Let's remember that these are scenerios. We aren't actually facing these situation at the moment. The adrenaline isn't pumping, our minds haven't gone blank with fear, rationality hasn't been overridden by panic, and we have time to think out the best solution to the problem. Unlike when most people are faced with real danger.
Scenerio 1: If I notice the intruder first and I have time to run, I'm running for the door. I do not want to get into a shoot-out with a man who already has the upper-hand. He is capable of pulling his gun faster than I could grab one out of a drawer, even if it were loaded, safety off and ready to fire. I would run for a neighbor's house or some other safe place.
Scenerio 2: Again, if I'm capable of getting to another part of the house where I can lock a door and separate myself from the intruder, I will do so. Then I will call for help. ONLY if he tries to enter that bedroom would I feel shooting him is my only option.
Scenerio 3: I would never shoot someone for stealing my car. I would call the police. While I don't want my property stolen, I would never kill someone under that circumstance.
Anytime you confront someone with a gun you are taking on grave responsibilities. A gun is not the answer in every case, though I think many people believe it's the magical protector that will save them from all harm. This is far from being true. Shooting anyone should be a last resort when all other measures of safety have been eliminated.
When someone is faced with bodily harm and there are no other options, then you fight to the death, but using a gun against someone else who has a gun is Russian Roulette. It's a matter of who can get the shot off first, and it may, in fact, not be you. If you can run or barricade yourself and call for help, you're much safer doing so than facing down a criminal who may not hesitate to kill you before you can kill him. Many intruders, in fact, will run away when they've been discovered rather than resort to violence. Why corner a criminal and force the issue?
Anyone who has broken into your home has the advantage. Their senses are on higher alert, they know what's going on whereas you may be surprised or unsure of the situation, and if they are violent criminals, they won't hesitate to fire, whereas an average person may hold back as they try to assess the what's going.
I'm not against guns. I own two shotguns, neither of which are loaded, but I know how to use them. I never intend for them to be used as life-saving weapons. I don't want to blindly grab a gun and rush into something I may not come out of. I do have a dog, which I consider a burglar deterrent. If I felt more anxious about intruders I would have an alarm installed. I have a knife in my bedside drawer and a baseball bat beside my bedroom door.... you never know, they could come in handy. I know they're there if I ever need them.
But shooting from the hip is not my idea of protecting myself. I don't want that false sense of security that so many people seem to have simply by keeping a gun in their house.
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