Why Do I Carry? By Paul Riley of Therapy Range

Why Do I Carry? By Paul Riley of Therapy Range

Why do I carry? I didn't even bother asking myself that question back when I first put a pistol on. I just wanted to carry a gun. Wow, what a long, strange trip it's been to get where I am today. I certainly know why I carry everyday, everywhere. I literally never leave home without it, nor do I let it leave my arm's reach when I'm inside my home; while watching tv, eating my dinner, and even when I make sweet, sweet love to my wife, it's still in arms reach.

Do I sound paranoid? Scared? Nah...I just believe that there is nobody going to be there quickly enough to save me if I'm not able to save myself. Why do I carry? Simple...self preservation, and the preservation of those around me that have the right to not die due to an inability to shoot back. Some on the left may try to lead you into believing that everyone who wants to be armed are barbarians (leading you to believe they are violent by nature) or that they lack the courage to face off with someone in physical combat.

I can tell you that in my life, I carry for no other reason than the right of self preservation and the preservation of lives of those around me, loved ones or not. The best and most effective way of ensuring that right stays intact is to be armed, trained, and willing to meet violence with greater violence. Now, don't take that wrong, violence should be the very last resort when dealing with conflicts as there is almost always a better solution. However, if I am forced into violence, I want the most effective tool available to defend myself (and others) and that tool, as of today, is a firearm.

A firearm levels the playing field between a 105 pound woman and a 265 pound man. A firearm makes an elderly person equal to that of a twenty something year old hood rat trying to take what that elderly person has worked their whole life for. The ability to carry, possess and utilize a firearm is as basic as and comparable to a deer using its antlers to fight off a bobcat or wolf. Because of the pistol I carry, I stand a chance of surviving a 3-on-1 mugging or carjacking in the city. It's not just a right to be able to carry a firearm, it's almost a civic responsibility. Let's be honest, if I could fit a cop in my pocket, I wouldn't need a firearm so until there is an officer to escort every person, it's up to us to protect ourselves along with the weak, the elderly, and the sick.

Undoubtedly there will be some who will disagree (and that's okay). This is America, you're allowed to disagree. You're allowed to flat out not like it. You're also allowed to lobby your state government to make changes to things you don't like. Just like I can and have. And will. The 2nd Amendment is for everyone whether you want it or not. I will keep on carrying my pistol, and if the situation comes up, I will use it to protect myself and those around me. That's what Americans are supposed to do and what good christian Americans will do.

With everything said, if you choose to not carry, that's okay too. Not everyone is cut out to be the sheepdog, some people just have to be the sheep. It's not up to me to tell you how to or how not to.

I'm just here to write this story for your reading pleasure.

Stay Free America, If you can-

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Paul Riley

Therapy Range LLC

www.therapyrange.com