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[NPR] How Often Do People Use Guns in Self-Defense?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by crossover, Apr 15, 2018.

  1. superfob

    superfob Mommy WOW! I'm a Big Kid now.

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    Hmm interesting take.
    I'm pretty sure guns are one of the common reasons for B&E.
     
  2. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    New law says that's possible now, but the GOP won't allow the budget to fund it.
     
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  3. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

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    Does that benefit outweigh the risk posed by widespread gun distribution and at-home accessibility of a deadly weapon?

    Not using your head if you’re willfully ignoring the bigger picture here, and also if you support blocking research to seek answers to this important question.

    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/more-guns-do-not-stop-more-crimes-evidence-shows/
     
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  4. Amiga

    Amiga I get vaunted sacred revelations from social media
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    del .. durvasa already posted it above

    It also would be nice if guns aren't so easily stolen. So many gun owners are irresponsible.
     
  5. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    Often enough

    /thread
     
  6. NewRoxFan

    NewRoxFan Contributing Member

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    So, I am guessing your answer is "No, there is no data or studies that supports this." Instead, its the "common sense" answer...

    [​IMG]
     
  7. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

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    I know 3 people that killed themselves with a gun.

    I know 1 person who accidentally shot himself.

    I know several that have lost or had them stolen.

    I know 0 people that successfully protected themselves with a gun.

    I only can think of a couple of times in my life where at the time I was wishing I had a gun. Given that I didn't need one, I'm happier not to have had one in those situations, since it is possible I would have shot somebody when my life was not actually in danger.
     
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  8. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    Well if that's true, I'm glad you realized that you aren't personally capable of responsibly owning a firearm. Of course, your inability to responsibly own a firearm doesn't mean anything about anyone else.
     
  9. meh

    meh Contributing Member

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    I have for my entire life gone outside at night time on my foot or on a bike, either just to exercise or even to buy groceries and stuff. I used to carry some cash so I can give something to a mugger should one appear, although these days I just carry a credit card and my phone. Always been prepared to lose what's in my pocket should I ever met a mugger with a gun. But nothing has ever happened. Also don't know anyone else where this has happened. There was one case of a house in the neighborhood robbed, but the owners were on vacation during the robbery, so guns wouldn't have mattered. Overall I feel I probably live as "dangerously" and prone to needing self-defense as any in the neighborhood, but never really felt the need. And I live in an area that is primed for NRA members and gun owners, and knowing for sure several families in the area with guns in their houses.

    While there may perhaps be some people in some occupations living in some areas under some circumstances where a gun for self-defense matters, I can't imagine this being the case for most Americans. While I don't have anything against people who buy guns for self-defense and peace of mind, I do always find the "necessity" of such an action pretty laughable. For most Americans, especially ones who are most fervant supporters of gun freedom, guns are pretty damn unnecessary.
     
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  10. Rashmon

    Rashmon Contributing Member

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    In the world of white & black hats, opening your jacket to reveal your concealed handgun tends to shut down any argument & counts as self-defense. Right, Commodore?
     
  11. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
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    DMPD: Woman who fired gun in self defense was blindsided, beat up and put in a headlock

    https://www.kcci.com/article/woman-...-was-blindsided-at-des-moines-hy-vee/40353642

    excerpt:

    A woman says she fired gunshots in self-defense on Sunday because she was 'blindsided, beat up and put in a headlock' inside the Hy-Vee food store on the east side of Des Moines.

    Des Moines police say the two women in this incident know each other.

    A police report was filed after an interaction between the two on June 16. That case is still under investigation.

    But Des Moines police say what Kapri Lashawn Francis did on Sunday was a "totally unprovoked attack," and Francis blindsided the woman, beat her up and put her in a headlock.

    That's when a shot was fired hitting Francis.

    "Iowa law allows for the use of reasonable force to stop someone from hurting you, or someone else and that includes deadly force under certain circumstances," said Katherine Sears, a criminal defense attorney.
    more at the link
     
  12. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    I'm not sure the frequency of successful self-defense matters. I take the conservatives' point on deterrence. Some would-be robbers will end up not breaking in or not holding up a guy because they know that gun ownership is common and they don't want to risk getting shot, in general. At the same time, some would-be robber can acquire, own, and carry a gun because gun ownership is so common. Seems like a wash.

    And, of course, there's the self-defense cases where you're chilling with your girl and a guy with a gun breaks into your house and you defend your castle thanks to your trusty 45. But there are also the cases where you're a self-deputized neighborhood watchman who racially profiles pedestrians and stalks them, only to employ your "self-defense" when your targets try to defend themselves. So, I'm not sure self-defense is even a public good I'm interested in promoting.
     
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  13. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet
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    If your takeaway from the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case was that self-defense is bad, then I could not disagree with you more. If anything, it should be don't attack someone because they are following you and try to ask you some questions.
     
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  14. Commodore

    Commodore Contributing Member

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    deterrence is a (primary) use case

    owning a gun is using a gun, whether it's fired/brandished or not

    in fact, the mere possibility that there could be a gun is a deterrence use case
     
  15. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    I'm tempted to respond, but don't want to re-open the wounds (or the thread) of the Martin/Zimmerman case. Maybe I'll just point out my allusion also describes the Arbery/McMichael case.

    As it pertains here, the essence of self-defense is to use violence or the threat of violence to protect yourself. I prefer strategies where people are kept safe without needing violence to achieve it.
     
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  16. Pistol Pete

    Pistol Pete Contributing Member
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    Well.....until they find your on the right track brother in an alley and blast him.
     
  17. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    What’s the percentage of people who accidentally shoot themselves or others?

    I just saw a story the other week where a child shot the mom in the face and killed her…kid had the gun somehow and was playing with it like a toy
     
  18. SamFisher

    SamFisher Contributing Member

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  19. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
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    fify
     
  20. Salvy

    Salvy Member

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    I wonder how often people actually use fire extinguishers to potentially stop a home fire..... They are pointless to have....
     

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