Why do they always toss this phrase around in firearm sites and what does it mean?

Always carry: That refers to never knowing when trouble will happen. The bad guys don't have a set schedule and aren't on some union time clock. When you least expect it is when something will happen is a very old and very correct expression. It does NOT mean that you carry where it is prohibited. You are carrying as a law abiding citizen. If you are not allowed to carry into a certain place, but you do anyway, then YOU are the criminal.

Never tell: Unless you want to be the first target and have to try to "outdraw" a bad guy who already has a drawn gun, or have some do-gooder get stupid and paranoid and call the police about some "armed crazy person loose in their area" it is best to keep your concealed carry just that...concealed!

Remember that a reason for a concealed carry is so that the bad guys don't know you are carrying until you have drawn and ended their activities.

Here in the USA the second amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bare arms for defense of self home and community. The Supreme Court has clarified that carrying arms constitutionally means to do so openly and that those carrying concealed, specially with out a permit to do so, are lawless and full of contempt. Many states have now adopted laws that fully allow for constitutional open carry, I think there may be one or two that concealed carry with out a permit is now permitted as well. In either case these states crime rates have fallen, in particular assault cases and armed robbery. So the lefts notion that increases in firearm ownership and defense carry as being a bad thing are completely false. So carrying a firearm is a personal matter just like in the choice of under wear it none anyone's business what you carry or how.

It means if you're licensed to carry concealed, carry it religiously, because bad guys are incredibly inconsiderate about people's schedules.

And if you've ever pissed anyone off at any time, understand that if you blab about carrying a firearm, all they have to do is lie to the cops that you drew on them for no reason, so YOU catch an aggravated assault charge, giving you the burden of proof that you DIDN'T commit a felony and putting your freedom and rights in danger. If they don't know you have a gun, they can't jam you up over it. Felons and dirtbags LOVE to jam up honest citizens -- for two reasons: 1) they're dirtbags; the criminal mentality is the most amount of gain or entertainment (and your misery is their entertainment) for the least amount of effort, and 2) If you're disarmed, they can more easily victimize you. -- After you've been disarmed and arrested, and bail out, they can do what they want to you whenever and wherever, because they KNOW you've been disarmed. It starts a bad chain of events it is nearly impossible to break out of.

That's why.

But hey, you do what you want wit yo bad self.

For one, it's annoying and it scares people. The last thing you want is the po-po showing up and frisking you because Mrs. Goldenstein was afraid your gun would go off and kill her two precious kids. Especially in the current political climate where you might get Officer Aledda on the scene.

I'm mixed on the 'bad guys will shoot you first' justification. I mean, I think if we've learned anything from the mass shootings, bad guys avoid other people with guns. Criminals don't want to get in a shootout. Sure, they may shoot you first, or they may think twice and pick a different fight another day. Who really knows?

I'm sticking with the first reason, though.

Blab that your carrying a gun and someone will just shoot you first. Always keep it to yourself that you have a gun and you have the element of surprise on your side. Only fools brag.

Always carry (when it's legal) never tell (because it's NONE of your or the bad guy's business)