Well, that escalated quickly.
I WONT buy an SBR because I think it's BS that I have to ask permission to travel with a gun that I had to pay the government to have the right to buy, then ask permission to even buy the damn thing in the first place! So SBR's are out.
Because I choose to carry a gun I'm now a paranoid freak with control issues? That kinda surmise the premise?
I'm half crippled up and can't defend myself or my family very well in my condition, my state and now your state, permit me to carry a gun if I choose to, I choose to. It's been nearly 30yrs since I've had to draw a gun on anyone, I hope it's at least 30yrs before I ever have to again.
I've been painted with the mentality "Everybody is evil and out to get me, I better be able to get them first!" Or that I'm out just looking to get into a fight so I can justify why I carry a gun.
Quite the opposite is true, at least for me. If I see a situation or a place that I think is going to be a problem, I just avoid it. I'm aware of my surroundings, the people, the cars and just letting people do their thing, I have no want or desire to hurt anyone, but I also refuse to be a victim.
So to look at this another way, lets look at what I carry in my pockets all day every day. I have two pocketknives, a multitool, a keychain screwdriver, the bits for my multitool, two flashlights and a small lockpick set.
Why do I carry two pocketknives, one should be plenty? I have a jackknife with three different blades, on is great for scrapping gaskets, one is pretty good at stripping wire and the big blade gets the job of being used and abused. The other knife is a single blade and I know it's sharp all the time. Multi-tasking or abuse, I grab one, need something really sharp, I grab the other.
Why do I need two flashlights? Batteries go dead, sometimes two people need to look at something at one time.
The one I'm going to get grief for now, Why do I carry a lockpick set? Same reason I have two keyrings in my truck loaded up with keys for most of the equipment I work on.. I'm not a thief, but often times customers forget to remove locks from things I need to move or work on, sometimes I get locked out of gates when I go to work on them. I had to move a boat the other day, husband and wife deal, going through a divorce and needed me to move it to a new residence until they could sell it. Anyway, hubby had put a padlock on the ball to keep anyone from stealing it, wifey couldn't find the key. After a half hour of this, I picked the lock and moved the boat.
The multi-tool and bits, if I have to explain, well.
My point, I'm not a thief, I'm not looking to break into houses and get into things, but I'm prepared to do the job however it may come out, and I have the tools with me to do so.
Just because I choose to carry a gun doesn't mean I'm an unfuckable old white dude, I just want to be prepared whatever the situation may be.
I also stated I wasn't that worried about Corpus, my main concern was when we stayed in Austin overnight, that was my main reasoning for being extra prepared.