I had a scary incident now I want a gun to protect myself (the harsh truth about self defense weapons)
I wish I had a dollar for every time I've had this conversation with someone who has had a bad experience and in the ensuing emotional turmoil jumps to "I'm going to get a gun" as a solution.
Unfortunately most folks who do this are in such a place that emotions are in charge and logical thinking is more or less on hold. As a result there is a strong tendency to treat firearms like a magic wand, wave it and the problem will go away. Unfortunately, Hollywood and television reinforce this type of thinking and downplay, or outright ignore, that firearms are tools and require a full range of commitment if they are to be of
any use at all for self defense.
If one chooses to own a firearm for self defense then one must also accept the responsibility to train in both the use and safety aspects of that firearm. If they don't want to do that then firearms are NOT the answer for that person. Perhaps an even larger issue is that someone deciding to have a firearm for self defense MUST accept the fact that they may have to use it to KILL someone. This certainly isn't the desired outcome but it is a definite possibility when one chooses a lethal weapon for self defense. Again, if one cannot accept that fact (maybe thinking “oh it’ll scare the bad guy off and I’ll never actually have to use it) then, again, firearms are NOT the answer for that person and they should find a different solution.
The following points are excerpted from an online discussion where someone had just been through an upsetting incident and was considering getting a gun. This was my reply.
Dear XXX,
No offense intended but right now you are probably having a reaction to events. Completely understandable but please try to make sure you have a little "distance" between yourself and events before you proceed. Decisions regarding firearms MUST be made in as calm and rational a manner as is possible.
The decision to own a firearm is a big responsibility, especially if you intend to carry for self-defense, and even in Virginia that decision carries a bit of a social stigma. Be prepared for the inevitable issues that will arise and be informed as to how to counter (or walk away from) the typical illogic that the anti-gun crowd attacks with. There are threads all over [the website] about this. At some point you will be challenged and you will have an absolute duty to remain calm, logical, and non-confrontational so that you can deal appropriately with those sorts of encounters. It is a good idea to get educated about firearms ownership issues long before you buy your first gun!
Also, owning a firearm isn't just buying a gun, shooting it a few times, and storing it in a drawer or glove box. Firearms ownership is a larger commitment to learning firearms safety and sticking with it (even if/when others roll their eyes about it).
If you intend to have the firearm as a SELF DEFENSE tool that adds another entire dimension to the responsibility. It also means committing yourself to TRAINING so that you know how to use a firearm under stress and UNDERSTANDING THE LAW so that you don’t defend yourself just to wind up with life in prison. If you aren't up to learning “the full Monty” then pick a different method of defense because firearms are not a magic wand and without proper training can be worse than useless.
Now it may sound like I'm trying to talk you out of owning firearms for self defense. Not so at all, I just prefer that people understand the big picture before they get a ways down the road.”
