Op-ed by David McCoy of Mason City –
I am a CCW permit holder and I do carry a weapon with me about 90% of the time. Two years ago I didn’t give gun ownership much thought, but with the increase in violence and criminal activity in my neighborhood, the increase of crime everywhere, and a couple of threats to my life and safety of my family by a couple unsavory individuals (whom shall remain nameless) for utterly ridiculous reasons, persuaded me to exercise my 2nd Amendment Right to Bear Arms.
So, over the past few days since this shooting, I have thought about the situation and how I feel I would have reacted. I have read many, many responses to that question and had many personal conversations about it. I can honestly say that I believe no one will ever be able to tell you how they would react until they have lived that type of situation.
I can honestly tell you that, had I been in that theater and armed (despite the fact that the theater was a posted no weapons zone) when this senseless attach occurred, I mostly likely would NOT have been leaping rows of seats and scattered bodies in an attempt to put a slug into the attacker’s melon. No, I am certain I would have been crouched on the floor, shielding the bodies of my family with my own. Would I have had my weapon drawn and ready for use? Most definitely. I have proven to myself that I will, in the face of reasonable threat to my own life, or that of my family, protect it with reasonable force. I have had to draw my weapon once since I began carrying it. I felt that my wife and I were at serious risk. I believe that the presence of my weapon and my willingness to present it diffused the situation. I will not go into details about the situation, as I do not wish to make my identity known to the person(s). Suffice it to say that my night ended peacefully, albeit a little shaken. I hope I do not ever have to do that again. I do not like the feelings it left me with, nor do I care for the feelings it evoked in my wife. No one should have to live in fear of walking down the street in their own neighborhood.
I see a lot of people going on and on about more gun laws and banning all weapons. This will not solve the problem. When you take away the guns and make owning one a crime, then only criminals and government (I know, synonymous) will have guns. Where will that leave the average law abiding citizen? We will be at the mercy of criminals and government. I would love to know, at what point in our history, the people decided that our roles should be reversed; the government should fear it’s people, not the vice versa. The government is supposed to work for us, not control us. As it is, the U.N. Small Arms Treaty is shaping up to disarm the law abiding citizens of America. Couple that with this wonderful new RFID chip implant idea that (y)our government wants to implement and we will all be lemmings in no time.
As much as I could continue on about the gun issue, I do not believe that I can do it any better justice than what I found in one article online, written by Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.). Please see the following link to my Facebook profile where I have his article saved as a note. I have it set to public so everyone should be able to view it.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/david-mccoy/the-best-pro-gun-argument/10150319035715295
DISCLAIMER: Please note that everything above is MY OPINION, and therefore, not open for debate. I am entitled to my opinion as you are entitled to yours. I will not engage in an argument where we attempt to change each other’s minds about our stance on this subject. You will either agree with me or agree to disagree with me.
I truly believe in having the right to bear arms and having the ability to CCW. For almost 2 decades I fought for you keep those rights while in the military. Unless you have been trained and practice in certain situations you will fail every time that you think that you will use the gun that you are carrying. Practicing on a range to make sure that you can hit the target does not count. Run 5 miles to the range to get your heart rate up and then try to hit the target bet you can’t. Have someone shoot back at you while trying to hit the target bet you can’t. Have another human being in your sights and find out how hard it is to pull the trigger most of you won’t be able to do it. I have had to do that so many times that I can’t count or don’t want to remember. Having to pull the trigger on a person because of the situation it was either him or me who was going to die that day the person who was less than 5ft from you and getting his splatter all over you after you pull that trigger not to much fun. Not saying or thinking that I am a Bad A** or anything like that I wish and sometime Pray that someone would pull a gun out on me and watch what they will do when I take their own gun from them and shoot it. I have been trained in these situations I have lived in these situations. The best thing to do is always be aware of your surroundings and not put yourself or your family in these types of situations.
First and foremost, thank you for your service.
You make it sound like “these types of situations” are painted bright yellow with flashing lights on them. I am constantly aware of my surroundings for the simple fact that I attempt to do everything within my power to protect myself and family from the wouldbe criminals out there. But, these criminals don’t walk around with signs advertising that they are about to be stupid and cause a problem. “These types of situations” pop up at a moments notice and NO ONE can know when or where. So, just how does one keep themselves out of “these types of situations” unless they just stay in their homes, hiding in a closet? Sorry, I’m not going to do that. Something bad can happen as soon as I walk out my front door (and it has), but I’m not going to let that deter me from living my life, from having a life.
Yes, thank you for your service! I have to agree with David here again. The only way to not get yourself in that sort of situation is to never leave the house. Let’s be real. Since we are being real, as i have said before…the likely hood of needing a weapon in MC (for me) for protection from a human…not the greatest chance at all. Dog…MUCH MUCH more likely. Still, the chance for both still exists. If you want to talk about chances, what’s your chances on winning the lottery? Slim to none for the big one. Still, everyone plays don’t they? Why play if the chance is slim to none and slim left town? Cause there’s STILL a chance isn’t there?
If you are a good driver then why do you need car insurance? You pay your insurance for years and never use it but then one day out of the blue someone backs into you, it isn’t your fault but now you need it. Same goes for a weapon.
Thankyou for a very intelligent comment. Iam a gun owner and hunter. I do not carry a gun but support that right as long as these people support the rights of people that don’t want guns in their homes or businesses. I totally agree that unless you train constantly you are not likely to succeed in the moment of crisis. The training for CC should be the same as the police and be continuous as long as the permit is valid.
People carry guns because they are afraid. Pure and simple. This article could have been one sentence or should have titled “Why I am afraid.”
Thanks for not letting me down. I knew I could count of one of NIT’s finest. lol.
Hey My Voice, klinkyh didn’t let you down either!
Ya, I saw that. He’s alright for the most part. Just likes to poke fun from what I can tell. Hey…it is fun. You shouldn’t do it if you can’t take it. I just give it back in a friendly way to him. 🙂
Instead of choosing “Anonymous” for your screen name, you could have just put “Why I’m an idiot”. Then your comment would have made more sense to me. lol.
That is completely priceless… coming from someone that didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to use their REAL NAME and had to hide behind “Anonymous”.
Hide behind “anonymous” or hide behind a gun, at the end of the day, we’re both still hiding.
I am not hiding anything. In fact, I was already told I shouldn’t have admitted to carrying a gun as I just lost my element of surprise to any wouldbe attacker by having this attached to my name. On the contrary, I pretty much just put it all out there on the table. You have my real name and the fact that I openly admit to carrying a gun. I don’t think I’d call that hiding.
What did the 5 fingers say to the face…S L A P! I can’t wait for the comeback Anonymous. Whatcha got?
Why didn’t you criticize My Voice for not using his real name? Just because he agrees with you doesn’t change anything.
Maybe it’s because My Voice didn’t criticize Mr. McCoy for ‘hiding’ while using the moniker of “Anonymous”. Ya tool!
Convicted criminal here. From 18 yrs ago. Still cant own a gun. Law abiding citizen for close to two decades. Unfortunatley, many of the drug dealers that have moved to this town carry them. They have no permits. I carry a gun illegally just like them. One of them deserves a bullet in the face for what they did.
No one ASKED for your opinion. In fact, you said you would stop giving your opinion and stop posting on here. Take your bat and ball and go home (to your OWN awesome website) like you said you would.
Keep your promises Mr. L.
This website will never be what it used to be because Matt deleted comments. He violated the free speech trust that we all are looking for. I may occasionally comment on something of relevance, but as far as sending articles and believing in this website…I do not. It has been shattered. Free speech isn’t always easy or a comfortable thing, but it is a necessary thing. Matt blew it. Huge disappointment. As far as you and the other stone throwers…you’re meaningless to me. My concern is that of free speech and free speech only.
So you want anonymous to come to your house so you can bully them into not exercising their 1st amendment rights? Good luck on that new website with THAT attitude.
My point is with all these stone throwers. It’s easy to throw stones when no one knows who you are. I’d say as a general rule of thumb, if you are DICTATING to people telling them not to write on this website, and basically asking for their voices to be silenced…you should at least have the stones to present your identity. I contend that if they did use their real identity, they wouldn’t behave like they do. Furthermore, I’m again disappointed in Mr. Marquardt, because he basically sided with a bunch of anonymous people, when he should have been REQUIRING them to use their real identities when basically trying to kick off a writer from this website. Do you know how easy it is for me to start throwing out insults and badgering from behind an anonymous moniker? I could do it, but I don’t do it. I use my real name, and I voice my opinions. So are you smart enough to understand what I’m saying?
—
REAL NAMES=Credit Score: 800
FAKE NAMES=Credit Score: 300
Give the loans to the Real names…not the fake ones.
We understood that you said you would leave. That doesn’t make us stone throwers, that just makes you a liar. Post some more and prove us right.
I think Matt Marquardt should step up to the plate and write an explanation as to why he deletes some comments and keeps others. Again, I don’t take instructions nor do I answer to you or any of the other anonymous people in NIT land. I was extremely pissed off when Matt deleted all the comments pertaining to the Hanlontown driving error made by the Worth County conservation board intern. I have also witnessed him remove comments from users named Watcher and others who he didn’t agree with and like.
Matt plays the game of “My Sandbox…my Toys…my Website.”
He’s not a fair and impartial moderator or web forum host. He managed to attract a bunch of viewers to his site, by declaring himself an alternative voice. If you remember his first byline was “alternative news for NOrth Iowa”, and claimed to offer unpopular or unknown opinions.
However in practice, he has shown that he’s like any other forum operator…he deletes what he doesn’t agree with.
Honestly, in a perfect world…he should be stripped of his ability to maintain a public forum. Those are grave offenses amongst those of us who rely on Free Speech to prevail. But this is a private world, and it’s his website.
I’m just trying to keep the truth alive and inform people of what really goes on…and went on. Watcher can attest to this as well as many others.
Checks and balances…and Marquardt himself needs them just like anyone else.
Typical Peter. He thinks people should stick by what they say they were or were not going to do, EXCEPT Peter.
One other point i’d like to add about why I carry a gun. Everyone wants to think you don’t need one here in MC. What are the chances some bad guy is going to come after “you”? Not that great of a chance really. But what no one else seems to think about is being corned by a vicious DOG. How many of those we got running around? Well, I’ve had it happen to me. The bullet between the eyes just as it started to leap seemed to be a little better recourse than “talking it out”. But hey, all the gun haters here seem to be so smart, maybe they’d had better luck reasoning with the sumbitch. One thing I don’t doubt is someone having an intelligent comeback for that too. Like I should have called 911 instead. Everyone’s got an answer, opinion, and an asshole.
Before some smart ass spelling police come after me, we’ve got a lot of those here too…that should have said “cornered”.
As was pointed out by whomever it was, I’ve let the proverbial cat out of the bag now. 🙂
Ok, I must explain that I have a tendency to switch between concealed and open carry. It all depends upon my attire. Also my comfort level.
I do agree with your position about it and I understand that some people are extremely uneasy about seeing a person with a sidearm. These people obviously couldn’t live in Texas. 🙂
My Voice, I was just out picking up my kid from a late night pool thing and was thinking about this very thing! I was going to come back and post about this scenario, but you have beat me to it.
Here’s another situation that my family has dealt with in the last few years here in Mason City. My oldest daughter went out to our car to retrieve something from the back. Out of nowhere, some lunatic comes out of the dark towards her mumbling and talking crazy. Arms waving around. Obviously tweaking his fool head off. What kind of conversation do you think my daughter should have had with person in a drug induced stupor?
Luckily, my daughter was able to elude being captured by this nutcase as he grabbed for her and she ran to the house screaming. She was able to get the door locked behind her before he made it up the porch steps. Do you think he just wanted to come in the house to sit down and watch the latest episode of South Park with us?
On this particular night, my family was lucky in that we were all able to avoid any injuries and keep this guy out of our house. But, what if he were a few seconds faster and had made it in the door? Meth addicts have proven they have superhuman like strength and not even tazers have an effect of them. But, I’m sure he was willing to sit down and talk it out with me while we waited for the police to arrive.
What do you think, Charlene? Got any suggestions for that situation?
You’re right on the mark David. Like i said below, I only wish you’d reconsider your open carry policy. If you didn’t see it. Check it out. Not trying to chastise you, just don’t agree with that part of it. Other than that, you’re right on the mark. Talk it out, shit. That’s about the most stupid thing I’ve heard. Unless that quack thinks that us “gun nuts” just get into arguements and start pulling out the ole sidearm. Which is even more of a dumbass thought process. It’ll only get pulled out if the situation is a life or death situation. I’ve been in plenty of arguements and never even remotely considered my piece. I been in martial arts for the better of 20 years. Been in MANY arguements over those 20 years. Only had to use martial arts ONCE. And that was on a dude slappin his woman friend around when he was drunk at a bar. He took a little nap. She wrote “loser” on his forehead with a sharpie and thanked me. Ya, I carry a gun. But I excersize a GREAT deal of control as carrying a gun comes with an incredible amount of responsibility. This isn’t the old west and I’m no cowboy. I’m a husband and a father that cares enough about the ones i love to take the responsibility to protect them from ALL threats. Man or beast. I shouldn’t have to explain my actions to those that don’t care enough about themselves or the ones they love to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. But that’s what I do because it’s my RESPONSIBILITY. I may not be able to advert all threats but at least I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to try and I’m not afraid to do it even if i means my life. I feel sorry for the families of those that are afraid of taking the same responsibility. I guess I just love them that much. I’ll die keeping them safe and I’ll NEVER have to live with the regret of not being prepared, willing, and able to protect them or at least die trying. Someone want to argue with that?
Why not read it BEFORE you post it????
Come on…I THOUGHT you were smarter than that klinkyh. That’s really ALL you have to contribute? Why not read it BEFORE I post it. Wow, you usually have a better comment than that with, i don’t know…more value. You ok buddy?
I’m a CWP holder, AND carry 90% of the time too… But you don’t need a gun to stave off a dog. Hell, I fought off two pitbulls with my bare hands in my front yard.
You’re going to shoot your eye out Spanky. Stay out of Humbolt Park in Chicago and away from the north end of Mason City and you won’t need a gun to cock off.
“Stay out of Humbolt Park in Chicago and away from the north end of Mason City and you won’t need a gun to cock off.”
Better add to your list Back of the Yards, Kensington, Englewood, Lawndale, Austin, Roseland, Austin-Gresham.
Of course when I resided there, it was not uncommon to visit such places day or night. Not that I would take such risks today. Same goes today for walking around on the North End, there are problems, but it does not scare me enough to need a gun.
You need to carry grenades too. If you ever get overtaken by a crowd and run out of ammo aimlessly shooting people you can throw grenades at them. Don’t forget your suicide pills too. You don’t want to be taken alive.
Don’t be ridiculous, the grenades are only for the zombie apocalypse. No sense breaking those out just yet.
Or you could just carry a clue. You should try it. It WORKS.
“After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it.”
-William S. Burroughs
O great another gun-happy psycho! Just wht this town needs! Instead of pointing your gun, why don’t you try to talk out your problems? Or get some anger management. Gun are NOT the answer.
If you had ANY clue as the the nature of the situation my wife and I were in, you would know just how utterly stupid your comment is. But, since you don’t have a clue, you go right ahead and think of me and as a “gun-happy psycho”.
I do know the situation David referred to & the other party was not acting in a way that even made talking possible. He had a split second to decide how to handle the situation, if he had said “Stop, lets talk” he & his wife would’ve been seriously injured. By pulling his gun he scared off the other party, no one was injured.
If being an educated gun owner willing to protect his family means being psycho, well then I guess David’s psycho…but I’d rather he have a gun than the criminals.
ok well u can just hind in your house while some one breaks into it and destroys your life but i work to hard for my life and my family for that to happen and if i was to rely on this PD that take 20 minute to responde i or my famly could be dead. guess what i love my 2nd amendment and i chose life…
CHARLENE… geez… since when do guns kill people?
PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE …got it Charlene ?
If I hear that NRA mantra one more time I may puke. Neither do clubs, knives, tire wrenches, hammers,or piano wire.
Guns just make it 1000 times easier and you don’t have to look the victims in the eye.
Oh I forget… You’ll give up your guns when they pry them out of your cold dead hands. Got anymore belt buckles?
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Did you puke yet?
Charlene….get a clue….Oh wait people like you have no clue to get!
I hope to God you are never about to be raped. It will be then that you realize talking it out won’t stop it. You could always try calling 911 though right?
A couple of my favorite quotes…
“When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.”
“I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.”
Thank you David. Very well said and I completely agree with your opinion.
I sadly have to disagree on that part. Even if you do own a gun and shoot someone threatening your safety in Iowa, you can and usually are charged with a crime yourself. What is the point?? I don’t understand our laws and wish they would change. I’m not against guns per se, but the laws need to change for the victims and not the criminals.
I hope I never (again) feel I have to use it. It’s not something I look forward to. Like I stated earlier, I don’t carry it because I think I’m a bad ass or because I want to fight, I carry because I want to be left alone. The threat of violence is always there. It’s a lot like another country wanting to come to America and attack us. It does happen, but it doesn’t happen nearly as often as it could. Some countries understand that if they did attach, they would be attacked in return. They do not wish to take the chance of losing that battle.
I agree with this comment. Unfortunately what people don’t realize is that in this police state (yes we live in one), you are not able to use the guns you are legally able to carry. Police insist on being the sole proprietors of deadly force. The only exception MAY be in an overwhelmingly obvious public situation, with many witnesses backing you. As a single person defending yourself in a dark alley…unless the perp was a total loser with a large criminal record, chances are you would find yourself on trial for murder. Hell even in here in mason city a man’s home was broken into and he was assaulted with a small sledgehammer, and he was charged with discharging his weapon. There are sticky rules when it comes to guns, and cops DON’T want anyone joining their party.
//
and for you losers who worry about what I do. David joined my website iowarevolution.com and comments on there, so I’m here supporting his very good post. I agree with him as well. I am a supporter of 2nd amendment rights.
Please be honest with us and yourself. You are on here because you just can’t help but putting in your two cents worth. We all knew that you couldn’t stay away. I’m glad David joined your little club, now just please leave us alone. From the looks of David’s article, he sure doesn’t need your help with anything.
please leave you alone?…with what?…my insightful opinions?
Peter, I think you have me confused with the other David that has been commenting on here lately, which has already happened once. Go to the Opinion article where this opinion article originated and you will see evidence of this. However, I have did visit that website last night and bookmarked it so I could go back and browse. I haven’t seen enough of it yet to decide if I am joining or not. I’ll keep an open mind when I do get a chance to go back. It sure seems like you have some ‘loyal’ followers here already. 🙂
Better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6.
Yes Iowa laws need to be changed. As they stand now you are supposed to flee you home (yes YOUR HOME) unless your family is in grave danger. We need to get something more similar to the CASTLE doctrine so that we can protect ourselves and our property from criminals.
Charlene, you go right ahead an put all your faith in other people. Hopefully someday it won’t cost you serious injury or even death. You are a prime example of what our government wan’ts, a SHEEPLE. I feel sorry for you.
Mr. McCoy, I hope you never need to unholster your weapon again, but I certainly understand your concerns. Yes, I to know carry, because today, your never sure when or where a criminal will attack, that’s sad to say but the truth.
As I’ve said many times in these posts: It’s your right not to carry or own a weapon, it is our right to do so. Stop giving up your rights.
David,
You couldn’t have said it any better AMEN TO YOU!!!
I carry ( have been for the last two years ) I agree with you 100 %..
Look at a city like Chicago and there is what gun laws do to a city..
Thanks for sharing this..
Unfortunately, Illinois wishes to keep it’s residents unarmed and unprotected. I can’t comment on the crime statistics from IL, as I am unaware of them, but I would have to agree that crimes against citizens might decrease significantly, if they were allowed to arm themselves. (opinion)
One of our most important rights as US Citizens is the Right To Bear Arms. You have voiced what many, many other citizens feel about the right to CCW. Thank you, Mr. McCoy.
Nice work, you just blew the element of surprise!
Publius, there usually isn’t an element of surprise as I open carry, for the most part.
I don’t carry because I am looking for a fight, I carry because I want to be left alone.
If there were more law-abiders carry weapons, we would all be safer. It’s sad that there aren’t more like you. What’s scary is the criminal element out there dominating the streets!
That’s fine if you want that target on your back. First thing my CWP instructor taught us was to always carry concealed, because open carrying makes you a threat to criminals. To each his own, I guess. Stay strong and carry on!
Yes, David…that’s the only place i couldn’t disagree with you more. I have had my CCW permit for years now, here and Utah. I have had hours upon hours of training. In every class i have ever taken, open carry was brought up as one of the worst things you can do. You WILL become the 1st target as most likely the bad guy will see you with your gun BEFORE you know the guy IS bad. Not only that but open carry intimidates gun sensitive people and children. In my opinion, there is no reason or place for it. It is only out there for show. It should not be shown until when and IF you actually need it. BUT, that is your right to do it. I just believe it is stupid and i have more respect for others around me that may not appreciate it. If they don’t know i have it, they can’t be offended. If they don’t know I have it and wish to cause me or my family harm…they find out really quick. Trust me. Anyway, nice article…just hope you take a serious look at this part of it. Thanks.
A true American exercising his constitutional right. Thank you David for articulating your thoughts on this.
Well said…. thank you!