In my previous post I mentioned that I often carry a concealed firearm, which led to a comment that said I must go into some "rough neighborhoods" if I feel it necessary to carry a gun.
Unfortunately violence and crime are no longer found only in "rough neighborhoods". Nowadays even genteel suburban cities and towns are affected by violence, too. I'm fortunate to be able to live in one of the most desirable areas of north Texas, yet here is what we've seen in recent years:
*When I lived in The Shoppes at Legacy, a very upscale retail/entertainment/residential district, a woman there was kidnapped from a well lighted public parking garage and later murdered.
*A person was murdered in the parking lot at Northpark mall, the most exclusive in Dallas.
*A serial rapist was finally captured after he terrorized a well-to-do north Dallas neighborhood for many months.
*A woman was recently murdered in the parking lot outside a Walgreens pharmacy in Frisco.
*A friend of mine walked in to a restaurant to meet friends and found himself in the middle of an armed robbery of the manager. My friend was shot, but survived.
*I once went to pick up my wife at Love Field (the close-in Dallas airport), and as I pulled up curbside I heard on the radio to expect substantial police activity in the area. It seems a robber had just killed the manager of a retail store and then ran out into the intersection outside and carjacked an innocent commuter. He shot the driver (who survived) and escaped. I had stopped at that same intersection 5 minutes earlier....that could have been me!
*The daughter of one of my homeowners simply disappeared from near the University of North Texas campus years ago and has never been found.
*Just last week a resident (or a visitor ?) at a very nice apartment complex in Richardson went nuts and killed one man, and then killed a cop when he responded to the call for help. Other residents there were instructed to shelter in place until the situation was under control.
*And let's not forget the growing problem of road rage, which can happen anywhere, to anybody.
These sorts of things don't happen daily or even weekly, but they do happen. Violence doesn't happen to only those in less affluent neighborhoods. In all my years I've never had to present my gun to thwart violence to myself or a loved one, nor have I ever been shot at by anyone. Statistics say it's extremely unlikely I ever will be, either. But I also know that if, heaven forbid, a violent situation ever confronts me and I need to call 911, it will take the police at least 5 minutes, and probably much longer, to arrive. Until help arrives I simply want to be able to protect myself.
There's nothing Wild West about carrying a gun. A properly trained, vetted, licensed, and prepared armed citizen should be no threat to anyone, except maybe bad guys looking to harm them.
I'm not paranoid, running around looking for terrorists behind every rock and tree. I'm not a vigilante. Like everyone else I go to work, the grocery store, Home Depot, and sometimes out for dinner. If you saw me you'd never know I had a gun on me, I'm that discreet. My daily routine is no different than yours. I just happen to have one more bit of insurance than most other people. :)
S
