Forbes
I am a gun owner. I support the 2nd Amendment and the right to self-defense. Although I’m not a police officer or a gun expert, I am one of the 8 million Americans with a concealed weapons permit. And the most important lesson I’ve learned from the George Zimmerman case is, “Don’t go looking for trouble.”
During training for my concealed weapons license, the instructors consistently emphasized one point: Our firearms should be regarded as a last resort to save our lives when we have no other alternative.
Part of the ethos of responsible concealed weapons permit holders is to avoid getting into dicey situations whenever possible. We should remain aware of our surroundings at all times. We should avoid getting into unnecessary conflicts. If conflicts arise, we should attempt to defuse rather than escalate them. If some jerk gets angry because he thinks we stole his spot in the grocery store parking lot, we should back down or remove ourselves from the situation — precisely because we recognize the deadly consequences if things escalate out of control.
Greg, and I'm afraid many other concealed carry permit holders, don't quite see it like that. For them, backing down when you're in the right is unthinkable. It's giving in to evil. It's letting the thugs take over. To these brave men with gun-muscles, one must draw the line and never submit. Nothing less than freedom is at stake.
What's your opinion? Do you think our level-headed gun owner who wrote the article is the norm? Or, do you think the insecure, overly-touchy characters obsessed with freedom and rights are?
Please leave a comment.
