Why I carry a handgun for protection, Vol. 11

Because the Justice Department admits, although not publicly, that

"Criminal gangs in the USA have swelled to an estimated 1 million members responsible for up to 80% of crimes in communities across the nation"

Even in suburbs and rural areas, places not traditionally associated with street gangs.

The gang with the largest increase in members (especially illegal alien ones) appears to be the ruthless Salvadoran gang MS-13, an organization not afraid to use random violence or target innocent victims in order to accomplish its nefarious goals.

"The major findings in a report by the Justice Department's National Gang Intelligence Center, which has not been publicly released" (Emphasis mine)

Why not? We paid for it. Unless it's because the Feds don't want the word to get out how bad gang crime has gotten in this country, and just how vulnerable law-abiding citizens are to it.

Contrary to the protestations of many top law-enforcement officials, particularly Federal and big-city local administrators, cops can't be around 24-7 to protect people from gangbanging thugs. You must be prepared and ready to defend yourself and your loved ones from imminent harm, as those situations usually occur when one least expects it.

When I obtained my Arizona concealed-weapons permit, my instructor was a deputy with the Maricopa County Gang Enforcement Unit. He let us know in no uncertain terms how bad it really is on the streets of Phoenix. He strongly recommended being armed at all times wherever legally permitted.

I follow his hard-earned advice religiously.