76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

76 Reasons To Have a Gun
Terence Gillespie

In four decades and thousands of transactions with my fellow man I've neither initiated nor accepted force as a means to accomplish anything. And yet, I've decided to become more skilled in the use of a gun to keep force, violence, crime and tyranny out of my life where they belong.

Even with a perfect record of non-violence my intuition tells me I've got some gun work to do - to keep it that way. And like car insurance, wearing a seatbelt or taking vitamins the most it will do is keep things the same, because:

Investments in self-defense return a maximum of keeping what you already have.

Most of the efforts of arming myself have been spiritual and intellectual. In fact, I've put 1000 times more effort into avoiding violence than on fighting skills. That seems low but 1000-to-1 is probably normal. My job doesn't involve teaching karate or any kind of self-defense training. This article is about increasing the "1" side of this ratio to "2" and I'll give 76 reasons for doing so.

A Few Words on the 1000

Preferred areas of focus for optimal living are: Values, Goals, Strength, Talent, Education, God, Health, Family, Prayer, Money, Intuition, Liberty, Barter, etc. Any plan that emphasizes a gun instead of these is doomed from the start.

I'm adding gun skills on top of the cornerstones for optimal living. Most countries don't have this luxury, even in 2009. They have to use sticks and clubs and will be in trouble with the state for using even these. Of course, their predators will be using all the latest weaponry without a care in the world of legal consequences. That's just how governments and criminals roll everywhere in the world except Switzerland and parts of the U.S.

Luckily for me, the valiant work of my ancestors guarantees me a right they didn't have: To use a gun to protect my family. The stabilizing peace that follows in the wake of private gun ownership enables my family to continue focusing almost completely on the ideals of a purposeful life.

Spiritual Without Physical Is NOT Holistic

No author can write about only spiritual avoidance of violence and claim to be holistic. And nobody on this planet can claim the moral high ground on a guy with a revolver under his bed to protect his family.

Authors like Deepok Chopra and Wayne Dyer talk about removing violence from our thoughts. And they're right! No doubt this thought removal is key to the success of avoidance. But, their advice is not Holistic: It doesn't integrate the physical with the spiritual and mental aspects of the subject.

These authors write about spiritual avoidance of violence within a context of safety provided by others. It could be police, local security or guards hired for large events. It's more likely to be you or one of their neighbors that truly protects them because:

"Even though most people do not carry guns, the mere possibility that an intended victim could be armed with a handgun eliminates millions of crimes every year" (Living with Glocks by Robert H. Boatman).

Although eliminating violence from our lives begins with our own thoughts, the complete chain of preparation must contain a physical deterrent to force. It's not a failure of the spirituality of the victim to get mugged. It's a lack of holistic preparation. There must be physical resistance to force to supplement the spiritual.

Something lacking in physical protection enabled Gandhi to be shot and killed while having his nightly public walk. And the Dalai Lama makes a reasonable and non-violent statement when he says, "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." (Seattle Times, May 15, 2001).

In Luke 22:36 Jesus ". . .said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. . . ."

None of these men advocate violence. The most they speak about is defense in a situation where violence is thrust against them.

Why Now? Why Bother?

Reason #73, The Bureau of Justice's national average says I have a 1-in-4 chance of being a victim of violent crime in my lifetime. If living in a major population center that increases to a 1-in-9 chance, annually.

That's on the high side for me, going it alone. But, it's too high for my family.

What happens to this already high risk when you factor in our current economic meltdown? (Reason #18), double-digit unemployment rate? police budget cuts? (Reason #16).

Have these factors been causing more home invasion robberies? (Reason #10). The latest one in Pensacola was pulled off by a band of para-military thugs. They practiced up on invasion techniques and are connected with other home invasions in Florida and other states.

These five reasons were enough to spur the question: What happens if someone less spiritual or desperate brings violence into our lives?

Things to Try Before a Gun

After reading the book Dial 911 and Die I wouldn't bet my families lives on police protection. The police only document crime. They have no legal responsibility to prevent it (Reason # 22).

Worst-case scenario, I agree with Boston T. Party that many tools & tactics should be used before a gun:

1. Avoidance
2. Guile & Wit
3. Verbal warnings & Profanity
4. Sly escape
5. Pepper spray
6. Baton
7. Hand-to-hand combat

Realistically, most should use their remaining strength to flee after step #5, above. If that's not possible, Gary Kleck says in Reason #11, that "Those who resist violent attack with a gun are injured less than half the time of those who offer no resistance.

Even then, those Defenders actually fired their gun in fewer than one out of four cases.

Effort Ratio Becomes 500-to-1

My avoidance to fighting skills ratio will be moving to 500-to-1.

Actually, most of my gun efforts fall into the avoid side of the equation since the mere presence of a gun prevents violence most of the time. However, I'll have to learn how to use it which adds a solid fighting skill making the new ratio more like 500-to-1.

Gun Insurance Is Not Free

You don't need car insurance without a car. And, you don't need gun insurance without a life. Only the owner can decide if they have something worth protecting. And only the owner can decide what insurance is best.

There's cost and hassle to bringing more tools into my life, especially ones that need to be kept nearby to be useful. Every tool requires research, purchase, maintenance, storage, training, etc. I expect to need a gun less often than a hammer, but, borrowing a gun is not an option.

Taking precautions is always harder than doing nothing. If I accept the risk I can still skip the whole gun thing. We're talking statistical risk, here. Nobody can actually prove something will happen if I take no precautions at all.

Bottom line: You don't have to do anything and nobody can prove you're wrong. Proof is only possible at the end of your life looking backward. And, unlike car insurance the state will never make gun insurance mandatory. They're too busy trying to disarm the public under the guise of making us safer.

Gun Control Is Victim Disarmament

If I put a sign in my front yard that says "Gun-Free Zone" then according to gun control folks my house will be safest house on the block.

Nonsense.

Criminals ignore the law. That's how they got to be criminals. The only people who abide by "Gun Control" are law abiding victims. That's why every place with "Gun Control" becomes a "Victim Disarmament Zone."

All studies show a dramatic decrease in violent crime when more private citizens are permitted to defend themselves (Switzerland, all concealed carry states). Conversely, violent crime rises in direct proportion with the number of gun-control laws (Reason #37) as seen in England, Australia, and all states where 2nd amendment rights are denied like California, New York, Illinois, etc.

There was an uproar when a man in New Hampshire was seen with a revolver on his hip near where Obama was speaking. What the media did not report is that Obama is surrounded with guns everywhere he goes. The MSM message is: Guns are safe when the police have them, but they're not safe when you have them.

I didn't need a permit, registration, fingerprinting, background check or state exam to exercise my 1st amendment right to write this article. Why do I need them to exercise my 2nd amendment rights?

Pure nonsense.

Having a Gun Is Its Own Best Use

Unlike most tools, the primary use of a gun is to prevent itself from having to be used, at all. In fact, guns are in full use while they're not being fired. Infrequent use proves, rather than disproves, their necessity.

If you think only tools that are used frequently are necessary then stop wearing your seat belt, cancel your home, car and health insurance and put a sign on your front lawn announcing you live in a gun-free house!

After much thought on the subject I've come to the conclusion that the simple act of having a gun is its own best use (Reason #1).

Like a battleship parked off the coast its mere presence changes the dynamic of the situation without having to fire a single shot. By "dynamic" I mean that predators tend to behave themselves and move on to an easier "unarmed" prey. By having a gun you become too dangerous to your predators. Criminals interviewed in jail say they don't want anything to do with an armed civilian. That change in my human predators is exactly what I want to accomplish.

At best, guns keep honest and polite people honest and polite. Kind of like the masterlock I use on my gym locker. It's never been touched, except by me, and yet it is used fully every time I work out.

Final Note and Reasons

Before you reach the end of your life perhaps my 76 reasons for having a gun will help you decide whether this power tool should be in Your Optimal Toolkit:

1. The simple act of having a gun is its own best use. Like a battleship parked off the coast its mere presence changes the dynamic of the situation without having to fire a single shot. By having a gun you become too dangerous to your predators. Criminals interviewed in jail say they don't want anything to do with an armed civilian. That change in my human predators is exactly what I want to accomplish.
2. A right exercised is a right retained.
3. It's the best single tool for protecting your life and the lives of your loved ones. (JFPO)
4. You detest American gun laws based on 1938 Nazi weapons laws. (JFPO)
5. Armed societies are polite societies. (Switzerland).
6. Switzerland is armed to the teeth with virtually no crime (Stephen Holbrook).
7. Because of the patience and discipline you acquire while learning about the tool.
8. So you can de-bunk Hollywood gun myths for your kids.
9. So you'll know that not using toy guns when playing is an important step in teaching kids to respect and handle the real thing safely and appropriately.
10. It removes force from the equation of human interaction.
11. Home Invasion Robberies. And your gun tool should be easy to get to (Since it will be in the holster you're wearing).
12. "Robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other method of self-protection or those who did not resist at all." according to Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University, Gary Kleck, in Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America.
13. We call the police because they have guns, not pens to document what already happened to us.
14. Cougars in the backyard - Happens all the time where we live.
15. Coyotes on the streets - My wife has seen five, this year. Only a danger if they're in packs or for small children and dogs, alone.
16. Rattlesnakes in the hills - Signs all over the trails around here. Put snake shot in the first two chambers of your trail gun.
17. Police Budget Cuts - Sacramento County in CA will reduce the number of squad cars from 39 to 8 due to budget cuts (Channel 3, Sacramento, air date 6/30/2009).
18. Early Release of Violent criminals from overstuffed jails - Happens more than you think. Check your local news. There's no more room left at the Inn.
19. Economic Meltdown. Was Argentina more or less safe when their currency collapsed? And don't forget the other 30 countries whose currency has collapsed in the last 100 years. Happens all the time to those other countries we tend to ignore. It could never happen in the US, right?
20. Hurricane Katrina and the next natural disaster.
21. Better than a knife past 2 yards.
22. The only sure victim-prevention lies with the victim-to-be.
23. Police only document crimes after they happen. They might investigate. But, they have no legal responsibility to prevent crime.
24. Saying, "Police are not your bodyguard," is quite an understatement.
25. According to the Dalai Lama, "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." (Seattle Times, May 15, 2001).
26. When seconds count, the police arrive in minutes (Or hours).
27. How many police does it take to give one speeding ticket to a dangerous soccer mom? Five! No punch line, here. It's just how many I saw it take, last week. That's five police not available for a real crime happening somewhere else.
28. The L. A. riots - For which the shotgun I had in the back seat on the way home from work was the right tool. We counted 22 plumes of smoke on each side of the freeway on the way home, that day. And the US troops on the streets for the next 3 days must have thought the M-16's they were carrying were the right tool for the job, too. Now why would myself and those troops think it was useful to have a gun if neither of us actually fired? Because having a gun is its own best use. Guns are in full use even when they're not being fired.
29. NYC Blackouts. I predict more blackouts as more cities and counties go bankrupt and don't have the money to maintain their electricity grids.
30. The official role of police is to investigate, not prevent crime.
31. Self-defense is an inherent human right. It is given to you by God, not the government.
32. Since Criminals will always have guns, there's no reasonable expectation of self-defense if law-abiding citizens don't have them, too.
33. Meat on the table - Or do you only eat meat that other people kill for you?
34. 1 in 4 chance of being on the receiving end of a violent crime (and that was before the economic meltdown).
35. Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Sonia Sotomayor. If you were impressed with Clinton's torture of the word "IS" wait 'til you see what this bunch will do to the 27 words of the 2nd amendment. By the time they're done they'll have us believing the amendment has something to do with toaster ovens. Don't laugh: I should have made each one of these people their own separate reason.
36. If history is any guide we should now expect increased "gun-control" (Victim Disarmament) laws passed under the guise of "protecting us." With the Government takeover of all banks, GM and Chrysler the US has now crossed over into the dictionary definition of fascism. Possession of firearms by private citizens threatens fascist governments that have always sought coercion and control.
37. Gun control laws increase violent crime as only law abiding citizens abide by the law. That makes "Gun Control" into effective "Victim Disarmament."
38. Last line of defense for family while traveling.
39. Clean-cut young men like Ted Bundy.
40. As a hobby to improve self-discipline and the understanding of physics.
41. To bring your physical preparation for resisting non-initiated force in line with your spiritual and intellectual efforts to avoid it.
42. The Virginia Tech Massacre - Cho killed 32 people and wounded another 17. Gun-Control (Read Victim Disarmament) has turned our schools into killing zones. Don't those darn psychos know that guns are not allowed on campus? Actually, people like Cho do know and that's why they choose school campuses for their shooting rampages.
43. School officials called the police when they heard Cho gunning people down at Virginia Tech. They called the police because they had guns that could stop Cho. Were guns the problem or the solution that day? The answer is that Cho was the problem and guns were the solution. If law abiding students were allowed to carry then their guns would have been the solution delivered long before so many innocent students were killed waiting for the police to arrive and "cordon off the area."
44. Camping among dangerous 4-legged creatures.
45. Camping among dangerous 2-legged creatures.
46. To equalize physical strengths in a confrontation.
47. Carrying a gun is a lighter burden than regret.
48. The Zodiac Killer. They never caught him. He claims 37 victims and is probably between 60 to 70 years old now, if alive. There's an active website where you can submit tips.
49. If violent crime is not a factor then why do we still need police? (Boston T. Party)
50. You're several more times likely, in your lifetime, to need a handgun to deal with a lethal threat than you are to need fire insurance on your home . . . yet more people carry fire insurance than carry a gun. (Boston T. Party)
51. Guns prevent an estimated 2.5 million crimes a year, or 6,849 per day. You don't hear about them because they never happened, silly.
52. Violent offenders shy away from houses and people who are likely to be armed.
53. Your security is not your neighbors' responsibility.
54. Your security is not legally the police's responsibility.
55. To increase criminal expectations that you may have a gun.
56. To bear your share of the responsibility and burden of the proven gun deterrence of crime.
57. Because criminals fear entering your House because of my gun. Get your own and spread the non-violence.
58. Because there are evil people in the world that can't be talked or reeducated out of trying to kill you.
59. To convert force into persuasion.
60. To remove fear from human interaction.
61. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. (Marko Kloos).
62. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. (Marko Kloos)
63. To promote equality.
64. Every living creature has the natural right of self-defense.
65. There are people in this world to whom you're not a human being. You are merely an obstacle to obtaining your possessions.
66. After you hand over the money, they'll still kill you for being a witness.
67. YouTube videos of people being killed after they give up the money or open the safe.
68. As a communication device for someone who'd kill you to get the latest playstation or XBox or iphone.
69. Because every citizen in Switzerland has an automatic weapon in their basement and they have almost zero violent crime.
70. To appeal to the better nature of a man who doesn't have one.
71. So that you can protect yourself against criminals who use guns as a deadly extension of their inability to deal with people.
72. Because there are people out there who would use a gun against you just to avoid the "hassles" of persuasion or the "inconvenience" of fair trade.
73. "According to the FBI, states with 'shall-issue' right-to-carry laws have a 26 percent lower total violent crime rate, a 20 percent lower homicide rate, a 39 percent lower robbery rate and a 22 percent lower aggravated assault rate than those states that do not allow their citizens to legally carry guns."
74. "The Bureau of Justice's national average states that I have a 1-in-4 chance of being a victim of violent crime in my lifetime. The risk conferred by living in a major population center . . . . - where index felonies (rape, robbery, homicide, aggravated assault, etc.) number 200 a day - increases my chances of being a predator's lunch stack to 1-in-9 annually." Mark F. Twight, "Eat or Be Eaten" S.W.A.T., March 2000 (p. 60)
75. Genocide frequently follows government disarmament of private citizens. The JFPO calls this type of government disarmament Death by Gun Control.
76. "Liberty or death," the meaning of which is clear and absolute, is but a trivial phrase if you do not carry a gun (Living with Glocks by Robert H. Boatman).

Free, law-abiding citizens do not give up their right to arms.

Finally, I give you the words of Robert Heinritz reacting to Judge Sotomayor's weasel-like response to a simple question about the rights of American citizens to self-protection:

"I don't much care for the bother and responsibility of securing a firearm nearby. But I've lived long enough to know the world sometimes presents threats that justify its presence. A free person's right to defend his or her life is a very personal right, a "fundamental right" - pre-existing our U.S. Constitution - which is more important than our property, our ability to speak-out on political issues, our right to vote, or our rights to a Miranda warning when approached by a police officer. Throughout history this has always been true among free people."

"During the years American Colonists were bickering with Great Britain over taxes, representation, and rights; the one thing that finally provoked a shooting-war with their mother-country was Britain's use of armed soldiers to disarm free citizens. The Founders were well-read on history and the classics, and well-acquainted with what England did to it's "subjects" in Ireland; first disarming them, taking over all their lands and resources by force of British arms, and consigning the Irish to virtual serfdom or slavery. The most loyal of America's Founders knew that government's disarming of its free-citizens was the first step to slavery. "Slavery" was the word they used. History has confirmed this basic truth countless times in countless countries over the succeeding 200 years. Free, law-abiding citizens do not give up their right to arms."

http://www.silverbearcafe.com/privat...9/reasons.html

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Excellent post.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Great Post!!

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

What ever the 76 reasons are I will never own a gun.

To keep violence out of your life by a gun to me at least is very strange.

I prefer self defence with out killing people in the process.

My father was in the 2nd world war ,he turned me off guns totally and it has remained that way.

Live by the sword ,die by the sword.:signs14:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

My main 2 reason for owning a gun:

(1) All free men are armed. Disarmament = slavery.
(2) When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Let's hope that if you are ever attacked, your attacker ALSO prefers not killing people in the process. Are you willing to bet your life on that? Oops... stupid question. Apparently you are.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Fact is Im still alive, I have a sword (it is wooden and can break bones very easily but not kill) I practise self defence (tai chi) which is a defensive martial art and teach it now and then .A stick the length being up to your eyebrows long is very good to defend yourself with,all weapons can be turned upon the attacker.


J. Krishnamurti
A man who is not afraid is not aggressive, a man who has no sense of fear of any kind is really a free, a peaceful man.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will end up plowing for those who did not." -Anonymous


As for someone who has survived an extremely serious ag assault with a deadly weapon, when you need a gun you need it NOW!

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I refuse to live in fear.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I saw that movie ,its an actor,its not real.

Anyway I dont mind digging (my garden that is).

Blast away

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

To me a knife and the gun are for cowards, no harm intended.That is just the way I am.

Also I dont live in America where there seems to be one rampant gun culture, maybe you think or imagine you need it ,its just that I dont and never will.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I guarantee you that if you encounter a dangerous human with bad chemicals in their head and you survive you will have a change of heart.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Tell that to elderly folks who have watched their neighborhoods go down the tubes around them and depend upon a handgun for their personal safety.

And FWIW, the King (Jesus) told us to arm ourselves with 'a sword' which was the most advanced personal defense weapon of that time. The most advanced personal defense weapon of today would be a compact machinegun or subgun. Are you suggesting the King was wrong???

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I also do not currently own a gun and I do not have any plans to get a gun. It is a personal choice for me to not own a gun. I am happy with that.
I am NOT an anti-gun person and I support the right for people to bear arms but my reasons for not owning a gun have to do with me possibly "freezing up" at the worst possible time. It does not make sense for me to have a gun if I "freeze up" or hesitate to use it when the circumstances call for the use of a gun.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

10 reasons not to own a gun

1. When there is domestic violence in the family or the possibility of domestic violence such as during a contentious divorce. This is a bad situation that needs to be fixed immediately, generally by putting a lot of distance between the parties. If the violent people are all in the same house and there is a firearm, there is an increased possibility that one will use it on the other.

2. When there is a suicidal person in the home. Firearms are often used to commit suicide. Ideally the depressed/suicidal person receives treatment and all is well, but until treatment is successfully completed, having a firearm on the premises generally exacerbates the problem. Some people say yes, but if there is no gun they will just hang themselves or use pills. Possibly, hopefully not, but on a macabre note, if there is no stopping the suicide, walking in on someone who has hanged themselves is a whole lot better than finding someone who has blown their head off.

3. When alcohol use is out of control. Excessive alcohol use and anything else (driving, using a firearm, carrying around a knife, etc) usually winds up with stupid if not deadly results. An alcoholic with a gun is bad all the way around.

4. When there are troubled teens in the home. Gang banger kids, show off kids, kids who are bullied or out of control make for a very volatile situation. Also, kids are pretty clever so if they really want to get to your firearms they probably will and the results can be deadly (or at least lead to incarceration).

5. If there is a convicted felon in the home. The law is pretty clear that unless an ex con has had their rights restored, being in possession of a firearm--which usually happens when there is an ex con and a firearm in the same vicinity--can send them back to the big house. Why take the risk?

6. When the gun was purchased years ago "for protection", has never been used or practiced with, and has been stashed in the back of the closet under the sweaters to use in the event of an emergency. This is a sign of an irresponsible gun owner who probably shouldn't even own a gun.

7. If you are a pacifist or are diametrically opposed to gun ownership. Just because a person can own a gun doesn't mean they should.

8. If it is illegal in your jurisdiction. Deciding whether or not to break the law is a personal decision; in this situation some people feel their right to own a gun as outlined in the constitution overrides the whim of the city council. For others they will follow the law and thus avoid a nasty legal situation.

9. It's against your religion. Some religions are like that and people need to do what they feel is right.

10. If you think you will only use it to scare away a burglar but would never actually use it. Hopefully the sound of chambering your 12 gauge will send a smart burglar right out of your home but this may be wishful thinking. The only time you should point a firearm at a person is if you fully intend to use it on them.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I am fine with that I just hope you are single and your family never is threatened, it could be their life not yours that a gun could save.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

You'll get over that quickly the first time you find yourself in a literal fight for your life.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Shame on you outlawjoseywales:biggrin:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

AKA ten reasons for all you incompetent imbeciles to submit yourselves to the ever-benevolent, caring, omniscient, omnipotent authority of the state. lol

Where'd you get that from, the Brady Bunch?

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I hope to never be put in a situation where I have to fight for my life. However, near-death or life-threatening situations tend to change people's minds about certain things.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Yet you seem to be willing to live in denial of human nature.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Sorry to disappoint you and the rest of the GIM community. :bawling:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

It's not a matter of if, but when TSHTF in CONUS. The sooner you cover your bases with respect to the personal safety of you and your loved ones the better off you'll be.

The OP made a number of points about the mere presence of guns preventing violence. I suggest you deliberate on that.

I own guns. I look forward to not having to use them, but should the need arise my motto is 'Peace through superior firepower.'

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

What about knives, acid, gasoline, cars as weapons, etc.?


Finding anyone dead for any reason is gruesome.


What about getting rid of cars, knives, baseball bats, cast iron pans, fists, etc.?


Forgo guns because you can't parent.


Lock it up and keep the key from the ex-con. The Second Amendment has no "no felons" restriction, by the way.


I suggest they put up a "This is a gun-free zone" sign on their house.


Firearms are legal across the entire United States, see the Second Amendment ("shall not be infringed"). Unconstitutional "law" is no law at all.


Which religions? Not Christianity. Not Buddhism (ask the Dalai Lama).


Then, when necessary, USE IT!

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Agreed. To each his own. There truly are people out there who do not want to and therefor should not own a firearm (sheep). I don' even mind if I have to protect their misguided kumbaya mentality when they face the very real evil that thrives in this world. But know this sheep, the minute you try to spread your flawed philosophy to the masses by advocating for my disarmament, you are now my enemy. The term "no better friend, no worse an enemy" comes to mind. Bx3

BTW, your wooden sword is called a Bokken (I too have studied the arts) and while Musashi may have felled opponents with one, I would not hold my breath. Tai-Chi for self defense? You have obviously never been in a real life and death struggle. Good luck with that one.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I apologize for upsetting the pro-gun atmosphere of this sub-forum. :signs14:

I do not have a problem with people owning guns. I do not have a problem with people not owning guns.

Again I will ask you this? What is the point of me having a gun if I am going to end up "freezing up" when I have to face a criminal?

The reason that I do not have a gun is because I would "freeze up" and I would be a greater danger to myself with a gun if a criminal overpowers me and ends taking the gun and using it against me because I "froze".

That is not anti-gun philosophy. That is my inability to use a gun when it matters the most.

Again, I am very sorry for upsetting the pro-gun atmosphere of this sub-forum. :signs14:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Outlaw, you already made your position "to each his own" known. My last post was not intended towards you in the slightest. No apologies are necessary. :coolbeer:Bx3

I would advise you on one thing however. I also once used to have faith in humanity and still do with the exception that I now recognize that evil exists everywhere (not just where you look for it). My naivete expired a long time ago when I was the recipient of many bullets from an evil person with a gun (for no reason). There is nothing more helpless than having NO OPTIONS as I did not own anything other than a hunting shotgun at the time. My belief has only been hardened since then after being the victim of an armed home invasion, the attempted victim of a car jacking and the attempted victim of a brutal beating (10 guys against me). While this not be the average experience, they actually happened to me and I was in no way, shape or form looking for trouble. I carry 24/7 now and while there are never any guaranties, I will never be without an option again when facing evil. Bx3

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I too don't have a gun, after that terrible boating accident, then the fall in the cave, those mooching friends, my greedy relatives, that deserveing teen down the street, the symbolic "plantings" in the high dark ritual places..................but then again, I built my first "zip gun" covertly in metal shop at the age of 12 in 1958 and suppose that if I were to find myself again in a situation simular to that "Blackboard Jungle" I could repeat the process. Maybe something that could take on Bradley this time huuummmmmmmmm

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I have a gun(s) to protect my loved ones and myself. This reason itself should end all debates.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Yea seriously, a gunless Outlaw?? Hmmm...

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Nope. That is not going to happen unless G-khan made me give up my user ID. I seriously doubt that G-Khan is going to make me give up my GIM handle.

I guess that I am just a nice and non-violent "outlaw" that does not own a gun. :111:

Irony can be wonderful sometimes. :biggrin:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Irony can be wonderful sometimes. :biggrin:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Here is a question. If you are anti-firearms then why in the hell are you in this subforum???

I mean unless you are trying to stir up some trouble go and surf another forum.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Once again I apologize for upsetting the atmosphere of this subforum but I was responding to a couple of posts on this thread.

I was not trying to stir up any trouble. I make a lousy troll if you are accusing me of being a troll. :111:

I apologize for even posting on this thread. :signs14:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Get out of here Outlaw with this lunacy. I bet you don't have any PM's either do you?

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Of course I have PM's. You know that I collect '70's silver art bars. I like your sense of humor Gordon. :ok:

:111: :111: :111: :111: :111: :111: :111: :111: LMAO!!!!!!

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

:Surrender: the name!

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Outlaw, I am sorry. My rant wasn't directed at you, it is directed at Serpo.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Make me EE. :tongue_ma:

:111:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

:111: Just tryin' to get you worked up Outlaw.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

That is ok Gansta99. :ok:

I think I dug myself too deep a hole when I posted on this thread.

I deserve to be called out "in public" for being an "outlaw" that does not own a gun. :111:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

That's ok Gordon. :ok:

I will give you an A+ for the effort but an epic fail for the result because I did not get worked up, however, it was funny. Having a sense of humor is a very good thing to have in these tough economic times IMO. :111:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

What's the practical effective range of your sword and your tai chi? What do you do when someone outside of the effective range comes up against you armed with a gun? How will that sword or tai chi save you?

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I have the same hope, but have read too many stories of people who had the same hopes and were unarmed, and thought 911 would save them. Unfortunately for many, the police arrived too late.

There was a story of a University of Wisconsin coed who came home from classes and found an intruder in her home. She tried to call 911 and did get through, but was not able to explain what the problem was. Long story short, she got butchered to death and the killer is on the loose today. She would have at least had a chance if she carried.

I prefer to not wait for a near-death/life-threatening event to make me change my mind. For the longest time, I felt I didn't need a gun either but when I saw the economy start to falter, and the 100's of thousands laid off monthly it made me change my mind. Most of the population is not self sufficient these days and would find it easier to take from someone else in a desparate time. They're not going to take from me or my family without a fight. :bear_thumb:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Circle the wagons

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

How many people in India own guns too defend them selves or China ,Japan.
If you live in a country or area where you feel like you need to own a gun then its not necessary to norm in a great area of the world.
Why own a gun if you dont feel threatened and dont like guns.
The idea of everyone owning a gun is completely foreign in the vast majority of countries .
When ever you have more guns you have more deaths by guns more accidents more everything because of the shear fact that there is more of them.
:MIA:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Thats a very good question ,the fact is I have a little update bar that is connected to goldismoney forum and just saw the topic and not what area it it was in.It wasnt until later that I realised where Id strayed and thought to myself er ,ops Im in big trouble now.
Havnt really come over here in the past

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Why do you waste your time on a gun forum, especially the above nonsense? You're definitely not going to change anyone's mind here, and you're only annoying everyone here.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

"Norm in a great area of the world"?

Kind of like poverty, hunger, disease, people living in leaky huts? Tinpot dictators who brutally oppress and kill their subjects with impunity? Misguided religious and traditional thought that leads to horrors like female genital mutilation and stoning blasphemers?

Dude... what's so great about being lumped in with the world "norm" again? I must admit I just don't get it.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Just a small point that I didnt want to see lost........


T

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

And what is yours when the gun isnt there or do people depend on the gun as they are lazy in regard to being able too defend them selves.
.
If the gun is gone what do we have but ourselves in the end.This is where work can be done until a confidence in life can occur that we dont need guns to defend ourselves .

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Josey, you have a right to express your opinion in any part of the forum, as long as it is within forum rules. You don't have to apologize to anyone, ever.

As a wise man once said "I disagree with your position, but I'll defend your right to state it, to my death".

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I had to reconsider an armed society supposedly being a polite society after spending time in Japan this summer. That concept is entirely untrue, you just don't realize it if you haven't been to civilized countries.

But I own firearms living in the U.S.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Haven't read each post so I'm popping off again.
My 76 reasons to own a gun:

Numbers 1 through 75: because they do.
'Nuff said.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...d-at-home.html

Any questions?

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Yes. Did the raped couple know tai-chi? Were they living in fear? :sarcasm:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

But Brittons gave up their gun rights years ago in an effort to join the ranks of other civilized societies.:sarcasm:Bx3

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

It is important to understand that there are many people in this world who were born and bred to be servile subjects to authority. Bred, quite literally. Especially in the East. Caste systems and the wholesale slaughter of those who showed initiative and independence were common methods for keeping the people in line, over many generations this will have an effect on your genetic predispositions. The monopolization of force is the ultimate way a government asserts its dominance over a people, only a very servile people would accept it.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

OutlawJosey:
This is a serious, non-rhetorical, question.
I am asking out of curiosity, and, respect.
If you were about to be killed by five felons, would your last thought be:
"I'm glad that I don't have a .45 in my hand"
Be well.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

All this religion aside, people who can't kill will always be subject to those who can - Sgt. Brad Colbert

Be prepared - Robert Baden-Powell

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

That is a good question Ebie and the answer your question is.............that I would NOT have that last thought of "I'm glad that I don't have a .45 in my hand". I do not know what my last thought would be if I was about be to killed by five felons.

I also want to be clear on this: I believe that people should defend themselves and I believe in the right for people to own guns.

I just feel that in the heat of battle, I would probably "freeze up" and end up getting shot by the criminal. Maybe I am wrong on this because I have never been in a situation where my life was in immediate danger.

EDIT: Just because I do not have a gun does not necessarily mean that I cannot defend myself. Not having a gun will probably increase the odds against me of being successful in defending myself but I will still have a chance of defending myself and surviving. IMO, If I have a gun and I "freeze up" at the worst possible time to use it against a criminal, then I will have no chance in defending myself and a zero chance in surviving.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Japan is too crowded for guns but everybody owns a knife. "Firearms" are not the only type of "arms".

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

OJW: Eastwood also had a line in a script that went "a mans got to know his limitations". There isn't anything wrong with you a good drill sergeant couldn't fix. Get some training.

fromserpo: ahahahhahah keep telling yourself and anyone you can get to listen that line of crap. If you weren't scared shitless you would bother with all that tia chi killer stuff. Based on your list of reasons to not own guns it's a good thing that Ted Kennedy and those of his ilk are anti-gun. Birds of a feather, flock together.

Answer? He's drunk again, it's time to fight
Same old shit, just on a different night
She grabs the gun, she's had enough
Tonight she'll find out how ****ing
Tough is this man
Pulls the trigger as fast as she can
Never Again Nickleback

Answer: If frogs had tails, they wouldn't bump their ass every time they hop

An alcoholic writing laws is bad all the way around. An alcoholic on a lawnmower is bad all the way around. Looks like the common denominator is alcohol. Try to limit your focus on what is the problem rather than cower behind a scapegoat. Btw, I wish you just about as much luck with confiscating alcohol as I do with confiscating guns.

I haven't yet met a teen that wasn't troubled. Considering my boy scout troop had close to 50 in it, making it a larger gang than half of the counties town police and larger than the sheriff's dept. Often we went into the woods armed with guns and knives. Yes, kids think they are clever. However, age*treachery>youth/enthusiasm. Again, the common denominator here are kids that are left to their own vices without adult supervision. Again, focus helps, isn't that what you learn with Tia Chi?

Now you are fishing, or at best just parroting some liberal do-gooder that hasn't the mental capacity for original thought. What if frog's had tails?

They wouldn't bump their asses when they hop

IF you were a pacifist, you wouldn't study Tia Chi for self defense. You are just opposed to an inanimate object out of an irrational fear. There is counseling for that.

It doesn't matter who you are, or where you are from, The Rule of Law is affirmed with the barrel of a gun. ESPECIALLY WHERE THE CITIZEN IS DISARMED. Also, in case you haven't been keeping up with US events, The US Supreme court recently ruled that the 2nd amendment is in fact the law of the land. It does override the whims of the city council. For others (criminals) they break the law quite often with no threat of incarceration due to the revolving door policy of the local prosecutor, politician, do-gooder liberal.

Even Alvin York had to wrestle with the morality of armed conflict. You know what he realized? God won't judge you too harshly for eradicating scum. God has a hard on for US Marines, because they keep heaven supplied with fresh souls. Some people need to stop playing the victim and man up.

Thank you once again for parroting the NRA's guide to responsible gun ownership. I first read those back in the late 60's, long before the unicorn fart sniffing talking heads began to steal the material.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

I like guns. They're fun!

my 2 bob (20c)

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Tai chi - probably one of the most impractical martial arts around. Some 70 year old master might be able to avoid getting his butt kicked completely with it but we have to trust the history books because nobody today has ever seen it happen.

Most of those arts were conceived for fighting people who fight exactly as they do, they're great for old people or fighting the other guys who agree not use anything practical.

You can generally tell someone who can't fight because they refer to "self defense" and "defending myself". Successfully defending yourself means attacking first or interrupting an attack. If you're waiting to be attacked your awareness sucks and you probably have no grasp of strategy - better buy a gun but you'll probably just get disarmed anyway so dig a hole and climb in it.

If someone comes along throwing quick punches or takes you down first generally you get your ass handed to you no matter what form of eastern "defense" you practice. Especially if it's an ancient one designed to deal with quaint attacks that never happen anymore like high kicks, wrist grabs, overhead chops and reverse punches.

I went out with this indian girl once, she was like why you have a gun you don't really need. lol Then I pointed out the home invasion that happened down the street (got it off the police blotter online).

She was like I'll be ok it won't happen to me.

Some people just have their heads you know where. They have their beliefs and they won't budge. Just like the guy who takes martial arts but doesn't want to live in fear by owning a gun

Uh buddy why you practice martial arts and have a wooden sword then?

I guess it's ok to own a weapon and practice fighting as long as it sucks completely :5_1_120:

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

My two cents...

Training, if you're worried about freezing up, then train the hell outta yourself. Then when the situation arises, you go into a sort of auto-pilot and just react.

For most people, freezing up is a result of a sensory overload. Training can help offset that so you can get through the situation.

Former Marine with a stint in Iraq here.. :-)

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

+1000! Train train train and then train some more until it becomes second nature. And I might add, make it as real as possible. My wife (who didn't grow up around guns) but who now has a CCW preferred bullseye targets over paper targets of the bad guys because she said that shooting at them made her uncomfortable. My response was that if she could not pull the trigger on a piece of paper with a BG picture on it, she would not pull the trigger on a real BG. She now uses BG pictures exclusively. Bx3

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

You (and Bx3) make a lot of sense on this.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Some situations can only be survivable if you have a gun.
Let's hope, to avoid this.
Be well.

PS I know, some situations are worse if you have a gun.
Example: stupidity and guns: bad mixture.
We must be very careful.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

Can think of 535 reasons. . . .
Hint: They meet in WA-DC every year and pass stupid laws.

Re: 76 Reasons To Have a Gun
 

So much for the tard mentality. Thanks Tom D.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...frica-U-S.html

Not working too well for the Brits. It must be a Western cultural thing.:sarc: Bx3