Eegore
Serious Thumper
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SuzukiSavage.com Rocks!
Posts: 8016
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"Feeling that, at any time, you'll be shot at or victimized in some way is no way to live.
So the argument that someone owns guns for the express purpose of protecting themselves is (to me) silly."
That makes more sense although I'm not sure I agree entirely. I agree that feeling you may be victimized or shot is no way to live, but during my time in CA that was a normal, uncontrollable way of life for some people in the inner cities. Unfortunate, but a measurable, factual risk.
My mother was murdered in her home, it makes sense to me that even though she wasn't a hunter, a sport shooter, or even interested in guns that if she would have survived that she would today own a firearm for the express purpose of self protection.
I will however acknowledge that being killed within one's home is a very low risk that is most-likely going to get lower as security tech, like cellphone linked alarm/camera systems become more available to middle and lower class incomes.
Going back to what I said before about some of this outlook may depend on our line of work. On the side I help volunteers learn how to be active assailants in civilian self defense programs. As part of that preparation we listen to a 911 call of a woman being actively raped. In that call she says she is on the phone with 911 and that police are on the way. The assailant states clearly "I don't care." and proceeds to sexually assault her while she screams and begs him to stop. He completes the assault and leaves before law enforcement arrive.
Not one person including law enforcement staff that partake in this training exercise suggest she use a phone over a gun, but that's because of our line of work. Due to consistent exposure to criminal behavior and victims of violence I think those people would lean more towards firearms as protection.
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