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Would you want a gun in this situation?

Would you want a gun in this situation?


  • Total voters
    59
Two can play this game.

What say you to this similarly unlikely and absurd situation:

Thieves break in to steal your TV, and you go downstairs to check it out. As is almost always the case, the thieves only want your stuff and to leave. They threaten you to go away, and they start to make good their escape.

Suddenly you dive for your gun cabinet near your TV, throw it open, and one of the thieves, upon realising his life is in mortal danger because some moron intends to shoot him, hits you over the head with his crowbar.

At what point do you wish you had not had any guns in the house?
So your point is that your scenario is just as "absurd" as the one he made up? Please, by all means, produce a few links to scenarios similar to this one occurring. While you wait, I'm sure he could post thousands of links to articles describing the exact scenario he put forth. What is absurd is your failure to realize how unlikely your scenario is compared to his.
 
Long time ago ( I was single at the time), guys broke into my home. Would having a gun change the outcome? No, because I was a good sleeper back then and didn't wake up until they were right next to my bed. Thank the Lord, they were only after money and I got away with some severe bruises.
Now I am a light sleeper, and when I am alone at home and hear a strange noise, I grab the pepper spray and check out what is going on. Having "been there", I actually feel more confident. Oh, and we do own a gun.
You do know there are people that are immune to pepper spray correct? Also, pepper spray is not all solving. I've been sprayed twice (for training purposes) and I was still able to function ie throw punches, shoot a gun, etc. I've never met anyone allergic to a hollow point.
 
Absolutely. I own a few different guns.

My only issue is the with the few people who seem to insist, or insinuate that people who don't want to own a gun are somehow less caring, less intelligent, or even negligent when it comes to their homes and families.
I would go so far as to say they are less caring and negligent. It goes without saying that the vast majority of individuals performing home invasions are going to have some sort of firearm. No weapon will match their firearm except another firearm. IMO, if a person has anyone in their home that they love or are responsible for, they should have a firearm in their home to defend that person(s). Sure, you throw the locks on, the flood lights, the alarm system, etc. But if a meth head wants money, he's not caring about that stuff. He's getting in regardless of how many ADT stickers you have on your front door or how illuminated he is standing outside. That's when the firearm is the last line of defense.
 
So your point is that your scenario is just as "absurd" as the one he made up? Please, by all means, produce a few links to scenarios similar to this one occurring. While you wait, I'm sure he could post thousands of links to articles describing the exact scenario he put forth. What is absurd is your failure to realize how unlikely your scenario is compared to his.

My point is that it is a reductio ad absurdum. At what point does it cross the line from prudence to paranoia?

Where do you keep your gun when you sleep at night? The bedside table? Under your pillow?

What if someone breaks in while you're on the toilet -- I hope you have a gun in the bathroom!

Or you're in the shower, can't get to your room -- do you shower with your gun? If not, you're playing with the lives of your family, you careless fool!

It's silly. These scenarios are all unlikely. It just generates paranoia when you lend them credence.
 
I dont understand why you jump strait to the conclusion that someone who does not think a gun would help in this situation is a hypocrite. Let me give you a few reasons why I don't think owning a gun in this situation necissarily protects you.

Lets say the individual breaks into the home while your family is asleep. They have the upper hand already.

Why did you have no warning that someone was breaking in? Why did you/your family have no time?
 
1) if your gun is locked and unloaded that is like saying you used your seat belt in your car when you sat on it. you have no gun

Id rather not have a gun if It has to unsecured with children around.

2) ask any cop, former LEO (me) or judge. If someone breaks into a home at night it is PRESUMED they are there to confront the occupants. THOSE WHO HAVE NO INTEREST in confrontation break in during the day or after casing the home to make sure it is empty.

The point I was making is that most people dont break into a house to kill someone, they break into the house to steal stuff and get away. Even if their intention was to break in and kill you, then steal your stuff, having a firearm does not make you invincible. There is just as likely a chance you will be shot as it is the robber. If the robber had no intentions of shooting, and was just there to steal your stuff, a death or deaths are avoided.

security systems generally don't prevent people from entering it alerts the cops when you aren't home or alerts you so you can call the cops (or in our case) ready a most suitable welcome for the intruders

If people spent as much money on a security system as they did a gun, it could certainly prevent a robber from entering your home.
 
Id rather not have a gun if It has to unsecured with children around.



The point I was making is that most people dont break into a house to kill someone, they break into the house to steal stuff and get away. Even if their intention was to break in and kill you, then steal your stuff, having a firearm does not make you invincible. There is just as likely a chance you will be shot as it is the robber. If the robber had no intentions of shooting, and was just there to steal your stuff, a death or deaths are avoided.



If people spent as much money on a security system as they did a gun, it could certainly prevent a robber from entering your home.

your claim about just as likely has no basis in fact and is stupid

and yes, I advocate good security systems

they guard the house when you are not home and they give you time to prepare your weapons when someone breaks in when you are home
 
I dont understand why you jump strait to the conclusion that someone who does not think a gun would help in this situation is a hypocrite. Let me give you a few reasons why I don't think owning a gun in this situation necissarily protects you.

Lets say the individual breaks into the home while your family is asleep. They have the upper hand already. If I had a firearm in the house it would be locked up and unloaded. Especially if I have children, because that is how many of these children who get ahold of weapons shoot themselves. Their parents don't secure their weapons. So I would have to unsecure it and load it in the dark while this individual is in my house. If they have not already barged into a bedroom where I am or where any of my family is sleeping, I am already to late if they have ill intentions. Not only that, if they do have ill intentions other then simply robbing me, if they see that I have a firearm it will escalate the situation further. This escalation could get more people killed.

The reality is, that most of the time when someone breaks into the house they are not interested in killing anyone. They have weapons to defend themselves in case you confront them. If you pull a weapon on them the will use their weapon as well. Which could get you or someone in your family killed. Where as if you had dealt with the situation without a firearm no one would be harmed. The problem I see with many who own firearms is they are all caught up in their own pride. "No one is going to steal my stuff" people say. As if the things they bought at a store are worth getting people killed over.

If you want to catch these people, put up a security system in your home that will prevent them from entering. Or if they do happen to enter your home, they will not get away.



Nah. I'd almost certainly know they were there well ahead of time.

1. Dogs
2. Alarms, cameras.
3. Locks and things that take time or noise to penetrate.

... and certain other things I won't reveal in an open forum.

And even when my son was little, I had loaded guns LOCKED in a fast-open safe in my bedroom... I could arm myself in three seconds upon awakening.
 
Nah. I'd almost certainly know they were there well ahead of time.

1. Dogs
2. Alarms, cameras.
3. Locks and things that take time or noise to penetrate.

... and certain other things I won't reveal in an open forum.

And even when my son was little, I had loaded guns LOCKED in a fast-open safe in my bedroom... I could arm myself in three seconds upon awakening.

If your home security system is set up properly, bot yourself and your children have a good chance of escaping the house without having to confront the robber at all.
 
your claim about just as likely has no basis in fact and is stupid

and yes, I advocate good security systems

they guard the house when you are not home and they give you time to prepare your weapons when someone breaks in when you are home

No... your stupid... stupid.. I can do that too.
 
If your home security system is set up properly, bot yourself and your children have a good chance of escaping the house without having to confront the robber at all.


Go for it, if you like.


Let's see, do I want to run outside undressed herding sleepy children into the dark night with no knowledge of what is out there? Not really...

And if you're questioning whether I'd have time to get a gun, I don't see how you expect to gather up sleeping children and escape the house in time... and do you know what's out that door you're egressing? You might run smack into another goblin...


No thanks. I have other plans.
 
Moderator's Warning:
No personal insults are allowed Upstairs on DP.
 
Go for it, if you like.


Let's see, do I want to run outside undressed herding sleepy children into the dark night with no knowledge of what is out there? Not really...

And if you're questioning whether I'd have time to get a gun, I don't see how you expect to gather up sleeping children and escape the house in time... and do you know what's out that door you're egressing? You might run smack into another goblin...


No thanks. I have other plans.

Most kids I know understand what a fire alarm sound means. It means to get out of the house. If you set up your security system so that they can hear the alarm, and also teach them how to evacuate when the alarm goes off and meet up in a specific place, you will be fine without confronting the gunman.
 
Most kids I know understand what a fire alarm sound means. It means to get out of the house. If you set up your security system so that they can hear the alarm, and also teach them how to evacuate when the alarm goes off and meet up in a specific place, you will be fine without confronting the gunman.



That's an assumption. A big one. You're welcome to take that chance if you like.
 
That's an assumption. A big one. You're welcome to take that chance if you like.

I would rather take that chance then confront someone with a loaded weapon. All the bedrooms would have re-enforced doors and door frames and would be locked. Windows would be re-enforced as well but I would find a way to make it easy to open from the inside while making it nearly impossible to open from the outside. I am sure, a gun would probably not cost to much more then that type of security system.
 
I would rather take that chance then confront someone with a loaded weapon. All the bedrooms would have re-enforced doors and door frames and would be locked. Windows would be re-enforced as well but I would find a way to make it easy to open from the inside while making it nearly impossible to open from the outside. I am sure, a gun would probably not cost to much more then that type of security system.



Ah. So this is all theoretical for you, and you've not made any actual efforts to prepare such a dwelling or conduct such an operation?
 
Ah. So this is all theoretical for you, and you've not made any actual efforts to prepare such a dwelling or conduct such an operation?

Actually, I have. I do have a good security system and have installed a metal door in my bedroom that locks from the inside. I live on the 2nd floor and also have a rope ladder I can throw down to the ground from my window If I can't go out the bedroom door. My front door will also automatically lock an intruder in if I want it too, or unlock if I want him to get out.
 
Ah. So this is all theoretical for you, and you've not made any actual efforts to prepare such a dwelling or conduct such an operation?

well there is always PLAN B :mrgreen:

 
Actually, I have. I do have a good security system and have installed a metal door in my bedroom that locks from the inside. I live on the 2nd floor and also have a rope ladder I can throw down to the ground from my window If I can't go out the bedroom door. My front door will also automatically lock an intruder in if I want it too, or unlock if I want him to get out.


But you've never tried to evacuate sleeping children from a house and get them outside in the dark, apparently? In the middle of alarms and confusion....
 
Id rather not have a gun if It has to unsecured with children around.

.

I agree this is a real difficulty and a smart consideration.

There are some options tho....one is that there are small single (or more) gun safes that have fingerprint locks on them. You can have one in your bedroom or anywhere and access the gun pretty quickly. My gun safe is small and under a cabinet in my bedroom...it has a pushbutton combination. Even with practice, in a life-threatening situation, it would be very easy to mess that combination up. I dont have anyone else in the house and I keep my 9mm and several magazines right on a shelf on my night stand.
 
I agree this is a real difficulty and a smart consideration.

There are some options tho....one is that there are small single (or more) gun safes that have fingerprint locks on them. You can have one in your bedroom or anywhere and access the gun pretty quickly. My gun safe is small and under a cabinet in my bedroom...it has a pushbutton combination. Even with practice, in a life-threatening situation, it would be very easy to mess that combination up. I dont have anyone else in the house and I keep my 9mm and several magazines right on a shelf on my night stand.

before my son was trained in safe gun use (started around 6-7, by 8 he was a competent pistol shot, by 10 he was competing and winning shooting contests) we would keep our gun in a quick access safe. I also had a SW 45 in my night stand drawer with the magazine removed and on me inaccessible to my son since SW has a magazine disconnect meaning it cannot be fired with the magazine removed. yet I can load a magazine in a second and the gun is ready for use
 
If your home security system is set up properly, bot yourself and your children have a good chance of escaping the house without having to confront the robber at all.

Yes but one reason I have a safe room in my house is because if I run out, I have no idea what I am running into....do they have someone in a getaway car outside? Were they all in the house or was there a lookout?

I would still want the ability to defend myself & family, either way.
 
I'm from Sweden a country their people with guns almost only use them for hunting. So curious about somethings.

First to people who want to protect themself with guns typically just buy a gun or do they also practice? That if you want to protect yourself with a gun you maybee not only need to practice shooting at a range but also do some kind of sport like Biathlon. Because as I understand gunhadnling can be very diffuclty under stress and high pulse. As I understand it even policeofficers can miss during a close courter confrontation.

Also what is the typical dangers for regulare citizen of violence in USA? In Sweden it is domestic violence and drunk people fighting drunk people outside bars. In who's situation guns can be really bad. So is it the same in USA? If it is the same what do you do to prevent people for taking their guns to pubs and also how do you deal with the combination of domestic violence and guns?
 
But you've never tried to evacuate sleeping children from a house and get them outside in the dark, apparently? In the middle of alarms and confusion....

That is what practice is for. There is a better chance that your house will catch fire late at night then someone breaking into it with a firearm to kill your whole family. I don't see threads on here about how worried people are about the latter.
 
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