California. During the Rodney King rioting, I carried a 1911 in a fanny pack every day I went to work in downtown L.A. I would put that 1911 under my seat if I was making a late night trip to an ATM, or driving on a long trip - particularly to a remote location. All of that was illegal in California. To hades with California and its trampling of the Constitution. Most or all of their gun laws are unconstitutional. I did NOT rob banks, rape people, mug anyone, burgle homes, stick up gas stations, paint graffiti all over everything, commit any kind of fraud, or harm anyone else in any kind of way; so no matter what anyone else says, I still consider myself a law-abiding person and always will. When I got to Texas, it was lawful for me to travel with a firearm in my car, so I didn't worry about it much initially. Eventually, I went for my CHL about a year after getting here, and have carried ever since.
When I first scheduled my family for CHL instruction, I remember making an offhand comment that I wasn't really thinking about carrying all the time, but that I should be expected to arm up at any time, for any reason, maybe for no reason, where it was lawful. I've kept guns handy pretty much non-stop since. If the only place I'm going is the Post Office, I still carry (and disarm before entering the federal building). My cell phone could ring and change the rest of the day's futile plans.
But I don't carry because I'm obsessed with guns. The constant reminder to carry is that I'm an American. God's angels sing more harmoniously every time someone carries while remaining obedient to good, moral standards. I'm not saying I'm very moral, but I will say that I work to conduct myself as if I were, the more so when armed. That is why I celebrate life as an armed citizen. It's American and it's healthy.
The other reasons to carry can best be revealed by the teachings of this august assembly of experts in criminal behavior.
Yes, I know. If I'm trapped by one of those guys in a dark alley I'm toast. I have my strict personal rules of engagement, the less strict rules of engagement mandated by law, the value I put on life will be their best weapon, and none of that applies to the opposition. But I still don't want to meet any of them unarmed.