Carrying a gun does not ensure safety

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

Whereas I'm not against responsible gun ownership at all........

I simply cringe every time someone says the best way to be SAFE is to ARM oneself at all times.....

Well, I really can't buy into that....

As an example:

Lakewood Police shooting kills four Washington police officers

http://www.examiner.com/headlines-in-spokane/lakewood-police-shooting-kills-four-washington-police-officers

"Four officers doing work for the Lakewood Police Department were enjoying coffee at the Cafe Forza coffee house in Spanaway when a gunman entered the coffee shop and opened fire on the officers. The murders are being called "execution style", and it is being reported that the Lakewood police officers were targeted in the event."


I know you can point to other cases where some gunman were not as ruthless and the innocent gun owner came out on top.

I'm just SAYING... CARRYING A GUN IS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GUARANTEE.
Even being TRAINED and ARMED for years is no sure guarantee.

[Glassunion]

1. I don't think that you will find one person here who supports carrying a firearm

has ever stated that it is an absolute guarantee of safety.

I have 5 fire extinguishers(Garage, Kitchen, Basement, first floor, 2nd floor) in my home and 1 in my car. I do not believe that any one of them or all of them combined will save my home from a fire. Does that mean that I should not have them?

[rfranklin]

2. I brought this up at the time of the incident and was beaten...

about the head and shoulders with a slew of "How dare you" comments.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

8. Oooo makes me all tingly in my private parts!!! Where's my ball-gag?

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[SteveM]

14. The argument about "guarantees" is pure straw. You know that. nt

[X_Digger]

3. Did anyone claim it as a guarantee?

Even in your post, you didn't phrase it that way..

"the best way to be SAFE is to ARM oneself at all times...."

*scratches head*

Having a fire extinguisher is no guarantee that your house won't burn down.

Wearing a seat belt is no guarantee that you won't be killed in a car accident.

Having friction tape on your stairs is no guarantee that you won't break your fool neck tripping down them.

But all three are still good ideas for those who want to be prepared.

[rfranklin]

4. A lot of people imply that...

there was even a post here this weekend claiming that some civilian with a gun at the AZ shooting probably saved lives. How that figures, I don't know.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

9. Also 2 congressmen have said they're going to start packing....

... for their safety.

[X_Digger]

10. If there's a gap between what folks write and what you read, perhaps it's the reader.

That might be what you wish folks were implying, because it then becomes easy to disprove..

I dunno. Got any examples?

[SteveM]

15. Respectfully, it is YOU who implies such. nt

[GreenStormCloud]

5. Having a gun improves my chances. N/T

[here_is_to_hope]

6. + quite a few digits...

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

7. it also increases your chances for:

* Accidental discharge
* Being stolen for use by others
* Taken from you and used against you.



*** Just sayin'... but if it makes you feel safer and you disregard the negatives.. more power to you.

[Glassunion]

11. Who said anything about disregarding the negatives? We can have both.

Accidental discharge Most gun owners are well aware of the basic safety rules of firearms. Take a look at the CDC report on accidental firearms injuries and deaths. Even with gun ownership at an all time high, the number of accidents have been on a steady decline for quite some time now.
Being stolen for use by others I cannot speak for others, however I do take measures to insure that my property is not stolen. I refuse to leave my firearm in my car. If my car is stolen, I would be more upset that there would be a firearm in it, than the car itself.
Taken from you and used against you. This is a speculative statement that you would be hard pressed to back up. It has been asked around here many times. To date, I don't think anyone was able to produce any hard data that this situation happens with any frequency.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

21. Isn't it speculative that YOU will NEED a gun in your lifetime?

I mean I'm 55 and I've never fired, owned, or been in a situation where a gun would even be called for.

So you see from my point of view.... the speculative nature on each side equals out...

... and since I'm 55yo and would never USE a gun to take anothers life except in Self Defense (they have have my 5 year old TV)....

I PERSONALLY chose not to own one.

BUT AS I SAID.. I AM ALL FOR ---RESPONSIBLE--- gun ownership.

So power to all!

[Glassunion]

31. I have needed a gun in my lifetime.

But yes it is speculation that I will need one in the unforeseeable future. Same with my seatbelt, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, life insurance, etc...

Of course I am in several "groups" that has a higher probability of being a victim of violent crime, so the odds are against me that I can go through life without violence being thrust upon me. However, this cannot be used as the basis to which every person should be allowed or not allowed to own a firearm. I look at it as simple low probability, high consequence preparedness.

[RSillsbee]

33. Im 45 I've been in two

Therefore my odds are 100% I'm very glad i had a gun each time. I'm even more glad that each was resolved w/ no injury to either party

[GreenStormCloud]

16. Very slight increase.

* Accidental discharge I have been using guns for over 55 years and haven't had an accidental discharge yet. I know how to use them, and don't misuse them.

* Being stolen for use by others Possible, but unlikely.

* Taken from you and used against you. Amazing how you anti-gun people believe that street thugs all have super-ninja talents. There are ways to hold a handgun that prevent it from being taken from you.

[shadowrider]

18. I've been using my gun since I was 18 and have had many accidental discharges. Wait, wrong gun. n/t

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

20. Clinton? Is that you?

[Glassunion]

32. If it is, I still have not been reimbursed for my dry-cleaning.

[jody]

12. It's so funny to see OPs that attract beetles.

[SteveM]

13. Strawman. Do you have evidence of someone promoting a "guarantee?"

Your argument has been constructed and proffered in this forum many times over the years. And just as many times critics of gun-control have responded that the RKBA is NOT a guarantee.

Straw burns quickly.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

23. Hey, I'm just spreading the obvious to those who may not be so smart as you!

Don't you feel special and all smug and all that!

GLAD I COULD HELP!

hahahahahahahahahahah

[PavePusher]

36. Ah, so you admit to being...

a riverine sub-span dweller.

How banal.

[TheWraith]

17. No, just as seat belts don't guarantee you survive a car accident.

But having a weapon of some kind gives you the opportunity to fight back.

There are never ANY guarantees on anything in life.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

25. I've never had a reason to 'fight back with deadly force'...

I have slammed on my brakes many times because of stupid drivers in front of me.

Hmmmmmm..............................................................

and in a wreck, the other person isn't intentially aiming for me.

I get your meaning... but the gist... well................................

[TheWraith]

26. I'm glad for you. Neither have I.

I've also never had my kitchen catch on fire. I still have a fire extinguisher there, just in case.

More to the point, no one is forcing anyone to consider defending themselves with a gun, but certain people here want to insure that NO ONE has the option of armed self defense if they need it, no matter what threats they may live under like a bad neighborhood or a psycho ex.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

30. Again, no quarrels with RESPONSIBLE Gun ownership for PROTECTION

.. a need for an hyper-masculine-crutch like carrying a gun to make them feel more manly/powerful/defender.......

aw, what the heck, we all have our issues.

[TheWraith]

34. Your interpretation of some people's behavior does not hold the force of law.

You aren't entitled to decide whether someone else does or doesn't need a gun for protection any more than you're allowed to decide which job they work at.

Furthermore, again, the phrase "responsible" gun ownership is usually a code-phrase for "not doing anything we dislike, like owning the wrong sort of gun, or too much ammunition, or lawfully carrying it, etcetera." It's like the way that the pro-lifers tout "reasonable" restrictions on abortion. They're "reasonable" or "responsible" as defined by someone opposed to any exercise of those rights.

[Glassunion]

35. + 1

[PavePusher]

37. Ah, projection.

Additionally banal.

Sigh.

[cleanhippie]

19. Has anyone here made that claim?

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

22. Seems IMPLIED in the arguments for concealed weapons...

.. and the two congressmen saying they're going to start packing for 'their safety'.

Of course having BODY guards is NO guarantee.

There is NO guarantee of Full body scans keep planes safe either.


And I'm still curious of how remotely it makes one feel even remotely 'more secure' in the grander scheme of things.

But we all need our security blankets..

I wear my seat belt.
I have my car checked regularly.
I go to the doctor for regular check ups.
I don't speed.
I don't text and drive.

I don't carry a gun.
Others do carry a gun.

Whatever, really................................

[cleanhippie]

28. So your answer is "no, I cannot find any examples of that claim being made." Got it.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

24. GOOD GRIEF! I think I could have said YOUR KID IS UGLY!

.. and wouldn't gotten so many responses.

Sheesh, Protest too much?

Reread... I SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP................
and I'm continuing the paradym of NOT A GUARANTEE.

Piss on the little smelly thing in the urinal and stop pissing on a supporter!

CRAP!

[DainBramaged]

27. Just write GUN and not be a part of the cabal and you will be attacked as anti-gun

so sad they only see the barrel and not the consequence.

[TheWraith]

29. "Responsible gun ownership" is often used as a codeword.

A way of saying that gun owners aren't "responsible" if they do things people who don't like guns don't like.

The fact is that the American public is broadly supportive of the right to carry a gun, and two thirds of people don't think we need stricter laws.

[benEzra]

38. I'm licensed to carry a firearm (and do so), and I agree.

Carrying a firearm does not ensure safety. It does, however, give someone who is proficient the option of using a weapon in the unlikely event that it would be necessary.

Carrying a pepper spray (which I also do) doesn't guarantee your safety, either. Nor does martial arts/combatives skill, situational awareness, good locks, an alarm system, or a good neighborhood. All those things can greatly improve safety, but they do not guarantee it; there are no safety guarantees.