[TheOtherOne]

So we know that guns don't kill people, but how come so many of us insist that guns save lives?

[sm]

-Deterrent
-Hunting
-Signaling

[XLMiguel]

And in the gravest extreme - Self Defense.

[semf]

Bunch of Americans in Iraq swear by them.

Every year here in Fla theres a news report or two about a storeowner who uses one to defend himself during a robbery.

Theres a dead guy in Alaska that can tell you that not having one will definetly cost you your life.

My ex-wife used one to drive off an attacker, that about a week or so later raped and killed a woman.

so put me in the insist catagory.

[geekWithA.45]

They save lives, spirits and property all over the world, every single day.

The inverse is also true: absence of guns invites victimization.

Just ask 170 million people from Europe, China, The former Soviet Union, Uganda, South America, Cambodia, Rwanda and Turkey.

Oh, wait.

You can't.


They're all dead.


Their .gov systematically killed them.

[Sportcat]

Responsible gun owners and operators save lives.

[synoptic]

Sportcat's got it

[Rebel Gunman HK]

Depends what side of the barrel yer on! :evil:

[TallPine]

Do seat belts save lives ???

Suppose you just survived a wreck in which you were wearing your seatbelt, now are you going to go back and have the same wreck without the seatbelt just to prove that it would have killed you?


Oh, and I believe guns have saved a few cops lives here and there :rolleyes:

[Sportcat]

My point is that the object itself does not do anything unless it is used responsibly. Your seatbelt is not going to save your life unless you USE it. Your firearm is not going to save your life against an intruder unless you USE it.

Firearms and seatbelts are tools. Tools only work (as designed) in the hands of responsible people.

[Hkmp5sd]

More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws and The Bias Against Guns: Why Almost Everything You've Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong both by John R. Lott, Jr.

[answerguy]

So we know that guns don't kill people, but how come so many of us insist that guns save lives?

Are you talking about newspaper headlines like "Gun Kills Area Man"?
And the fact that you never see the corresponding headline "Gun Saves Local Resident From Intruder".

The reason, I believe, is that most newspapers assume that guns can only be used for evil and not for good.

[TallPine]

Sport (may I call you by your first name?), there is the deterrence factor of an armed citizenry, which may be far more effective than indivdual incidents of using a gun to defend oneself.

I doubt the presence of seat belts in a vehicle prevents very many accidents.

[TheOtherOne]

Are you talking about newspaper headlines like "Gun Kills Area Man"?
And the fact that you never see the corresponding headline "Gun Saves Local Resident From Intruder".Yes

and

My point is that the object itself does not do anything unless it is used responsibly. Your seatbelt is not going to save your life unless you USE it. Your firearm is not going to save your life against an intruder unless you USE it.Yes

We always get bent when we hear how guns kill people and are quick to point out that people kill people, but at the same time alot of us (including me) are always saying how guns save lifes. But if a gun can't take a life, it can't save a life -- can it?

[sm]

Tallpine hits on my definition of deterrent.
In the old days the "appearance" of alarm tape acted as a deterrent to some.
Firearms may deter if one "thinks" a potential victim may be armed ( CCW laws may bring doubt to BG- whereas no CCW law enacted BG odds of prey being armed to BG advantage) , IF firearm is produced and immediate threat halted,or in the gravest extreme.

[Sportcat]

I agree that the knowledge a gun exists can/does make it a deterrent. But I think that in a more objective sense, it takes a responsible owner/operator to save a life.

My $.03

[Hkmp5sd]

But if a gun can't take a life, it can't save a life -- can it?

Yes, it can. One of the most conservative studies show that there are around 600,000 incidents each year in the United States where a potential victim merely displaying/brandishing a firearm was enough to deter an attacker. No shots were fired or injuries. Some studies have this number all the way up to 2.5 million per year.

States which have passed "Shall Issue" CCW laws have seen a decrease in violent crime while not seeing an increase in the number of shootings. This indicates the deterence factor that a potential victim might be armed is enough to save a life.

[OF]

Well, if what you're asking is if a gun can save a life all by itself...uhhh...no. But that's not the point. The point is that a gun is a tool for saving lives. If it was a tool for taking lives it would shoot poison bullets.

- Gabe

[Dave R]

What HKM said.

90% of the time when an armed victim is attacked, once the attacker sees or knows that the victim is armed, the attack is terminated. Sounds ligical to me.

That saves both the attacker's life and the victim's.

I hope they eventually learn that in the UK and Oz.

[Ivanimal]

The Japanese respected our shorelines, why? Because in their own words, "We will find a rifle behind every blade of grass".

Not everyone learns respect in this world, be prepared and not a victim when you meet one of them.

It may save your life, and others.

[Dilettante]

My ex-wife used one to drive off an attacker, that about a week or so later raped and killed a woman.

Shame that she didn't kill the guy. :(

[Gus Dddysgrl]

Responsible gun owners and operators save lives.

Agrees!

However the opposite is also true. Irresponsible gun owners and operators take lives.


Gus

[Sportcat]

I agree Gus. That's where the anti's get "Guns Kill!"

[Gus Dddysgrl]

(sarcasm) I guessed it. Aren't I smart? That's me. I'm smart. That's why I'm a college student. (sarcasm)

Stupid anti's.

Gus

[Standing Wolf]

I've saved a grand total of one life with one gun once—and sincerely hope I'm never called upon to do so again.

[Preacherman]

As Clint Smith so succintly puts it:You can say ‘stop’ or ‘alto’ or use any other word you think will work, but I’ve found that a large bore muzzle pointed at someone’s head is pretty much the universal language.For more, see here (http://www.thunderranchinc.com/articles/quotes.htm).

:D

[Ryder]

how come so many of us insist that guns save lives?

Ever seen Cujo?

[Rogelio]

Yes, because mine was once saved by my own gun (ok, and a flashbang...hehe)

[Beav]

No, they are tools. Its the user that should be recognized for being prepared. A weapon isn't going to automatically spring into action to defend you.