On The Fantasy of Self Defense
I have a friend who is a famous survivalist. Just released his second novel. I helped him write the first one. Good times. While his documentation of the economic collapse has been fantastic, and his initial concern, years ago, that economic collapse would lead the way into very stressful situation (which it is), I just can't agree that we'll all be toting .45's around openly a few years from now. Too many of the loners who get transfixed by the idea of living in a post-apocalyptic world where their limited people skills (some have ADD, ADHD or OCD) and paranoia are rewarded instead of punished like they are now... sigh. It just makes me sad. I suspect many of these folks, instead of buying guns and canned food, put the same effort into starting up a small business and forced themselves to politely interact with other people just to get business done, without picking fights, without antagonizing people (I do that, I'm guilty as well), and calm the f down, maybe then they could start thinking longer term than a carefully ordered suicide. Using a gun is a great way to spend a year in jail and court and go broke defending yourself legally. Really dumb idea. Lock your door, call the cops, let them deal with it. If it's truly valuable, don't park it somewhere it can be stolen, or learn to get by without it. I remain daily surprised that my car is still there when I go out for my daily commute. See, I'm an optimist!
A friend of mine at work announced he wants a firearm. My response was: "Move to a better neighborhood and you won't need one." A discussion followed.
"I want to protect my family"
"You just got married. You don't have a family yet," I pointed out.
"I'm worried about mobs, like in Egypt. What if the Occupy Wall Street movement spreads?"
"Are they at the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Chicago Merchantile Board? No? Then stop worrying." Yeah, me telling people not to worry. What is the world coming to?
I eventually talked him down from a .44 Magnum revolver, whom another friend I mistakenly got into shooting sports described as having the recoil of a .22 LR. It doesn't. A proper .44 load kicks like being hit by a car or a baseball bat, right in the hand. I don't recommend it. Most .44 owners shoot light .44 Special loads, which kicks much less. The last thing I want my friend to do is shoot someone. He's already had a firearm accident, nearly killed a friend. People who grab a gun by the trigger end up killing someone. It is one of the NRA no-nos, and whatever you may think of the NRA's public statements, remember that their primary purpose is firearm SAFETY which they actually do as their primary job. I suggested, since he's so persistent about all this, a shotgun. It can't be concealled so it will stay home where it belongs instead of slipping into clothes resulting in an arrest or worse a confrontation that gets him killed. I find people picking fights in hostile territory under the excuse of "what if I go to this dangerous part of town at night?" hypotheticals to be asinine. Don't go there. Duh! He probably won't buy one and will probably get the .44 under that bad info from our mutual friend. Sigh. Newbies.
I got out of guns years ago. I have the skill and the knowledge. That's enough for me. Knowing about chickens is more valuable. Knowing how to can foods at home is more valuable. Knowing people at the city council and attending meetings, being part of the community volunteer network is WAY more valuable. Cops will actually care about you when they arrest you. My friend who only has fanciful ideas about self defense? He'll be shot dead. How is his new wife going to cope? I really hope he moves and stops picking fights with the world. It is always cheaper to change your life than it is to get into a fight and have to defend yourself in court.
A friend of mine at work announced he wants a firearm. My response was: "Move to a better neighborhood and you won't need one." A discussion followed.
"I want to protect my family"
"You just got married. You don't have a family yet," I pointed out.
"I'm worried about mobs, like in Egypt. What if the Occupy Wall Street movement spreads?"
"Are they at the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Chicago Merchantile Board? No? Then stop worrying." Yeah, me telling people not to worry. What is the world coming to?
I eventually talked him down from a .44 Magnum revolver, whom another friend I mistakenly got into shooting sports described as having the recoil of a .22 LR. It doesn't. A proper .44 load kicks like being hit by a car or a baseball bat, right in the hand. I don't recommend it. Most .44 owners shoot light .44 Special loads, which kicks much less. The last thing I want my friend to do is shoot someone. He's already had a firearm accident, nearly killed a friend. People who grab a gun by the trigger end up killing someone. It is one of the NRA no-nos, and whatever you may think of the NRA's public statements, remember that their primary purpose is firearm SAFETY which they actually do as their primary job. I suggested, since he's so persistent about all this, a shotgun. It can't be concealled so it will stay home where it belongs instead of slipping into clothes resulting in an arrest or worse a confrontation that gets him killed. I find people picking fights in hostile territory under the excuse of "what if I go to this dangerous part of town at night?" hypotheticals to be asinine. Don't go there. Duh! He probably won't buy one and will probably get the .44 under that bad info from our mutual friend. Sigh. Newbies.
I got out of guns years ago. I have the skill and the knowledge. That's enough for me. Knowing about chickens is more valuable. Knowing how to can foods at home is more valuable. Knowing people at the city council and attending meetings, being part of the community volunteer network is WAY more valuable. Cops will actually care about you when they arrest you. My friend who only has fanciful ideas about self defense? He'll be shot dead. How is his new wife going to cope? I really hope he moves and stops picking fights with the world. It is always cheaper to change your life than it is to get into a fight and have to defend yourself in court.
