There are over 310 million privately-owned firearms in America; a number that works out to roughly 1 gun for every man women and child in this country. While the anti-gun crowd would like you to believe that guns are evil and that there’s a so-called epidemic of mass shootings in this country, the truth is, as gun sales have skyrocketed in recent years, gun crimes have actually dropped.
Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens actually stop the bad guys from committing these heinous crimes.
So what’s the truth about guns? Should everyone own one?
Well, before we jump into the reasons why owning a firearm is a smart idea, let’s look at some of the downsides to gun ownership. Yes, the downsides.
While I’m about as Pro-Second Amendment as it gets, I do feel like it is our responsibility as responsible, law-abiding gun owners to tell the truth about firearms; and the truth is some people probably shouldn’t own them.
Guns are not for everyone!
While I 100% believe that a gun in the hands of a responsible, trained gun owner is a good thing, one in the hands of some guy who has never bothered to take a firearms safety course, or learn how to use that firearm in a self-defense situation is downright dangerous.
There are far too many people who put their lives at risk, and their family’s lives in danger, by not taking gun safety and training seriously. Before you ever buy your first gun, you need to learn:
- The Importance of Gun Safety and Proper Procedures.
- How and Why a Gun Works.
- The Basics of Ammunition.
Having a gun DOES NOT Guarantee your safety.
Again, this really comes down to proper training. Far too many gun owners have the mentality that because they have or carry a firearm they are somehow protected from bad guys and violence.
While having a firearm levels the playing field, having one without taking the proper training courses is going to get you killed.
When I’m at the range, I often hear some loudmouth say something like, “no one will ever get the drop on me,” or “I’d like to see that guy break into my house.” That’s usually when I take a break because it’s usually the same guy who the range officer singles out because he’s doing something that is a danger to himself and everyone on the range.
Keep this in mind: While you’re at work trying to pay the bills, the bad guys are out perfecting their criminal lifestyle. The one or two times you hit the range every year is nothing compared to the training these criminals receive on a daily basis. When that bad guy breaks into your house, there’s a pretty good chance he’s broken into at least a dozen before yours, and he has probably been in hundreds of hand-to-hand street fights. Still think you’re ready?
In order to stop a bad guy, you need to train in realistic self-defense situations — including knowing how to defend yourself without your gun. Yes, without your gun.
Carrying a firearm without self-defense training is a recipe for disaster.
The reality of a real-world attack is no matter how fast and accurate you are with your firearm, there are going to be certain situations where you’re firearm will not prevent the attack. Think about it; if firearms were the end-all and be-all, why would our military forces train in hand-to-hand combat?
In close quarters combat, the chances of being able to unholster your firearm and return fire on an attacker is actually pretty slim. To be truly prepared, you need to be able to take out an attacker without your gun – or at least slow him down so you can draw your weapon.
If you’re still not convinced, check out this research on the use of a firearm in a close-quarter attack.
Why everyone should have a firearm: The Pros of gun ownership.
Now that we discussed the important stuff – because when it comes down to it preparedness is all about training and having the right knowledge – let’s look at some of the many reasons a person has for buying a firearm.
Quite simply, Firearms Save Lives
Firearms in the hands of a law-abiding citizen can save lives, and the numbers show it.
Every year, law-abiding citizens draw their guns over 2.5 million times in personal defense, saving a countless number of lives and serving as a serious deterrent to criminals. Often times, the mere presence of a firearm is enough to stop a criminal dead in his tracks, without ever having to fire a single round.
But comes on, aren’t those NRA number?
Well, for those of you that don’t trust the NRA, how about numbers from Bill Clinton?
Even the notoriously Anti-Gun Clinton administration had to admit that while he was President, guns were used at least 1.5 million times a year for self-defense. The numbers came directly from the Clinton Justice Department, who hired anti-gun criminologists Philip Cook and Jens Ludwig to conduct the study.
Because Gun Control Laws will NEVER Stop a Criminal from committing Gun Crimes.
While the government and the media would like you to believe that banning guns will somehow solve the world’s problems, the truth is, criminals by their very nature don’t follow the law. Anti-gun laws do very little good when you’re staring down the barrel of some psychopath’s gun.
But what about all those mass shootings, couldn’t they have been prevented by passing more gun control bills?
Since 1950, all but two of this country’s mass shootings have taken place in a designated gun-free zone.
Yes, the criminals had guns; the good guys didn’t! The law and all those fancy gun-free zone signs did nothing to stop the bad guys from killing people. The only thing that could have made a difference in these cases would have been a law-abiding citizen allowed to lawfully carry his gun in these areas.
Because Cops and Marines are really heavy!
It always amazes me how some people can be so caviler with their family’s lives. In my opinion, if you have a family you should have and know how to use a gun.
We often hear the anti-gun crowd say things like, “people don’t need firearms, that’s why we have cops.” Well, those guys can get kind of heavy to carry around.
But in all seriousness, when seconds count, you simply can’t count on 911 to keep you safe. Law enforcement does not have a legal obligation to protect you from criminals.
In 2005, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that police officers do not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm. The ruling backed up an earlier court case, Warren v. District of Columbia, where the Court ruled that official police personnel and the government employing them owes no duty to victims of criminal acts and thus are not liable for a failure to provide adequate police protection.
Protecting yourself and your family from Home Invasions
According to FBI crime numbers, over 1.5 million homes are burglarized each and every year. The criminals who commit these crimes are often armed; and when people are home, these home invasions can quickly turn violent.
When it comes to preparedness related threats, a home invasion is one of the most likely threats you will face. When it comes to protecting yourself from that threat, you are the only person who can do something to stop the crime and put down the threat.
You cannot count on law enforcement to respond in time to protect you from the chaos.
According to the Department of Justice, police response times range from 4 minutes for the best in the country to the worst clocking in at over an hour. The national average response time for law enforcement responding to a high-priority call is 11 minutes.
Now here is the part that should concern you. The average interaction time between a criminal and a victim is 90 seconds. That means even if you somehow had the opportunity to dial 911, the chances of anyone being able to respond in time to save you is pretty slim.
Because I have Insurance and a Fire Extinguisher.
Like most things, I look at firearms from a preparedness point of view. And from that lens, owning a firearm is no different than buying fire insurance or a fire extinguisher. While I hope I never need to use either one of them, when the time comes not having those items could be catastrophic.
For many first-time firearm buyers, buying a gun can be an overwhelming experience – one that can often cause people to make the wrong decision. If you’re ready to buy one and understand that safety is gong to be one of your primary concerns, check out our tips on what to look for when buying your first gun.
I believe in responsible gun ownership. I can think of several reasons: (1) Someone keyed my car with a Swastika. I viewed that as a threat. (2) I am to myself and do not bother anyone, but have received email threats from several people who have found some reason to hate me. They appear to be emotionally unstable. The world is full of crazy people. I have to think of myself and my loved ones. I am retired military and own guns know how to use them. I wish we lived in a world where it wasn’t necessary.
No one is trying to “take away guns” and by saying this over and over you are adding to the problem. What you call “gun laws” are being proposed as gun CONTROL laws. Yes, obviously criminals don’t follow the law, that’s why they’re criminals, but the laws are intended to make it more difficult for criminals to obtain guns. Out of the last twenty mass shootings, 19 have been committed with legally purchased AR15s or similar. These shooters had red flags out the ass, criminal histories, the works. If these laws were passed, they wouldn’t be able to stock up on assault rifles. Bottom line: I am not against guns, matter of fact, I love guns and am in process of purchasing a hand gun for personal protection. I’m not gonna stand in a Walmart and wait to get shot by the next maniac. But I am also a veteran. I know what these weapons can do, and only qualified, trained and VETTED civilians should be able to own them. That’s it! A stricter background check could significantly reduce mass shootings! I am confident that most people reading this would pass one without an issue. But if you’re Sammy Psycho then no, you can’t have one. Simple!
My uncle lives close to an unsafety zone. I like how you mention the presence of a firearm is enough to stop a criminal dead in his tracks and turn back. Thank you for the information. I’ll recommend my uncle to buy a legal firearm so he doesn’t get assaulted.
I have been planning to enroll in a security license class because I would like to try hunting. I agree with you that, it is necessary to purchase a gun because this is also helpful in terms of defending myself. Although, I’d keep in mind to be more responsible when it comes to using this deadly weapon.
You made a good point that firearms can be used to defend oneself without even pulling the trigger. I’m planning to buy my own gun soon because I plan to move out of my parents’ house and live alone. As such, I’m going to need to feel secure at all times especially when I have to lock up my home at night.
11-60 minutes if they come at all.
I reported an absconding wanted fugitive, wanted for 8 class a felonies, half of them violent. I was told they were too busy by the 911 operator and that I needed to go home and leave him alone. They don’t need me to do their job. That being said, it’s been 7 months they’ve been chasing him with no effort.