Once again, the news is awash with anti-gun stories, the Internet is buzzing about gun ownership and the right to carry, and the stupid has been turned up to 11. I am absolutely exhausted from being unfairly attacked by the media and others who blindly follow the disinformation and smear campaigns against law-abiding gun owners. It’s disheartening and extremely irritating to see so many myths, hyperbole and out-and-out lies being spread by people that are willfully ignorant and incredibly misinformed about making the choice to carry a firearm. You’re not alone if you feel like you’re talking to a brick wall when it comes to getting the average person to stop and simply listen to the facts about gun owners.
(Kevin Creighton photo)
I’ve been carrying on an almost daily basis for a couple of years now. Making the decision to carry required a significant amount of thought, and I know I’m not alone in the anxiety and hesitation I experienced when I went through the process of deciding to carry. Despite my experience throwing thousands of bullets down range during practice and competition, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to make the leap.
Those of us that choose to carry go through a complex mental process and many of us seek out specialized training before we feel we’re ready to make this very serious decision. From how the media tells it, we’ve all just run out to the gun store, grabbed the first gun we saw and threw it in our pocket. Gun owners are well informed and we know that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are several other myths and distortions that circulate ad nauseam about the reasons we carry, and I feel compelled to address the most heinous in an effort to reach at least one person who has the ability to think for themself. Here are a handful of the most popular fallacies about carrying, along with the reasons that they are so wrong:
Myth #1: We Carry Because We’re Afraid
Carrying has almost nothing to do with fear and everything to do with being prepared. “Hope for the Best. Expect The Worst” is a commonplace phrase that applies to every other facet of life. We praise and reward people who plan ahead and show up prepared, why would carrying a firearm be excluded?
No one puts their seat belt on because they’re afraid to get in a car crash. We do it because while having an accident is unlikely, it’s within the realm of possibilities every time you get behind the wheel, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. You don’t buy life or health insurance because you’re morbidly afraid of death, you do it to protect yourself and your family. Choosing to carry a firearm is no different.
Myth #2: We’re “Just Looking To Shoot Someone” or “Play GI Joe”
I am not a criminal, and if you’re one of the millions of law-abiding citizens that carry, statistics show that neither are you. Concealed carry holders commit crimes at FAR LOWER rates than the average population. The data on this is easily accessible to anyone, so if you don’t believe me, just do a quick search for “concealed carry holder crime rates”. I’ll wait, but be prepared to hear “I told you so.”
Read more at Jaci’s blog via Beretta USA.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
