This is a bad thing.

Our society is so safe, a whole lot of people have a warped view of how the world works.

Something happened to me over the weekend that I'd rather not dissect, suffice to say that I'm leaning to the "always carry a gun" camp.

There is a gulf, perhaps unbridgeable, between people who have experienced violence, or a credible threat of violence, and those who have known only safety.

I'd say the litmus test, is that if someone believes the police can provide adequate safety for them and their family, they haven't experienced violence.

That isn't meant to be a dig on cops, just the reality of what the constabulary of a given jurisdiction is actually capable of doing.

I've always been armed, for years. Just not always with a gun. I do believe I'll begin carrying everywhere it is lawful.

Old proverb from some wise person says never be more than an arm's reach from your sword.

My operating philosophy.

Being armed does not always mean with a gun. A person somewhat knowledgeable about stick fighting can do a lot of damage with a sturdy cane or walking stick.

With today's arrest of a murdering shitbag thug 6.5 miles from my house this morning, I have committed to carrying AT ALL TIMES when outside my house. I sent a very pointed e-mail to my family and dear friends telling them to do the same whenever possible. I realize carrying at work is against "company policy" for most, but I'd rather be fired than dead.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/6020015444

I have seen the evil.

If you rely on only the police to protect your loved ones, you are a fool.

There are people who do not believe the normal rules of the civilized world apply to them. It can be shocking to come into contact with them.

I agree with being armed at all times.

I am sure that had any victim of a violent crime known what was going to happen that day,they would have done things differently.

Things can literally change in seconds.

What also disturbs me about certain segments of society today, is that in essence, impotence is a virtue. The absence of any form of aggression, because aggression can of course only be masculine, and masculine is "the patriarchy."

So, if you have boy parts, and want to subscribe to a particular political ideology, it's up to you to emasculate yourself.

Generally though, we are so very safe. Such that many people believe we've transcended violence, or that laws actually do something.

The statistics mostly bear-out that violence is a thing of the past across most of the nation and much of the world. The majority of violent crimes are committed in isolated pockets of society. Stay out of the south side of Chicago, south central LA, and Juarez, Mexico, and you'll likely never witness a violent crime, or even directly know someone that has.

This is NOT to suggest that we advocate everyone walking around with blinders on, blissfully unaware of the possibility of violence. It's only to state that the current rates of violent crime are heavily influenced by extremely violent pockets, and are not indicative of large swaths of the nation. Therefore, it is an understandable state of being.

I still carry daily, just in case, and I suggest others do as well.

The real question, is how do we influence these unaware folks to be more vigilant?

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
I'd say the litmus test, is that if someone believes the police can provide adequate safety for them and their family, they haven't experienced violence.

That isn't meant to be a dig on cops

I'd say the vast majority of citzens have a warped view of LE. They seem to think police are there to protect them, like a bodyguard, while in reality, police are there to take a report after the incident and investigate the crime, not to prevent it.

But these same people also have the view that cops are hunting down black people and are racists. Talk about a warped viewpoint.

Oh, I'm not saying the statistics are wrong. The trend absolutely is that violent crime has been on a slow and steady decline.

Some would say that we should all cut our nuts off because of that, and I disagree.

It's also worth noting exactly when it's politically expedient to inflate oh, "gun violence," meanwhile we're oh so safe.

We are very safe. But the world is still made of people, so there will never be a zero sum utopia of nonviolence. No matter who is in charge, what laws they pass, or what deity is most popular.

Individual rights, responsibilities, and freedoms. Herd inoculation.

Just last night I was just thinking about my first and only fight in middle school and was wishing that I had got into more fights as a kid. I had some opportunities that could have turned into fights that didn't, either because I talked myself out of it or because someone interfered. I probably would have lost a couple of those, which is why at the time I chose to talk my way out, but I wish I had fought them and lost. It is doubtful any would have lead to permanent injury and you learn something every time you get hit.

I was not really afraid when I got into that fight but mainly because I was not mature enough to be afraid. Since being an adult I have been in two situations where I was truly afraid for my safety. One made me start carrying a gun and the other made me happy I had one. I didn't need to draw it but having my hand on it gave me the extra confidence needed to stand my ground and stop what I am sure was going to be an attack.

I have mixed emotions about my son being in a fight. Part of me hopes he never has to. But part of me hopes he does so that if the time comes where he is in a fight for his life it won't be his first fight ever. I am sure many fathers feel the same way. I have been teaching him to fight since he was very little and tried to give him the mental fortitude to do what he thinks necessary with those skills. It is the best I can do.

Fights in school age years, are a separate but certainly related issue. The simple understanding of physical boundaries, what others are capable of, and the beginning of developing a sense of threat assessment. Just to name a few.

Frankly, everyone, regardless of gender, could use one good fight, of the non-lethal school age tustle showboat kind. The intricacies of that are worth discussing, but really are before what I'm talking about, which is an adult awareness of lethal consequence.

The world will never be a safe place. The world CAN NEVER be a safe place, if free people are the goal.

A measure of safety can be assured in a variety of ways, but the people who peddle absolute safety, ask only for absolute submission.

The reality is that we all must be willing to be violent when necessary.

Re: that shooting at the newspaper in Annapolis, MD a few weeks ago - IIRC, the cops were there in 60 seconds, and the perp still managed to kill five people with a shotgun. That is the definition of, "When seconds count, the police are just minutes away." I love seeing cops out and about in public, but I would never even think of relying on them to help me when schit goes down.

Excellent point.....most people have no idea what humans are capable of doing to fellow humans. Sure they see it on the news...but it's "somewhere else". They do not realize violence can happen anywhere at anytime.....and while LE try's their best they cannot be everywhere.

The progs also argue...we are too "educated" "good" "evolved" for that.....well ok, you might be but Bubba or Demetris...or Habib is not that evolved and he will kill you for your shoes...$20....a look

We as humans have not changed in 2000 years we just have better toys........

As someone said “When seconds count, the police are minutes away.” I also seem to remember reading an article in which a court case was referred to that said, in so many words, the police are not here to protect you, strictly they are here to enforce laws. Fortunately they decide to do more than just that.

quote:

Originally posted by clubleaf206:
As someone said “When seconds count, the police are minutes away.”

I've used this exact quote many times. So many people can't wrap their heads around the fact that there are truly evil people out in the world. Not just in some f'ed up third world country but here in our backyard.

I've also told people I can't carry a police officer so I carry something else.

I wish there was no evil in this world but I also know the reality. I've never seen truly pure evil myself but I have seen the results on someone that meant the world to me. I will do whatever I can to never see someone I care about go through that again.

I spent many years of my life engaged in a profession that saved peoples lives. While I truly valve life and have and would still put mine on the line to help others I will also do whatever I can protect those I care about.

I'd go so far to say that the definition of violence is being purposefully lost. That the prominence of being offended and perceived emotional violence coupled with the assault on anything masculine is deeply subversive and part of the effort to make the populace depending on the state .

quote:

impotence is a virtue.

Particularly where they have to fear that the alternative is massive cognitive dissonance. You don't ask Peter Pan to grow up, he's....Peter Pan!

It's weird. People do throw out random terms like "rape" and "torture" to describe how they feel about completely non-physical interactions, and do so when they are visibly distraught (as opposed to just shooting the bull). I wonder sometimes whether that isn't a way to condition themselves to consider violence a sort of arms-length or non-event, just in case they ever are on the receiving end of violence and are suddenly forced to face the fact that they have no means to cope with it.

I'm beginning to realize what you are saying, at the ripe old age of 61. I grew up with violence, and saw a number of acts of violence before age 12. I have wondered for years what the heck is wrong with people who simply do not understand the danger. I cannot change their perceptions, but I always carry and so does my wife. She, too, has experienced violence and, I must say, handled it well. I'd never seen anyone beaten with a pay phone receiver.....but that's another story. Yes, violence is decreasing, but the potential is increasing daily. I am concerned about getting caught in a mob, with all the social justice crap going on.

A friend of mine's son was killed by doing what he thought was the right and just thing. I am not here to judge, but all I know is he was a young man and is now dead. So you have to be very careful.

Every situation is different. I think the best defense is avoiding or putting yourself in potential situations that can lead to becoming a victim.
Having the means to defend yourself is always a wise choice.