Quote:
Originally Posted by barbara
Bill, I never claimed to be an expert.
But, what I can tell you from my life experience, is that prevention is the first line of defense.
Now a days there are many gadgets and products that ensue home safety. If your home is hard to access, a burglar will go somewhere else.
I've lived in some of the roughest parts of the country and have been in some precarious situations as well as been the victim of crime. I have also armed myself at times. I found that having a weapon can, and usually does, escalate any given situation.
Context plays an important role in my self protection. When I go to work in the morning and it is still dark out, not so concerned about the street person sleeping on the sidewalk that I walk around, but the couple sashaying down the street as if they are sightseeing is suspect.
If I'm in a rough part of town, I know where I'm going ahead of time so I don't look lost. I walk purposely. ( laugh if you will, but attitude is paramount). I modify what I wear such as jewelry that might be inviting and shoes I can run in. Sometimes I carry an umbrella. (again, you can laugh, but more that once I have successfully defended myself with it).
Bill, protection depends on the situation. There are times when I believe a gun in the hands of a well trained person is appropriate. But not for the average Joe, especially one who thinks a gun is the end all of protection.
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+1. I have taught firearms safety, NRA Hunter Safety, and Rifle and Shotgun Shooting merit badge for the Boy Scouts and have taught my 3 kids to shoot and respect firearms. I've belonged to an excellent gun club for 20 years and earned an NRA Distinguished Expert with rimfire rifles years ago. That said, there are precious few people who I'm comfortable around with loaded firearms. I pick my hunting buddies very carefully and am completely anal about safety at the range.
I'm about as experienced and accomplished with firearms as anybody I know and I would be uncomfortable packing heat even if I could (it's not so easy in Maryland, though that may be changing due to a recent court ruling). Probably the single best, safest and experienced shooter I know lives in Virginia and carries a weapon damn near everywhere he goes (it's much easier there). Despite his skills and judgment, I feel better around unarmed friends than him when he's carrying. It's not that I fear him shooting me, but I feel there's much greater downside risk being around a loaded gun in an uncontrolled environment (i.e., away from the range) that there is being unarmed.