That's right. Yes you. You've never owned a gun. You're even scared of guns. You're not sure you'd feel safe with a gun in the house. They are dangerous. You have kids. They are expensive. You can't shoot. There are many reasons that you don't have a gun. We understand. We feel the same way. But none of them will be important on the day that you NEED a gun.
If you are anti-gun, this may be the scariest thing that you ever do to protect your family But there are many scary things you would do for your family aren't there? Switch jobs? Move to a better community? Even give your life to save your children. So why cant you face your fear? If you REALLY want to save the life of your children, you may need the right tools to do so. Just like a doctor needs the right tools to save a life, so do you. And in the event of a violent attack, the "right tool" is a weapon.
You may be a strong gun-control advocate, or even anti-gun. Both common and valid opinions. But consider this. When it comes to the protection of your family against a home intruder, anything other than a gun may not be enough.
The police definitely will NOT get there in time. The average 911 call takes about 30 seconds at minimum to connect to the 911 service and just tell them who you are, what is happening, and where you are. Then another 3 to 15 minutes for the police to get there. And they may not even come at all! You probably wont have time to stay by the phone and dial 911, much less wait on the police. When you have seconds to live, the police are just minutes away. The police are not obligated to protect you, and ultimately you are responsible for protecting yourself. To me, that is much scarier and more dangerous than a gun!
Relying on 911 can be a deadly mistake:
Too often, citizens in trouble dial 911 . . . and die. Researchers found that less than 5 percent of all calls dispatched to police are made quickly enough for officers to stop a crime or arrest a suspect.[3] The 911 bottom line: “cases in which 911 technology makes a substantial difference in the outcome of criminal events are extraordinarily rare.”[4]
It’s not just that the police cannot protect you. They don’t even have to come when you call. In most states the government and police owe no legal duty to protect individual citizens from criminal attack. The District of Columbia’s highest court spelled out plainly the “fundamental principle that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular individual citizen.”[5]
In the especially gruesome landmark case the “no-duty” rule got ugly. Just before dawn on March 16, 1975, two men broke down the back door of a three-story home in Washington, D.C., shared by three women and a child. On the second floor one woman was sexually attacked. Her housemates on the third floor heard her screams and called the police.
The women’s first call to D.C. police got assigned a low priority, so the responding officers arrived at the house, got no answer to their knocks on the door, did a quick check around, and left. When the women frantically called the police a second time, the dispatcher promised help would come—but no officers were even dispatched.
The attackers kidnapped, robbed, raped, and beat all three women over 14 hours. When these women later sued the city and its police for negligently failing to protect them or even to answer their second call, the court held that government had no duty to respond to their call or to protect them. Case dismissed.
http://psacake.com/dial_911.asp
Police forces all lawyers will even tell you not to depend on them - that you need to protect yourself:
When it comes to deterring crime and defending against criminals, individuals are ultimately responsible for themselves and their loved ones. -- Richard Stevens, lawyer in Washington, D.C
Police Advice: “Get a Gun”In fact, the Police don't even have an obligation to protect you!
A Massachusetts statute spells out the rule there: the government has no legal duty “to provide adequate police protection, prevent the commission of crimes, investigate, detect or solve crimes, identify or apprehend criminals or suspects, arrest or detain suspects, or enforce any law.”[8] That “no-duty” rule brings tragedy, as one Massachusetts woman learned in the worst way.
James Davidson had been abusing and harassing his wife, Catherine Ford, after their separation.[9] Catherine got a court order against James to stop his misconduct. The Grafton police knew about James, and told her that they couldn’t provide protection around the clock. One officer frankly advised her to “buy a gun because [sometimes] the only way to deal with violence is violence.”
Catherine did not take that advice. Over the next 15 months James continued to harass and stalk Catherine, and he repeatedly threatened to kill her and her family. James terrorized Catherine and her family at their homes. He attacked her at her workplace. James’s own psychiatrist warned Catherine that James had plans to kill her. Despite all of his vicious and unlawful behavior, the police never arrested James for violating the court order.
James issued his final death threat on January 16, 1986. Catherine reported this threat to the police. At about 6 o’clock the next evening, James started kicking down Catherine’s back door. When she ran out the front door, James spotted her and chased her even as she charged through moving traffic on the street. She pounded on a neighbor’s door, but no one would let her inside. As she ran to the next house, James caught her and shot her three times in the face and neck. He then shot himself.
“Law enforcement agencies and personnel have no duty to protect individuals from the criminal acts of others; instead their duty is to preserve the peace and arrest law breakers for the protection of the general public.” — Lynch v. N.C. Dept. of Justice
It’s not just that the police cannot protect you. They don’t even have to come when you call. In most states the government and police owe no legal duty to protect individual citizens from criminal attack. The District of Columbia’s highest court spelled out plainly the “fundamental principle that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular individual citizen.”[5]
In the especially gruesome landmark case the “no-duty” rule got ugly. Just before dawn on March 16, 1975, two men broke down the back door of a three-story home in Washington, D.C., shared by three women and a child. On the second floor one woman was sexually attacked. Her housemates on the third floor heard her screams and called the police.
The women’s first call to D.C. police got assigned a low priority, so the responding officers arrived at the house, got no answer to their knocks on the door, did a quick check around, and left. When the women frantically called the police a second time, the dispatcher promised help would come—but no officers were even dispatched.
The attackers kidnapped, robbed, raped, and beat all three women over 14 hours. When these women later sued the city and its police for negligently failing to protect them or even to answer their second call, the court held that government had no duty to respond to their call or to protect them. Case dismissed.
In fact, there are laws that state this on the books. Here is an example from Texas (excerpt from HR 17)
How to buy a gun(1) Police cannot protect, and are not legally liable for failing to protect, individual citizens, as evidenced by the following:(A) The courts have consistently ruled that the police do not have an obligation to protect individuals, only the public in general.
Start by checking with your local law enforcement. There may be laws that restrict when where and how you can buy a gun. But unless you are disqualified (criminal background, minor, mentally unstable, etc) then the US Supreme court has ruled that YOU as an INDIVIDUAL has the right to own a gun for self defense.
You will need to decide what kind of gun is best for you. Check with your local gun store or gun range. Contrary to media drama, gun owners are typically very friendly down to earth people, and enjoy helping and teaching others. In some states you may buy a gun from an individual, in others you must purchase though an FFL (Federal Firearms Licensed) dealer.
Keeping a gun at home.
Responsibilities of a gun owner:
The 4 basic safety rules:
- Understanding -You need to fully understand how it works. NOT knowing how it functions can be more dangerous than not having a gun when you need one.
- Training -You need to train with the gun, so that you are familiar with it, so that you are accurate with it, and so that you are not scared when you have to use it.
- Cleaning -Any machine is only as good as it's last maintenance. Cleaning your weapon is important. Failure to do so can cause it not to function when you need it most. Fortunately, cleaning is generally easy. Just a quick rub down of the moving parts with a light gun-oil. But remember to follow the 4 basic safety rules!
- Education - The worst thing you can do with a gun in the house is NOT to tell your children it is there. Kids are naturally curious. By far, the safest thing you can do is to tech your young kids to recognize, respect, and not touch the weapon; and to alert an adult immediately if they see one. Then at the proper age, tech them how it functions. (see rule #1 - understanding - because not knowing is dangerous too!).
- Storage - When not in use, guns need to cleaned, and then stored safely. This typically means unloaded, and in a locking cabinet or safe*, in a temperature & humidity controlled environment, and sometimes even separate from the ammunition. *In some states, the law requires this, especially if there are children in the house.
Additionally:
- Always assume that a gun is loaded. Even if you "know" it is not loaded.
- Always be consious of the direction that the gun is pointed in and NEVER point the gun at anything you don't want to kill / destroy. This includes "sweeping". The most common mistake that you can make is to inadvertently "sweep" someone with a gun. (That is, to move the gun from one side to another, across the direction of another person).
- NEVER put you finger on or near the trigger until you are ready to shoot. It is natural for a person to put their finger on the trigger when picking up a gun. It is shaped so that you hand fits that way. Resist that temptation! Train yourself to pick up a gun without putting your finger in the trigger-well.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond or around it. You are legally and morally responsible for every bullet you fire, and if it does not hit the intended target, then who or what will it hit?
- Always TRIPPLE check a gun when you unload it. Especially before cleaning it.
- Use the gun's Safety when appropriate.
- Store all guns unloaded (see rule #1) that are not intended for "ready defense"
- When stored, guns should be in a locked cabinet or safe, inaccessible to children or unauthorized individuals.
Carrying a Handgun.
A threat to you may not always come in the form of a break-in when you are at home or sleeping. Most violent attacks occur when one is "out and about". Chances are, that you or someone that you know has been assaulted, mugged, or raped. You may not even know because they don't like to talk about it.
Some states allow one method or another for citizens to carry handguns for self defense. While a few allow it outright, most require a license. Typically, licensing process requires hours of training, a written test, a background check, and some shooting-range accuracy proficiency. This is all typically done in 1 day.
Carrying a handgun can be an extremely effective method of self protection. But the responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Please check with your local law enforcement on regulations. Research gun safety and accuracy training, and take all reasonable and necessary precautions.
Conclusion:
While gun ownership is a constitutionally protected right, it is not for everyone. But if you can overcome your fear, and treat the weapon with respect and proper safety, then it can be an invaluable tool for saving your life, or the life of your loved ones.
Yes, you, the anti-gunner, might just find yourself owning a gun.
Remember: Do no fear the gun. Instead, respect the gun. And stay safe.
* I am not a lawyer or law enforcement officer. This information does not constitute legal advice. This post represents my opinions only. Your situation may vary. Please consult with local law enforcement for safety tips and regulations concerning personal safety and arming yourself with or using ANY self protection device - handgun or otherwise.
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