My responsibilities are numerous. First, I am responsible for the proper safety of the handgun. That means keeping it out of the hands of children and observing the use of it in the hands of adults. I never, ever loan out my guns to anybody, not even my father, and he taught me how to shoot.
Second, having the right to carry puts a fairly large burden on the permit holder. I am obligated morally and ethically to avoid getting into dangerous situations. That sounds ominous, but what it means is that if someone starts talking trash to me, I have to ignore it no matter how angry it makes me, because if I escalate the situation and I have to use my weapon when it gets out of hand, that is seen as aggravating circumstances and I will be held liable for it.
Third, usage is an absolute last resort. If you use your weapon you better be prepared to justify your usage. So I have an obligation, permit or not, to maintain my composure at all times while armed.
Fourth, if I do use my weapon I am responsible for everything around me. If I’m surrounded by people that I may hit, I must account for them. That means that there is the possibility that I may just have to take it to preserve the lives of others, weapon or not.
Last, I have the “power” of life and death at my fingertips. That is a huge burden in and of itself. I assume it with full knowledge of what that means, so I take it very seriously.
It’s not for everybody, and I can appreciate that. There are people that get their permits and have no idea of the responsibilities they are assuming. Those people, fortunately few and far between, have no business carrying a weapon.
In some states, although not Pennsylvania, there is the additional burden of taking and passing a safety course. I passed the toughest safety course I can think of, however, because my father taught me. You play with guns around my dad at your own peril, and that is no joke.
