carry safely

[marcinstl]

a gun safety video-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0FT3G_xyE
typical Yankee Marshal rude humor. now, go to the comments section and find the reflections left by "Joseph Goins (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjCv8pxx5UGNFcv011MF9MA)",

"1) According to the FBI (http://goo.gl/o2rnaI), there were an estimated 1,163,146 violent crimes in 2013. According to the US Census (http://goo.gl/bg3qY3, admittedly this is an estimate), the population was 317,292,487 on December 31, 2013. If you do the math, victims of violent crime only account for 0.367% of the population. 2) Furthermore, victims used guns to defend themselves 2,500,000 times in 1993 (http://goo.gl/woifFb, this is a widely claimed amount by pro-gun organizations). That same study also states that the gun was only fired 24% of the time (including warning shots). Even if you take the 2,500,000 instances a gun was used in self-defense and put that up against the population of 261,591,608 (http://goo.gl/bg3qY3, admittedly this is an estimate) on December 31, 1993, you would still only have 0.956% of the population using a gun for self defense in a given year. 3) I do know that some think-tanks believe that figure of 2,500,000 to be very skewed. A professor from Harvard found that only 235,700 instances of self-defense with a firearm occurred over a five year period (2007-2011). That leads us to an average of 47,140 instances each year. Again, pairing the average with the population of 312,799,495 (http://goo.gl/bg3qY3, admittedly this is an estimate) on December 31, 2011, you would still have 0.015% of the population using a firearm for self defense. I will fully acknowledge that violent crime is hard for anyone, and I can sympathize with the 1,163,146 people who experienced it in 2013. I am very pro-gun, but I still have to acknowledge fact. Instances that someone would truly need a gun for self-defense are rare. As I showed you, only 0.367% of the population is a victim of violent crime each year. That is such a small subset of the population that it is an anomaly."

so are we defending ourselves or just carrying our favored toys around? either way do it safely.

[SlowBurn]

Mostly deterrent. The greatest benefit of living in an area where citizens are legally armed is that violent crime rates are much lower. In Chicago for example the odds are much worse.

Personally I find carrying a nuisance. I do it because somebody should besides lowlifes. And I appreciate all you guys who go to the trouble very much.

[berettabone]

I told myself that I'd never be in a car accident..............been in 4.........................told myself I'd never get beat up....................had a broken nose since 16............................my wife had some issues when she was younger, peeping tom, followed, once close to being accosted.............................close friend of mine was hit numerous times and had his wallet taken, he had $6 in it, and still has problems with one of his eyes..............I used to attend the State Fair every year, and a few years back, we had some bad things happen............................................ ......." Ya never know" Stay vigilant....................................:)

[Bill K]

I speak from experience.

Just looking at probabilities is a foolish way to assess risk. What might be the consequences should that extremely low probability incident happen where you need a gun and don't have one? Oh, and what is the probability that it will happen to you? Forget all the population probability studies... for you it is either zero or hundred percent!

[b4uqzme]

Ageed. Be safe.

[JohnR]

House fires are rare, but we think nothing of having smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and insurance. Better to have a gun and not need it...

[Barth]

I speak from experience.

Just looking at probabilities is a foolish way to assess risk. What might be the consequences be should that extremely low probability incident happen where you need a gun and don't have one? Oh, and what is the probability that it will happen to you? Forget all the population probability studies... for you it is either zero or hundred percent!

+1
Probabilities with your life?
Do you really want to risk yourself or loved ones on statistics?
Not me...

[Barth]

House fires are rare, but we think nothing of having smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and insurance. Better to have a gun and not need it...

I've had a house fire, multiple attempted muggings and ...
Rare, bad luck, whatever...

Fortune favors the prepared.

[Longitude Zero]

Trouble arrives when you LEAST expect it at times when your guard is DOWN. Carry everyday, carry consistently. In doing so maybe, just maybe you will be able to AVOID the confrontation and if not you WILL PREVAIL!!! Luck is where preparation meets opportunity!

[Barth]

Trouble arrives when you LEAST expect it at times when your guard is DOWN. Carry everyday, carry consistently. In doing so maybe, just maybe you will be able to AVOID the confrontation and if not you WILL PREVAIL!!! Luck is where preparation meets opportunity!

+1
Couldn't of said it better.

[Higgy Baby]

Wow.....maybe some of us live in an area where we would more likely need a gun that others.
I have definitely "NEEDED" a gun 3 times in my life. The first 2 times- I did not have one. The last time I did- it sure made a difference.

Lets face it- none of us really need to carry a gun.......until we need one, then you use it- if you have it. If you don't.....you lose- period.

[DaleCM9]

I took my states required CCW training from one of the local police departments. A 12 hour course, 10 hrs classroom, 2 hrs range training and weapon qualification.

The lead off statement by the officer/s that gave the class was "You are responsible for your own protection".

That statement was repeated several times throughout the class. Coming from police officers made the statement all the more significant.

[Marine One]

In 30 years in the Corps I managed to get back from two deployments to Iraq and one to Desert Storm without so much as a sprained ankle. Not going to lose my life to some thug who thinks I am an easy mark because I'm 60 years old, 5'8" tall and 155 pounds. Or some thug who is resentful of what I have and tries to take it. We have a gun in the boat at all times. I carry my CW380 almost at all times. The CM9 has a real nice niche spot between the console of the Corvette and the passengers seat. I've got a 26 year old son who has been a police officer for 5 years. He goes pretty much nowhere unarmed. When I asked him why he said with a smile, "when seconds count, the police are just minutes away!"

[marcinstl]

hehehehehe, the chances of injury from falling off of a chair while trying to disarm a squawking smoke alarm are probably greater than loosing your home to a fire and what fun is an insurance policy ("gun" and "insurance agent" might go together in a sentence). I thought those stats were interesting. 0.367% is more than enough to sell me a ccw permit.

[TheTman]

Hopefully I've used up all the times I've "needed" a gun. But I still carry when leaving the house. I was driving on I-70 in western Kansas in the middle of the night, and some one came up behind me and then turned on their bright lights while right on my tail, then they passed me, and slowed way down to about 40 or so. As I came up behind them I noticed several people in the car, and I was alone. I passed them, and they did the same thing with the bright lights then passing me and slowing down. We did this one more time, then the next time I slowed down and creeped up along side and flipped on my dome light with my revolver pointed in their general direction. I heard a screech as they locked up their brakes, and didn't get harassed the rest of the trip. I'm not sure what was going on, but I didn't want to find out. I nailed it and exceed the speed limit for a ways, and kept a lookout for lights coming up behind me, until I hit a small town with a couple of gas stations and stopped and got gas at the farthest one from the highway and ate a bite, hoping they passed by and got far ahead of me. That was back in the early 80's when I worked 2nd shift and headed out to Colorado ski country one Friday night after work. So it was probably around 2 or 3 in the morning when that happened. Probably some drunk kids out looking to mess with people. Maybe something more sinister, I have no idea.

[muggsy]

The only time that you experience no risks in life is after you're dead. I've been around firearms since the day I was born. I'm 67 years old and have yet to experience my first negligent discharge. I carry a gun because I don't want to have six men carrying me. Marcinstl, don't ever get behind the wheel of a car. The life that you save maybe your own.

[ltxi]

hehehehehe, the chances of injury from falling off of a chair while trying to disarm a squawking smoke alarm are probably greater than loosing your home to a fire and what fun is an insurance policy ("gun" and "insurance agent" might go together in a sentence). I thought those stats were interesting. 0.367% is more than enough to sell me a ccw permit.

Interesting and timely, to me comment. Tell that to my sister.....she and her husband were down in New Orleans on a few day holiday when their home on a hilltop just north of Harrisburg, PA burned...literally to the ground. House and everything in it, guns, cars, more than a bit of cash, computers, paper records, lifetime of keepsakes....all gone in a flash. That was two days ago. Thirty years and it was also our annual, mull-generational family reunion gathering place. Not like they're young folk, either....He's 81 and she's 66. Thanks to good, solid, well thought through insurance policies they're not going to lose their financial asses as well.

[berettabone]

Interesting and timely, to me comment. Tell that to my sister.....she and her husband were down in New Orleans on a few day holiday when their home on a hilltop just north of Harrisburg, PA burned...literally to the ground. House and everything in it, guns, cars, more than a bit of cash, computers, paper records, lifetime of keepsakes....all gone in a flash. That was two days ago. Thirty years and it was also our annual, mull-generational family reunion gathering place. Not like they're young folk, either....He's 81 and she's 66. Thanks to good, solid, well thought through insurance policies they're not going to lose their financial asses as well.

Give them my sympathies and hope...............................It just plain sucks, to have that happen.:(

[berettabone]

The only time that you experience no risks in life is after you're dead. I've been around firearms since the day I was born. I'm 67 years old and have yet to experience my first negligent discharge. I carry a gun because I don't want to have six men carrying me. Marcinstl, don't ever get behind the wheel of a car. The life that you save maybe your own.

I'm 60, and I'll join the list of those who have never had a negligent discharge........................well, unless you count that older girl when I was like 14.............I don't count it.

[marcinstl]

" Marcinstl, don't ever get behind the wheel of a car."

why didn't you tell me that back in the 70's, going around turn 4 in an Austin-Healey, upside down, wearing out the roll bar--yikes! being almost 70 and shooting a couple of times a week is a safe hobby. negotiating the highways and byways around metro St.Louis can be exciting, don't want to be the driver texting while in the middle of a multi car rolling gang shoot out, huh?

[b4uqzme]

... I thought those stats were interesting. 0.367% is more than enough to sell me a ccw permit.
Me too...

[Alfonse]

As I showed you, only 0.367% of the population is a victim of violent crime each year. That is such a small subset of the population that it is an anomaly."

so are we defending ourselves or just carrying our favored toys around? either way do it safely.

If .367% of the population is a victim of violent crime each year, over a 50 year period that means (if I did the math correctly) the chance of being a victim of a violent crime goes to 16.8%. I suppose if it is the same people being victims each year, the likelihood would be lower.

[ltxi]

Give them my sympathies and hope...............................It just plain sucks, to have that happen.:(

Thank you, I do appreciate that. It's, of course especially to them, been an emotionally devastating experience.

Primary points of my post...statistics don't matter when it happens to you and properly insuring for what you can't, financially, afford to lose is a wise investment/expense.

[Ron AZ]

marcinsti,
Good start. Let's say the numbers you found are right and ignore the affect that carry reduces crime rate. But you should add the calculation that if .367% of the population is a victim of violent crime each year, in an average life span say of 85 years, what are the odds that you will be a victim of violent crime. It is a lot, lot higher. I'm too tired tonight to look it up and figure it out. But you can.

Think of it like this. In a military branch, if the casualty rate is 10% each mission, it does not take too many missions before the odds are highly stacked that you will be a casualty. Think of that but on a lower probability basis.

[SwampDude]

Another way of looking at the possible need for a SD weapon is to consider your lifestyle, including the times and places you travel and other personal factors.

Criminal attacks happen most frequently at times and places where it can be done with the least chance of identification or interference. Parking lots, parks, low-traffic streets and alleys, rural roads, high-crime neighborhoods, etc. are most dangerous. Late evening through the early morning hours are attack prime times. Anyone who is out and about in these places during the hours of greatest danger will be at highest risk.

Evaluate your lifestyle. If avoiding attack is a high priority, regulate to the extent possible where and when you shop, go out for dining, recreation and other activities. This should substantially reduce your risk of attack. If you can't or don't want to regulate your activities, carrying a weapon may be appropriate.

I'm retired and I can avoid high risk places and times. Much of the time I don't feel the need to carry. There's always some element of risk, but I feel safe most of the time.

[marshal kane]

When I was in my twenties and driving my girlfriend home after a late movie in Oakland, CA, I stopped behind a string of cars at a red light. A screaming man ran across the line of cars pursued by an armed man who shot and killed him. Being stuck in traffic, there wasn't a thing I could do but pray that we wouldn't be involved. I suppose statistics and probabilities saved us that night but having a .45 auto on me would have made me feel a lot better. Until the police arrive, you are your own first line of defense. Never forgot that.