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Flatpicker

(894 posts)
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:18 PM Jun 2016

I'm not sure what to think anymore (gun related)

I don't advocate owning a firearm usually.
But lately, I'm scared and don't want to have my family or myself on unequal footing with the horrible gun problem in the US.

How are some of you holding to your principles after a week of terrible violence? I need some encouragement because I'm having a moment of doubt.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I'm not sure what to think anymore (gun related) (Original Post) Flatpicker Jun 2016 OP
If you are not comfortable Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #1
I really hope so Flatpicker Jun 2016 #3
Go with what you are comfortable with.. TipTok Jun 2016 #2
Do you have children in the house? Arazi Jun 2016 #4
When I'm scared or sad Eko Jun 2016 #5
Forever Ignored for gun-promotion. nt valerief Jun 2016 #6
good on ya, I guess. Flatpicker Jun 2016 #7
The perception of violent crime is inflated by the media and internet krispos42 Jun 2016 #8
This isn't making me feel any better. Flatpicker Jun 2016 #11
I've been through terrible violence librarylu Jun 2016 #9
Who do you want to kill? jberryhill Jun 2016 #10
absolutely no one. n/t Flatpicker Jun 2016 #13
Then you don't need a gun jberryhill Jun 2016 #15
Keep an open mind... If you look you'll find that gun owners and advocates are not jack_krass Jun 2016 #12
IF you feel you need a gun, then make sure you learn it first One Black Sheep Jun 2016 #14
I remember what my friend said TexasBushwhacker Jun 2016 #16
"99% of the time it will be them. Without a gun you probably would have lived." Flatpicker Jun 2016 #17
If it makes you feel any better TexasBushwhacker Jun 2016 #18
 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
1. If you are not comfortable
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:21 PM
Jun 2016

With a firearm, please do not purchase one. Odds are with you as crime and murders gave been decreasing for years according to FBI statistics.

Flatpicker

(894 posts)
3. I really hope so
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:30 PM
Jun 2016

"Odds are with you as crime and murders gave been decreasing for years according to FBI statistics."
Maybe it's the heat of the moment, or I'm watching too much TV news lately.

I'm just getting really worried.

Here's the thing. It's not as if I would ever expect to be aware and ready if there was an armed gunman. We would still be victims as someone with intent would always have the upper hand.

I'm just feeling like nowhere is safe anymore. Movies, Plays, Schools, Clubs, Cemeteries. The Cemetery in RI where the shooting Monday was, is near a school and shopping complex.

I wanted my kids to have a better life than this. That's why I busted my ass to do better. I don't feel they are better off any more.

 

TipTok

(2,474 posts)
2. Go with what you are comfortable with..
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:21 PM
Jun 2016

Short of a few high crime areas, your odds are extremely low of being involved in something.

Those who choose to be prepared for such a thing can do that and you can choose either way.

If you do go down the path of gun ownership, set yourself up with some quality training.

Arazi

(6,829 posts)
4. Do you have children in the house?
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:33 PM
Jun 2016

They're way more likely to injure or kill themselves with that gun, or kill and injure others than you are to kill a "bad guy"

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
8. The perception of violent crime is inflated by the media and internet
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:40 PM
Jun 2016

Violent crime is half what it was when HRC was First Lady, yet the perception is that it's higher.



The social media sites lower political discourse by making simplistic, image-driven talking points popular and by blowing things way out of proportion by making EVERYTHING local and immediate.

I work in as place with a fair number of RWers and they play a lot of "pass the smartphone" during lunch, showing simplistic talking points captioned into pictures.

About 275 people are murdered annually with rifles. About 20x that are murdered with handguns. Yet, what is the media and the congresscritters and places like DU focused on?

Rifles.

Handguns are used to murder the equivalent to the Orlando club about every 4 days. And yet...

Flatpicker

(894 posts)
11. This isn't making me feel any better.
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:59 PM
Jun 2016

"Handguns are used to murder the equivalent to the Orlando club about every 4 days."

Does it matter how you get shot if you don't want to get shot in the 1st place?
I'm afraid of gun violence. It doesn't seem that our elected officials are interested in regulating gun violence.
People tell me it's not the gun, it's the intent of the user. I'm sure intent is a big part of it, but don't want to get caught in someone else's intent to harm.

Logically, I'm wishing that no one had the damn things so that I would not even have to think about this, that's not going to happen.
Logically, I know that statistically I'm safe, but I'm not following logic 100% right now.


So, what is the option?
Tonight, I'm feeling that if we can't beat them we have to join them, my heart knows that it's not true to me. I'm scared enough that discussing this with fellow DU'ers might put my mind at ease.

"I work in as place with a fair number of RWers and they play a lot of "pass the smartphone" during lunch, showing simplistic talking points captioned into pictures."

I walked into one of these today, bunch of "If I had been there" talk...

librarylu

(503 posts)
9. I've been through terrible violence
Tue Jun 14, 2016, 11:46 PM
Jun 2016

A gun in my hand wouldn't have helped; in fact it was in my hand at one point. Lacking 20/20 foresite I failed to predict what would happen.

I refuse to live in fear. I will not knowingly go anywhere near loaded guns and refuse to have one in my home under any circumstances. I don't go to theaters or nightclubs or stand on golf courses during thunderstorms but that's just me. I've had two break-ins but I wasn't home at the time. They were more annoying than scary.

I am now, fortunately, too old to die young. My chances of dying of natural causes are pretty good now. I grieve for those who didn't get that chance.

Just keep in mind that people with guns in their homes are at greater risk than those without guns in the home.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/10/929.full

And go to a movie.

 

jack_krass

(1,009 posts)
12. Keep an open mind... If you look you'll find that gun owners and advocates are not
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 12:00 AM
Jun 2016

The imbred mouth breathing RW aholes you'll so often see caracatured in the media and here on this forum.

In fact, many of the most honest, rational, intelligent, and yes, LIBERAL people I know are gun owners. Knowing so many truly good people who are shooters was the largest (among many) reasons for my own evolution on this issue years ago.

One Black Sheep

(458 posts)
14. IF you feel you need a gun, then make sure you learn it first
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 12:04 AM
Jun 2016

Go and get lessons from a firing range, and know how to clean it, and safely store it, all that stuff.

I think people should have a weapon if they feel unsafe or that they might need one for self-defense.

America will likely never not have tons of guns available, it just is part of the culture here, ever since the country was founded.

The rugged individualist, frontier thing.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
16. I remember what my friend said
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 12:14 AM
Jun 2016

I ran into him at a high school reunion. It was right after Texas passed their concealed carry law. I knew he owned a bar, so I asked him what he thought about it.

He said "It means more dead people and they aren't all bad guys." I asked him to explain.

He said "In my business we handle a lot of cash so I do have guns. I go to the gun range regularly. But if a crook comes up with a gun and says "Give me your money" he's probably going to take your money and leave. He's a bad guy. He may have shot someone before. You can pull a gun on him, but unless you were in the military or law enforcement, you've probably never shot another human being before. Who's going to pull their trigger first? The bad guy or you? 99% of the time it will be them. Without a gun you probably would have lived."

For every justifiable homicide there are 32 criminal homicides and even more suicides. Add accidental shootings of or by children or other family members and you have a situation where you are in far more danger if you have a gun in your home than if you don't.

If you ask a cop, they'll tell you to get good locks on all your doors and windows and a dog.

Flatpicker

(894 posts)
17. "99% of the time it will be them. Without a gun you probably would have lived."
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 12:19 AM
Jun 2016

That makes sense.

I'm starting to wind down from my panic from today. This is something I can wrap my head around before going to bed.

I'm not looking to risk my life, just want to protect what time I have.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
18. If it makes you feel any better
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 12:25 AM
Jun 2016

80% of murder victims knew their killer. If you don't know anyone who would want to kill you (including crazy neighbors) you're probably going to be okay.

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