Gun Ownership.
Ever since I became a homeowner I've had an increasing number of conversations about the great American preoccupation- guns. I didn't have a lot of experience shooting firearms growing up. My father was most assuredly not a hunter, and the prospect of participating in that activity was something that just never came up. I did shoot skeet when I was a little kid, and if I remember correctly, I was pretty good at it. I also recall taking target practice with a rifle, but don't ask me for any specifics. Once in college a friend of mine took me out into back-country private property, and he shot a tweety bird. I lost interest almost immediately when I saw its little crushed head.
So I have to say I have no real affinity for guns. I've always lived in the city, and guns seem like a poor match when it comes to urban living. When I used to be a doorman at a bar in Oakland, there used to be occasional handgun discharges on the corner. Once I smelled cordite after hearing the distinct telltale popping of a gun being fired. Another time I was denied exit from my apartment because a crazy sniper had commenced taking shots from a nearby high-rise. Fortunately, I've never been specifically targeted. When I was a kid (and a budding vandal), a pissed-off man pulled up alongside our little group of ne'er-do-wells and leveled a pistol at us, but we didn't take the threat very seriously. Ultimately I'd have to characterize my position on gun ownership as historically neutral.
Of course I'm quite aware of the 2nd Amendment and its interpretations. I know that many citizens consider their guns an entitlement bequeathed directly from "almighty God". I've heard the argument that the founding fathers wanted to ensure that they had the opportunity to protect themselves from an overzealous and controlling federal government. Others are outspoken about their right to bear arms in order to protect their family and their property. While I can understand these perspectives, none of them have been compelling enough for me to decide to purchase my own gun.
I don't believe that any compassionate "god" specifically countenances the employment of Smith and Wesson. It's quite clear that the people that wrote our constitution were more interested in seeing the formation of localized and organized militias- rather than hordes of gun-toting, pissed-off poor people. It's hard for me to believe that anyone with sense would think that they could hold off the combined forces of the US government with their own personal arsenal. That's clearly a losing battle- just look at what happened to Randy Weaver, the Move cult in Philadelphia, or David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. And things have changed dramatically since the "War on Terror" began. Even if our nation's leaders were still interested in seeing private individuals with RPG's and dirty bombs, the idea that you could resist the might of "the man" is ludicrous.
So that leaves the sole reason-based rationale for gun ownership- protecting property and family. Anyone who would risk his life on the odds of getting the drop on a home invader, merely to keep said invader from taking private property, should re-examine his priorities. It hardly seems worth it. But the idea of defending the wellbeing of one's family is (at the very least) emotionally resonant. If there is a good chance that you will have to protect a family member's life, then owning and learning how to operate a firearm might prove to be important. What are the scenarios that you have imagined that could put you in that type of position?
Are you envisioning a period of societal breakdown, and rampaging desperate mobs with little to lose? Do you want to safeguard your stockpiles of dried food and water? Or do you live in a dangerous neighborhood where violent behavior approaches the routine? Maybe you have an occupation that regularly inspires hatred in others. There are situations in which it might be appropriate to arm yourself. Even so, it's not a decision to make without thinking long and hard about it. Perhaps there is an ounce of prevention that could forestall your pound of cure. If there is a variable you can change to make your existence inherently safer, then it seems wise to make that choice.
How do you think the possession of a firearm will affect your thinking when you are in circumstances of danger? It could be that you'll overlook viable alternatives, and escalate needlessly to the most extreme response. Regardless, I don't think sloganeering is a wise approach to the issue. A nuanced, thoughtful approach is definitely in order. People DO KILL people... often with guns.
So I have to say I have no real affinity for guns. I've always lived in the city, and guns seem like a poor match when it comes to urban living. When I used to be a doorman at a bar in Oakland, there used to be occasional handgun discharges on the corner. Once I smelled cordite after hearing the distinct telltale popping of a gun being fired. Another time I was denied exit from my apartment because a crazy sniper had commenced taking shots from a nearby high-rise. Fortunately, I've never been specifically targeted. When I was a kid (and a budding vandal), a pissed-off man pulled up alongside our little group of ne'er-do-wells and leveled a pistol at us, but we didn't take the threat very seriously. Ultimately I'd have to characterize my position on gun ownership as historically neutral.
Of course I'm quite aware of the 2nd Amendment and its interpretations. I know that many citizens consider their guns an entitlement bequeathed directly from "almighty God". I've heard the argument that the founding fathers wanted to ensure that they had the opportunity to protect themselves from an overzealous and controlling federal government. Others are outspoken about their right to bear arms in order to protect their family and their property. While I can understand these perspectives, none of them have been compelling enough for me to decide to purchase my own gun.
I don't believe that any compassionate "god" specifically countenances the employment of Smith and Wesson. It's quite clear that the people that wrote our constitution were more interested in seeing the formation of localized and organized militias- rather than hordes of gun-toting, pissed-off poor people. It's hard for me to believe that anyone with sense would think that they could hold off the combined forces of the US government with their own personal arsenal. That's clearly a losing battle- just look at what happened to Randy Weaver, the Move cult in Philadelphia, or David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. And things have changed dramatically since the "War on Terror" began. Even if our nation's leaders were still interested in seeing private individuals with RPG's and dirty bombs, the idea that you could resist the might of "the man" is ludicrous.
So that leaves the sole reason-based rationale for gun ownership- protecting property and family. Anyone who would risk his life on the odds of getting the drop on a home invader, merely to keep said invader from taking private property, should re-examine his priorities. It hardly seems worth it. But the idea of defending the wellbeing of one's family is (at the very least) emotionally resonant. If there is a good chance that you will have to protect a family member's life, then owning and learning how to operate a firearm might prove to be important. What are the scenarios that you have imagined that could put you in that type of position?
Are you envisioning a period of societal breakdown, and rampaging desperate mobs with little to lose? Do you want to safeguard your stockpiles of dried food and water? Or do you live in a dangerous neighborhood where violent behavior approaches the routine? Maybe you have an occupation that regularly inspires hatred in others. There are situations in which it might be appropriate to arm yourself. Even so, it's not a decision to make without thinking long and hard about it. Perhaps there is an ounce of prevention that could forestall your pound of cure. If there is a variable you can change to make your existence inherently safer, then it seems wise to make that choice.
How do you think the possession of a firearm will affect your thinking when you are in circumstances of danger? It could be that you'll overlook viable alternatives, and escalate needlessly to the most extreme response. Regardless, I don't think sloganeering is a wise approach to the issue. A nuanced, thoughtful approach is definitely in order. People DO KILL people... often with guns.
Labels: Anecdote, Guns, Political Rant
posted by Merge Divide at 9:24 PM
8 Comments:
A number of years ago, I was attacked while riding my bicycle home. Were it not for my possession of a firearm and my willingness to use it I have no doubt that my assailants would have beaten me with that baseball bat until they got tired of beating me.
The government cannot be there to protect me. Even with the police station a block away, there is little chance that a patrolling officer would have stumbled across the scene to intervene on my behalf. In addition, anyone willing to break into a home when someone is there is inherently dangerous. He wants the TV? Fine. Let him come when no one is at home. But if he comes when my family is there, I have to assume that he is prepared for violence and I am fully prepared to do whatever it takes to defend my family.
In that incident, the presence of my pistol prevented further violence. I was not beaten to death nor was I forced to send a high velocity projectile into my assailant's face. We all got to go home that night and I'm just as glad that I didn't have to pull the trigger. But when it was all over, my hammer was at half-cock. I was half way through the trigger pull when my assailant ceased hostility and saved his life.
der geis,
That's certainly a harrowing situation, and I'm glad you negotiated it successfully.
Without further details, I'm a bit unclear about the event. Had these people arranged an ambush of an anonymous biker, or were they after you personally?
At what point were you aware of their intentions to beat you? You obviously had time to pull out your handgun... why didn't you just bike away from them? Were they on foot?
Do you always take your gun to work with you? How do your co-workers and employers feel about the fact that you come to your workplace armed? Carrying a firearm to my job would not be acceptable. I would be fired, regardless if I had the proper documents allowing me to carry a concealed weapon.
If your house was broken into, while you and your family were upstairs... would you go down to confront the intruder, or would you wait to see if they would leave on their own? Would you call the cops first?
This was a random crime. These kids were out looking for trouble late at night with a baseball bat and happened to find me.
I was aware as soon as I saw them. Attempted to ride away but the terrain would not allow it. I attempted to ditch the bike and run but got tangled up in it and fell. I did get up and tried to run but realized that would not be able to escape and thus turned to defend myself.
I had lacerated my finger and thumb when I ditched the bike and there was blood all over me. The cop who eventually took my report said I should have fired. The EMT said I should have fired. A professional self-defense specialist said I should have fired. And, in that split second, I was going to fire. But he must have seen my eyes or perhaps the hammer starting to pull back on the pistol in his face and he ceased hostility. I am pleased that I didn't have to fire but know that if he had done anything other than what he did, I would have fired.
I have carried my firearm almost continuously for nearly 20 years now. Those employees who have found out that I was carrying have not been threatened. A previous employer made a stink (in fact, only weeks before this incident) but management changed and their lock-step adherence to the no-weapons policy was forgotten. One time on campus, someone glimpsed that I was carrying and reported me. The campus cops, though there was a policy against weapons, realized that I had the right to carry my gun to and from campus for my own protection and, lacking a place for me to safely secure my weapon while on campus, advised me to get a smaller, more concealable gun.
In your hypothetical situation, as my family is upstairs, I would be unlikely to venture downstairs but if the intruder made any attempt to climb those stairs he would have a single warning.
Surely, a call would be made to the police, but how long would it take them to get there? The average response time is somewhere around 6 minutes. My incident that night took perhaps 30 or 40 seconds between my recognizing there was a situation and my drawing my pistol. Now imagine that without my pistol they would have had another 5 minute to beat me with a baseball bat. Take a bat or stick and time yourself as you beat a pillow for 5 minutes and you'll have just the beginnings of an idea as to how important it is for citizens to have the tools necessary to defend themselves.
der geis,
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and perspective, and for answering my questions.
Although I may not agree with all of your conclusions/opinions, I do believe they deserve a truly sincere consideration.
When it comes to gun ownership, conclusions are a personal matter. I am prepared to defend myself, my family and even innocent bystanders using my weapon. It's the way I am wired. I would take action, armed or not.
Not everyone is prepared to make that decision, and that's fine. But I most strenuously oppose those who feel that I should be denied my right to self defense.
Well, despite my reservations about the overall emotional maturity and competency of the citizenry, I have never supported an overall ban on firearms.
Regulations...sure. I have no problem with an extended waiting period or stringent background checks. I'd even be in favor of mandatory gun safety classes for those purchasing their first firearm. And I understand trying to restrict people from buying military grade assault rifles.
I don't think you have too much reason to fear that your guns are going to be taken from you any time soon.
I recently watched a documentary of the Bernhard Goetz subway shootings in NYC. Frankly, I had mixed feelings about the actions he took, but finally agreed with the verdict. I couldn't have done it, nor would I have been in a position to pull the trigger, but he had some history of having been mugged and truly felt threatened. It was quite the controversial subject of conversation at the time. It was just hard for many people to find objectivity.
Yeah, and he was considered some kind of vigilante hero for his actions. I have to say that I felt then, and still do, that he was ultimately justified in shooting his attackers. If someone approaches you, brandishing a deadly weapon, and you have the means to stop them- its quite understandable that you would do so. But I don't think he should have been particularly honored for what amounts to a basic (and somewhat crude) defense of his own self-interests.
The events on that subway should not have been as widely celebrated as they were.
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