Ron

I had a discussion the other day with some friends who are not licensed and so don't carry, but who have no issue with those who do carry and are in no way anti-gun. We were talking about older people who have lost their driving skills to the point that they are dangerous on the road, but who refuse to accept this reality and will not give up their car keys. This is a somewhat common scenario in South Florida where I live. Since these friends know that I carry, and we are all "seniors," they asked whether I thought there was a reasonable analogy between that issue and "seniors" carrying, given that our reflexes, eyesight and conditioning are not what they were when we were younger, assuming the person is in otherwise good health. I was really caught off guard by the question as it was something I had never considered. I would be very interested in feedback on this from other members.

P95Carry

Ron - it is something I have given thought to for sure.

I am 61 - driving and still have pretty sharp reflexes, and eyesight tho less good for my sight picture is still close to 20/20 with glasses. I am 6.00 and 205 and told I am in fair shape - well, I can still move quickly if needed

I do tho wonder where a breakpoint is - or if it can be defined - bearing in mind that us older guys are less capable re H2H type situations.

I regard my piece as much more vital now than perhaps I might have done 20 and more years ago, that's for sure but then too I take (even) greater pains to avoid any perceived trouble.

Being able to admit tho in the future, when driving is no longer responsibly safe and so maybe too responsible carry - well, that is a hard call for any of us. I stress tho the need to be able to for ourselves still utilize that word responsible and add too, proficient.

The latter will be down to a maintained degree of practice - in my case refreshing skills long aquired, as against new ones. Sure I might be slower for sure but - as long as I have ability to react responsibly and well - I will continue to carry - possibly even in fact after I have ceased driving.

Ahhh - that I should live that long

__________________
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

floridaguy911

Ron,

I believe strongly that some seniors really should give up thier car keys, however, to me, a gun is somewhat of a different story. It is to protect YOUR life, so the only reason you would have it out would be in self defense, or hopefully- in the security of your own home where any kind of AD would only put yourself in danger. (seems like a bad thing to say but you get what im saying) I know absolutely nothing about you sir, but from reading your post you seem very competent to operate a firearm. Yes, your reflexes arent as fast as they used to be, but you dont operate a firearm in self defense for hours at a time like driving. All in all I believe seniors should carry firearms as they are often targeted by gutless thugs or scum of some kind, but only under the condition of knowing the laws, when you can and cant shoot, etc.. Im sure I left plenty of thoughts out but Im sure others will finish what I have forgot now.

(Added) Im 27

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Hobbes

hmmm, interesting. This is how I look at it, slow reflexes can kill other people when driving a car, but slow reflexes with a gun can only hurt a shooter which would be dead without a weapon anyways. Once mentally incompetent, that is a different story.

ccw9mm

IMO, so long as the mind is not going and the ability to control a deadly weapon is still there, it actually becomes more important to be able to fill the security void left when one's physical abilities decline. Beyond that point, though, when one no longer has the ability to reliably maintain effective control over a weapon, it's rough. In such situations, I'd fear it would be far too likely to be taken and used against the person.

__________________
Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it.
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raevan

As one ages, one experiences the diseases of aging such as arthritis, gout, rheumatism, etc. Sometimes it becomes hard to shoot the gun because of pain and stiffness. When one becomes physically unable to fire a gun then I guess you just quit. Untill that day, as long as I am capable of clear thought I think I will continue to carry.

tegemu

Something to factor in, as we get old we increasingly become a prime target to BG's. They thrive on the helplessness of victims. I hope my perception of helplessness will remain a mistaken observation. As long as I can still shoot well enough to hit a 10" circle at 7 yards, approx. COM size, I intend to carry.

__________________
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence in their behalf. - George Orwell

mstarn

The older you get the MORE of a target you become for a bad guy. The more affluent you are the more target you become for a bad guy. You dress well, speak well, drive a decent vehicle, you probably have money or credit cards. Or so the the mind of a bad guy thinks.

I feel this is the reason that the older person should carry a concealed handgun. Of course, any one carrying a handgun should be fully qualified from all aspects.

__________________
Mark
SC CWP Instructor
NC CCH Instructor
NRA Certified Instructor

Ron

I think that Mark, and several others, have made important points in response to my post. Unfortunately, I suppose that older people are perceived as easy targets by BG. This would statistically increase their risk of being attacked, and thus arguably result in an even greater need for them to be armed then younger people, assuming that they are qualified.

Ron

Old_Painless

Ron, please don't take this personal, but your comment made me think.

You seemed to say that older people ought to be able to carry a firearm,"assuming that they are qualified".

How about my right to free speech? Do I need to be "qualified" by the government to speak freely?

How about my freedom to worship God as I please? Do I need to be "qualified" by the gooberment to do that?

Then why do I need to be "qualified" to exercise my God-given right to "keep and bear arms"?