[quote=CA renter]
These “disturbed people” will always have tools at their disposal: knives, guns, rope, blunt objects, their hands or feet, etc. The most “disturbed” murderers (especially serial killers) tend to prefer “close-combat tools” rather than impersonal guns.
If you hear someone breaking into your house, would you rather have a bat or a gun in your hand? Guns are “the great equalizer,” and can afford women (and men who are not physical fighters) the only chance — however slight — of subduing their attackers.
[/quote]
One of my major points is that you likely won’t have access to your firearm if you ever need it.
I spent a little over a year in military (mandatory draft) and I’m familiar with the utilitarian value of guns. I also used to hunt large game with my father and my grandfather and I am familiar with the entertaining value of guns.
Obviously, I received some basic firearms training.
In a hypothetical situation where an armed person determined to murder me or members of my family is trying to enter my house I’d rather have a gun than a bat.
However, I believe that an alarm, a dog and a bat provide sufficient protection while reducing the danger of a nosy kid hurting itself (my cousin never fully recovered from shooting himself in the left hand while playing with my uncle’s handgun).
[quote=CA renter]
Crime and murder have been with us for all of human history. Banning guns does not deter crime, and it certainly does not deter people from killing. Creating a peaceful, egalitarian society, with a sufficient social safety net is the best defense against violent criminals, IMHO; yet even in this type of society, I would prefer that people had the means to defend themselves against those who are, nonetheless, determined to be violent.[/quote]
I agree with all that. I just don’t believe that a gun in every hand helps in any way.
