And all of those are reasons why I don’t carry a gun specifically, but any weapon in general.
My roommate has a gun. It makes me very uncomfortable to have it in the house. Guns have only one purpose AFAICT - to kill things.
I also do my best to carry myself with confidence, and to be aware of my surroundings. It doesn’t hurt that right now I’m living in one of the safest cities in the United States. When I lived in Isla Vista (where there are many rapes, particularly on Halloween) it was the same thing – I used to walk across campus to my apartment at two a.m. by the disbanded Fraternity (disbanded for assault and racism). It didn’t hurt that the IV Foot Patrol (police) had a small office across the street from them.
Even when I visit Los Angeles and go to clubs by myself (which I did frequently in 1998, carrying my very expensive camera rig) I don’t carry a weapon, just confidence.
That, and I’m well aware that the camera and camera bag could be used as a weapon in a pinch anyway. Not that I know how I’d react if threatened.
Plus, what Fretful Porpentine said.
BTW, JH, I didn’t see anyone saying they’d rather be assaulted than defend themselves.
The problem with being disarmed, and your weapon being used against you, is most folks hesitate. If I pull my gun and don’t just shoot my attacker, but am foolish enough to tell him to not move, if he moves I’m going to put a few bullets in his center mass. Instantly.
The problem lies in the fact that too many folks are busy yelling “Stop! I’ll shoot! I really really mean it!” to actually pull the trigger.
If the situation is such where you feel the need to pull, pull and shoot, and keep pulling the trigger until your assailant is dead.
I am very irritable,and quite moody at times. I do not have a gun right now, because i do not live in an area with lots of violent criminals. If ever I was attacked, I would probably try my best to beat the shit out of any assailant.
Wow, that alone is quite a bit, but I wonder if that is what our locals are getting. By and large the people that make the most safety violations around here are police.
I agree that practice is very important. Do you support some type of required government safety course to purchase a firearm, or just for concealed carry?
Having just spent three days at a range with my co-workers who haven’t carried for a few years (and therefore haven’t trained or practiced) but are about to start again (long story, but we were promoted out of peace officer titles and new legislation has again made us peace officers), I would not only support a required safety course to purchase a firearm, but would support required training yearly to keep a license. Said co-workers, most of whom carried on a daily basis for years, no longer remembered the most elemental points of firearm safety, such as keep your finger off the trigger unless you intend to shoot, and be conscious of where your muzzle is pointing.I was particularly appalled when we were instructed not to draw jackets back with the muzzle while holstering, because it was pretty clear that the instruction was a direct result of someone doing just that.
But I’m in NYC, which is not a place where learning firearms safety and shooting is as common as learning to drive. If I lived in a place with more of a gun culture, I might think differently.
Actually, you got me. I have no proof or cite, but it’s just what I have seen, and been told of. I have several friends that have been involved in gun fights, or potential gunfights, and this seems to be a common theme.