Can guns save us in most threatening situations

[wakefield724]

Can guns realistically save us in most life threatening situations? Attackers 99% have a goal which is why they are attacking you, it may be your money or your life. They more prepared than us because they have the element of surprise. From my knowledge realistically it's almost impossible to realize what's happening, draw your gun and shoot before the threat shoots you. What do you all think?

For the record I carry myself and have multiple guns around my house for self defense. I am not Antigun, or Anticarry

[bigandy1966]

I would rather have the option to fight back rather than relying on the mercy of an unknown criminal holding me at gunpoint. Realistically if hes got the drop on me then I have been derelict in my situational awareness.

[donotknowme]

A gun does not save you. Your training does.

A gun can help you just as any other tool could. But you save yourself.

[Subverto]

Guns aren't some magical talisman that will protect us from harm. They are merely a defensive tool. In order to utilize them to protect us, we must rely on a plethora of other things such as situational awareness, common sense, and firearm training. In a lot of cases, the best way to stay out of harms way is to avoid it in the first place. Just because you carry a gun doesn't mean you are any safer than an unarmed person to walk down a dark alley in a bad neighborhood at 3AM. There are definately some people (even on this forum) that seem to think that just having a gun makes you safe. That idea is a complete fallacy. A gun is only as effective as the person using it.

All of that said, I can't think of any situation where an armed person with decent training, decent situational awareness, and decent common sense wouldn't be able to deal with a threat more effectively than if they were unarmed.

[90volts]

Sure. Happens often. Check out the NRA newsletter about citizens who fought back.

[sprrdhawk44]

[streaker69]

This is where situational awareness comes into play. You should never really be surprised at what's going on around you.

[Svickstc]

Sure. Happens often. Check out the NRA newsletter about citizens who fought back.

I often wonder about the validity of these...ive tried to back search the story via news outlets and never really get good hits, doesnt mean they didnt happen or im not using the right keywords, or they were not reported or became news stories...

but i do often wonder...

[Bang]

Can guns realistically save us in most life threatening situations?

I find the question as posed unanswerable.

[wakefield724]

Consistent Situational awareness would be hard learn in today's society. Out of pure curiosity has anyone here other than war ever use or needed a gun to protect your life? Maybe someone you personally know? I know some anti gunners believe most people carry because maybe they were a victim of a crime before which that is false.