Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Why I carry a handgun for protection, Vol. 23

I often wear my handgun holstered openly on my hip while doing such chores around the house as lawn care, working on my money pit Chevy Nova or taking out the garbage. A few of my neighbors have politely questioned why I do so, and at least one has expressed doubt when I answered her inquiry by informing her that random violent crime can happen to anyone at any given moment, even people who live in the upscale, supposedly "safer" parts of a city.

I'll bet my neighbor won't wonder so much anymore about my behavior once I show her this article:

"Phoenix police are searching for a man who they say raped and beat a woman inside her home Wednesday morning after confronting her at knifepoint as she was taking the trash out on her street."

This incident occurred in a perfectly respectable neighborhood in North Phoenix. It is by no means the "bad part of town".

(The woman attempted to fight back with her bare hands, by the way, and was beaten unconscious for her trouble.)

Since I can't carry a police officer with me while I go about my household duties, I will continue to be legally armed, so that in case such a horrific crime is ever attempted against myself, my loved ones or my neighbors, I will be prepared to take instant defensive action, instead of having to wait precious minutes (or more) for law enforcement to show up.

The old saying unfortunately still holds truth, despite what the likes of the folks at the Brady Campaign or the Violence Policy Center would have one believe - "When seconds count, police are only minutes away".

3 comments:

Chris K. said...

Legally Armed? I don't like that sentiment. It makes it sound like if "they" ruled it illegal you would oblige the gun-grabbers.

Let me put it this way: would you ever use the phrase "I was legally breathing"?

I carry everywhere there isn't a metal detector, regardless of law. Because my life is worth more to me than anyone's law.

Joel Rosenberg said...

I don't read it that way; I read it as "while there may be legal issues that other people have in other places, I don't have such legal issues here."

Chris K. said...

Joel,
Your right, here in AZ there are FEWER restrictions. But they are still restrictions, and I don't obey.

For the same reason I wouldn't obey a "no open breathing" or "no open worship" laws.

The point I am trying to make is to look past legality to morality. Mentioned that you do something legally is tacitly stating that the laws make things moral.