# Poll: How many of you carry a concealed weapon? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207 "2009-10-18T06:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/81 "2009-10-19T20:27:49Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Maybe I’m dense, but “better judged by 12” than what exactly? The idea is that there’s a gun owner mentality that they’d rather be “judged by 12” (on the jury in their unlawful homicide case after defending themselves by shooting someone) than “carried by six” (pallbearers after a violent criminal took them out because they had no means of resisting). Frankly, while I understand the basic premise behind the statement, I think I’d prefer to keep living somewhere where it’s highly unlikely to be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/82 "2009-10-19T20:29:10Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > “better judged by 12 than carried by 6” is the full saying. Ah. So a fair restatement would be “I carry a gun because it is better to stand trial for homicide than to be killed by a random criminal,” is that right? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/83 "2009-10-19T20:32:44Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Ah. So a fair restatement would be “I carry a gun because it is better to stand trial for homicide than to be killed by a random criminal,” is that right? Yes, that is a fair restatement. The premise is that you have to be alive to be charged with a crime, and given the nature of the crime that you will be charged with a jury may be sympathetic enough to exonerate you, which cannot happen if you’re dead. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/84 "2009-10-19T20:33:52Z")
To get a carry permit in New York City you pretty much have to be transporting diamonds\*, so it’s not an issue. Having lived my whole life in a place where no one carries, however, I have no interest at all in doing so myself. If I’d grown up someplace else, I might well feel differently. - –\> an overstatement, but still. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/85 "2009-10-19T21:29:58Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Yes, that is a fair restatement. The premise is that you have to be alive to be charged with a crime, and given the nature of the crime that you will be charged with a jury may be sympathetic enough to exonerate you, which cannot happen if you’re dead. Yep, thanks for clearing that up. I thought it was so well known that I could abbreviate. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/86 "2009-10-19T21:31:20Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Frankly, while I understand the basic premise behind the statement, I think I’d prefer to keep living somewhere where it’s highly unlikely to be an issue. I agree, however does such a place exist? ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/87 "2009-10-19T21:52:48Z")
Would if I could, but CCW is illegal up here in Canada. Guns are un-Canadian, eh? Might get the Utah permit one day, but only if I start travelling more to the US. Why? well cause I need it about as much as I need that fire extinguisher and first aid kit in my trunk. At least those are legal… ---
**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:** [October 19, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/88 "2009-10-19T21:57:03Z")
It’s legal and common here, but see no compelling reason to carry and several reasons not to, so I don’t. [My town just passed an ordinance allowing weapons to be carried on playgrounds. We’ll be taking the kids to playgrounds out of town now, thanks.] ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/89 "2009-10-19T22:25:40Z")
I am authorized to carry at all times but I very rarely do. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/90 "2009-10-19T22:31:51Z")
I carry my pistol openly on my hip. My pocketknife may or may not count concealed carry, depending on maximum blade length in a given jurisdiction and whether or not I’m wearing a shirt untucked or not. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/91 "2009-10-20T00:51:30Z")
Forgot to add to my previous post: Here in Minnesota the carry law was accompanied by a statute saying that owners of private property (like stores) have to post a sign at the door if they don’t want anyone carrying in their store. LOTS of places have opted to do this, making it inconvenient to carry unless you know you’re not going to stop anywhere that’s posted. Another reason I don’t carry outside of work. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/92 "2009-10-20T00:57:35Z")
I am usually armed. I have a CHL, but 90% of the time I “open carry.” ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/93 "2009-10-20T02:14:35Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > [My town just passed an ordinance allowing weapons to be carried on playgrounds. We’ll be taking the kids to playgrounds out of town now, thanks.] This makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/94 "2009-10-20T02:19:02Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > This makes no sense. Towns pass stupid laws all the time. They don’t have to make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/95 "2009-10-20T03:30:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I agree, however does such a place exist? My current neighborhood–the safest neighborhood in the second safest town in the United States by crime rate statistics–is close enough for me to not even feel the need to buy an 18" barrel for the ol’ Mossberg, let alone carry full-time. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/96 "2009-10-20T03:33:14Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > It’s legal and common here, but see no compelling reason to carry and several reasons not to, so I don’t. > > [My town just passed an ordinance allowing weapons to be carried on playgrounds. We’ll be taking the kids to playgrounds out of town now, thanks.] I would be interested highly in the likely never existent statistics on how this actually affected the firearm density of the park. Not knowing where you live or the licensing requirements to carry in general (as opposed to specifically in the park), I won’t comment on how the potential relative safety of the park has likely changed. ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/97 "2009-10-20T03:33:49Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > Don’t carry. > Don’t have a license to carry. > Don’t own a gun. > > Plan to someday, but I’m not in a huge hurry. Count me as the same. ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/98 "2009-10-20T03:37:01Z")
I’ve got something at home, but there’s no way I’d ever feel compelled to take it outside so no permits are necessary. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/99 "2009-10-20T03:55:37Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > To get a carry permit in New York City you pretty much have to be transporting diamonds\*, so it’s not an issue. Having lived my whole life in a place where no one carries, however, I have no interest at all in doing so myself. If I’d grown up someplace else, I might well feel differently. > > - –\> an overstatement, but still. No one in NYC carries??? 😕😕😕 Another reason why I carry: While I may be killed at any time by somebody just shooting me at random,I can’t control that. But, if he wants to herd me into a locker with other people, he will have to shoot me at MY leisure, not at his. ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207/100 "2009-10-20T06:43:06Z")
I’m a cop so I can carry anywhere, anytime, and I do so. It would be extremely rare to find me without a gun on me. I actually live in a very safe area. I would never expect to be a victim of a violent crime. However, I want to be ready in case that does happen or if I need to help someone else in danger. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-many-of-you-carry-a-concealed-weapon/514207.md?page=6)