Many of the above for me but my #1 and #2 line up with the results, exactly.
My original reason, a few decades ago that caused me to get my first self defense type gun, was a specific threat. Fortunately it hasn’t happened but the situation is still out there but probably less likely over time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 220-9er,

Elected confrontation then robbery, which essentially are the same but the real reason is that the best way to predict the future is to control it.

Not that I have any delusions about being able to control the course of events, but at least I want a fighting chance.

I've been carrying for almost 40 years. So far, I have never even come close to needing it that I am aware of. The only crime I have been a victim of so far in life is having a concrete flower pot stolen out of the front yard. (Knock on wood). Even lived in Memphis for almost 20 years. I don't really think much about what might be the most likely event for which I would need a gun. I just go with the old saying that "if you ever really need a gun, you'll probably need it more than anything you have ever needed before" so I carry against the hopefully unlikely possibility that I will encounter something that really needs to be shot.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I cited “other” in both.

So pretty much all the reasons you presented, is why I carry. If I have pants on, I have a gun on or next to me. If that makes me paranoid-meh I’ll get over it.

You and I share a lot of those same reasons, including prior employment and state of residence (you're right at 150 miles south of where I live).

I went with robbery - either being the specific target of one, or caught in one - and home defense. I have taken steps to vastly reduce my chances of being a robbery target. I make my bank deposits during the day at a busy credit union, and if I withdraw cash, do it at the same time, or take cash back when making a grocery store purchase, so I don't have to use an ATM. I keep my car maintained and fueled to avoid breaking down in a sketchy area. I don't engage in illegal activities like drugs, gambling, prostitution (as the "john"), etc.

There was a firearms trainer (John Farnam?) who said something that has stuck with me. Loose quote: "Don't do stupid things. Don't go stupid places. Don't hang with stupid people. Just don't be stupid, and you might not even need your gun."

A goodly number of responses thus far; thanks.
I have been a bit surprised, though, by the percentages. I’m glad I didn’t just assume how the responses would go and not ask the question.

I have two different considerations for my two choices which were home defense and robbery.

First, those two, and the rest for that matter, are very unlikely to ever affect me. I don’t spend much time on the road or in a bigger city, and here such events justifying even threatening with a weapon are extremely rare. As far as I recall, for example, there have been two or three armed robberies in the 27+ years I’ve lived here.

But although rare, I nevertheless believe in being able to respond to an event if it happens. Home defense is my primary concern because if a home invasion were to occur its consequences would probably be very, very bad. That makes it imperative to be able to resist it. The only thing worse would be a directed attack against myself, and that is so unlikely that it didn’t make 1 or 2. My becoming involved in a confrontation, especially when armed, is also vanishingly small (knock wood).

Robbery is second because although very rare here, it’s still the most likely deadly force situation that would affect me. I look around when entering a bank or other business and pay attention when I’m in there. (Perhaps not as much as I should, but I’m never completely situational aware oblivious.) Its possibility, regardless of how rare, is why it made number 2 for me.

The most likely need for a gun would be an animal attack, but because the consequences of not being able to defend myself properly would likely be so much lower, that didn’t make 1 or 2 either.

Did my vote. As others have stated it is really for all of the above. I never have a gun not on my hip unless I am in my house. In my house, I have guns strategically placed in ever possible room from kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, to living room. I am never not within a few feet of a firearm, extra magazines, flashlight, and a knife.

I must say, I think your analysis will be interesting. Looking forward to it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
....... and here such events justifying even threatening with a weapon are extremely rare. As far as I recall, for example, there have been two or three armed robberies in the 27+ years I’ve lived here.

Not sure about where you live, but is it possible that robbery is rare in your area because people are armed?

I am a strong believer that we're all safer when criminals don't exactly know who is armed, and any victim could be. For this reason, many very low crime rural areas are that way, simply because so many there are armed.

There's an old saying down where I grew up, "Don't rob an old lady in Sweet Home because she'll probably shoot you."

I chose direct attack & home defense. But basically, I'm retired from a state dept of corrections, and I decided long ago that my wife or I will not be a victim of one of those predators if I can help it.

I read the directions but I'm still confused by the choices.

Why do I carry or have a self-defense gun available? My answer is because I want to prevent grave bodily harm to myself or my love ones because of the effects such injury will do to me or my love ones and whoever will have to take care of the inured person.

There's also the thought of protecting innocent lives but my primary duty is to myself and to my love ones. I'm not going to act on limited information as to who may be the innocent party if it's not my circus, not my monkeys; things will need to be clear cut for me in that situation and, even then, it's secondary to that of protecting my love ones.

I always tell people that I carry because if they fell and broke a leg I want to be there to put them down. No need for unnecessary suffering.

As to the question. I just don't trust other people with my safety. That being said I selected Home defense and robbery as they are the most likely and dangerous possibilities in my location.

I said other to both.

Thinking about it, I suspect any of those situations is very low probability for me. However, very low probability is not the same as no probability.

It is more a question of responsibility. I feel that as a father and a husband I have a responsibility to do all I can to teach and protect my family. Just finished the paperwork for the interfamilial transfer of the gen 5 glock 19 she's been shooting to my youngest, today on her 18th.

Very rarely don't carry when out and about, and almost always carry at home until it is time for PJs. It is probably unlikely that I'll ever need to use a firearm defensively, but I would hate to be in the position of needing a firearm and wishing I hadn't been too lazy or too complacent.

I answered other, because it's basically all of the above, and more. I'm not particularly concerned about one particular type of threat over another...any of them is a possibility, and carrying a gun allows me to be prepared for any of them.

I'm required to carry a gun because of my job, but I would anyway even if they didn't tell me I had to. There are lots of people who don't appreciate being held accountable for their actions in a legal sense, and I live in a small community and can come into contact with those people at any time. It's also pretty easy for them to figure out where I live.

It's not just about me, either. Because of what I do, I also don't have the ability to just walk away if I witness a violent situation unfolding in front of me...I have a sworn obligation, reinforced by policy, to intervene. So I don't get to just worry about myself...anything that ocurrs in my presence I have to be prepared to deal with...and if I'm at work, I'm actively getting sent to it. So my chances of being involved in a violent encounter are somewhat higher than average.

As an overall life philosophy, I've always believed that it's better to be a part of the solution than part of the problem. That's why I own a chainsaw, a tow rope, jumper cables, tools, etc. It's why we've always had a garden, canned and froze our own food, and learned and taught our kids to hunt and fish and clean their catch. When crap falls apart, you can either get to work fixing it, or stand around with your thumb up your butt waiting on somebody else to maybe eventually come help...and while they're helping you, they're not helping somebody else. Carrying a gun is just a natural extension of that same philosophy. I don't know what problem is going to pop up tomorrow, but when it comes, I want to be prepared to deal with it to the best of my ability.

I didn’t answer the poll, because I don’t really think of the primary and secondary reasons. All of those are equally remote or likely to happen to me or mine.

I’ve been beaten to the point of fearing for my life twice, and I don’t know the reason why either time. Beat me once, shame on you. Beat me twice, shame on me. It’s been 40 years, but I don’t intend for it, or worse, to ever happen again.

Oh, and one of the reasons is because as a free man I can.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I answered other, because it's basically all of the above, and more. I'm not particularly concerned about one particular type of threat over another...any of them is a possibility, and carrying a gun allows me to be prepared for any of them.
...

I answered Concerns about a confrontation and Concerns about a directed attack, as I have faced the first situation with a gun in my hand but, once again, I'm in agreement with your thoughts.

Honestly, until sigfreund posed this interesting question and poll, I never gave it much thought. I'm aware that there are local crime statistics that indicate I'm more likely to face some threats over others, but as any of them are possible I never prioritized one over another, other than perhaps a basic selection of guns/ cartridges for home defense vs. carry, or considering some basic strategies for self defense and training in what if drills.

Where I live, we have an "unlawful" element from at least two major metropolitan areas come to visit.

Being as I am over 60, slightly built and disabled I feel that it is prudent to be armed.

I am aware of attacks here that were targeted yet unplanned (kind of like a target of opportunity).

I refuse to be an "easy" target by situational awareness and being armed.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

I caught a young gentleman of color in my bedroom closet at 0300 hrs, introduced him to my 1911- did not have to fire, and he went to jail. Sadly, I had PTSD for almost two years from the adrenaline dump.

Some years later, walking my wife back from an early dinner, another gentleman came riding up the sidewalk towards us, giving no indication of turning or stopping. I cleared my jacket, preparing to draw; he obviously had situational awareness because he threw the bike down, yelling “Don’t shoot me!”

Good fortune had a patrol car turning on to the street and the officers saw the event. It turned out they were keeping an eye on him as a known person of interest in automobile break-in’s. Another one in jail.

I am now older (80) and somewhat disabled; I keep a firearm ready to hand at all times around my home and legally carry if I have to venture out. As a poster above mentioned, I do not drink alcohol in that instance.

For those who choose to carry, I recommend a formal self-defense course by a certified instructor that provides written documentation of the training. One hopes never to have to use one’s weapon, but the certification of training will provide a good legal position with law enforcement. My own was Stress-fire with Massad Ayoub.

Thanks again for the responses and comments.

As I anticipated, many would like to respond “All of the above,” but my purpose in posting the poll was to get an idea of what people’s primary concerns were. I didn’t expect that people would be as concerned about the consequences of an animal attack as a home invasion, for example, so that in itself was enlightening. But I also had to remind myself that my own choices were partially based on likelihood as well as severity, and therefore that also affects choices.

Just as it’s good to be reminded that not all of us live in the same sorts of towns and environments, as someone who teaches subjects relating to self-defense, it’s good to be reminded that we have different motives for our decisions.

I have been educated about firearms related matters by the membership here far beyond anything I originally expected, but I have also learned as much about my fellow gun owners and shooters themselves as well. And that is why I continue to ask these questions (even if it annoys some people).

"Son; just about the worse thing you can do in this life is kill a man. In fact, there is only one thing worse, have the need and not the means."

Julius W. Blume
(one of the Chosin Few)