The Silent and Hidden Victims of Gun Violence

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40. You're missing one very important point ...

Something that I have heard a number of people mention who carry on a regular basis .

If you have a license to carry a firearm and do, your attitude changes. Unlike what you fantasize, a person with a permit becomes more polite and far less likely to act aggressively. You realize that if your actions escalate a situation to the point that you may be attacked and you use your firearm for what you consider self defense, the authorities may question your actions and you may end up behind bars.

If you find yourself dealing with an angry or argumentative individual it's best to defuse the situation and walk away, even if it makes you look like a coward.

Once I started carrying I was amazed at how my personality changed. I even became a far more polite driver. At one time I might have flipped the bird to a driver who cut me off in traffic, but no longer.

Even if you are not carrying a weapon engaging in or starting a fight might endanger your carry permit.

I've mentioned before that my daughter attracted the attentions of a stalker a couple of years ago. My son in law has a carry permit and while he did consider beating the crap out of the stalker, he realized that he might lose his permit. Therefore he agreed with me that the best path was to have his wife file a restraining order. My daughter also has a carry permit and while she was concerned about the stalker attacking her, she didn't change her lifestyle out of fear.

Eventually this persistent individual was arrested and had to spend several weekends in jail for his stalking. The judge threatened him with a year in prison if he continued. His stalking has ceased. All ended well without any violence.

Perhaps Robert Heinlein was right when he wrote, "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."