Maybe getting chill and more aware is just a function of getting older. I mean, I live in a country where nobody is armed and: I get in less dangerous situations and am more aware than in my youth.
Comment on I've never been in a situation where me having a gun would have made things bettter.
shalafi@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Here’s one my conceal carry instructor taught about, and I’ve seen it play in my own life:
If you have a machine in your pocket or pants that is capable of taking a human life, you think and act differently. You’re more situationally aware, because you don’t want to stumble into a situation where you have to use the fucking thing. A concrete and steel box may be the next place you find yourself. Forever.
I lack the words to put the reader in that emotional state, but it’s real. Not like you’re paranoid, constantly on the lookout, but you are more aware. Used to put myself into crazy situations when I was younger, got stories all night long, but now I’m way more chill.
In the past, I have been threatened with violence, many times, from the homeless downtown.
Unarmed me: “FUCK YOU!”
Armed me: I’m out, not a word. More to the point, I wouldn’t be anywhere near that situation in the first place.
“But you can peace out without a gun!”
Very true, I’ll grant that. But having one makes me more aware of what’s going on around me, makes me less threatening. The vast majority of us are exactly like this. If you watch GunTubers, you will find none of them talking the way we’re made out in social media, drooling for violence. Most of the “give me an excuse” people are already in jail or dead. It’s a Darwinian thing.
The stories you hear on the news are outliers, or they wouldn’t be news. (That applies to everything else in life.)
I’ll only add this: Almost everyone in America is woefully ignorant of self-defense laws. Cops are the only shooters that can kill with impunity. You cannot, almost no matter how justified you think you are. Concrete and steel box.
Anyway, I’m sure a European from a healthy society will be right along to lecture me on how nuts I am.
kossa@feddit.org 1 week ago
Alpha71@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Cops are the only shooters that can kill with impunity. You cannot, almost no matter how justified you think you are.
Tell that To Kyle Rittenhouse…
Bluewing@lemmy.world 1 week ago
He is an exception you know about because of all the news stories. If that wasn’t the case, he would have not been more than a single blurb on the news and forgotten by morning. And he would be most likely in jail. A result you wouldn’t have heard about either.
News outlets have a vested interest in shouting up the outliers while mostly ignoring the mundane. And cops are just the group you have outsourced the killing to so you don’t have to.
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Unfortunately a lot of people seem to put a hammer in their pocket because they are always looking for nails. Hammer or not.
There are untold numbers of videos, clips, tiktoks or whatever of people who refuse to walk away from an escalating situation. Out come the fists, or sometimes a gun. The comments are full of people agreeing with FAFO with no thought of walking away and the violent means and end, and plenty claim to be fine with using a gun.
I’ve been through those courses and carrying a firearm is sobering. I don’t do it anymore, and sometimes I miss it, but not enough.
moopet@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
UKian here to lecture you on how nuts you are: I’m sure there are cases like yours, where you will retreat from a situation because you have a deadly weapon hidden on you. I’ve known people who carried weapons and who would generally try to avoid danger. But I’m 100% positive that’s not the norm, and most people who feel the need to have a gun would react less predictably. I’ve not lived in the US, but the impression I get from media is that there are a lot of gun owners who haven’t trained with them or who are “muh freedoms” idiots.
laranis@lemmy.zip 1 week ago
the impression I get from the media
I think this is the issue the OP is trying to point out. There are many more silent, responsible gun owners than nuts.
Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Conceal and carry holders statistically are the safest segment of society for the exact reason you just gave. I would rather be in a room full of conceal and carry holders than the general public or police.
I was walking in a relatively safe part of downtown last month when two drunks suddenly started fighting over a dog 8 feet from me. I noped my way out of there. I had my gun on me but had no interest in intervening.
For the vast majority who carry we don’t want to put ourselves in a situation where you have to use it.
But yeah, I’m also sure some internet guru who has never held a gun in their life will tell me why I’m an irresponsible death machine.
ChillPenguin@lemmy.world 1 week ago
I live in a duty to retreat state. And damn if this isn’t accurate. You have to be cool as a cucumber. Back out of all situations.
You just try not to put yourself into situations at all cost.
zqps@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
“Yes, this is my emotional support firearm. Why do you ask?”