Self Protection

[retire@40]

Note that the question is not asking if you own a gun or if you are for or against gun ownership.

It's more along the lines that if you and your family were trapped in your home with people trying to break the door down to kill you and your family and steal your food, money. and your other possessions, would you use a gun to protect yourself and your family?

 

[HFWR]

Yes

 

[Newell]

I answered "Yes" but it would be easier to answer if your question was a bit more specific. Using the gun to protect property (food, money, etc.) is personally a much more diificult decision than using it to protect life.

Edit: Should have read your question more carefully. You clearly said, "trying to break the door down to kill you and your family ..."

 

[MJ]

I don't have any guns but I think I would use defensive force rather than lethal force (maim rather than kill) although I know it could open up other future problems, such as litigation (I wrongly shot the perp) or revenge by the perp after he gets out in 2 years on good behavior.

 

[maddythebeagle]

protect yourself and your family from what?

 

[Cal]

I agree with the objections others have already posted. I would never use deadly force to protect "things" like property or possessions. IF I found myself in a situation like NO, I would have no problem shooting to protect people and life necessary goods like food and water. I wouldn't be shooting with the intent to kill, but if I was in a situation like that, I certainly wouldn't shed a tear if that was the result.

 

[nuisance]

I like to think I would. But in truth I've never touched a gun or seen one be fired. I have occasionally thought that I should own one in case the world goes to hell. The situation in New Orleans only encourages that belief.

Tim

 

[Rich]

I have been a law enforcement officer for the previous +35 years, including twenty years in the NYPD. You cannot begin to imagine the level of violence humans are capable of inflicting on one another. I am always amused when responsible, reasonable, "civilized" people discuss what they would do should a "situation" arise. I've seen the results of people slashed, shot, stabbed, burned, hung, run-over, pummled to a pulp. Infants through senior citizens. Reasons? They ranged from "curiosity to see what it's like to kill someone" to a robbery gone bad.

Go ahead and debate what you're going to do when the "time" comes. It's always an interesting exercise. For me, I wouldn't consider living anywhere where I didn't have ready access to a firearm.

 

[Sheryl]

Yes, the phrasing of the question does skew the results. I don't own a gun, have never handled one, have no desire to do so, and feel no need for one. However I answered yes, because if I found my self in a situation where I felt my life was at stake I would use whatever means available - including a gun if one happed to be at hand - to protect myself or loved ones.

 

[razztazz]

<i>Rich: For me, I wouldn't consider living anywhere where I didn't have ready access to a firearm. </i>

How do you feel about "regular " people having ready access to firearms, as a matter of course, living just anywhere?

PS: Don;t read too much into my question.

 

[Dreamer]

We used to own guns because DH used to deer hunt. He was gone one night and I thought that I heard a noise. I grabbed a gun and then grabbed some shells and sat on the bed with the gun and shells. Later my DH came home and asked me what in the world I was doing sitting up in bed with a gun and then he burst out laughing, because the shells that I had sitting there did not belong to the gun that I had with me. I would be one of those people who ended up shot with their own gun. DH no longer hunts and the guns were sold many many years ago. However, if I were trying to protect my own life or my family and I had a loaded gun in my hand, I would try to shoot it. I would not shoot to protect property, only our life. (I probably would miss though.)

Dreamer

 

[kz]

Yes. But like Rich hubby and I are well trained in the use of firearms and have experience as law enforcement officers. (retired)

 

[Craig]

razztazz, if you don't mind, I'll comment on your question.

Cops are "regular" people, with training.  You can get that training as well, and there are plenty of "regular" people who are as good or better than the average officer when it comes to handling firearms.

"Regular" people have saved officers, by using firearms ... happened again in Phoenix just 3 years ago.

It's like anything else ... a little training and it isn't mysterious, it isn't unfathomable ... it's just a tool, and any normal human being can learn to handle and store a firearm effectively and safely.  Concealed carry laws have moved across the country with great success ... and not resulted in the "wild west" syndrome predicted by the anti-self defense crowd ... though they are seldom influenced by fact and logic.

Check the stat's ... we should be more worried about how many incompetent doctors kill people each year ...  :

 

[Mr._johngalt]

razztazz, if you don't mind, I'll comment on your question.

Cops are "regular" people, with training.  You can get that training as well, are there are plenty of "regular" people who are as good or better than the average officer when it comes to handling firearms.

"Regular" people have saved officers, by using firearms ... happened again in Phoenix just 3 years ago.

It's like anything else ... a little training and it isn't mysterious, it isn't unfathomable ... it's just a tool, and any normal human being can learn to handle and store a firearm effectively and safely.  Concealed carry laws have moved across the country with great success ... and not resulted in the "wild west" syndrome predicted by the anti-self defense crowd ... though they are seldom influenced by fact and logic.

Check the stat's ... we should be more worried about how many incompetent doctors kill people each year ...  :

Very good, Charles.

JG

 

[razztazz]

Charles: razztazz, if you don't mind, I'll comment on your question.... see above for the rest

Of course cops are regular people, thats why I used quotes when I said "regular" . I grew up going to all the Policeman's picnics and other gatherings.

I don't know wat direction you're trying to come from with the rest of that post, though ro what you're trying to tell me vis a vis my initial question

 

[astromeria]

If a gun magically appeared in my hand when I needed to save a life, I think I could do something with it (not that I know how-). But the thought of having a gun in my home....I think it would prey on my mind, like the telltale heart or the ring of power. It would disturb my sense of safety rather than enhance it.

 

[wildcat]

Do my arms count?

 

[Newell]

It seems that a number of posters are repulsed, or somehow "turned off", by the idea of having access to a gun. What if the question were modified a bit, ie, would you use a kitchen knife to defend yourself and/or family in a life threatening situation? I'm assuming most would say yes and few, if any, would be repulsed by the idea of owning a kitchen knife. Other than the training necessary to properly handle the gun, what's the difference?

 

[nuisance]

It seems that a number of posters are repulsed, or somehow "turned off", by the idea of having access to a gun. What if the question were modified a bit, ie, would you use a kitchen knife to defend yourself and/or family in a life threatening situation? I'm assuming most would say yes and few, if any, would be repulsed by the idea of owning a kitchen knife. Other than the training necessary to properly handle the gun, what's the difference?

I own a kitchen knife because it's a useful tool when preparing food. When buying a kitchen knife its ability to hurt people didn't even come into consideration. The primary use a handgun has is to inflict harm on other human beings.

Tim

 

[Craig]

That's right Tim ... and sometimes people need such a tool. Firearms are tools, and they are tools with which most people can be proficient, and safe.

razztazz, can't help you if it doesn't make sense already ... I'm assuming you're going down the "only police should have guns" debate.

That's the beauty of America ... you can live in a state where your freedom of self defense is respected, or you can live in a state where you depend only upon the police. Everyone can make their choice, and, at the least, that is how it should be.

 

[retire@40]

...would you use a kitchen knife to defend yourself and/or family in a life threatening situation?

I would use a knife if I had to, but,

1) I would have to get a lot closer to my potential killer with a knife than I would with a gun, so there would be more risk to me.

2) It would probably take a lot longer to kill the guy, unless I hit his heart.

 

[nuisance]

That's right Tim ... and sometimes people need such a tool. Firearms are tools, and they are tools with which most people can be proficient, and safe.

I'm undecided about that. Don't lump me in with the guns-are-always-bad crowd. I was simply explaining to oldbykur how a kitchen knife is very different from a gun. I didn't make any statement on whether other people should, or should be allowed to, own one.

The thing about guns is that they make it very easy to kill somebody. That can be good when killing the person is justfied (like in self defense) but it can be bad when it's not (like by accident, or in anger). There are other tools for which that is true (eg. cars) but they are primarily designed for something very different (transportation). I'm following the gun threads with interest and I think it's possible that some day I will own a gun.

Tim

 

[Newell]

I would not live in a state where I could not legally carry a concealed weapon! Fortunately that list is getting smaller.

 

[razztazz]

razztazz, can't help you if it doesn't make sense already ... I'm assuming you're going down the "only police should have guns" debate

Dead wrong Charles. Too much assumin' going on. I am in favor of NOT JUST police and criminals having guns. You;'d have concluded that if you had seen my post on teh othe related topic board. The person I was addressingsaid they were a cop or ex cop or something with all the "special training" as if they were attempting some special justification or qualification. So I threw in the question about "regular" people. But feel free to flip me off any time

 

[Craig]

My apologies ... too used to too many silly debates, and you're right ... assumed incorrectly. Did note your other post, and realized I jumped too soon. No flip intended. Take care.