Guns in Self-Defense

Dem_Boys says " If life is in danger, why would I reach for this thing (a gun) that I don't know how to use properly?"Thanks largely to movies you very likely can a gun. For example a double action revolver requires merely pointing and pulling the trigger. Even a blind man can shoot a gun: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=blind+man+shoots+assailant&<p

People have access to actual, lethal weapons all the time! (This is especially true in the US.) That doesn't mean you can just go around shooting people on the off chance that they might go using them against others.

Aiming a gun at someone is a useful deterrent, actually firing is generally unnecessary. Plenty of cases of people using even empty guns in this role.As to being shot, even the 'Hollywood graze' is going to ruin your day and make a lot of noise. Actually killing someone is very rarely necessary.

What good a is law when there are people with guns ready to shoot you down?

A few days ago, someone was walking along the Bay Bridge (between SF and the East Bay) shooting a gun at random cars. IIRC the cars were stuck in traffic, so avoidance was no use.In that situation, would you feel safer with or without a gun?Maybe safer because you could quickly immobilize the shooter?Maybe less safe because you'd feel an obligation to attempt an intervention, but doing so could draw attention (and draw fire)?

If you were armed too they probably would think twice.

My impression, from speaking to gun owners, is that in most situations in which a gun is useful you do not actually end up firing it. Your mention of "almost every situation" brought to mind the Portland mall shooting, where the shooter stopped and killed himself after seeing another man taking aim at him[1]. Other much more publicized mass shootings may have gone significantly better if the government did not publicly designate large, completely unsecured areas in which only criminals are all

In fairness, you would likely be more of a danger to yourself and other innocent bystanders than the shooter if you had a gun in that position than not.edit: to clarify - most people in that situation would likely be more of a danger than a benefit. Carrying around a loaded gun on you at all times doesn't mean you're mentally prepared or well trained enough to be able to effectively engage in urban combat at a moment's notice.

The primary danger is that you might end up in jail. You are in a dark alley, someone tries to mug you, you shoot them dead. No witnesses.Police find a lot of money and some drugs on your assailant. They suggest that foul play was involved. A drug deal gone wrong. Under pressure you misremember certain facts of that night. The police notice a discrepancy in your story and build a case out of it.A second danger is that you might aim a gun but not be able to pull the trigger. A large percent

A gun within reach isn't necessarily a crime.