I’m sure you’ve heard the same old shit, it’s like a fire extinguisher, rather have it and not need it, etc.
It’s a lot at first. Figuring out how to carry with different clothes, investing in belts and holsters and realizing 90% of what you thought would work well for you actually doesn’t. After you figure out what does work, it’s a way of life. Like people that wear a watch every day (me) or people that carry a knife every day (me). You feel weird when you don’t have it.
Also, I carry a knife for cutting stuff at work, opening letters when I get home, and slicing open stubborn packs of fruit snacks. Pocket knives are not for self defense.
socsa@piefed.social 1 week ago
See, I don’t buy this argument, because you are far more likely to die from a head injury tripping on the sidewalk or in a car accident than in any situation where a gun might help you. But I’m guessing you don’t wear a helmet everywhere.
Like just say it makes you feel powerful. Everyone already assumes it, so just own it.
Fecundpossum@lemmy.world 1 week ago
That’s cool. You don’t have to buy it. Statistically it’s not all that likely my house is going to burn down either. Doesn’t stop me from having a more comprehensive than usual policy on my homeowners insurance, and a couple fire extinguishers. Why? I’d like to have a fighting chance when shit happens to go sideways, regardless of statistics.
And yes. I do feel powerful with a gun on my hip. There. I said it. It makes me feel like I have the power to not cower when someone decides to level violence at me or my loved ones.
It has already happened once. Someone tried to assault me in my front yard of all places, someone I didn’t know or recognize. He drunkenly hit my parked car, and when I pulled out my phone and started recording, he came out with a wrench in his hand and started ambling towards me. I drew, and he immediately went the other direction. And wouldn’t you know it, that statistic was never recorded. No statistician is aware of the unrecorded instance where a gun made an occurrence of violence not happen.
It happens WAY more often than you think it does.
That said, I don’t give a fuck what you think, and I don’t have to.
Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Well, no. Even by the most conservatively estimated study, there are a minimum of 60,000 defensive gun uses in the US each year. Up to 2.5 million per year on the high end.
There are around 40,000 deaths from all unintentional falls per year. Of those, 85% are aged 65 and older.
You’re more likely to use a gun in self-defense than you are to trip and die. Especially if you’re not geriatric. So you’re wrong immediately there.
And yes, owning a gun makes it more statistically likely for someone to die by a gun. That’s because nearly 100% of gun suicides were the owner of said gun. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US. That’s pretty irrelevant to anyone not suicidal.
Like they say, there’s three kids of lies. Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
vardogor@mander.xyz 1 week ago
in the last three months, i’ve had an attempted robbery, an attempted burglary, and countless threats from crackheads. can’t say i remember falling on the sidewalk. roll your eyes all you want from the comfy chair, but do you honestly think i enjoy feeling like i need a gun to take out the trash? i’m stuck here. don’t conflate everybody with rednecks open carrying in their town of 400