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Does owning a hand gun for protection make you more safe or less safe?

Does owning a hand gun for protection make you more safe or less safe?


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pbrauer

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More Safe
Less Safe
I don't know
Other

(This thread is not about the 2nd Amendment or banning guns, its about personal choices.)
 
It isn't about being more or less "safe". It's about being more or less prepared to address a potential threat.
 
Define safe.
Own gun, train with gun, take safety course, use brain.
 
If you're an idiot it can make you significantly less safe....

keep in mind though, that if you bring a gun into your house, you are bringing in a risk factor not previously present.

like owning a house with stairs brings in a risk factor that wouldn't exist in a one story home.
 
Depends on the situation, but in general I'd say having a gun in your hand makes you more safe.

It also makes everyone around you less safe.
 
More Safe
Less Safe
I don't know
Other

(This thread is not about the 2nd Amendment or banning guns, its about personal choices.)

Statistically speaking, it makes a person less safe.

Personally, I believe it makes me safer, since my wife and I are careful in the way we handle and store our guns and we don't live in a situation where one of us is likely to use the gun against the other in anger. This removes most of the risk factors involved in owning a handgun.

On the flip side, if I were put into some sort of life threatening confrontation with an intruder in my home, I believe I and my family are more likely to make it out alive and unhurt if one of more of us is armed.
 
More Safe
Less Safe
I don't know
Other

(This thread is not about the 2nd Amendment or banning guns, its about personal choices.)

That isn't what it's about. It's about being able to defend oneself if the need arises. One never knows when a gun will be needed, and I'd rather not need one, and have it, than to need it, and be without. It does't matter to me if I am the ONLY person who wants to own a gun. This isn't about us vs them. It's about the right to protect oneself from aggression by another.
 
Statistically speaking, it makes a person less safe.

Personally, I believe it makes me safer, since my wife and I are careful in the way we handle and store our guns and we don't live in a situation where one of us is likely to use the gun against the other in anger. This removes most of the risk factors involved in owning a handgun.

On the flip side, if I were put into some sort of life threatening confrontation with an intruder in my home, I believe I and my family are more likely to make it out alive and unhurt if one of more of us is armed.

Would you care to post those "statistics"?
 
Other. Safety, as defined as the absence of risk, is not attainable. Merely owning a gun, as with any tool, is only part of the equation - knowing how to use that tool and having it available at the time of need are also critical factors.

Perhaps a better way to look at it is - would you rather have a gun and not need it or need a gun and not have it?
 
Statistically speaking, it makes a person less safe.

Personally, I believe it makes me safer, since my wife and I are careful in the way we handle and store our guns and we don't live in a situation where one of us is likely to use the gun against the other in anger. This removes most of the risk factors involved in owning a handgun.

On the flip side, if I were put into some sort of life threatening confrontation with an intruder in my home, I believe I and my family are more likely to make it out alive and unhurt if one of more of us is armed.

No, that is false. You are using a statistical basis for "people," not for "a person." The poll question is does it make me safer, not does have a gun make people safer.
 
Other. Safety, as defined as the absence of risk, is not attainable. Merely owning a gun, as with any tool, is only part of the equation - knowing how to use that tool and having it available at the time of need are also critical factors.

Perhaps a better way to look at it is - would you rather have a gun and not need it or need a gun and not have it?

Indeed. Skilled use of a tool can significantly magnify it's usefulness and impact. Therefore, I'm going to the shooting range once a month, and send around 200 rounds down range each time (paper targets) - to hone my skills with the tool. Practicing safe storage (lock box), and keeping ammunition and firearm is separate places.

Not too worried about the house though, I've got a big dog that barks loud and low, better than any alarm system, and he loves to play too. Should any intruder shot the dog, he's going to get it next, through the wall if I have to.
 
That isn't what it's about. It's about being able to defend oneself if the need arises. One never knows when a gun will be needed, and I'd rather not need one, and have it, than to need it, and be without. It does't matter to me if I am the ONLY person who wants to own a gun. This isn't about us vs them. It's about the right to protect oneself from aggression by another.

Why are you always so ****ing sensible?
 
I reject the question as it is asked.

A handgun doesn't make one safe or unsafe what it does -- if properly trained to use it -- is it increases your ability to defend yourself from outside force. Be it against your person or property.

WTF does being "safe" mean? Seriously, think about this.
 
Depends on the situation, but in general I'd say having a gun in your hand makes you more safe.

It also makes everyone criminals around you less safe.

Fixed it for you.

Of course, being a “progressive”, you are, by definition, on the side of criminals, so it makes sense that you would consider making them less safe equivalent to making “everyone” less safe.
 
Wouldn't you also have to compare these statistics with statistics where a gun protected people, for them to be valid as it pertains to the topic of the OP?

Wouldn't that already be included in the statistics I posted? All they're looking at is rate of homicide and suicide for people with guns in their home vs people without guns in their home. If guns in the home were preventing homicides, the rate should be lower for gun owners, but instead it's higher.

I guess having a gun in your home could make you more likely to be a victim of homicide but less likely to be a victim of other crimes.
 
Fixed it for you.

Of course, being a “progressive”, you are, by definition, on the side of criminals, so it makes sense that you would consider making them less safe equivalent to making “everyone” less safe.

Somebody hasn't taken their pills today!!
 
Wouldn't that already be included in the statistics I posted? All they're looking at is rate of homicide and suicide for people with guns in their home vs people without guns in their home. If guns in the home were preventing homicides, the rate should be lower for gun owners, but instead it's higher.

I guess having a gun in your home could make you more likely to be a victim of homicide but less likely to be a victim of other crimes.

I see no indication of including the aforementioned stats. But you already knew that. :wink:
 
I reject the question as it is asked.

A handgun doesn't make one safe or unsafe what it does -- if properly trained to use it -- is it increases your ability to defend yourself from outside force. Be it against your person or property.

WTF does being "safe" mean? Seriously, think about this.
The woman who was shot and killed by her two-year-old son at a Walmart in Idaho wasn't safe, if she didn't take her gun she would be alive today. She was less safe.
 
It isn't about being more or less "safe". It's about being more or less prepared to address a potential threat.

well done.

that said, on 3 specific occasions in my civilian life, my handgun has provided for my safety.. it was there when i needed it, and it worked out well ( nobody was harmed or died)

on 1 specific occasion , my sidearm literally saved my life while costing others thiers... but that's a military story and not really applicable to the discussion
 
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