I refuse to be a victim. I refuse to willingly let let someone violate my rights. I OC and CC, it mostly depends on what I'm wearing, or how I feel that day. Why do I open carry sometimes and choose not to other times? In short, because I can. Some people act very different around me when I OC compared to when I CC. But I don't let them get to me when they are rude. Because their comfort ability does not trump my rights. I choose to carry either way because:
I refuse to willingly let a thuggish criminal violate my rights by robbing me, assaulting me or murder me.
I refuse to willingly let a Police Officer violate my rights by illegal search and seizure or prying in to my privacy or wait on him/her if a crime is committed and need them to "save" me.
I refuse to willingly let a Politician or Gun Control Person to violate my rights by revoking my Right To Bear Arms, or take my weapons.
I've been all around the world, and in my day, I've had a few scraps. I'm an above average size person, and when I was younger, I could handle myself in a bout of fisticuffs no problem, you win some, you lose some. As I've gotten older, I have realized there's no way I could effectively defend myself against most violent assaults, so a weapon makes it an equal playing field. So if a younger more athletic person gets it in his head, that he wants my money or my car, and he will violently assault me to get it, it will not be without a fight. I just use something other than my fists nowadays.
I am NOT a proponent of violence, nor would I ever violate someone else's rights willingly, I respect my fellow man too much to do so, as I follow the Golden Rule as much as I can.
I find it very shocking and offensive that someone would want to take away my right, as an Armed Forces Veteran, as Law Enforcement Veteran and more importantly a CITIZEN of this country. Other countries find us archaic and rearward thinking for our Pro Gun laws, but that is what my country was founded on, and I will never apologize nor be ashamed of who I am or where I live.