My View on Concealed Carry,

I like the fact that there are lots of people in my state walking around armed.  It causes some would be terrorists to think a long time about trying to create havoc here as they may get shot before they do much harm.

However, from my experience being armed in any society is a huge responsibility that a lot of people don't really understand. Just take Betty Shelby's problems now. She may face years in prison for doing her duty as a law enforcement officer with some immunity from prosecution because she is police, but an average citizen does not have that on their side.

As all who have taken the coarse know, you can only use enough force to defuse the threat and you will have to prove beyond a doubt that was your only choice. Plus for anyone to be able to use the weapon after they pull it is a mental place we all have to get before we are confronted by a would be criminal bent on inflicting great bodily harm or death upon us.  Any hesitation could mean you loose your weapon and it may be used against you or others.  This being paramount in a police officers mind and should also be in anyone's mind if they want to carry.

 For those who can't get their head around this fact in order to be effective in an encounter with a criminal but still would like to have some protection if this should occur, I would recommend taking a self defense coarse, arming yourself with pepper spray and/or stun gun and learn to be very vigilant of your surroundings, travel in groups if out at night or going to a strange place and use common sense about your person and belongings.

Please stay safe,   Darrell