Would love to know where everyone goes that they think they need to carry. Always fascinating.
@BostonNit it may help to have a better understanding of where you roam that you feel you need protection.
Just a little practical advice to consider for all of you that routinely find yourself in tense “carry” situations. ( eyes rolling )
Urban assault situations now call for advanced strategies:
Tough to be steady when **** is hitting the fan. Tgar is accurate with a Glock at about four to six feet, anything past that is a crap shoot. OTOH, with his canister of Counter Assault Bear Spray, he is accurate up to 40 feet or more. Spray first, then shoot from four feet while your attacker is writhing on the ground in agony. It is legal to carry bear spray just about everywhere. Make sure it is under its expiration date for effective distance.
So, where and why does everyone carry?
It's not so much where I roam, but rather, situations I've encountered.
First, I live in a dark, quiet, residential neighborhood, 30 seconds off an interstate that connects to Worcester and Providence, the 2nd and 4th largest cities in New England. My neighbors came home a few years back to find a car with Rhode Island plates parked on the street near their home. They pull into their garage and as they're exiting their car, they hear their front door fly open, and see 3 guys running out of their home and hopping into the car that was on the street.
Second, I sell real estate part time. Often times I'll view listings before I take my clients. I've actually walked into a supposedly vacant "investment property" type multi-family property to preview the home and stumbled on people that were home squatting / using / strung out. Pretty unnerving for them and for me.
Third (and this is kinda long), about 5 years ago, I was at a movie theater. About 15 minutes before the movie, a guy and his girlfriend were taking their seats, and he accidentally punts a soda that was on the floor, splashing the guy ahead of him and that guy's girlfriend with soda. He was profusely apologetic, and ran out and grabbed a bunch of napkins and a theater worker who brought some wet wipes, etc. It wasn't as bad as it sounds - maybe a little soda got on them but not the end of the world. But the guy who got splashed, just wouldn't let it go. Screaming how he's going to eff up the guy who splashed him - what an inconsiderate prick the guy was - how he ruined their night out - etc. on and on and just wouldn't let it go.
The guy who punted the drink and his gf move their seats from the center section where they were, to my section on the left, about 5 rows ahead of me. The guy who got splashed was still losing his mind. Eventually the gf of the guy who punted the drink goes and gets the manager. The manager gives the loud guy a handful of free passes, and asks him to calm down. The guy just wouldn't hear it and kept ranting. Finally, the manager says, listen I've done everything I can do and you're creating a scene... I have to ask you to leave. The guy and his girlfriend storm out and as he's leaving he looks over his shoulder and says "you're dead mother effer" to the punter.
We're all pretty shaken up at this point, but everyone's trying to put things behind them and trying to get ready for the movie (which was now delayed because of all the commotion). Then about 3-5 minutes later the loudmouth storms back into the theater, runs up to the row the punter is in, and screams "are you ready to die *****?". Not sure if he was packing or not but two pretty big dudes stand up from a few rows closer to the front, walk up to the loudmouth, and say "Leave, now." One of the big dudes was packing, and pulled his shirt up to show his holstered handgun.
Mr. Loudmouth suddenly had a change in disposition and pretty much said "you better hope I never see you again anywhere" to the punter, and then leaves the theater. About half of the audience also left, and we were all given free passes to come back another time.
So, those are some of my recent experiences that should provide a little insight.