The problem with that thinking is, a normal, thinking, caring human can’t just flip a switch and turn into a person who is ok with shooting down a person.
If you’re faced with a violent person about cause harm to you or yours, your adrenaline will fly up. You will then make mistakes or mis-shots.
You see someone attacking your wife for going in a restroom. Do you know they have a firearm? Or is that a can of beer or a knife?
Or perhaps the attacker saw your wife walking into danger and just went to prevent this.
You have to make 35 decisions as you’re unholstering, putting the safety off, aiming, making sure no innocents are in the direction you’re shooting.
If, a big if, anyone can do that without at least 3 things going wrong they were a high level sniper in the military. Not a regular person walking through a Walmart and wife has to go pee.
If you’re going to arm yourself, get training, practice, practice, practice.
This. I’m expecting very little bloodshed during a 2nd Trump term. There will be lots and lots of lawfare. The battle will be fought heavily on media, social media, in courtrooms, and some groups will gain a lot of power and others will lose a lot, and some will suffer a lot, but very few bullets will be fired. People will die, but not by puncture or laceration.
A lot of people seem comfortable with the idea of self-defense in the abstract but are uncomfortable with it when it comes to reality.
Would you prefer that I am shot, stabbed, or beaten rather than risk protecting myself? I’m sure it isn’t directed at me personally, but that’s kind of what it sounds like you’re saying. You’re advising me not to defend because, what? I might get hurt? It doesn’t make sense to me. Unless you’re a pacifist who thinks violence is never justified. I wouldn’t agree, but it’d make sense at least.
Look, I’m not some jackass (citation needed) who is just rearing to fight someone. I don’t want to hurt anyone nor do I want to be hurt, and if I get into any kind of fight there’s a good chance I’ll get hurt. But I do not think it’s unreasonable to take steps to defend yourself. Yes, I realize that means doing your best to avoid dangerous situations in the first place.
I am armed now. My C.C. handgun goes everywhere I go except schools or medical facilities. (Not that I feel safe in either, just have follow the rules)
You do what you think is necessary for your safety, knowing shit happens and things can go horribly south.
Just arming isn’t all there is to it.
Preparedness is key.
I don’t know you, I don’t know if maybe you’re a sharpshooter or highly trained.
My big concern is people who are scared and panicky are gonna arm up expecting everyone is up to no good and it turns into blood running in the streets. It’s already so bad out there.
I just hate to see more guns on the street by people who are ill-equipped to make cogent decisions in the heat of a moment in time, that could leave multiple peoples lived ruined or lost.
Again, you know your life and what you need for safety. I don’t think what I say should deter or encourage you in any way.
No, I can’t imagine how having a gun would be remotely useful to me in the event of a Trump win, even if I knew how to use one, which I don’t. What, exactly, would I be expected to do with it, and to whom?
I guess if I believed that a second Trump term would lead to total civilizational collapse, of the “stock up on canned food and pray that the roving bandits don’t steal it” variety, it might make sense to arm oneself, but A) I don’t believe that would happen; and B) in the highly unlikely event that it did happen, I wouldn’t want to live through it anyway.
Exactly. I know a few right-wing gun-nuts who fancy themselves as potential militia members, at the ready to revolt should some leftie government cross a certain line.
Their fantasy is not affected when I point out the government has all the tanks and fighter jets and missiles and etc. Nope, they’ll be part of the patriotic force that rescues democracy.
This was my first reaction when I saw the title of this thread , and I thought the OP was backwards.
The thread title should not be “if Trump wins” will you buy a gun; it should be “if Trump LOSES” , (and the lefties win)will you buy a gun?
The reasonable need for buying a gun is not the danger of mass chaos due to Trump winning. The danger is from one of your neighbors, who may be a right-wing gun nut, and will turn to violence because Trump LOST.
And in that case, buying a gun may be the rational thing to do. Because a gun in your home is the best defense against a crazy neighbor with his gun aimed at your home.
If Trump loses on election night, there are going to be a lot of desperate, frustrated crazy people wearing Maga hats, with guns in easy reach.
Shots will be fired. Let’s hope they are very few, and only fired in the air, doing no damage.
It is - we were there a year and a half ago. But it ain’t cheap, and it’s pretty small. Right now I am waiting to find out whether I am Canadian. If not, Mexico is a strong contender.
We’ve been assured the 2nd American Revolution (Project 2025) will be bloodless. Just so long as we sit back and don’t fight against it. I’m not so confident as you that a Trump victory will make violence less likely.
Eh, they’re just lying. The Turner Diaries is called “the Bible of the racist right” for a reason, these people are really looking forwards to “the Day of the Rope” where they get to kill the people they don’t like. Which is most of the population.
A gun can definitely be an equalizer. But it can and will kill.
You gotta think long and hard what you’re able to do, psychologically.
I, gun owner, shooter of repute in these parts, do not EVER want to be in a position I have to make the choice. Ever.
I will protect my innocents, the children and grandchildren maybe even my dog. But, the stuff they can have. I’ll gladly let them have it. I have insurance.
If I’m away from home and carrying, I’d be hard pressed to get between a shooter and some person or store personel. I’ll have to think about that more.
Don’t buy a firearm unless you’re very clear about this.
There are those in the Politics thread who believe that the recent Supreme Court ruling legally authorizes the President to firebomb blue cities and do door to door executions of registered Democrats. They’re probably a lot more likely to arm themselves, I’d say.
Sketching scenarios, there’s the distinct possibility of Trumpists in power forming closer ties with irregulars like the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers. Step 1 would be to pardon those with convictions for Jan 4 (some of which have been as long as 12 or 22 years). But even then, most activity would be in the streets, rather than private homes, at least for non-public figures. Street violence or non-violence are performances and they are better conducted unarmed. Martial arts are a superior approach, in particular call-911-jitsu.
I personally find it difficult to thread the needle so that a firearm in the home would reduce risk or increase welfare on net, rather than the opposite. Maybe learning how to operate a firearm would be prudent - why not?- but that project is low on my list of things that are important to me.
As for defense against aerial bombardment, I’ve heard that a good technique is to maneuver oneself into a different country. Those 17-35 are eligible to join the National Guard: Uncle Blue wants you!
