Weapon for home- No! They will use it on me. SAD

[steamloco76]

A good friend of my wife's lives in a small rural, poor, former mining town with no local or township police. She has a severe spine ailment causing her to be hunched over and move like an 80 plus year old even though she is in her 40's and still works. Her home is one of the few nice, well kept properties in the area and it has been broken-in to several times in the past two years. Three of the break-ins by the same drug addict. The State Police take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to respond to this area, as it is 20 miles from the nearest barracks.

Recently, someone tried to enter her home by breaking a window while she was home and sleeping. She heard the noise and screamed 'I have a GUN and a BIG DOG!!'. The attempted intruder ran away. She has neither a gun or a big dog. My wife, an avid shooter, suggested her friend get a pump shotgun for home defense and a .38 Special revolver for carry (after acquiring a LCTF).Wife said we would gladly teach her safety and how to shoot. Her reply " I don't want a gun, they'll just take it from me and kill me with it." Wife then showed her Kimber OC spray (The red gun shaped one) that she carries where firearms are prohibited. Her friend didn't want that either! "I'm scared I'll spray myself accidentally."

I don't understand people who are totally unwilling to do anything at all to protect themselves from the criminal dregs of society because they truly believe any attempt to protect themselves is more dangerous than being a sheep!

 

[TACC1]

Their mindset seems to be, "it won't happen to me!/ The police wii save me!" It's just denial of reality, and it's hard to get past it.
I tried for over 17 years on someone like that. Didn't work out.
TACC1

 

[sipowicz]

If you are worried about an intruder using it against you, I guess it's best to keep a pillow nearby as a weapon....

 

[Rule3]

Some people are just like that. My wealthy, highly educated Sister and BIL live in a very upscale home, outside a major City rarely lock their doors, have lots of valuable things and just HATE guns or even the thought of them. They travel a lot, home is just a big nice target.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Some people are just not psychologically suited to use firearms, it's just not in their nature. This is usually more common in women then men, it's just their nature. It takes a certain amount of "aggressiveness" to shoot someone and some folks just don't have it. Perhaps some form of "panic button" would work for her, such as the "Lifeline" program. Anything's better than nothing.

 

[Will Carry]

Don't get me started. I offered to give my step son a Glock 19 for home protection. You know what he said? "No thanks, I've got children in the house."
So when the house gets broken in to he will have to protect his children without a firearm, he'll get killed and the bad guys will do what they want. IF the children survive they will live the rest of their lives fatherless.

 

[jkc]

Some people are just like that. My wealthy, highly educated Sister and BIL live in a very upscale home, outside a major City rarely lock their doors, have lots of valuable things and just HATE guns or even the thought of them. They travel a lot, home is just a big nice target.

Please provide more details...

 

[bitstream]

I've saw a lot of these people posting on news sites around the internet. They really are convinced that only a police officer can possibly manage to handle a firearm properly; anyone else will, according to them, either shoot innocents or have the gun taken away and will be shot themselves. It's impossible to convince them otherwise. They sometimes grudgingly admit that a current/former military member might possibly be able to handle a firearm, but they absolutely can't believe that there are regular people who actually train more than most police. They are also convinced that people who carry guns are some kind of wild-west lunatic that will start shooting crazy at the slightest provocation.

I think we need to really work on educating people as much as possible.

 

[jeepjeepwhat]

Get her a dog.

 

[venomballistics]

I've saw a lot of these people posting on news sites around the internet. They really are convinced that only a police officer can possibly manage to handle a firearm properly; anyone else will, according to them, either shoot innocents or have the gun taken away and will be shot themselves. It's impossible to convince them otherwise. They sometimes grudgingly admit that a current/former military member might possibly be able to handle a firearm, but they absolutely can't believe that there are regular people who actually train more than most police. They are also convinced that people who carry guns are some kind of wild-west lunatic that will start shooting crazy at the slightest provocation.

I think we need to really work on educating people as much as possible.

nah .. dont bother reprogramming them. most often they come with attitudes we find irritating ... let em think we'll air condition their chests at the drop of a hat ... keeps em out of our hair and lends to a peaceful existence.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Just because I believe that every law-abiding person has the right to own a gun, that doesn't mean that I think every such person should own a gun. Some people are just not temperamentally disposed to employing one advantageously. Number one would be the mind set that killing someone in defense of one's self is fully justifiable. Number two would be the concomitant willingness to employ the firearm. Number three would be the ability to use it - reflexes and some necessary strength would apply here. My mother, bless her soul, in her 90s, was not able to employ a gun when she lived alone. Her only defense was calling me or 911 - I was but minutes away, and quite willing and able to repel boarders. Who knows about the police.

Jeff Cooper once said that evil is not defeated by running away from it. It's also not defeated by cowering and letting someone else determine your fate. In many cases, a very territorial dog of sufficient size and vocal ability would do the trick for those not able or willing to employ a firearm.

For those who have the proper mindset and are physically able to employ a gun, they have that right and probably should have one. Those who are not mentally and physically capable of killing someone in their own defense probably make the right choice in not obtaining a gun. Not all are warriors. Some are sheep and some are sheepdogs. The sheep operate at a distinct disadvantage in self defense, but that is their choice and they must live with the possible consequences.

John

 

[woodsltc]

Get her a dog.

I'd make it a "big" dog !!!

 

[NKJ nut]

If a person does not have the resolve to use it, then yes it could be more of a liability than an asset. Because it very well could be used against you.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

If a person does not have the resolve to use it, then yes it could be more of a liability than an asset. Because it very well could be used against you.

I agree.
I know people who have access to firearms, but if worse came to worse...they could not, under any circumstances, could use ANY sort of force to protect themselves or others...one will NOT call the police, either. (I won't go into the reason given here to protect identities).

If an individual does not want to take responsibility for their own safety and well-being...the only thing anyone can do is pray for them and hope they do not become another statstic on some agency's blotter.

 

[steamloco76]

I'd make it a "big" dog !!!

The person I mentioned in the start of this thread is a dyed in the wool CAT person. She has several. A big dog would at least deter the "casual criminal" types.

I agree with all the posters who stated that having a firearm for protection without having the mindset and fortitude to use it is a bad idea. I still fell she should at least have a good OC defense spray. Even with a 'Panic button" the State Police will take too long to arrive at her house. She needs a PANIC ROOM and OC spray..

 

[therevjay]

I've saw a lot of these people posting on news sites around the internet. They really are convinced that only a police officer can possibly manage to handle a firearm properly; anyone else will, according to them, either shoot innocents or have the gun taken away and will be shot themselves. It's impossible to convince them otherwise. They sometimes grudgingly admit that a current/former military member might possibly be able to handle a firearm, but they absolutely can't believe that there are regular people who actually train more than most police. They are also convinced that people who carry guns are some kind of wild-west lunatic that will start shooting crazy at the slightest provocation.

I think we need to really work on educating people as much as possible.

Unfortunatly that is 100% correct. I think I know some of those people.

 

[PH-2]

Why, by "getting" her anything, presume to force your will on an avid sheep?
Even Jesus can only save those who wish to be saved.

It may seem odd to mention this in the same post with Jesus, but God created Darwinism, too. Those too timid to adapt and overcome will be eaten by the predators at their own choosing.

(hard-***)Mike

 

[The Big D]

Okay, I carry a gun and have done so for many years. Most, by far, of my friends do NOT...and even if instantly available, would not. They are accepting of my decision; I am of their decision.

Why do so many of you think folks MUST (perhaps tbe wrong adverb) own/carry a gun? It is a personal choice.

Be safe.

 

[sheriffoconee]

When I was an investigator I worked a serial rape case in which on of the victims had been given a 2.5 inch Model 19 by her father. It was stoked with some kind of magnum round and had never been fired. She had placed the gun under her pillow, and that is where it was the whole time she was brutally assaulted on her own bed, with the 19 under the pillow....
If you have ever worked these kinds of cases you know how much time you spend talking to the victim, not just in the interview, but for court prep, updates on the case...etc....
We talked about her having that firearm under the pillow, and she just always insisted she just didn't know how to use it, and didn't think she could if she knew how....
I think the problems with giving someone a firearm and thinking they are "armed" is obvious.

 

[kmyers]

I never understood that "they'll take it away from me and use it on me." mentality. If you are just going to let the person take the gun from you as opposed to shooting them with it and letting them take the bullets internally then you really shouldn't have a firearm. I guess she plans on being a victim from now on.