Keith Devens .com

So what if civilians use guns for self-defense? What's your point, Keith buddy?

Oddly enough I was just thinking about that. Of course the link is useless becuase it doesn't provide long term solid numbers on gun use by civilians. Or the ratio of guns to guns used in self defense on a given day. I've actually got no problem with home owners of most types of guns, I just like to see hard numbers.

Nice stuff, interesting. Even though my point of view is a bit different than yours concerning the gun usage.. Greetings from France, but not from a frenchmen.

Paradox; Strasbourg, France //

What's your point, Keith buddy?

A typical argument of anti-gun-rights people is that there are few cases of civilians being able to defend themselves with a gun, and that people should leave their self-defense to the "experts" (i.e. the police). I've often heard arguments along the lines of "Anyone who tries defending him or herself with a gun is more likely to get it taken from him/her and have it used on him/herself" (so, the implicit point is, you shouldn't even bother). In fact, I'm pretty sure I could go back and find instances of the argument being used in the past in comments on my site.

My point in blogging this was to help highlight a few examples of cases where people did successfully defend themselves with firearms. Of course, this doesn't provide large-sample statistics or anything, but I think it's impactful in a way plain statistics aren't to read personal stories of actual people who would be dead, or have been raped, etc., had they not had a gun on hand. In passing, I'd like to point out such that incidents are more common than you'd think, since the media doesn't often cover stories like these.

What's also interesting is that in many cases where I've read stories such as these, it's often the criminal who is less adept with his gun than the "victim". It seems to me that ordinary people who have guns often make sure, out of personal responsibility, that they're well trained in the use of their gun, in a way that criminals might not care to do.

I wouldn't call myself anti-gun, but I'm definitely pro the assault weapons ban. I mean no one needs an automatic to "defend" themselves at home. Of course the problem is that the NRA is so powerful that they make anyone who would oppose them quake in their boots. Candidates who speak out against assault weapons can expect their opponents to receive nice big contributions or other tactical help.