After reading and being part of the "discontinuing assault" thread I started thinking about this situation.
Because of where I am the laws I have to abide by restrict access and use of firearms and that from a legal standpoint protection of life or property has never been a valid reason for ownership of firearms. Please I do not want to make this the topic of this thread, I am just using it to explain the actual point of the thread. Now because of this I have been asked several times throughout the years and have had other similar-sentimented discussions about whether, because I do own guns for competition shooting WOULD I use them for self defense if the situation arose. My answer has always been yes, of course the circumstances that would make that possible are pretty rare, but yes of course I would.
NOW - The question I would like to pose is:
If the laws disallowed ownership and use of firearms TOTALLY and being a good person you abide by the law (I'm NOT saying you would be AGREEING with it, but being a good citizen) and the situation arose where you were in IMMEDIATE access to a loaded, fully functioning firearm and were also immediately attacked by a person putting you in mortal danger, would YOU, fully knowing it is against the law, use that firearm to protect yourself?
Now I guess my point is this: It makes me wonder that the people who ask me if I would use my gun for self-defense (under those very rare circumstances where the situation could arise) are thinking I would actually weigh up the legal ramifications of defending myself with a firearm against the loss of my life. I don't care what the law is when it comes to choosing between my life and the law. I will choose my life over some societal abstract of discipline any time. If I'm dead what does the law mean to me? I don't see how anyone would choose to not use any and every means at their disposal to save their own life.
I may go to jail, but I'll be alive. Now some people may say that 25 years in jail or however long it may be (I doubt it would be that long, considering the circumstances) would be worse than death but at the end of anyone's life you'll certainly be dead, if you live longer there is a chance of more enjoyment / fulfillment, but if you die there is absolutely no chance.
Because of where I am the laws I have to abide by restrict access and use of firearms and that from a legal standpoint protection of life or property has never been a valid reason for ownership of firearms. Please I do not want to make this the topic of this thread, I am just using it to explain the actual point of the thread. Now because of this I have been asked several times throughout the years and have had other similar-sentimented discussions about whether, because I do own guns for competition shooting WOULD I use them for self defense if the situation arose. My answer has always been yes, of course the circumstances that would make that possible are pretty rare, but yes of course I would.
NOW - The question I would like to pose is:
If the laws disallowed ownership and use of firearms TOTALLY and being a good person you abide by the law (I'm NOT saying you would be AGREEING with it, but being a good citizen) and the situation arose where you were in IMMEDIATE access to a loaded, fully functioning firearm and were also immediately attacked by a person putting you in mortal danger, would YOU, fully knowing it is against the law, use that firearm to protect yourself?
Now I guess my point is this: It makes me wonder that the people who ask me if I would use my gun for self-defense (under those very rare circumstances where the situation could arise) are thinking I would actually weigh up the legal ramifications of defending myself with a firearm against the loss of my life. I don't care what the law is when it comes to choosing between my life and the law. I will choose my life over some societal abstract of discipline any time. If I'm dead what does the law mean to me? I don't see how anyone would choose to not use any and every means at their disposal to save their own life.
I may go to jail, but I'll be alive. Now some people may say that 25 years in jail or however long it may be (I doubt it would be that long, considering the circumstances) would be worse than death but at the end of anyone's life you'll certainly be dead, if you live longer there is a chance of more enjoyment / fulfillment, but if you die there is absolutely no chance.
