You may not know me. I could be your neighbor, someone behind you in line at the store, or the person walking their dog down your street. We may never speak, but you’re safer because I carry a concealed firearm every day. Whether or not you support my right to do so, the reality is that your personal safety has quietly benefited from it.
Many people feel uneasy about the idea of civilians carrying guns. That’s understandable in a culture where headlines focus more on firearm misuse than responsible ownership. But there’s another side to the story—one backed by hard data. Dr. John Lott’s book More Guns, Less Crime presents a comprehensive analysis showing that when law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry concealed weapons, violent crime consistently drops.
Lott’s findings are not based on opinion or anecdote—they’re rooted in empirical research. His work examined data across all 3,054 U.S. counties over several decades. The pattern was clear: when states passed “shall-issue” laws, which make it easier for law-abiding citizens to get concealed carry permits, rates of murder, rape, and aggravated assault declined. Criminals, in short, are far less likely to attack when the risk of encountering an armed victim rises.
This effect isn’t magic—it’s deterrence. Just as police presence deters crime, so does the possibility that a potential victim might be armed. And unlike police, who can’t be everywhere at once, concealed carriers are already there—on the sidewalk, in the coffee shop, walking their dog. We blend in, invisible and unremarkable. That uncertainty is exactly what makes us effective.
Let me be clear: I don’t carry because I want to be a hero. I carry because I’ve accepted the uncomfortable truth that evil exists, and the first line of defense in any crisis is the person already on the scene. I hope to live my entire life without drawing my firearm in self-defense. But if violence comes, I won’t be caught helpless. I will be ready to protect myself, my family, and even complete strangers—people who may never know I was the reason they walked away safely.
You may not like guns. You may believe that society would be better off without them. That’s a belief you’re entitled to. But criminals don’t share your idealism. They don’t surrender their weapons or obey gun laws. They prey on the vulnerable and count on compliant victims. By choosing to carry, I shift the balance. I make our community harder to victimize—even if you wish I wouldn’t.
There’s a quiet irony here: the same people who most oppose concealed carry often benefit most from it. They enjoy the same deterrence effect as those who support it. They walk the same safer streets, sit in the same restaurants, send their children to the same schools. And because people like me carry responsibly and legally, they reap the security rewards, whether they know it or not.
So, to those who feel safer in a society where only the police are armed—I understand your perspective, but I don't share your faith in that ideal. I carry because I believe in taking personal responsibility for my safety—and, by extension, yours. You may not thank me. You may even resent me. But I carry anyway. And you are safer for it. You’re welcome.