# Would you ever get a gun for home defense (only)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923 "2016-02-02T05:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/81 "2016-02-03T14:15:34Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > If violence is their plan, my bullet won’t stop their bullet. You sincerely believe that a well-placed bullet won’t interrupt someone’s violent plans? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/82 "2016-02-03T14:19:00Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > You sincerely believe that a well-placed bullet won’t interrupt someone’s violent plans? No, because they know their plans before I do. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/83 "2016-02-03T14:23:11Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > You sincerely believe that a well-placed bullet won’t interrupt someone’s violent plans? The threat of one won’t, if we’re evenly matched with guns. I also know that I won’t shoot first, I don’t want to be the murderer. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/84 "2016-02-03T14:28:10Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The threat of one won’t, if we’re evenly matched with guns. I also know that I won’t shoot first, I don’t want to be the murderer. Thanks for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/85 "2016-02-03T14:34:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No, because they know their plans before I do. We would prefer, when possible, to be proactive. We will, when we must, be reactive. We do not recognize accepting helpless victimhood as a viable choice. YMCDV. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/86 "2016-02-03T14:49:25Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I can’t see doing that because, I seem to recall that in most cases, when a gun is used to shoot someone in the home in which the gun resides, in most cases, it is an innocent person who is shot- sad to say. Cite, please. And make sure it’s not one of the many studies that say that but categorically reject a significant amount of defensive gun use, or that someone who the shooter knows as an ‘innocent person’ even if they’re a criminal associate who was apparently intending a crime against the shooter. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > I know a lot of people believe this, but I personally do not. My waving a gun around will not stop another from using their gun first; it may even encourage rather than discourage them. If violence is their plan, my bullet won’t stop their bullet. I don’t get this mindset at all - you don’t actually need a gun to rape, murder, mutilate, or put someone into the hospital. Someone can have a plan for violence without any bullets on them at all, and many violent criminals don’t actually plan (if they were good at planning, they’d probably do something that pays better) but react to what they find. The idea that somehow if you have a gun available all criminals will then be armed with firearms, and that the only criminals you need to worry are those using guns shows a really unusual perception of reality, that seems to imbue firearms with some kind of mystical power. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/87 "2016-02-03T15:06:09Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > We would prefer, when possible, to be proactive. What does this mean, in terms of self defense? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/88 "2016-02-03T15:14:01Z")
Okay, lets assume the stat is true. 60 percent of gun owners accidentally shot themselves or loved ones or friends or assists in a suicide. That means for 40 percent things went well for the other gun owners. And given that most of those “bad” things are just do to serious stupidity and carelessness… Well, I ain’t no one percenter brain wise, but I am pretty sure I can manage to bootstrap myself up to top 40 percent of Durperville. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/89 "2016-02-03T15:15:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What does this mean, in terms of self defense? Shoot people before they even think of breaking in. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/90 "2016-02-03T15:19:52Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Well, since we already shot a would-be truck thief with a crossbow (he survived, and also decided he didn’t want our truck after all) I don’t see why would wouldn’t consider a gun. Did you just confess to a crime? I’m no legal scholar but I’m pretty sure it isn’t legal to shoot people outside of your house, even if they’re attempting to steal your property. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/91 "2016-02-03T15:28:30Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Shoot people before they even think of breaking in. You gotta admit. That’s pretty clever 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/92 "2016-02-03T15:35:17Z")
Nope. I’ve had a home break-in before and still never considered buying a gun so I can’t think of anything else that would cause me to buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/93 "2016-02-03T15:39:40Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What does this mean, in terms of self defense? Preparing/practicing for what you will do when trouble arises, rather than waiting for trouble to arise and then trying to figure out how to deal with it. When the forecast calls for two feet of snow, you don’t wait until there’s a foot of snow on the ground and then decide you should go stock up on groceries. Likewise, you don’t want to wait until a miscreant has punched through your bedroom window before you start thinking about how to deal with the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/94 "2016-02-03T15:48:25Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Likewise, you don’t want to wait until a miscreant has punched through your bedroom window before you start thinking about how to deal with the situation. At what point do you shoot a bad guy with a gun, before he points a gun at you, or after? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/95 "2016-02-03T15:54:27Z")
> [@XT](#): > > In over 40 years I haven’t had my house burn down or flood either, nor have I been in an auto accident in 2 decades, yet I still have insurance, even though I hope never to use it. On the plus side, having auto insurance means that I don’t have to chase truck thieves with a crossbow – I can just have my truck replaced. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/96 "2016-02-03T16:07:55Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > At what point do you shoot a bad guy with a gun, before he points a gun at you, or after? Wait til after and you won’t have a need to make that decision. With or without a gun, if said person breaks into my property and is there to cause harm to my family, I’m not waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/97 "2016-02-03T16:16:53Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > Wait til after and you won’t have a need to make that decision. With or without a gun, if said person breaks into my property and is there to cause harm to my family, I’m not waiting. Would you ever use a gun in self defense when you are away from your home? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/98 "2016-02-03T16:19:54Z")
> [@XT](#): > > In over 40 years I haven’t had my house burn down or flood either, nor have I been in an auto accident in 2 decades, yet I still have insurance, even though I hope never to use it. > > That said, no, I don’t see myself getting a gun for home defense. Basically, I think the cost to benefit ratio is skewed towards cost. JMHO of course. A gun is not insurance of not getting robbed, a gun is like collecting barrels of gasoline in your garage in case of fire. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/99 "2016-02-03T16:40:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Would you ever use a gun in self defense when you are away from your home? I do not have a concealed weapon permit. And I haven’t made a decision to attain one anywhere in the near future. I don’t take my gun with me when I travel by car or scooter and go on long rides, and so on. It leaves the house (unloaded) when I am traveling from point A - my house to the range or public land to target shoot - to point B - back to my house (unloaded). For the sake of answering your question, however, let’s pretend that I carry a gun with me, legally. If I was being assaulted, I would absolutely use it to defend myself. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923/100 "2016-02-03T16:53:21Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What does this mean, in terms of self defense? Calling 911 preemptively when you see someone engaging in legal behavior of course. Let the cops sort it out right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ever-get-a-gun-for-home-defense-only/744923.md?page=6)