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I co-worker of mine whose husband is an LEO asked me why I would ever need to carry a gun.
I asked her why her husband carried his off duty
She said Because he lives in an area where he arrests alot of bad people
My response was "I live with those people, their my neighbors"

I've carried a knife since I was kid. (They used to be part of a kid package and didn't mean anything.) I still carry a great big folding Gerber. I've never needed it for anything but cutting tags off and opening plastic packages. I carry it also if I need to change the direction of things if someone is trying to cause me a problem.

I can't say I will never need it for other than opening a package but I'll have it for those other cases also. I'll carry a gun for those other cases also.

My response goes a little something like this:
"Well, I would like to keep an even playing field when possible. Most attackers wield some sort of weapon, be it improvised like a pipe or planned like a bat, knife, or gun. Most attackers are also male, and therefore are likely to be able to easily overpower me seeing as I'm only 5'2" and weigh 120 lbs. If I can carry a gun, I'm prepared for any sort of weapon an attacker might have up to and including their own firearm."

I usually am then asked if I'm paranoid, because surely I'm not expecting an axe-murderer around every corner??

"An attacker can attack you anywhere. In a parking lot, at work, at home, at school...the list goes on. I understand the risk of being attacked in general is small, but I am more at risk because I am small, a woman, and leave from work in the wee hours of the morning which means I would be a prime target. If I never get attacked and never need to use my gun, I would be exceedingly happy. If, however, a situation arises that requires me to defend myself, I don't want to be standing there wishing the police would sure hurry up because I have nothing more than a handbag to defend myself with."

If they continue to insist I don't need a gun, I comment on the need to sometimes agree to disagree and change the subject. If my responses haven''t make them at least stop to think about my opinion by that point, it's not worth wasting more time and breath.

marksiwel wrote:What to say when people ask "why would you ever need a gun?"

Quick answer is "Why would you ever need a seat belt?"

mgood wrote:

marksiwel wrote:What to say when people ask "why would you ever need a gun?"

Quick answer is "Why would you ever need a seat belt?"

This is one of the best I've heard.

Zee wrote:

mgood wrote:

marksiwel wrote:What to say when people ask "why would you ever need a gun?"

Quick answer is "Why would you ever need a seat belt?"

This is one of the best I've heard.

What to say when people ask "why would you ever need a gun?"

One possible reply would be to ask the person if they have a TV? What you see happening elsewhere can happen here.

No explanation or defense of your decision to have/carry a gun is necessary.

mgood wrote:

marksiwel wrote:What to say when people ask "why would you ever need a gun?"

Quick answer is "Why would you ever need a seat belt?"

Best response so far!

Because I cant carry your husband around on my hip!

Or

Do you have car/homeowners/health/life insurance? It just so happens that my policy includes a 45.

"You know Freud said, “A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity”,
Sorry, you are scared of my gun.

Normally, I try to talk to them. Maybe get them to a class.

randomoutburst said:
I usually am then asked if I'm paranoid, because surely I'm not expecting an axe-murderer around every corner??

Your response could be: Why should I be paranoid? I've got a pistol on me!

SIA

I usually ask them if they have a fire extinguisher at home. If they do, I ask them why. When they say "In case of a fire" I say "You know the vast majority of people never experience a house fire in their lifetime". They always reply "Well, it's better to be safe than sorry" at which point I say "Exactly."

mgood wrote:

marksiwel wrote:What to say when people ask "why would you ever need a gun?"

Quick answer is "Why would you ever need a seat belt?"

Short ,to the point, and most people can comprehend .
This will be my new #1 answer from now on.

Thanks mgood !

I do like the Seat belt answer, plain,simple and to the point!

My answer is much simpler than most. I don't feel the need to draw analogies or make excuses. Why do I feel it is necessary to carry a gun? I CAN

If you need to draw an analogy, I seem to remember an old joke about dogs with the punch line of "Because he CAN"