I am not emotionally, or psychologically prepared to carry a gun. Everything you say is true. Everything, but I know the power of a gun, and I just don’t have it in me to pull the trigger.
What can I do? Help when needed, do something to help the victim. Would I lay down my life for them, yes, my husband, friends and animals yes.
Agree with Boris and Sian. Do what you can. Whether it is you who draws a line in the sand or it is someone else, that line is there and may be just a tripwire to signal that something ugly is coming your way. Choosing passivity mayn't be a survival trait for yourself, for people you value, or for civilization. You can dodge the oncoming bus, refuse to be thrown under it, or stand stock still and have it run over you.
Suggestion. Laying down your life for your family is commendable, but would you be laying it down for a purpose if you were not equipped to protect them to the best of your ability.
Might I suggest going to a firearms training class specifically designed for women. My friend taught one for years and removing the testosterone from the situation makes it far less intimidating as a learning environment. You may discover that with the training and experience, the idea of carry becomes less overwhelming.
It's vitally important to have that conversation with yourself before you start carrying a gun, and not in the proverbial dark alley at 3am. Your shrink will thank you for working through the decision ahead of time about whether or not you can actually do the needful. No shame in deciding you can't do it, but good luck believing that if you're armed & freeze while the bad guy does something horrible.
I don't want to use it to harm anyone but then if they are attempting to hurt someone I love. Later this summer I will be trying to take a class or two to make me more comfortable carrying. but its true you put animals down that are a danger to others.
Have you considered getting some advanced first aid training and keeping a comprehensive first aid kit in your vehicle? A first aid kit supplemented with a SOF-T or CAT and some dressings (or even something like an IFAK) might even fit in a purse, and be potentially useful in situations ranging from accidents to criminal violence. A first aid kit wouldn’t have necessarily been all that useful in this attack, but I believe a lot of lives were saved after the Boston bombing by on-the-spot bleeding control by trained bystanders.
Then you and yours are gonna be food, just like rabbits, chickens, and sheep. And just like farm animals you'll pray for a sheep dog, with the will to kill, to come along and save your ass. As uncomfortable as it is, there's evil out there that must be put down and all of humankind must collectively defend itself.
Yes, there is evil out there. I have seen it first hand. I might be food, or events may compel me to pick up a gun. At my age 65, i am so ignored by society that I don’t register. It can be a very safe to blend in, trade goods, knowledge and be outside of the power struggles, because there will be a lot of those. It is also important to understand that guns aren’t the only weapons. Various traps, animals, a heavy frying pan, or poison can be equally effective.
Great article, I agree 100%. The police got him to surrender fairly quickly, and ended it--and good for them. I wasn't there, so I won't "Monday Morning Quarterback" them, because Lord knows that's happened to me plenty of times. However, when I first watched the video, there was a part of me asking "why is this (critter) still standing there, breathing?" Where I'm from, he wouldn't have been because we have plenty of armed citizens who would've resolved the issue before LEOs arrived.
A few pithy comments, For whats it worth, it happened in a "Gun Free Zone", THe Perp was an illegal alien holdover from the Biden Administration, and he had overstayed his Visa. I saw on farcebook that his daughter who was in college is to be deported and people were complaining how "Mean" it was. I caught flack for saying that it was necessary. A lot of the people keep equating that everyone thinks like they do. The Arab world thinks totally different. I use the analogy, "They are Klingons". I believe that she knew that he was radicalized by our standards and to her it was a perfectly normal belief, it is an Arab belief., and in their society Honor killings is a thing, she would be honorbound to avenge her father,, to finish his work. so deportation is a necessity or we would invite more attacks.
As usual, the attack happened in a Victim Disarmament Zone.
Which means those who implemented it ought be charged as accessories.
I am not emotionally, or psychologically prepared to carry a gun. Everything you say is true. Everything, but I know the power of a gun, and I just don’t have it in me to pull the trigger.
What can I do? Help when needed, do something to help the victim. Would I lay down my life for them, yes, my husband, friends and animals yes.
That’s what I can do. Much love to you all.
And I thank you for thinking it through clearly and carefully.
The question "Can I take a life?" is one which, imo, every gun owner, and especially every carrier, should contemplate well ahead of time.
You do what you can, that's all anyone can expect.
Agree with Boris and Sian. Do what you can. Whether it is you who draws a line in the sand or it is someone else, that line is there and may be just a tripwire to signal that something ugly is coming your way. Choosing passivity mayn't be a survival trait for yourself, for people you value, or for civilization. You can dodge the oncoming bus, refuse to be thrown under it, or stand stock still and have it run over you.
Suggestion. Laying down your life for your family is commendable, but would you be laying it down for a purpose if you were not equipped to protect them to the best of your ability.
Might I suggest going to a firearms training class specifically designed for women. My friend taught one for years and removing the testosterone from the situation makes it far less intimidating as a learning environment. You may discover that with the training and experience, the idea of carry becomes less overwhelming.
I have thought about that. I spoke to DH about that today, my solution as dumb as it is to be a human shield. But only for my husband.
It's vitally important to have that conversation with yourself before you start carrying a gun, and not in the proverbial dark alley at 3am. Your shrink will thank you for working through the decision ahead of time about whether or not you can actually do the needful. No shame in deciding you can't do it, but good luck believing that if you're armed & freeze while the bad guy does something horrible.
I get it. i have guns and am heavily conflicted.
I don't want to use it to harm anyone but then if they are attempting to hurt someone I love. Later this summer I will be trying to take a class or two to make me more comfortable carrying. but its true you put animals down that are a danger to others.
Have you considered getting some advanced first aid training and keeping a comprehensive first aid kit in your vehicle? A first aid kit supplemented with a SOF-T or CAT and some dressings (or even something like an IFAK) might even fit in a purse, and be potentially useful in situations ranging from accidents to criminal violence. A first aid kit wouldn’t have necessarily been all that useful in this attack, but I believe a lot of lives were saved after the Boston bombing by on-the-spot bleeding control by trained bystanders.
And sometimes being able to help the casualties afterwards is more important than just shooting the baddies during.
Though you have to be alive for the “after”.
Then you and yours are gonna be food, just like rabbits, chickens, and sheep. And just like farm animals you'll pray for a sheep dog, with the will to kill, to come along and save your ass. As uncomfortable as it is, there's evil out there that must be put down and all of humankind must collectively defend itself.
Yes, there is evil out there. I have seen it first hand. I might be food, or events may compel me to pick up a gun. At my age 65, i am so ignored by society that I don’t register. It can be a very safe to blend in, trade goods, knowledge and be outside of the power struggles, because there will be a lot of those. It is also important to understand that guns aren’t the only weapons. Various traps, animals, a heavy frying pan, or poison can be equally effective.
=>"Taking a life is a terrible thing. Sometimes not taking a life is far, far worse."
Truth.
i can think of several lives it would have been better if they had been lost earlier
Amen.
Great article, I agree 100%. The police got him to surrender fairly quickly, and ended it--and good for them. I wasn't there, so I won't "Monday Morning Quarterback" them, because Lord knows that's happened to me plenty of times. However, when I first watched the video, there was a part of me asking "why is this (critter) still standing there, breathing?" Where I'm from, he wouldn't have been because we have plenty of armed citizens who would've resolved the issue before LEOs arrived.
Amen Brother Ian, Amen!
A few pithy comments, For whats it worth, it happened in a "Gun Free Zone", THe Perp was an illegal alien holdover from the Biden Administration, and he had overstayed his Visa. I saw on farcebook that his daughter who was in college is to be deported and people were complaining how "Mean" it was. I caught flack for saying that it was necessary. A lot of the people keep equating that everyone thinks like they do. The Arab world thinks totally different. I use the analogy, "They are Klingons". I believe that she knew that he was radicalized by our standards and to her it was a perfectly normal belief, it is an Arab belief., and in their society Honor killings is a thing, she would be honorbound to avenge her father,, to finish his work. so deportation is a necessity or we would invite more attacks.
Well said. I agree on every point.
Well put ... You've stripped away the emotion and given us the "what's so." Exactly what was needed.
Only so the liberals can make you spend $400,000 to try to keep yourself out of prison?
Defending innocent victims from crazies is an even worse deal than marriage.