Apparently, we're paranoid.

[Rasputin747]

Well, according to someone I know, me owning guns to protect me and my family makes me "paranoid." This person also thought that a SHTF situation could never happen. What about Katrina? You sure would need your rifle then! So how many of you have been called paranoid and such for keeping firearms?

 

[thexrayboy]

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that your not being followed.

 

[Kaylee]

Oh don't worry, that's just one of the constants of the universe. Sooner or later they'll run into a Bad Person and be knocking on your door saying ... "um... can I borrow a gun?"

 

[Ala Dan]

I guess I'm paranoid when I'm out and about scouting my homestead
for bad guys? If thats the case, then so be it for its a lot better to be
SAFE than SORRY~!

 

[Sindawe]

Paranoia is not a mental defect. It is a survival trait.

 

[sfhogman]

My response is ususally a light-hearted "Why should I be paranoid? I'm armed!" Letting them know that you don't take them completely seriously seems to help.

I usually offer to take 'em shooting; I tell 'em the trip is on me- range fees, ammo, guns and everything. All they have to do is show up and have fun. Sometimes it works.

Jeff

 

[Declaration Day]

What reason do you have to be paranoid? You have guns!

But seriously, it's a sad state of affairs when being prepared for the worst makes you "paranoid" according to the blissninnies.

In my big 4X4 truck, I keep a jumper box, tent, GI extreme cold sleeping bag, bug out bag, a couple of those convenient wax and sawdust firelogs, a complete set of tools, a couple hundred rounds of ammo, a towing strap, first aid kit, light sticks, about 30 disposable hand warmers, rope and enough non-perishable food for a week. Oh yeah, and a roll of TP. You should see the looks I get when I show people all of that!

Of course, I wasn't called paranoid when I stopped on Christmas eve to help a lady and her daughter who were stranded in a broken down car around midnight in 10 degree weather. And I suppose, rasputin, that if this person was ever in dire need of help, you'd be the first person he calls.

 

[carpediem]

Oh don't worry, that's just one of the constants of the universe. Sooner or later they'll run into a Bad Person and be knocking on your door saying ... "um... can I borrow a gun?"

...knocking on the door of an armed and paranoid person

 

[tnieto2004]

Friends think the same thing! YOUR NOT ALONE!

 

[Car Knocker]

Well, Rasputin, does your friend tell you you're paranoid because you use a seat belt, because you have a spare tire in your car, because you have a fire extinguisher in your home? Does he have, and use, all these devices? These are all devices used to deal with emergency situations, much as a gun is. Possessing a gun is just your means of dealing with an emergency situation that he has chosen to ignore.

 

[Atticus]

Many people are paranoid - gun owners or not. Gun owners just have the ability to react to bad situations that could (and do) happen all the time. Do they believe that having mace or a whistle is paranoid? Probably not. They just don't like guns. Ask them why they own a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, life insurance, or any other preventative device.
Then there's the 'crazy gun owner' thing. Does owning a fire extinguisher make a person an arsonist?. Anti gun people I know, have never failed to show an extreme lack of knowledge and logic.

 

[Declaration Day]

Anti gun people I know, have never failed to show an extreme lack of knowledge and logic.

I've never met an anti who had a rational or logical argument to support their opinion.

 

[Technosavant]

There's a difference between paranoia and planning for contingencies. Paranoia is an irrational fear that people are after you, and I mean specifically. I don't know of a gun owner who is truly paranoid. Overly cautious, maybe, but paranoid (in a true sense), no. Planning for contingencies means that you look at what might happen and prepare for it.

If a person looks at things that go on in the world, and realizes that they may be the victim of random violence, and then prepares to deal with it, that is far from paranoid. However, if a person chooses to believe that there is no chance that random violence might happen to them, or that victimization is preferable to having defensive ability, I might wonder about that person's grip on reality.

As other posters mentioned, we cover contingencies in all areas of life. I know several suburban dwellers who have paid several hundreds of dollars on generators that might or might not ever be used. Are they obsessed with disasters, or are they just figuring that it is better to do the work and make the sacrifice to be prepared than to get caught with no recourse if something does happen?

 

[jeepmor]

"Only the paranoid survive" Andy Grove, Intel corp

It's out of context for firearms in its original quote, but applicable to many things.

Katrina really sunk this in for me. Where were our protectors (.gov's) when we needed them? Out to lunch as usual. I don't anticipate anyone ever taking care of me and mine but me and mine. So if that makes me paranoid, and you mock me for it, don't be entirely surprised when you don't get my immediate help when it really does hit the fan.

I recall seeing some earthquake movie where the fire department is going through a wrecked buiding looking for survivors. They come to the guys apartment who was actually prepared for disaster and defending his property.

His statement was something to the effect. "They all use to call me paraonoid, all of a sudden, everyone is my best friend."

 

[browningguy]

Most of my friends are just as paranoid as you and me Rasputin (and the other good folks at THR), so I think we are in pretty good company. A lot of my co-workers from our European offices think it's nuts to own guns. But I've been able to convert quite a few of them, not they go shooting with me when they're in town, and for some reason everyone wants to shoot the .50 Beowulf EBR. So there is hope for them.

 

[FRIENDLY]

paranoid

why would you call me paranoid when I am merely being extra cautious?As the old saying goes there be monsters about and I intend to be the last one taken.

 

[Pilgrim]

Well, according to someone I know, me owning guns to protect me and my family makes me "paranoid."

To the unprepared, the prepared always seem paranoid. It is their denial mechanism in full blower.

Pilgrim

 

[hankdatank1362]

Wasn't it Clint Smith who said something along the effects of:

"I have a gun and know how to use it. What do I have to be paranoid about?"

 

[MikeWSC]

Paranoid in latin means " be prepared".
A buddy and fellow shooter once told me if it does ever hit the fan, he's comming to my house!!!

Did you ask your friend if he has extra water/food?

Mike

 

[Neo-Luddite]

It's all about Hollocaust Prevention. Even liberals and the otherwise 1/2 brained can understand this rather strident and recent historical example.
Watch 'Schindler's List' with them.

If needed, put on a puppet show.

Or just tell them to f--- off and stay out of your way. They are probably beyond help. To be paranoid you first have to be capable of loving something.

 

[Zundfolge]

Antis (and other bliss ninnies) are in denial of how bad the world can be. They don't want to believe in bad things because 1) they would then be obligated to do something about it and 2) they could no longer be care free like children.

When you express an interest in defending yourself, or preparing for bad things you shine a light on their denial and they lash out in defense of that denial because the denial feels better than accepting the harshness of reality.

Pity these people as they are not fully functioning adults.

 

[Kali Endgame]

My own policy is: buy the guns, train, teach, prepare, and support those closest to me that don't wish to own their own. I make a financial sacrifice to ensure defense.

 

[Weimadog]

I had a friend give me a hard time about keeping a container of water in my basement! he doesn't own a gun.

 

[Zundfolge]

We had some friends that we kept telling to get renters insurance ... they would laugh at us, poo poo the idea and say we were being worry warts (which I guess is kinda like being paranoid).


Then we get a call from them at 2am one morning ... the apartment building they lived in burned to the ground and they lost everything. It was pure luck that they weren't home and that their dogs were with them.


The problem was that every time we told them to get the renters insurance they had to face the reality that something bad could happen ... they preferred to live in a world where bad things only happened on TV.


Needless to say they have renters insurance now.

 

[joneb]

You know somethings afoot when the Boy Scouts of America are under fire

Antis (and other bliss ninnies) are in denial of how bad the world can be. They don't want to believe in bad things because 1) they would then be obligated to do something about it and 2) they could no longer be care free like children.

When you express an interest in defending yourself, or preparing for bad things you shine a light on their denial and they lash out in defense of that denial because the denial feels better than accepting the harshness of reality.

Amen, and pass the ammo can brother. These Antis maybe the ones we need to protect ourselves against if the SHTF.