…[A] gun isn’t a magic wand that repels bad guys. Think of it, instead, as a fire extinguisher. If you’re looking to prevent fires in your home, a fire extinguisher isn’t your first purchase. Instead, you analyze your home with an eye toward minimizing fire risks. Is the wiring old and sparking every time you turn on a switch? The solution is new wiring; the fire extinguisher is strictly for secondary protection. [Similarly,] BEFORE you make the decision to purchase a gun, you need to study your lifestyle, your home, your family, with an eye on minimizing risks — especially during periods of social dislocation.
It’s worth noting that those of us have owned and used guns for years have quite literally changed our lifestyles to accommodate that decision. First off, my house is secure. My locks are good. My safe is excellent. I live in a safe neighborhood in a safe small town. I make it a point to not park in unlighted parking garages or wander around bad parts of Denver (the closest big city) like some oblivious rube. In short, I plan to be safe, and, generally, I am.
Wise words by Michael Bane. Emphasis is mine. Read the whole thing here. From Michael’s always-interesting Dropped Shot column.
There is no such thing as “safe”.
I was doing OK with this post until I got to the term “social dislocation”.
When the slopes are swarming over the wire, and you’ve already shot your Claymores, you’re down to your personal weapon.
Shit Hits The Fan is a perfectly-appropriate term, unless you’re trying to preach to the unwashed, but PeeCee crowd (who will become said slopes swarming the wire, etc). Such preachments are a waste of time, and such time is better spent at the range, practicing.
If you must tone it down, don’t go lower than “Civil Unrest” on the scale of discriptive terms.