We should reject the use of guns for self protection

[me b zola]

The debate always falls into predictable arguments which usually results in people digging in their heals on their position. Rarely if ever are minds changed.

I would like to propose looking at the problem of gun violence from a different angle. I would like to propose that we as a nation reject the notion of using guns as self-protection.

In an urban area nothing makes less sense than firing a gun for any reason. We have all heard far to many reports of stray bullets injuring or killing people not involved in the altercation.

Guns kill. There is no going back and unpulling the trigger if you believed that you were under attack but come to realize that what you thought was an intruder was actually a family member. If you mistakenly pepper-spray or break the knee with a baseball bat of someone who really wasn't a threat, they may be mad at you, but they will be alive.

Relying on guns calls upon us to make split-second life and death calls. Sometimes people react well in crisis situations, but you never know until the situation presents itself, hardly the time to find out if you will be one of the people who gets your gun taken away by your assailant and used on you, or if you would mistakenly fire on someone who is not a threat, or miss the shot and kill the neighbor child with an errant bullet.


We should reject the use of guns for self protection.

[Ilsa]

1. I couldn't get to my gun when I needed it most.

Shortly thereafter, I got rid of it because I realized it no longer served its purpose or helped me feel safer. It was just something that could potentially be used against me.

[me b zola]

2. I think they give a false sense of security to many people

I think it would be far easier--and more accessible-- to carry a less lethal method of protection.

So sorry that you needed protection, but glad that you are here and safe.

[ManiacJoe]

4. Less lethal protection is often carried with the gun.

They are not interchangeable.

[Ilsa]

5. Thank you. I changed my focus on security. nt

[jody]

3. Interesting but 810,000 LEOs choose handguns as do 8 million citizens who possess CCW. Lets disarm

LEOs first and if that works, we can talk about disarming law-abiding citizens.

FACT: SCOTUS says government is not obligated to protect citizens unless they are in custody, i.e. self-defense is a personal responsibility.

[me b zola]

6. I'm not proposing taking anyone's gun

I'm proposing that we have a national discussion on whether or not we should continue to see guns as an acceptable method of self-defense.

[jody]

7. Understand but the issue is divisive and polarizing. The two options are Ban vs No Ban. No one has

proposed a more effective, efficient tool for self-defense than a handgun.

Before we can begin a discussion as you suggest, we need to recommend alternatives to firearms.

Whatever that alternative is it must be effective against the firearms that criminals will continue to use.

[me b zola]

10. And I'm attempting to step around the polarization to encourage discussion

I do not believe that hand guns have been proven as an effective means of self-defense, and often they cause the problems rather than solve them.

The idea behind my proposal is for us as a civilization to reject the idea of guns being okay to ever use on another human being. Less people will want to own a gun, less guns will be accessible to criminals, and we may begin to see each other as people again.

[jody]

11. Still 810,000 LEO choose handguns for self-defense. It should not be a surprise when law-abiding

citizens also choose handguns for self-defense.

IMO if we want to ban handguns for law-abiding citizens, we must offer an alternate tool.

[Old Codger]

9. Guns are

Only an acceptable in the protection against possible extreme bodily harm and nothing else.... You cannot legally use a gun unless you or someone else is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.... The only legally acceptable use is referred to as the IDOL (In Defense Of Life) anyone who carries should also carry a non lethal means of defense also, I do and it is not that hard to do..Guns are absolutely the last line of defense they should never be the first choice.

[ElbarDee]

13. "whether or not we should continue to see guns as an acceptable method of self-defense"

I am not sure I see your logic.

I don't have a gun. I don't want a gun. I don't believe that violence is a solution to any problem. However, a gun is an accepted method of self defense, not just in the US but around the world. Good people as well as bad people use guns in self defense because they are extremely good at ending life.

Is what you are saying changing society's view on the acceptance of guns in defense? To break down the gun culture surrounding society? If so then we have a long road to travel. Movies, Video-games, Books, History all glorify gun violence.

That is a cause worth fighting.

If I have misunderstood you then I apologize. Today just shakes my soul.

[me b zola]

15. Yes

The gun culture relies on the dehumanization of people. If what people are seeking is protection or safety then we should focus on that, not how well we could potentially blow off the head of a potential assailant.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Tell that to my GLBT firearms students who reluctantly decided that arming themselves was the only

way to protect themselves. The police are not there in real time and are sometimes part of the problem. Its not like they were in bad neighborhoods or doing questionable things. They were just being who they are. Sometimes it even follows them home. They will be the first to disarm when the threat ends, but until it does they need the protection it provides.

I think you logic will be meaningless when they are on the ground, bashed to hell because you think handguns are ineffective. The reality is that pepper spray and bats are ineffective and often not a viable answer. Why not carry and throw cans of beans as others have suggested. The police carry sidearms for a reason and they are clearly the best answer for effective self defense.

There is a sickness of violence in our society today. The weapons some complain about have been available to the US populace since the end of WWI, and basic handguns well before then, but only relatively recently has the violence and possibly mental illnesses started to climb. Look to the roots to solve the problems

[jody]

14. "There is a sickness of violence in our society today" Exactly and no one has a treatment for it. nt

[rDigital]

12. No. nt