Other than trying a "taser first" can easily get you killed? If the taser fails,and yes, they DO FAIL, a citizen is not likely to have an ARMED PARTNER to cover for him, or have the time to abandon the taser and deploy his/her firearm. Violent criminals typically do not honor "time outs". Why TASERs Don't Work http://www.officer.com/article/10249402/why-tasers-dont-work
So the question is, "Why doesn't everyone wear their bat-utility-belt with them wherever they go?" Have I got that about right? If the situation isn't potentially life threatening then you shouldn't be pulling out a weapon at all...if it is potentially life threatening then you shouldn't be fumbling around trying to decide whether to pull out your pepper spray or your taser or your billy club or your black-jack....
I wasn't stating stats, I was using an expression when I said 9 times out of 10. I'm sure that figure would differ depending on where you live, work, or hang out. Most of what I know if from personal experience. I have worked in criminal justice most of my adult life. I have been in places that are dangerous, and frankly speaking, if you dress modestly and walk confident, that will be your best defense in any situation. Criminals usually pick an easy target. The key is, don't be an easy target. Carrying a gun isn't always your safest bet. Street smart thugs can get a gun away from your average citizen pretty quickly. Any weapon can be turned against a person, so it makes common sense that the non-lethal weapons would be the safest bet.
a link from 2007??? Surely, technology has changed since then, no? can i provide a link from 1954? Again... I am not saying that a non-lethal deterrent is the answer 100% of the time... and obviously, you can come up with a numerous amount of times when it isn't the best alternative... but if you are required to hold one, and you hold it, it makes the justification a lot more simple... which saves money in the legal system... which is something most people want to do. Unless you fall into the "It will help 'murica as long as it doesnt affect me" logic. Which is faulty logic.. at best. Also... guns have never backfired from unclean weapons.??? Ive seen how many people wash their hands after using a urinal when they have had a few... I dont trust that theve kept their chamber clean.
I don't know if your question ever really got answered. I got to about page 3 before I could no longer take the insults, assumptions and the all too common phallic innuendos. I will try to actually answer your question as it pertains to me a 39 y/o male who has been a CHL holder and carried a firearm almost every time legally possible for the last 9 years. My opinion is that, while there are people who do carry a firearm because is makes them feel cool or like they are somehow bucking the system, these people are few and far between and will soon loose the novelty of carrying a firearm and in a short period of time will stop carrying all together. Lets face it, carrying a firearm can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. You didn't ask why someone would carry a firearm so I wont go into my reasoning for carrying. As to the police carrying less-lethal options ( they are actually not referred to as non-lethal because tazers, pepper spray and the like can and have caused death, this I have seen first hand), they are required by the nature of their job to deal with violent people on a daily basis and need multiple options available to attempt to apprehend the suspect. I don't pursue or apprehend anyone. More to the point of why I don't carry a less-lethal option (almost all of the people I know who do routinely carry share the same belief), I don't wan't to have to hurt anyone,period. If I feel the situation does not merit the use of deadly force, then no force or only minimal physical force will be used. My version of less-lethal options are situational awareness, avoidance, deterrence, deescalation, and diversion. I absolutely hate it when people who have a concealed carry permit say that they only carry when the are going to an area where they think they might need it. This is stupid. If there is an area where I might need my gun guess what, I don't go there! Anyway, that's my 2 cents for what its worth.
Too many people get caught up in the idea that Tazers and pepper spray are non-lethal. This is not the case. I have worked in the ER for many years. Trust me, there is a reason the proper term is less-lethal. People can and do die or have serious after effects from these self defense tools. If you need to defend you self and words or your physical ability are not enough, you should use whatever self defense tool you have available. Just don't kid yourself into thinking pepper spray is harmless. There is a chance that the guy you spray has a medical condition and you just locked up his lungs. Even if he lives long enough for EMS to arrive, he could have an anoxic brain injury that will never let him get out of a nursing home. They are not non-lethal, they are just less lethal than most guns.
The problem is, guns are a deterrent, and pepper spray and tazers, are not. I've seen guys hit with both, who just ignored it, and attack the person defending themselves. Now granted some criminals, when sprayed or tased, wallow on the ground in agony. Great. But the last thing you want to do is cause an armed intruder pain, and yet not incapacitate them.
I completely agree with you, that is why I choose to have the most effective self defense tool available for use if the situation calls for it. My preference is a Springfield Arms XDm in the .40 cal variety. But if for some reason a person is totally averse to using the best tool for the job, a Kimber Pepper Popper is better than harsh words and a guilt trip. I just wanted to point out that the pepper spray and Tazers can have effects that range all the way from just pissing someone off to death. There is no way to know how it will actually effect someone until it is used on them. Then it could be too late.
Nope, you're just a hapless victim waiting to be harvested. No guarantee you will, but then again, a gun is like a seat belt, when/if you need it, you need it right now. Play your statistics game all you like. For the relatively simple task of carrying a concealed firearm it provides a much better tool to ensure my life and my families'. I'll take that over some statisticians notions of what my chances may or may not be. Whether or not I choose to carry is my choice, not yours, so unless you plan on assaulting me or breaking into my house, you have nothing to worry about.
Tasers (meaning the kind that project two electrodes and are shot like guns) aren't practical at that distance. A taser isn't useful at under 3 feet of range. I can't think of many civilian situations where force is necessary, where lethal force isn't necessary. Or in other words, I can't think of a situation where a citizen should use non-lethal force. If I'm being physically assaulted, I'm either in danger of my life or not. If I'm not in danger of my life, I need to retreat and let the police deal with it. If I'm in danger of my life, I need to use lethal force. And Zimmerman went through the legal process needed to get the privilege of concealed carry. In Florida, you need fingerprinting (at your own expense), a background check, a gun safety course and a license fee ($70). Like I said, I don't believe that citizens need to use force unless it's lethal force. I can't think of any good reason that I should ever have to use force against another person, except in a life or death situation. I would only use non-lethal force if I wasn't allowed a gun. IMHO, any use of non-lethal force escalates the situation. IMHO, being punched in the face doesn't justify lethal force. Being knocked to the ground, and being punched while down, IMHO, does.
At least concealed you won't look like the idiot I saw at Petsmart. I have to say though, it's must be quite a burden to be so fearful for your life every time you step outside your home that you feel you must carry a deadly weapon. Your lack of faith in mankind must be depressing, to feel everyone is out to cause you harm. I'd move someplace where I felt safer.
That said however, why didn't Zim just shoot Tyvon in the shoulder.. or arm or leg. Undoubtedly that would have stopped him without killing him.
He didn't have the luxury of time. He drew and shot. The autopsy results indicated that the gun was shot between an inch and 18 inches of Martin. Also, only cops in TV shows shoot people to wound them. If you need to shoot somebody you need to shoot to stop. Shoulder, arm or legs have low percentage of stops.
Right wingers live in fear 24/7. They are afraid of Blacks, afraid of Muslims, afraid of Mexicans, afraid of homosexuals, afraid of strong women, afraid of everything. I can't imagine what that must be like.
Not that I am a winger of any sorts but you are oozing projection out of your orifice. Please do not let it get into the carpet or stain the hardwood floors. You could lose your security deposit.
You mean I'm afraid? Hell yeah I am, of crazy assed right wingers packing heat. You can bet your butt that if I am every in a room with any of the yayhoos I've seen on this board I'm going to position myself somewhere where I can keep a close eye on them.
If I may, The deer in the headlight look victims have when they have no alternative available against an assailant with a weapon tends toward idiotic as well eh? I am not fearful at all when carrying a concealed weapon, I feel just like I do with car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, quite frankly I don't think much about it at all. It is second nature and not any burden what so ever, your projection quite frankly don't apply to me or millions of gun owners. My lack of fear and my faith in mankind is very well placed given the statistics of crime committed by CCH holders and I have yet to feel "everyone" is out to get me. Is this why you believe we carry guns? There is a term for this type of projection, it's called drinking the Kool-Aid. More to the point, how many of you innocents who don't like others carrying concealed have be hurt or injured by a CCH holder? How many of you innocents have been injured by a LEO in the performance of their duties? I think statistically you are pretty safe even when you are surrounded by CCH holders. Maybe you should given your illogical fear of CCH holders or even gun owners all together. Try thinking for yourself eh? - - - Updated - - - Because in use of deadly force, shooting to wound isn't a justification...think about it......sheesh.
Why...you got some sort of statistics to back up your reasoning....You know like proof that People packing heat from the right go around shooting up people on a regular basis as opposed to criminals who do the same? I think you should stay at home so you don't have to live in fear....don't use the phone or internet, or communicate with anyone at all. You'll live longer that way LOL
