Thread: Diane Sawyer's Sensationalist Crap

Originally Posted by faesce

i don't think it's unreasonable at all to expect someone confident enough to bring a gun into a home with children to have 100% hit rate. if you shoot and miss your shot you could potentially end your child's life which completely defeats the purpose of having the gun in the first place. even if statistically speaking it will very rarely if ever happen, do you like playing chance with your family?

It is an unreasonable expectation, whether you think so or not. It's just not realistic. I can tell that you definitely wish it was realistic--believe me, so do I--but it's not. No one, no matter how competent, can guarantee that they'll never miss. That's just a pipe dream.

Originally Posted by faesce

but then again i'm of the opinion that guns aren't needed to defend homes, rather higher security features and a stronger structured house (doors/windows/locks etc), so naturally my opinion directly contradicts what your opinion is and thus arguing and raging (on your part) will surely ensue!

prevent the invader from gaining entrance, dont react to it imo.

I agree that these things are all good ideas for defending a home, and will prevent more burglaries than a gun in the home ever will. So no your opinion doesn't contradict mine. I'd add that a home-security alarm system, those exterior lights that turn on when they sense motion, and (if practical) a dog with a nice, loud bark are all good security features to have on your house as well, and all are more likely to stop an intruder than a gun is. No-one is denying that the gun is a last resort.

Prevent the intruder from gaining access but be prepared to react if one does get in and is posing a threat that justifies lethal force. It's not an either/or question. I try not to start fires in my kitchen while cooking, but I do have a fire extinguisher in the house anyway, just in case a fire does start. The fire extinguisher isn't a substitute for safe behavior, and the safe behavior doesn't guarantee that the fire extinguisher will never be needed.