Reason I carry

It is as simple as A, B, C, D, E.....

A - Ability - I am able to and want to continue to be able to. We are privileged to live in a country that protects the right to carry but without vigilance we may loose it. Exercising your rights is essential to maintaining them. The government, elements of society are always trying to limit the rights of the people-- usually for "our own good". Without the constant responsible exercise of our right to keep and bear arms, we will loose that ability. Atrophy applies to more then just the physical

B - Be Prepared - Motto is great for more than just the Scouts. Note it isn't fear that drives me to Be Prepared. I carry life insurance on myself, I don't fear dying, but want to be responsible in taking care of my family in case I can't be there. How is it any different that I want to be responsible in taking care of myself and my family before my death.

C- Competency - I enjoy the challenge of learning and mastering new skills. I'm an accomplished juggler because it was a skill that I wanted to learn. I am in the process of mastering new skills, new abilities since my decision to carry. I am more competent in my knowledge of the laws governing our country and my state. I have an increased awareness of my environment and situation (started before I ever carried a firearm). I am challenging myself to master the task of placing holes in a piece of paper, in the same spot time and time again. Then I'll challenge myself to do it fast, to do it on the move.

D - Dependent No More - Prior to owning firearms, I was mostly dependent on less effective means of defense or other people. Should I be dependent on the police to bring a firearm to protect me or should I be able to protect myself. As an adult, I believe you have to gain independence before we can move to Interdependence. As an example of Interdependence, I point to my elderly neighbors. These wonderful people are up in their 70s, they can't get around as easy as they once could. We have talked and I've been asked to help them protect their property. So, not only am I no longer dependent on the police for protection, but neither may neighbors - interdependence.

E - Each person sovereign - The Founding Fathers recognized that without firearms, the individual is at the "mercy" of the government. After successfully rebelling against an unjust government, they never wanted to put the average citizen at risk again. That is the reason for the 2nd Amendment, to protect the individual from those that would try to unjustly rule over them, be that a single armed thug or an entire government

For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery. Jonathan Swift

If people are armed, then the government must tread easily, tread wisely; lest they loose the consent of the governed. Each person then becomes responsible for determine if the laws are fair, if the actions of the government are in the best interest of the country. It is a heavy responsibility, but it is one that gun owners recognize and accept.
If the people are armed, then the criminals must tread easily, tread steathily; lest the people become tired of being victimized. See the James-Younger Gang and Northfield Minnesota for example


F- Force --Marko Kloos so eloquently put it in his Essay "Why the gun is civilization". Here are the opening paragraphs, go read the entire essay. It's worth it - Bookmark it.

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

I hope I've provided a little insight into why I carry. The decision to carry or not is a very personal decision, the decision to simply own a firearm is a very personal decision. No one ever makes those decision for quite the same reasons. I would be interested in hearing from each of you.


What letter would you add to the list? I would like to include the whole alphabet to show people it isn't out of fear that we carry.

Update - James Zachary Jr. from The Next Chapter blog adds the letter I (LOL - so glad I live in Texas).

I - Illinois - I don't carry because I lIve as an honest cItIzen In Illinois where polItIcIans are IdIots and only tolerate carry by polIce and crImInals.

From a comment left by Weer'd Beard (sorry, F was already used - hope I kept your intention)

P - Prohibited- Because a person shouldn't be prohibited from exercising a natural right by the whim of a government official. "May Issue" permitting is --should be an unconstitutional restriction on the Right to Keep and BEAR Arms that shall not be infringed. If a adult can not be trusted with a firearm, why should we allow that adult to be loose on the streets?

From Lawyer with a Gun (Great site, awesome writing- hope everyone is reading his work)

G: God-given Right. He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. Luke 22:36 (ESV)
Call it an "inherent right" if you do not Believe in God, but it is a right that predates the Constitution - the right to defend yourself with the most effective tool possible. As gun rights advocates know, the Constitution does not grant us the right to keep and bear arms, it only limits the governments power to infringe upon that right.

From a post over at Lawyer with a Gun - labeled Response Time (Again, go see why you should be reading his work.)

R - Response Time - A reason why I carry is the Response Time - as the old saying goes "When seconds count, the police are minutes away." This isn't a knock on the excellent job most law enforcement officers do, it is simply a fact they can not and should not be everywhere. As Lawyer so eloquently puts it:

And yet, I cannot responsibly place the entire burden of my personal and family protection on the shoulders of the police. Such expectation is not fair to them, and besides, I just may not have that much time

From Jay G. at MArooned

H- Heavy - I carry a firearm because a cop is to heavy to carry all the time.

Also from Jay G. at from this post - Why I Carry

K - my Kids - I'm the dad. It's my sworn duty to protect my kids to the best of my abilities. I believe in using the best tools for the job at hand, and there is currently no better tool for protecting myself and my family than a firearm.