Fkaufman3 Loc: Florida, LA ie lower Alabama

As retired law enforcement I carry, some people should not carry, other than baseball bat

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Come to Chicago, that'll teach you not to fear the night.
Try the south side, the west side, and the inner city "neighborhoods" on for size. Local news crews don't even go there for stories any more. Local police only go there AFTER the shootings, drag out the bodies in body bags, and process the paperwork.
That's not to say that we should all carry guns into these places; we should just stay out of them regardless of how much great "street art" they can provide.

Zinkler

I know that it seems like the world has gotten filled with violent crime but the actual trends are that it is getting less violent. From the years for which I have crime stats, 1993 - 2011 the rate of violent crime has dropped over 80%. These stats include domestic violence and sexual crimes which typically involve you and someone you know. This is not to say if you go into a dangerous area, you should go without precautions, just to correct the perception that the world has gotten more dangerous. Statistically speaking, if you own a gun you are much more likely to be injured by it. I would rather avoid unsafe areas and situations.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Not everywhere in Chicago, but in certain west side and south side neighborhoods, for sure. The key is, don't go there unless you're from there. You carrying a gun isn't going to help you. believe it or not. You'll be out-gunned, and that's the sorry truth.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Yes, I carry most of the time. Especially true out in the wild. Lots of wild, ugly things here in FL that simply don't like people. Armed with a camera only . . . .??

Well I respect everyone's opinion on this site, but I would never be armed only with my camera. Seen too much in my 77 years.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

:thumbup: :thumbup:

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

LFingar is right - use your brain and don't allow yourself to be in a position of being a victim - but with that being said... I have a carry permit and am just as concerned about being attacked by a dog as by a person. And in reality, when you are preoccupied doing photography, you could easily be targeted as a victim. You must practice and become familiar with your weapon. Take a handgun class if you aren't familiar with handguns. Become very knowledgeable of state laws - where you can and can't carry. When you can and can't shoot. Shop carefully but be aware that although some handguns (read: Glocks) get a lot of positive hype, they are very dangerous. They are lightweight and well-built, and I like them, but more accidental discharge injuries and deaths occur with these than any other because of two features - no external safety, and, they fire if there is a round in the chamber even if the magazine is removed - most modern semiautomatics do not. Even a local police chief with 30+ years' experience recently blew his finger off when their department switched to Glocks! Check out the Ruger LC9 - my favorite carry weapon. Small but 9mm, and just big enough to fit in the hand. And as for those cases in Florida: don't shoot kids for playing loud music, don't shoot anyone for texting in the movie theater, and don't shoot a black kid for wearing a hoodie! These folks make it very hard to say that American's right to bear arms is a good thing!

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

This conversation should have been moved to general chit chat long ago. It has nothing to do with photography.

markeisenbeil Loc: Deer Lodge, Montana

Hi Wrongway1947, if it would make you feel more at ease, then go ahead and get a gun and practice a lot. You do have to think of the repercussions if you use it, or for that matter, if you pull it and can't use it.

Gusfershort Loc: Minnesota

First time poster! I carry every place that I can. My wife's cousin who is in his 70's, goes to Arizona every winter. They tow his Goldwing Trike with them every time they go. He usually rides several times per week with several different groups/clubs. Sometimes he and his wife will take off on their own and go for a couple hundred mile ride through the desert or up in the mountains. One time he was riding all alone, his wife stayed back at the pool. He was riding in the desert somewhere when some younger guys all with black hair ran out in front of him and tried to rob him and/or steal his trike. He said that they didn't speak English. He managed to get away and he never told his wife about this because she would never want to go out for a ride in the desert again. After that incident, he told me that he was thinking about getting his CCW permit to protect himself and/or his wife when they are out riding alone.

It's sad to say but times are changing and sometimes not for the good. The reason that I decided to get my CCW is because of an incident that I had with a motorist while my wife and I were riding on our Goldwing. A guy in a car made two attempts to to crash us into the rear of his car by slamming on his brakes going from 65 mph to zero and leaving skid marks on the road making a dead stop. He started out by tailgating us about 3 feet behind at 55 mph then he passed us. The second attempt was he tried to use his car to ram us from the side and take us out. He came to a complete stop again in front of us with his car sitting at an angle in both lanes. If I was carrying at the time, I never would have fired my weapon at him unless he would have turned his vehicle around and came directly at us to ram us again or if he would have gotten out of his vehicle and came at us with a weapon. He was using his vehicle as a weapon against us. I would have shown him that I was carrying though.

Again, times have changed and it is sad to say that we are getting moved in that direction to protect ourselves. If some of you are against carrying protection, that is your choice, my rights say that I can so that is my choice.

Fkaufman3 Loc: Florida, LA ie lower Alabama

Safety is in the hand of the holder. Any semi auto will fire if round is in chamber unless it's not racked or charged, even then the chance of dropping it and hammer being forced on the round may discharge the weapon, our duty carry semi auto had no safety, only double action and long trigger pull, unlike some semi that cock the weapon after round is fired.

peppershaker Loc: South Carolina

Yes, and yes....

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

No, but I stopped going to places where I might need it unless I'm with others. I did replace the Nikon camera straps - didn't want to advertise how much money is hanging from my neck

tnguy Loc: Tennessee

I carry and it does help you feel more secure. Too much craziness going on everywhere. After getting my permit, I wouldn't be without my gun.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

:) You are aware that Camden NJ is America's most violent city, right? :)

Besides in NJ only the criminals can have guns.