Here's another line of response, though usually used for handguns it applies to ALL firearms,
"when seconds count, the police are just minutes away..."
Face it, bottom line, when you call the police because you are being threatened or actually under attack, who do you want to show up? A person(s) WITH A GUN, who can use it on your behalf.
Also make sure they understand that generally speaking the police are not automatically going to charge in and save you. They might, but then again, they might not. They might contain the perimeter, while they assess the situation. And, until they DO move in, you are on your own.
Another kind of response to the question is more personal. When they ask why you "need" this or that, ask them why they think you don't. If they come back with the line about how dangerous these things are, pin them down with "why do the police have them?"
Aren't they dangerous in the hands of the police, too? Ah,ok, they have training...what makes you think I don't?
Why do you think its dangerous in my hands? Have I given you any reason to think I'm dangerous?? No? ok, so you are stereotyping me. PROFILING me.
Doing the exact same thing racist bigots do, only over guns, not skin color.
Does that make you a better person? etc.
Sure, that line gets snarky fast, BUT some people deserve it.
The truly misinformed, who want to understand deserve polite, educated responses. Many who pose the "why do you need" question don't deserve that consideration.
"when seconds count, the police are just minutes away..."
Face it, bottom line, when you call the police because you are being threatened or actually under attack, who do you want to show up? A person(s) WITH A GUN, who can use it on your behalf.
Also make sure they understand that generally speaking the police are not automatically going to charge in and save you. They might, but then again, they might not. They might contain the perimeter, while they assess the situation. And, until they DO move in, you are on your own.
Another kind of response to the question is more personal. When they ask why you "need" this or that, ask them why they think you don't. If they come back with the line about how dangerous these things are, pin them down with "why do the police have them?"
Aren't they dangerous in the hands of the police, too? Ah,ok, they have training...what makes you think I don't?
Why do you think its dangerous in my hands? Have I given you any reason to think I'm dangerous?? No? ok, so you are stereotyping me. PROFILING me.
Doing the exact same thing racist bigots do, only over guns, not skin color.
Does that make you a better person? etc.
Sure, that line gets snarky fast, BUT some people deserve it.
The truly misinformed, who want to understand deserve polite, educated responses. Many who pose the "why do you need" question don't deserve that consideration.