By Mitch from DFW
My wife and I both grew up in Canada. As such, we always had a strange curiosity with America’s embrace of firearms. Canadians are inculcated by our school system from an early age that America is full of “gun nuts” and you’ll just get shot walking in broad daylight for no apparent reason. I was always skeptical of said shibboleth, as I viewed the Second Amendment as a check on an overreaching government. When we moved to the US fourteen years ago, we first settled in Detroit. We saw firsthand that owning a firearm isn’t such a bad idea. That being said, as we were on visas at the time, we couldn’t own handguns. It was something we’d think about down the road . . .
Several years later, events would happen that ensured that once we got our permanent residency status, and we would become firearm owners. These events happened in Charlotte, North Carolina.
First, my wife was deliberately driven off the road in an apparent gang initiation. The police told us as much, but then advised her not to pursue the issue as being a witness, because the gangs would have access to our name and assess. The second event occurred when my wife was at the local playground with my two-year-old and infant sons. A man attempted to approach my oldest son with the intent of snatching him. If it wasn’t for the fact that another car drove into the parking lot, the results could have been tragic. Once again, the police were dismissive. The man in question was subsequently charged a year later with the attempted kidnapping of a young girl (the charges were eventually dropped on that for various reasons). We learned the hard lesson that the police are of little help when seconds matter.
We later got our permanent residency and shortly thereafter moved to Las Vegas. We purchase our first guns there. My wife bought a SIG SAUER P238 and a Walther PPQ. We took introductory safety courses and spent a fair bit of time on the range. Both guns are a joy to shoot. Both are accurate and feel comfortable in the hand.
Liking the ergonomics and the trigger on the PPQ so much, I later bought a Walther CCP as my carry piece (note: it shoots very well with minimal snap. Feels wonderful in the hand. Trigger isn’t as smooth as the PPQ, but not bad once it is worked in. Disassembling it is not difficult after a few tries. Just wish there were aftermarket night sights for it). We agreed we would take the conceal carry course and get our permits, but we weren’t in a hurry. Once again, events accelerated our decision.
My wife operated a small business in a strip mall. While finishing up her day, she heard a kerfuffle in the barber shop next door. Later, three men walked out, one of them with a face that looked like hamburger, and got into a car right in front of my wife’s shop and left. A minute later, another man walked out and, in plain sight, drew a revolver and started shooting at the departing car. He then turned and stared at my unarmed wife. She was on the phone with 911 at the time and was fearful for her life, to put it mildly. Luckily the shooter took off, but the lesson was reinforced: When seconds count the police are minutes away.
We started the CCW paperwork shortly after that. We also ended up moving to Texas (for work reasons, not due to this incident). I now carry every day and my wife will, once her permit is processed.
We now accept that we cannot control when “crazy” will happen. It has happened to us before, and in all likelihood, will happen again. However, the next time we will at least be able to have more say in the situation. We shall not be helpless. Accepting the world as it is, not how we wish it would be, is a cornerstone of wisdom and maturity. In a similar vein, we appreciate our freedom to be prepared for the world as it is.
You’ve had an interesting life so far.
Might want to reconsider the process used to choose a place to live
Well, the criteria: low tax, low cost of living, warm weather (except the first job in Detroit), and 2nd amendment friendly. Live and learn!
Warm weather attracts crazies. Move to Wisconsin. We are more fun friendly here.
Wow. So, first stop Detroit, huh? Why?
Your kidding right? One of Canada’s most populated city is just the other side of the river. Not sure where he lived but Detroit is a very close drive to Windsor, most of Ontario, and not too far from Toronto.
yeah, but DETROIT?
I went to university in Windsor, grew up in Northern Ontario. So we were very familiar with the area. Plus, it was the job that got me my work visa. Worked in Troy and Southfield and spent a lot of time on Harsens Island.
Work: knew people who would sponsor me for a work visa. Spent a lot of time there as a college student.
Head due south from Detroit and you end up in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Yes, south.
Wow that’s an action packed life…
Not poking fun, but I never even encountered anything more than road rages and mom-opening-doors-for-(most likely real)cops…
Welcome to the States. Glad to have you. Godspeed.
I have a response to Canada: that’s why we won both world wars. U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!
‘Merica!
Seems like you attract an unusual amount of crazy.
Great choice on the PPQ it’s one of the best you can buy
Wow, his wife seems to attract evil. Scary
Last Saturday, about five blocks from me, at a Puerto Rican restaurant we go to occasionally, a guy who was apparently high on various drugs kicked in a window, picked up a giant shard of glass, and used it like a giant knife to chase patrons out. Apparently he was shouting “‘F— Mexico! F— Mexico!”
Anyway, I just renewed my Washington CPL, which was a breeze, but I really wonder how many of the people who live in my neighborhood have CPLs or carry. There are reportedly around 95,000 CPL holders in King County, but I suspect the very large majority of that number are outside of Seattle. I strongly suspect that very few Seattle residents carry on a routine basis.
Here’s the story with video: http://komonews.com/news/local/like-a-horror-movie-man-smashes-ballard-restaurant-window-attacks-diners
I’m a Seattle resident. I carry every day, and I also wonder how many around me actually do. You and I are very likely an extreme minority in these parts.
Same here: Seattle resident, carry every day.
Interesting that all three people who carry in Seattle happen to be TTAGers.
Was the soccer match a Tai?
NO!
Well good luck buddy. ‘Mericah!
Excellent write up.
Welcome to freedom.
Damn, son, that’s a whole lot of “wrong place, wrong time” for one person. Any chance you pissed off an old gypsy woman or a voodoo witch doctor something?
And from pretty much all over the country, too! Save your money, don’t bother to buy lottery tickets, you do not have the luck.
First post ever here. Love Canada except on the gun issue. Nice people except maybe Franglish speaking ones. Nevertheless glad you’re here and standing watch. Hope you had your “three events” and never need to self protect. At least you’re ready. Be well.
I’m still figuring out “kerfuffle”. Seriously though, good for you for carrying and glad you got out of Michigan, especially Southfield.
It’s a perfectly cromulent word….
…embiggin?
That’s a lot of second chances.
And whew. Detroit. That’s a rough intro to the US.
Man, talk about bad luck.
Good write up.
How many rounds can you put down range with the CCP before the dust cover becomes too hot to handle?
When you say the trigger gets better, is this through use or gunsmithing?
Thnx
/fascinated by fixed barrel 9’s
#too poor for P7
AR:
The CCP will start getting toasty around the piston after 4-5 magazines fired back to back. When at the range, I’ll do 2 magazines on the CCP, then switch to the PPQ – then it never gets more than a little warm. I’ve also notice after about 500 rounds and several cleanings/lubrications into it the trigger gets less “grainy”. There is a large difference between the PPQ and the CCP trigger, but when compared with the Glock 43 or M&P Shield, it holds it own.
Welcome to the family, Mitch !
A few years ago, after a downtown show, my wife and were walking to hour car. Old guy with a limp and his wife, completely empty streets, and a car some distance away. For the first time in my entire life, I felt vulnerable. Lesson learned.
There is no mention of American “gun nuts” in Canadian schools. There is basically little conversation about firearms in Canada unless you live in a major urban Center. The gun laws in Canada are a little annoying and the magazine issue is stupid but it’s about as bad as here in California
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