Summations Only

Really? Or do you mean "no one's life would have been at risk from guns?"

Are you sure about the number of black Americans? Should it be closer to 40 million?

We'll I went another year without shooting anyone or using my insurance or having to start a fire with flint and steel, but I still carry weapons, insurance, practice situational awareness, handgun and rifle practice, shoot near and far, stationary and when on the move, using knives and axes defensively and practically, keep a packed panic bag and bug out caches, practice defensive driving.As my arthritis gets worse I have had to practice more using my off hand and that's gotten much better. In fact in most cases I'm better left handed than right now. It's still cumbersome when it comes to the bolt action rifles but even there I've practiced enough to feel comfortable. I've added some ambidextrous holsters and knives and practiced enough to be comfortable there as well.It's comforting to know I'm about as prepared as I can be.

Nah, I really don't worry about an attack by my government; look how ineffective our government seems to be when it comes to attacking people.I prepare for a broad range of possible risks and threats. I do see federal government collapse as a true possibility, particularly the US, but it's pretty far down the list.I live in a part of the US where quite often local governments are an enemy, where they are the supporters of the drug cartels; in an area where home invasions are not at all uncommon and even there it is not the main risk.But I do read the same news stories others seem to be reading and understand that police are not there to actually protect people from violence and so I try to be prepared to protect myself and those around me.

Bullshit. Down here home invasions are to grab folk to take away for ransom. It's a growth industry. And your paranoia is NMP. If we called them burglaries it would just be lying.But what does that have to do with anything? If some one tries to break into my house for any reason they may well get stopped. Now that's a really stupid comment. It's been a long time since we had a meteorite strike around here but it was a doozie. But sure, I try to prepare for big as well as small threats. Well down here the local government being direct employees of the drug cartels is not that unusual.

Again, pretty irrelevant since my personal state of preparation has been the same when living in Maryland, North Carolina, California, Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina and almost every other area where I have lived.

Kidnapping is what happens after the home in invaded. There are one or two a week it seems; reported ones that is. Most don't even get reported. It's a cottage industry. I prepare for many things that would require me to bug out. Mexican troops crossing the border and firing on citizens are one, floods, hurricanes, pandemics, economic collapse.Living under ground might be an option in some areas but not too practical here. It would more likely be a pool. Probably no where near as much fun.

Why would I think they would make the news. Like I said, it's just a cottage industry. Ransom is usually a few hundred bucks. It's not a big thing.Stats? Nah, nor consider it important enough to bother trying to convince anyone.You'd think lots of stuff would make the news.

Local new reports. Like I said, it is a cottage industry down here.But it is of course irrelevant anyway.I prepare. Hopefully none of the things I prepare for happen. Should they happen then I will have taken all measures I can to mitigate any harm to me.I really don't see why anyone else would do less?Edited by jar, : appalin spallin

Now that really is funny.How would you know I feel less secure?And is "feeling secure" desirable or healthy?Using things like my guns, my knives, my axes bring be joy and serenity.Actually, preparing for low risk events takes little extra effort. For example I do stock at least 8 gallons of pure water at home, a weeks worth of easy to prepare foods because I do live in an area where power service interruption is a possibility.You may consider that unnecessary but I have lived through earthquakes, major wild fires, civil breakdown even in cities, a few hurricanes and black outs. It seems to me not preparing for even those low risk events is just plain stupid.

Self defense has always be a part of my life, mainly because I was always small, weak, clumsy, and the one chosen shortly after "that fence post over there."When I was growing up hand guns and rifles were pretty much ubiquitous. A common thing in the den of most of my friends houses was a gun rack or cabinet or the shotgun next to the back door. It was not at al unusual to find a pick up parked with windows down and a loaded 30-30 or Sweet Sixteen in a rack in the rear window. Guns were simply a normal part of everyday life.I began carrying a handgun though in California in the sixties. At that time my wife was working as a legal assistant for a lawyer tasked to defend a guy who had murdered two or three folk. The killer had just been found guilty and threatened to kill the judge, all the lawyers, their families and anyone who got in his way. Before sentencing he was being given a psych evaluation and beat up the young woman giving the eval, step out an open window and "returned to the general population".The police said they would ride by the various houses regularly but strongly suggested we all get armed since they really couldn't offer any of us much protection. That was when I took my first formal handgun defensive shooting training.Shooting is fun and there are several organized types and styles available.

Ah, but I don't fear such things, I prepare for them. Nor do I think the federal, state or local government would come after me. I've lived through periods when those things have broken down and failed totally to prevent general lawlessness. Did you notice the quotes?

Amen!And also a return to emphasizing personal responsibility.

Not if you shoot them in the back once they have run far enough to not be a threat.AbE: Why?And remember, the goal when you shoot someone is not to kill them but to stop a behavior.Edited by jar, : see AbE:

A constant and continuing part of the training and practice I have had over the last 50 years or so relating to shooting has be on the emphasis of Not doing more than necessary. That includes the understanding that stuff like "shooting to disarm someone" is just silly Hollywood stuff.Situational awareness and the understanding that you have the capability to protect yourself helps in avoiding confrontation. I have nothing to prove and so many potential threats can be ignored and through awareness of my surroundings I can hopefully avoid getting into situations where force would be needed.However if someone has broken into my house once there is no reason to believe they might not do it in the future. If they have show total disregard for law and social norms I have no reason to think they would behave differently.They are a threat to me.How I behave would depend on the actual situation and my assessment of the threat at that moment. But my goal would be to stop the threat. If my attempts do not immediately reduce the threat then I continue defense. The end is totally in the control of the other party though, I would never have killing someone as a goal.If they choose though that could well be the result of their behavior.