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Originally Posted by disneysteve
Just to be clear, I am not opposed to personal gun ownership and I am absolutely not opposed to using deadly force to protect yourself, your family and your property. I think we are way too soft on criminals in this country and create no deterrent to committing crimes. People have the mindset that they will most likely get away with it or get a slap on the wrist. Being greeted by the barrel of a gun might not be such a bad deterrent.
The flipside, though, is that it might encourage more criminals to arm themselves and that will just escalate the violence and increase the innocent victim and bystander shootings.
gackle, just as you hear frequent stories of intruders being shot by armed homeowners, I hear frequent stories of accidental shootings by adults who were shot while cleaning a weapon or who mistook a family member as an intruder (while that adrenaline was pumping) or by children who somehow got a hold of their parents' gun. Just last month, a local police officer shot himself at home while cleaning his gun, and that is a individual who one would presume was well-trained in handling a weapon (though sometimes those who consider themselves well-trained are more likely to get sloppy).
It is a complicated issue. As BA has said, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
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I have a huge respect for guns, just as I do for power tools. All can hurt you if not used properly.
As for armed homeowners escalating armed intruders, I assume anyone crazy enough to enter a home, especially at night, when people are their, is armed and capable of doing maximum damage. I will not hope, that he will let me live.
Just like with airplane hijacks, you have to assume the worst and fight back.