I carry a gun.  Sometimes I carry concealed, and sometimes I openly carry my sidearm.  Needless to say I have a concealed pistol permit for when I choose to hide my gun.  Open Carry without a permit is legal in the State of Washington, with a couple of small exceptions.

One reader who uses Olyblog expressed some misunderstanding when I stated I hope to never have to kill someone.

I never, ever want to use my weapon to shoot someone else with.  But I would rather have that option than fall victim to a violent crime or be unable to prevent an innocent third party from being killed maimed or raped.

Most folks who carry a sidearm are aware of the awesome responsibility that comes with the carrying of weapons, and are not out looking for trouble or hoping for a fight.  Rather we go out of our way to avoid both.  But when we have no choice, we hope the presence of the weapon is sufficient, but are willing to go all the way and pull the trigger to protect ourselves or someone else.

I would rather live with killing in lawful defense than failing to do so and seeing myself or someone else killed or maimed in a violent attack.

A violent criminal who has expressed intent to kill or commit grave bodily harm has given up their rights.  Your right or someone else’s as an innocent victim supersede any of the criminal.  I never ever wish to be in that situation to have to make those kind of choices.  But if that horrible weight should fall upon my shoulders, then I wish only for the strength to make the correct call.