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Defining Moment(s) that led to your decision to CCW

419K views 1K replies 1K participants last post by  Chuck Finley69 
#1 · (Edited)
[Edit on 12/09/2010]: I requested a change to the thread's name, and I've decided to add something to this OP to better clarify the thread's intent.

There are dozens of threads, if not hundreds, with the subject "Why I/you/we CCW"...which is why I started this thread in the first place: to ask specifically about "Defining Moments" that you may have had, which led you to the decision to CCW. I haven't kept track of exact numbers, but a considerable portion of the posts -- particularly those more recent -- have been along the lines of "I CCW because..." which doesn't fit the thread's intent.

I'm not trying to play Moderator here, nor am I criticizing those who've posted "Why I Carry" responses to this thread; I'm simply wanting to remind folks that this thread is meant to be different from those "Why I Carry" threads.


Thanks

[End of 12/09/2010 Edit]
I want to briefly describe two incidents that led me to the decision to carry a firearm for self-defense. And if YOU had a defining moment--or numerous ones--that led to your CCW decision, then I think it would be interesting to read about them.

My story isn't very exciting, but I do hope you'll share your "defining moment(s)" with your fellow GT'ers.

Brief Background
I grew up in a family that only occasionally hunted. My dad had a .22LR rifle and a bolt-action .30-06 for large game. As for "incidents," I'd witnessed a few road-rage episodes and the like, but no weapons were ever involved and no deadly threats--perhaps one possible threat of serious bodily harm at age 15 (road rage).

Defining Moment
It was around October of 2002. My wife and I were talking about starting a family, and my mind was occupied by the responsibilities of a husband and future father. One morning I was listening to a local radio talk show (Bob Lonsberry -- www.lonsberry.com) and he was talking about CCW (he's a CCW'er and a vocal advocate for it), and he urged his audience to read a column he'd written regarding CCW entitled "This is Why I Carry a Gun." (He wrote two versions: one version for a general audience and another version for Guns & Ammo.)

I read both articles, and it was as if lightning had struck me. Paternal instinct? Maybe so.

The Decision
Long story short, from late 2002 till early 2003 I conducted my own crash course in firearms (handguns mostly) and CCW -- did so via the Internet, books, magazines, friends, etc. I'd handled Glocks in the gun shops and took a particular liking to the Glock 19, but budget constraints forced me to settle for a Kel-Tec P-11, which I eventually purchased in early summer of 2004 and could legally carry concealed one month later, UT permit in hand. (I eventually purchased a G19 and subsequently sold the P-11.)

Like I said, it's not that exciting a story.

Anyway, I hope you'll chime in and tell us about your Defining Moment(s).
 
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#830 ·
Background: When I was a teenager I thought guns were fine in the home but had no place in public. My father, a retired LEO, walked in on a group of teenagers robbing a gas station and proceeded to arrest them at gun point. The way the situation developed he wasn't looking for trouble but it found him. I might not be able to spend holidays with my father if he wasn't carrying that night.

I decided to carry because of Murphy's Law.
 
#831 ·
This incident was my catalyst:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Channon_Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom

A couple of kids, not much younger than my girlfriend and i at the time. I bought a CZ P-01 a few weeks later. I had my HCP a few months after that. Now, concealed carry is a daily thing.

My catalyst was a similar story near here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillelid_murders

The Christian/Newsome murders (putting it lightly) hit really close to home living in Knoxville. It was a huge deal around here, as were the trials.

This tragedy was the catalyst for many in the area as it seemed to drive the point home about how random things can happen to anyone and that there are simply some incredibly evil mf'ers in the world.

Most around here are really upset about how little national coverage it got.
 
#833 ·
Background: The way the situation developed he wasn't looking for trouble but it found him. I might not be able to spend holidays with my father if he wasn't carrying that night.

I decided to carry because of Murphy's Law.

Spend all the time with him you can GN. You won't regret it. I'm glad he was carrying that night too! Stay frosty my friend.

I awoke one night back in 1973 to the stomach churning sounds of footsteps outside my window. I was unarmed and responsible for my wife who was sleeping peacefully beside me. I first thought someone was inside the house coming down the hall towards our bedroom. Believe it. Thats a fear I don't want to relive! All was ok, but I have not been unarmed since.

Gray_Rider
Deo Vindice!
 
#834 ·
Just down the street here in Hartford, VT there was a late-night armed home invasion. The victims said that the robbers had the wrong address. I'm glad that they didn't intend to rob my place a few doors away. There would have been two bullet-ridden home invaders. I always have my G17 on me loaded with +p+ JHPs. Who'd of thunk that such urban-style home invasions would occur in semi-rural VT?

Most recently, having neighbors 2 doors down end up on the wrong end of an 8" knife from a drugged-out home invader in the early AM. Hearing and seeing cops checking for unlocked doors and clearing any unlocked houses in the Tuscaloosa Historic District. Big wakeup call. Starting collecting Glocks.

In the 80's, having best friend end a road rage encounter. Perps were 2 ******** with baseball bats. Friend's katana convinced them to leave. My 1911 came soon after and stayed until toddlers made it go away in mid 90's.
 
#835 ·
SCmasterblaster said:
Just down the street here in Hartford, VT there was a late-night armed home invasion. The victims said that the robbers had the wrong address. I'm glad that they didn't intend to rob my place a few doors away. There would have been two bullet-ridden home invaders.
Sounds like the wrong address for sure!

As for why I decided to carry...

I've been raped, but that didn't decide me.
I've been at work when we were robbed by a group of guys with guns, but that didn't decide me.

What decided me was the (early) morning maybe 3 years ago I woke up hearing someone downstairs, then footsteps coming up the stairs to my bedroom.

Even as I was waiting for 911 to answer & yelling at whoever it was "get out of the house, I've called the police", etc., I realized there was no way an officer could teleport in between me & whoever was coming up my stairs*.

I've never been so terrified. (Came close once, 04JUL10.)
I'm feisty, & would fight back, but know I really have no chance of not being harmed.

So I read everything I could get my eyes on about the practical, legal, & ethical aspects of armed self defense,
then researched which pistol would be right for me (and like the OP, originally bought a KelTec P11, but have now moved up to Glocks),
then bought one, took training, & started carrying.

*(It turned out to be my boyfriend who was trying to be thoughtful & sweet & romantic & came over to surprise me... only it surprised me much more than he expected!)
 
#837 ·
It was a dark evening in Late February 2002, I was a 17 year old high school track athlete leaving the track late from practice on evening. Due to the cold temperatures and the sweat that I had covering my body, my car windows fogged up as soon as I entered my 1991 Chevy Corsica. Upon exiting the parking lot at the track, I pulled onto a highway and cut off a car that I did not see coming due to the fog on my windows. Several hundred yards down the road the car pulled alongside mine as I made my way home and began honking and yelling at me, screaming curse words and really over reacting. Being young and inexperienced in these matters, I simply waved at them and yelled sorry. Approximately 200 yards down the road we came to a 4 way intersection with stoplights (looking back on it, I should have just rolled on through), I applied my breaks and came to a stop with the rest of the traffic that was congregated there waiting for their turn to pas through the intersection. Then suddenly I heard the sound of a car door slamming and loud foot steps on the concrete ( at this moment I knew exactly what was happening, the two men that were in the other car yelling at me earlier had followed me to the intersection and just because there were other cars around they were not deterred), I immediately locked all four door to my car, made sure that my window was rolled up,and unbuckled my seat belt (in case I had to move from my seat or defend myself). As soon as the buckle on my seat belt was loose it was as if time stood still for about 3 seconds which seemed like an eternity, my driver side window exploded showering me with broken glass as something came through the glass and struck me in the face, imbedding broken glass into my nose and forehead. Instinctively I raised my hands to defend myself, realizing the attack had stopped momentarily, I looked out where my side window used to be, craning my neck to see what or who was behind my vehicle. I witnessed a less than wholesome looking man getting into a late model chevy compact with another shady looking man in the passenger seat, as they pulled their illegal U turn I was able to get a good look at their license plates and remember the number.
I stayed so calm throughout the entire incident that my dad and the police at my house were almost worried that something may be wrong with me, but it turns out that I am just able to keep a level head in high stress situations. After the police officer documented the damage to my car and face, the police ran down the license plate number and it turned out that the car belonged to a well known drug dealer/ all around dirtbag in town that had a history of doing things like this. We pressed charges and got my window paid for.
After this incident where I was not sure what was on the other side of the fogged up glass window of my car, just knowing that it was not good, I decided that I always want to be able to defend myself even if it requires me to use deadly force. The man used some kind of object to break my window and all that was there to stop him from continuing to cave in my skull was the other cars that were stopped with me, otherwise I may not be here today. If this were to happen again, I would have access to deadly force to protect myself and my loved ones from harm. I own a S&W638 which goes with me practically everywhere and a G23 which is usually around more in the winter time when it is easy to conceal. Both of these will do a fine job of stopping a threat that is deemed to be endangering either my family's or my life.
 
#838 ·
The police officer immediately knew who I was talking about before he even ran the plates, after they verified that it was in fact the suspect in question, officers were sent to the scum bags shanty where he was arrested. The other man in the car with the tattoo on his neck did not get arrested. We pressed charges and the guy plea bargained in exchange for a guilty plea. The law didn't really do much else, I had my window paid for and the turd was released back on the street. I wasn't really happy that because of the fact that I wasn't beaten within an inch of my life, they couldn't do much else except for an assault charge which was dropped to some kind of property damage. Anyway, Im sure the guy is in a much worse place now given the direction that his life was heading at the present time in 2002.
 
#839 ·
I bought a house. A gun seemed like a sensible purchase. Naturally I though that if I owned a handgun I should be able to use it should the need arise. Shooting soon became a hobby. Rather than run the risk of accidentally breaking the law while transporting a firearm to and from the range, I got my p2c.
 
#840 ·
I work in real estate so I am in empty homes all the time with people I don't know. I have had some very sketchy situations so I carry 24/7.

I once was showing a house in a rough area and had a very scary situation. Went in the house and locked the door behind me. I was in the basement and heard footsteps and voices upstairs (empty house). Walked upstairs and there were two very large Mexican guys who were obviously startled that I was there. I didn't even ask why they were there, just flat out said "you're going to have to wait till I'm done in here before you can come in". They left and I got the heck out of there. I dont know what they were doing and don't really want to. They weren't wearing work shirts and didn't offer any information. Scared the heck out of me.
 
#842 ·
I have yet to obtain my CCW Permit for the State of Florida....sadly even $117 is a saved for expense these days...but my reasoning to begin saving for it is simple...

I live in a small town in SW Florida that crime has been a non-issue in for quite some time...yet in the last 3 years we have had more murders and violent crime than we have seen in the past 20 years...I will not become a victim, nor will I not come home to my son because I was unprepared to deal with someone that tries to make me another victim.

I bought a Glock 17, I took my safety course and now I'm saving for my CCW permit. I fully believe in Open Carry for all Law Abiding Citizens(While reasonably regulated). You can't be thought of as a victim when the criminal has to second guess making you one.
 
#843 ·
My uncle taught me to shoot when I was a kid, and I always practiced when I could, though I saw it as more of a "fun" thing than anything else(though it is still a lot of fun!).

Defining moments, in order leading to my CHL...

Getting mugged at 17 was a lesson in what it meant to feel helpless. They got my cash & my smokes, & thankfully that was the end of it. Started carrying a knife at all times.

Finally bought my first "my own" gun, a crappy old .38 snub, at the end of the '90s, when my cousin and his lady were victims of a home invasion.

Fast forward to three years ago, my GF and I started buying old cars to restore. On our way to the first purchase, the thought in my head?

"We're pulling up to this stranger's house, in the middle of nowhere, with several grand in my pocket... hmmm."

I had my gun(my first Glock, a 23) under my seat. But it was in that moment, that I realized I'd feel much better having it on my person at all times. I took the CHL class that weekend.
 
#844 · (Edited)
It was a culmination of happenings, which took a while to sink in to me. Deciding to go armed didn't happen overnight. It was a very gradual awakening.

I was nearly killed in a terrifying road rage / chase incident several years ago. I was riding an old and underpowered motorcycle at night, and was chased by a drunk kid (I saw him and he looked VERY drunk and angry).

He chased me and attempted to run me off the road numerous times, and when I tried to just stop he pointed his car at me and gunned it. I was defenseless against a maniac. I finally managed to evade him, with my poor old bike. I was alone on country roads with no cellphone and no defense weapon that night.

When my wife and I were still dating, she was finishing school in Kenosha, WI. I would see her on weekends and was once violently accosted at a Milwaukee gas station by two young males. One black, one white, and both meant trouble for me.

With quick talking and quicker moves back into my car I high-tailed it out of there. I still have an onerous feeling today that things that night were about to go horribly wrong - and fast.

There were other clues to get armed along the way: The carload of Mexican gang-bangers, all dressed up in their colors, glaring and posturing at anyone who dared fuel up a car at 'their' gas station.

There were the meth addicts who would hit you up for money, the drunks who would wander into a remote campsite late at night. There's always going to be people who give off the sense of clear and present danger.

The event that made me finally take responsibility for protection was the birth of our daughter. It finally dawned on me that only as an armed husband and father, can I protect my innocent and defenseless little girl.

I do it for her and my wife. I guess I also do it for me, since I need to be around, but the ladies in my life come first. That's the way I want it to be.

(Oh, BTW this is my first post here, so I guess it serves as my intro. I am also on other forums as 'bluehighways'. Cheers! )
 
#845 ·
I got a gun and I was allowed to carry it, so I did - same as with a cell phone or wallet. Seems like a handy thing to have, but I don't get in a panic when I don't have it. A gun is a tool and you should be able to solve your problems with any tool available.

To say I needed some "event" to make me start carrying a gun, would be to say I didn't recognize that danger existed before that. In that case, my problem would be in my mind, not my tools (in which case, I may have a hard time solving problems with any tool).
 
#847 ·
I went most of my life without ever packing any heat unless I was backpacking in Colorado(everybody packs heat there). Then in Va in the early 90's one incident that was very close to my house got me to change.
Dead women in a car got me to start carring in my car, she had been car jacked.
Later a road rage incident and seeing my 1911 made the AH run away.
Shootings outside the mall and I started packibng a 1911 everywhere, especially during the rodney King riots.
When I lived in Texas my .45 saved me from injury and/or death no less then 7 times.
 
#848 ·
Back in January, a new law was passed pertaining to carrying firearms in my state. It got my attention and I started seriously thinking about it and decided that it would be better to have a gun and hope I never have to use it for self defense, rather than need a gun and not have one. If you want to buy a hand gun in IA, you need to have this permit to do so. I bought a G19 and have started shooting at the range. I am a law abiding citizen and now it is legal for me to carry my gun (most places), so I will. Luckily I have had not had any "defining moments" that made me get a gun. I have really enjoyed reading all the information on this web site. Keep up the good work.
 
#849 · (Edited)
I always planned to get my CCW permit, but the following incident made me get off my rear and finally do it.

I got mugged in March 2009.

Met a guy at the casino who helped me win around $80, he asked me for a ride and I just figured why not because he helped me win. I was too nice for my own good and even though my gut gave a me a bad feeling right off the bat, I took the guy where he needed to go.

During the incident I also had my best friend of 13 years with me (a female).

When I dropped the guy off where he needed to go, he got out of the car and came up to my driver side window and asked if I had change for a $20. I rolled down my window, opened my wallet and he tried to grab it. I had the wallet gripped with one hand while he tried to use both, in the process blows were exchanged and he of course had the advantage with me being sitting down inside my car and him standing outside. I kept throwing punches at him until he threatened to shoot then I just let go of my wallet. I never saw a gun, but wasn't going to take a chance.

Honestly I think the guy got the worst of the exchange. I ended up with a broken pair of glasses, and a good black eye. I think I busted him open from either his nose or lip though, because I had a good amount of blood running down the inside of my door and I wasn't the one bleeding.

Though I don't consider it "funny" in the least that the incident happened. I found out after I let my wallet go and called the cops I found everything that was in my wallet outside my car door. My drivers license, bank card were outside my door and any cash I had was in my pants pocket. So the guy got away with about a 3 month old wallet of mine and some business cards.

About a month before this incident I had just bought my first gun too. A Taurus 24/7 OSS/DS 9mm. Found out by reading Missouri law about a week after the incident that I could have carried the gun fully loaded in my glove compartment without a CCW permit. I still doubt I would have used the gun that night, but in my eyes it was a good thing to know.

Finally got around to taking the CCW course in the end of September following my incident and got my permit November 9th 2009. I've never left home without a firearm since and I never will.
 
#850 ·
The event that caused me to finally get a carry permit was this: I moved to New York, and shortly after Hillary Clinton was elected. There goes the neighborhood, I figured.

Seriously though, I felt no need to carry - always in fairly low risk areas, maintaining a safe lookout, plus I'm OK with my hands/feet. I found that in NY, you basically have to be CCW permitted in order to own and transport a pistol, so I went through their costly and time-consuming process.
 
#851 · (Edited)
Let's see... I work for a living with convicted violent felons who eventually finish their time and walk out among us. They (most) can read and use telephone books (as well as the internet) Getting an inmate (he used to "collect" with a sawed-off shotgun when he was on the street) disciplined for misconduct 90 days before release was my defining moment.
As I learned more about the second amendment and our national history I came to the conviction the founders of our republic believed an armed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny. They were correct.

Any God-given right not practiced is a right lost.
 
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