The following is from the Beretta blog:
Myth #1: We Carry Because We’re Afraid
Carrying has almost nothing to do with fear and everything to do with being prepared. “Hope for the Best. Expect The Worst” is a commonplace phrase that applies to every other facet of life. We praise and reward people who plan ahead and show up prepared, why would carrying a firearm be excluded?
No one puts their seat belt on because they’re afraid to get in a car crash. We do it because while having an accident is unlikely, it’s within the realm of possibilities every time you get behind the wheel, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. You don’t buy life or health insurance because you’re morbidly afraid of death, you do it to protect yourself and your family. Choosing to carry a firearm is no different.
Myth #2: We’re “Just Looking To Shoot Someone” or “Play GI Joe”
I am not a criminal, and if you’re one of the millions of law-abiding citizens that carry, statistics show that neither are you. Concealed carry holders commit crimes at FAR LOWER rates than the average population. The data on this is easily accessible to anyone, so if you don’t believe me, just do a quick search for “concealed carry holder crime rates”. I’ll wait, but be prepared to hear “I told you so.”
Myth #3: We Must Have a Hero Complex
I don’t mean to burst your self-importance bubble, but I carry to protect me, not you. My fellow gun owners and I are not interested in defending you for the sole purpose of getting some positive press coverage and a few high fives.
If you look at the one of the many stories of people successfully using firearms to defend themself and others, nowhere will you find the quote “I did it to be a Hero.” These brave people chose to get involved because they saw an opportunity to stop the bad guy and because it was the right thing to do.
Myth #4: Carrying a Firearm Means We’re Delusional or Paranoid
If, in the history of the world, no person had ever laid a hand on another human being to do them harm, then yes, making the choice to carry would seem extremely odd and unnecessary. Since those of us that choose to carry live our lives in the real world, we know that bad guys have existed since the beginning of time and we are aware of the atrocities they are capable of (even if it’s difficult to comprehend).
If you step back and take a look at recent events objectively, the delusion becomes the argument that nothing bad will ever happen and there’s no reason to better prepare yourself for that “just in case” moment.
Myth #5: Carrying A Gun Doesn’t Work All The Time, So You Shouldn’t Carry One At All
I don’t think anyone would argue that the mere act of carrying a firearm is some kind of magical force field. I do know that my chances while I’m carrying are a lot better than if I’m not. Unless the bad guys are going to have the courtesy of broadcasting which store, school or parking lot he’s going to be in each day, there’s no way to know when you will or won’t need your firearm.
I understand that I may be preaching to the choir, so if you are reading this and you agree that those who carry firearms get a bad rap and need the record set straight, please share this with your non-gun owner friends and family so we can begin the long and often difficult process of re-normalizing gun owners. The media is clearly not on our side, and that makes it even more important to get the facts out to those who don’t understand or have been misinformed about people who choose to carry firearms.
Source: http://blog.beretta.com/debunking-the-concealed-carry-myth?utm_medium=social