Conceal carry is a HUGE responsibility. It means that, no matter what, you will have to be the Adult in the room no matter your role or stake in a situation.
I went to a Sarah Palin rally in a big blue city some years back, and was carrying. I had a leftist get right up in my face, nearly nose to nose with me. The guy was berating me about my sign (that referenced fiscal responsibility) while I was trying to listen to the speakers, and I simply said “Look. I am not interested in talking with you.” and moved to the side.
He stepped with me, and I am a bit of a hothead, and I could feel my temperature going up. I repeated myself, in a calm tone, and stepped back, and he followed suit.
It was at this point, I realized that there was a group of people filming this. They were with him. He was trying to provoke a fight.
After more of this, people around me began saying “Look the guy doesn’t want to talk with you, why don’t you leave him alone? and things like that, and eventually he left.
I swear, I wanted to slug the guy in the face. But I couldn’t. I was carrying. I had to be the Adult there. Can you imagine the headlines? With freedom goes responsibility.
I often discuss this with people who don’t own firearms, and sometimes I get the impression they think anyone who carries is some kind of cowboy in search of a shootout. I have to tell them:
“I hope, as God is my witness, I never, EVER have to draw this weapon in any circumstance. If I have to, I hope I have the strength to do what needs to be done if my life or someone else’s life depends on it.”
Yes. It is a big responsibility.
Anyone with a firearm should realize that the day you have to shoot someone is probably the worst day of your life. Even with a justifiable shoot, most humans will be haunted by using potentially fatal force against another human, at least right-thinking ones should be. Once the threat has been neutralized, you better immediately call your attorney because you'll need that attorney (and possibly, more) in the months to come, even in a justifiable shoot.
This isn't like TV or Mexico where people get shot and law enforcement just looks the other way. The consequences of actions, whether intentional or not, can be huge. Hopefully, the presence of your gun defuses the situation and doesn't escalate it because that is the last thing that you want.