# Are you armed and what do you carry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015 "2011-03-17T13:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/61 "2011-03-18T05:15:11Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Where I live, its easier to “open carry” than jump thru all the hoops to get the CCW license. Do you live where open carry weapons can be loaded? Not a fan of the open carry movement where I am… I see no point in carrying an unloaded weapon. People get tested and hurt that way. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/62 "2011-03-18T07:42:31Z")
I came in to say that I don’t carry a gun, but I do carry a short pocketknife most of the time. It’s mostly for utility; I’ve pulled it exactly once, and that was because I was being charged by a dog (who broke off when I kicked at it). I can imagine very few situations where pulling a knife makes things better. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/63 "2011-03-18T09:03:04Z")
\*\*Soliloquy \*\*you got one hell of a purse if you carry all that and the 870 around with you everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/64 "2011-03-18T12:24:30Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > \*\*Soliloquy \*\*you got one hell of a purse if you carry all that and the 870 around with you everywhere. You should see my trench coat. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/65 "2011-03-18T12:56:12Z")
I have one of [THESE](http://www.musclecars.net/parts/Dead-On-EX8-8-5-8-Inch-Exhumer-Nail-Puller-Saw-Wrench-For-Sale_330515602938.html) usually. It fits well in any normal, non dress pants pocket and gives me lots of options in terms of self defense. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/66 "2011-03-18T13:41:28Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > I don’t and have never carried anything for self-defense, nor have I ever given any thought to doing so. In my almost 50 years I have never found myself in any situation where it would have been needed. There have been a few run ins with obviously less than sane people, I’ve just stepped to the side and kept going, ignoring them. I have no idea what I would do if I was attacked. I don’t really think about it. Basically this, only I’m 30, not 50. I just don’t feel like I’m likely to be in a position to need to defend myself. I do have dogs at home, who would come to my defense if I was attacked, but meh. I just don’t think it’s ever going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/67 "2011-03-18T14:39:06Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > You should see my trench coat. Oooh! I’ve got a sonic screwdriver in my overcoat, does that count? I didn’t see in in the poll options. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/68 "2011-03-18T14:43:33Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > I’m always a little confused by statements like this. Or perhaps more curious as to what you actually believe. I have a couple of questions I’d love to get your opinions on. > > 1. So you think violence used for self defense is wrong? > > 2. If you were the victim of violent crime would you call the police? Is it ok for them to use violence? And I would consider forcibly imprisoning someone violence. > > 3. If someone was genuinely threatening your life, and I shot them, would you be mad at me? > > While I’ve got your attention Czarcasm, I’m afraid I don’t get what ducati did. He didn’t bring up the gun debate. I’m willing to answer those questions, but I think it should be a different thread. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/69 "2011-03-18T15:57:17Z")
> [@geneb](#): > > 1. Just a pocket\*\* knife\*\*, but that’s only for utility. > > 2… from what I understand (I could be wrong), most **cities** don’t allow concealed carry even with a permit. Since I would only feel a need to have it in the latter situation getting one seems pointless. I usually carry a 38 revolver, or 357 magnum revolver, or both, depending on where I am going, and who is with me. 1. For those of you who carry\*\* knives\*\*, there are thousands of confusing, conflicting, changing, restricting, state, local, county, and city laws prohibiting knives, fast opening knives, hunting knives, fixed blade knives, switchblade knives, gravity knives, double bladed knives, double edged knives, serrated knives, daggers, dirks, some knives, all knives, different length knives, different kinds of blades of knives, etc. IT can be virtually impossible to legally carry a knife in many, most places. ) 2. You are wrong, and **cities** are probably where you most need to carry a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/70 "2011-03-18T16:12:06Z")
Knife laws get particularly confusing when they use terms like dirk or dagger which don’t have a really distinct meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015/71 "2011-03-18T16:30:59Z")
I carry a knife, but that is mostly to cut my cigars. If someone attacked me, maybe I could circumcise them. If I am mugged by Jews, I’m doomed. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-armed-and-what-do-you-carry/575015.md?page=3)