General Discussion

spin

(17,493 posts)

29. People often ask me about buying a firearm for self defense ...

Thu Jan 17, 2013, 05:09 PM

Jan 2013

as they know that I enjoy target shooting handguns.

I always first ask them, "Are you absolutely positive that you could shoot another person to stop an attack that might put you in the hospital or six feet under."

If they sate that they only want a firearm to threaten an attacker with, I point out how foolish this is. If you do something stupid like this there is an excellent chance that the attacker will take your firearm from you and kill you with it.

Now I do own firearms for self defense. Fortunately I have never been in a situation in which I had no other choice but to shoot a person who wished to seriously injure or kill me. This action is not as easy as it sounds by any means. Based on how I have reacted in tight situations in the past I honestly believe I could pull the trigger of my weapon in a life or death situation but it is the last thing I hope I will ever have to do. Not only may I face legal expenses and a possible lawsuit that will ruin my savings but I likely will suffer from the psychological aftereffects and trauma caused by the incident.

I also never feel superior to a person who tells me that he could never shoot another person. In fact I have a certain amount of admiration for him. This would be a far better world if all people held that view.

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Highlight:

do gun advocates ponder... nonviolence? [View all] G_j Jan 2013 OP

And not just gun lovers... judy Jan 2013 #1

"As long as you hate the right person." How very true. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #5

Nonviolent revolutions are the only ones that work Recursion Jan 2013 #15

Yes, absolutely, I did mean that! judy Feb 2013 #59

Every church in every town Ron Green Jan 2013 #2

"Gun lovers." Being from the South, I took a start, there... Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #3

changed to "advocate".. I don't recall MLK jr. and his supporters ever taking guns into situations G_j Jan 2013 #6

I appreciate the change, even though it was of the "smaller caliber" flip-offs... Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #9

Look up the Deacons for Defense ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #44

The Washington Post had a recent article on the Deacons... PoliticAverse Jan 2013 #51

Because all gun owners are inherently violent? nt hack89 Jan 2013 #4

no, most PEOPLE can be G_j Jan 2013 #7

I'm sure there are some non-violent gun lovers out there. dawg Jan 2013 #8

But the common sense you invoke is subjective Lurks Often Jan 2013 #10

old arguments marions ghost Jan 2013 #12

Get back to me on that when both branches Congress refuses to pass anything n/t Lurks Often Jan 2013 #13

And your point is....? marions ghost Jan 2013 #14

Thanks for another fact free post Lurks Often Jan 2013 #16

Didn't think you had any point marions ghost Jan 2013 #18

You're right, it is subjective. dawg Jan 2013 #19

Some comments Lurks Often Jan 2013 #21

I think you make some very good points. Here is my take ... dawg Jan 2013 #23

Comments Lurks Often Jan 2013 #24

"..magazines holding more then 10 rounds have been around since at least WWI." G_j Jan 2013 #33

and you can make certain types of chemical weapons Lurks Often Jan 2013 #38

Don't you think it would be better G_j Jan 2013 #39

That's a pretty pathetic post n/t Lurks Often Jan 2013 #40

Thank you G_j Jan 2013 #41

Hell no! I don't know one personally who has had to use their CCW rustydog Jan 2013 #11

The Fear is real, however tama Jan 2013 #53

Yes, I ponder it, as an ideal. Bake Jan 2013 #17

That is why I don't own a gun Taverner Jan 2013 #20

People often ask me about buying a firearm for self defense ... spin Jan 2013 #29

I've known people who killed in self defense Taverner Jan 2013 #30

Of course they do and they may feel guilt for the rest of their life. ... spin Jan 2013 #32

Nope. (nt) Paladin Jan 2013 #22

You cannot know that for certain given the evidence available to you. friendly_iconoclast Jan 2013 #45

Sorry, But I'm Not Bound By Your Rules Of Evidence. Paladin Jan 2013 #50

Without evidence, *any* claim is no different than religious faith. friendly_iconoclast Jan 2013 #57

Most of the gun people I know hope to never use their weapons on people aikoaiko Jan 2013 #25

My Wife & I are non-violent, advocates for non-violence, bvar22 Jan 2013 #26

Not for me. If some violent street criminal is about to attack me, he will get a violent response. GreenStormCloud Jan 2013 #27

Why would they? still_one Jan 2013 #28

I've practiced nonviolence all my life slackmaster Jan 2013 #31

hahaha no bajaman2013 Jan 2013 #34

I had to work for 30 years to get OUT of the city. bvar22 Jan 2013 #35

haha bajaman2013 Jan 2013 #36

"I've never left miami and i don't plan on it," bvar22 Jan 2013 #37

+1 Glassunion Jan 2013 #46

Have you ever given thought tama Jan 2013 #56

Never crossed their minds. baldguy Jan 2013 #42

How would you know? Is it unpossible that some might just not agree with you? friendly_iconoclast Jan 2013 #47

I can see some annoying troll has replied to my post. baldguy Jan 2013 #49

Poor, poor you. Having people disagree with you is *such* a burden... friendly_iconoclast Jan 2013 #58

All the time krispos42 Jan 2013 #43

As I gun owner, I pondered your link. MicaelS Jan 2013 #48

Non violent communication tama Jan 2013 #52

+100 G_j Jan 2013 #55

They're not advanced enough to understand that. Zoeisright Jan 2013 #54