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LOL
D and I tend to have similar views on many things, weapons being one of those!
I am glad you are doing lots of research before diving in to the sea of weapons. There is a lot of information out there, and over time it will become clear which information is the most accurate, and what things will suit your purposes and abilities best. Try the manufacturer's sites as well, they publish a lot of good information as well. It IS in their best interests, after all!
As far as making a rifle safe goes, if you choose to buy a bolt-action rifle, removing the bolt from it and locking that up will make the rifle unfireable. And the bolt is much smaller than a whole handgun, except the tiny derringers.
As far as folks who disapprove of guns go, the most common thing I have heard is a vehement and ignorant argument that "guns are dangerous--no one but the military and police should have them!" I most strongly disagree with that sentiment.....*guns* are not inherently dangerous--the person behind the gun IS, whether through malice or ignorance. A gun cannot aim itself, nor can it pull it's own trigger, therefore it is not the gun that does the damage, it is the person in control of that gun. There are many, many people who are afraid of guns the same way some people fear snakes or falling. So yes, they do fear ignorant people having weapons, but they actually fear the weapon more than the person behind it. This is exactly like a child's fear of the dark itself, and not the dangers of ignorance in moving in the dark. No one seems to fear rocks themselves, yet they are as dangerous as firearms, IN THE RIGHT HANDS. It is the same with any other weapon, including firearms. The exception being that firearms make a loud scary BANG, and are simple to discharge---note I didn't say USE....it takes skill to USE a weapon well. Anyone can throw a rock, or fire a gun, but it takes skill to hit what you want consistently. In any case, it is always the person behind the weapon that is the important factor, not whatever weapon they are wielding. I once read a statistic that suggested that as many as 5 in 6 new soldiers will fail to discharge their weapon at the enemy upon first contact---that means that only ONE in SIX new soldiers will actually fire under attack! What this should mean to you is that despite training, it is very difficult to actually pull the trigger with the intention of ending another's life....even in situations where it is not only ok to do so, but is expected of you. This is because most "normal" people have such a deep, culturally ingrained respect for life that there is an inherent resistance to ending someone else's life. Those who live a lifestyle that disregard human life will pull a trigger almost as soon as seeing you, and those are the people to fear. Those folk are the ones who rob banks, mug people, and kill without thought. They truly do not respect or fear death, so it is no conflict for them to act in an instant to end a life. Fortunately, that type of person is a minority in the population as a whole, but it is always possible you will come in contact with them at some point, hence the need to understand what you are defending yourself against. If, deities forbid, you have to use a weapon to defend yourself, don't hesitate. If you have seen the need to fire to protect a life, do it, and do it instantly---they will not hesitate to fire at you. That is the mistake an untrained person or a hesitant one makes, not firing. If there is a need to draw a weapon, there is a need to fire or not fire---this is not a time for discussion or thinking or threatening, but for reacting to the imminent threat.
Hmm, I seem to have wandered around again....sorry.
As you can see, I do have strong opinions on weapons and their use. I don't intend to scare or offend anyone, however I am unlikely to change my opinions without a good deal of proof, so trying to change my stance on weapons is pointless without it. Don't get me wrong, I am an open-minded person, just quite firm on my opinions about weapons.
D is absolutely right in saying that gathering as much information as you can, and getting training from different sources is important. The more you know, the better armed you are, in any situation. This includes looking inside yourself. The biggest fight you will have is going to be with yourself and your own personal fears if you ever have to pull the trigger. You will not have time to play the "what if' and " what happens after" games with yourself. You will be called on to act, or possibly die. You must fight that battle with yourself long before you are ever in that situation, and decide what you can and will do if it ever comes up. It is not something you can put off, or the fear in the moment will cause you to freeze. Your choice must already be made, and so ingrained you will act despite the fear, no matter what. Because no matter what bragging you may hear, if you are not afraid in that moment, you are a psychopath and need serious help. That is the whole point of military training, to cause you to train your mind and muscles to that decision to pull the trigger. And even with that, only one in six can do it when the time comes. That fear in the moment is huge, smothering, and VERY personal. Trust me, I know. Very few people can act despite it without having already made their choices before that kind of situation has come up. I know all this sounds rather dramatic and possibly exaggerated. I hope you never have to find out, personally. But if you choose to learn weapons, you are already thinking in a direction that may put you in a position someday where you must choose, whether to defend your own life, or another's. It is best to have already chosen.
OK, I'll give back the soapbox for a while....I need a drink. Of soda! LOL
Black Rose
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The Firing Range (Read 15029 times)
