![[smilie=011.gif]](http://www.floridashootersnetwork.com/images/smilies/011.gif "He He")
I never said criminals were dumb...would love you to copy and post where I said that, I said they prey on the weak (which is a proven fact) and IMO your giving them to much credit. Equating identity theft to being followed home from the store because you have a gun your hip (in hopes of robbing you for more guns) is as big a red herring as ive ever heard. My point is that the overwhelming majority of criminals in the course of committing their crimes, attempt to AVOID confrontation at all costs (another scientifically proven fact), does this mean it never happens and that some criminals dont give a shit? Of course not, there's outliers and exceptions to everything (if the latter wasnt the case thered never be an armed robbery which we all know isnt reality).
But I believe that over the aggregate, open carry would deter a very large number of potential victims from victimization because as I stated earlier, there's an abundance of research backed facts that clearly shows criminals do not seek people who they think may pose a threat or fight back to victimize. Does that mean their wont be some outliers that do, of course! But IMO I believe the numbers would be astronomically in favor of determent rather than victimization.
In reference to my dogs, yes my dogs are quite well trained to do what they were bread to do.... but that wasnt my point, I said "good luck not alerting my dogs," because before any would be criminals get anywhere remotely close my home to throw their piece of meat, my dogs will have woken the entire neighborhood up giving whoevers home more then ample time to react appropriately.
I wouldnt say my assumptions are naive, its just what the research in the field ive spent the last 5 years of my life studying suggests. Your obvously entitled to your opinion, thats what im asking for. Its what our great country is based upon
Enoch wrote:FSUnoles wrote:Well as stated in another thread...(not to toot my own horn) but I live in a gated country club, so good luck following me in (theres never been a home invasion robbery or burglary in my community since it opened open 20 years ago), and if on the off chance they did get in Id notice they were following me all the way to my house. So let them come back when someones home (if they somehow found out where i lived by following me to the gate), good luck getting in my house with out alerting my 2 100 lb german shepherds lol.
I could understand your point, however your giving criminals WAY too much credit. Almost paranoia..
Not sure how we're delusional, criminals try an AVOID CONFRONTATION 99.9% of the time they commit crimes, its a fact. They avoid homes with high fences, dogs, people inside, with gates at the entrance, people WHO THEY KNOW can be armed etc etc. Who do the overwelming majority of criminals target..... the elderly, the sick/infermed, the indigent, the handicapped etc etc. If you think a criminal is going to follow you home because your carrying a gun in the hopes of getting more guns I think your the one whos delusional.
This is why I started the thread though, for good discussion on the topic. Your the first person Ive ever discussed this with who felt that way and actually thought of an elaborate scheme like that..OK. Here's an example of how you become a target by open carrying. You open carry... BG's identify you. Maybe they don't confront you while you carry, but now they know you own at least one gun, and realize that most people that own one gun, own multiple guns.
They follow you home to see where you live and find out that you live in a nice neighborhood and have a good looking wife. They watch you for a couple days and realize your wife is often home alone. Now they know they can get some guns and have some fun with your wife at the same time. You see where this is going? I carry concealed, have the element of surprise, and don't have to worry about being targeted for my weapon.
You cowboys that think open carry is a deterrent are delusional or live in the sticks.Try to open carry in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, or Orlando, etc... and unless you are within the confines of your own business, you will be in constant attendance of your open weapon. You might as well go home and sit on the couch
Gated communities get robbed all the time. The security guards and maintenance/ground keepers know more about your schedule, vacations, pets, friends, etc. etc. than any neighbor in a non-gated community would ever care to know. Drug dealers set up grow houses in affluent, secured communities all the time. And the neighbors never had any idea
The gate is a false sense of security, and so are the guards. I personally hate gated communities, because I don't want to report, clock, swipe my comings and goings to anyone. Dogs are always a good deterrent, but unless they are trained, a couple hunks of meat may change their mind.
I don't doubt that your situation is quite secure, and I am far from paranoid, but you seem a little naive in your assumptions.
Many criminals ARE smart. Do you know how to steal someone's identity and go get a mortgage tomorrow? It happens everyday by DUMB criminals. Poverty and addiction are very strong motivators and many times BOLDNESS is more effective than INTELLIGENCE.
Since this thread was originally about OPEN CARRY, I'd be more interested in your intelligent discourse about how open carry is more beneficial than concealed carry... other than your brilliant opinion that criminals are dumb and would be scared of you if you had a gun on your hip.
