Are we too paranoid?

[JerryLove]

There is an apples and oranges issue here.

 

The seatbelt comparison directly addresses the "paranoid" discussion. The argument was that carrying a firearm was a paranoid act because you were unlikely to need to use it. I argued that, under that logic, wearing a seatbelt was a paranoid act because you were unlikely to need to use it... and for the record, airbags do kill people. A discussion of weather a safety device (like a firearm, or airbag) *also* poses a danger is really a seperate issue from weather it requires a paranoid society to carry one.

 

So let's forget about the various opinions and speak about the realities. States which ban firearms do not see a resulting drop in murder rates; conversely, the only statistic we have available says that if we give almost everyone a fiream (qv kennesau) that the crime rate and murder rate goes down. It does work, and weather people *think* it will work is really insignifigant compared to the reality that it does.

[Drunken Monkey]

well airbags kill people usually because they are not sitting 'properly' in the car...

 

anyway.

 

i do understand the paranoia relationship.

 

just a little uneasy on the examples used for the comparison.

 

another thing is well, the kinda of people who commit the serious crimes repeatedly are often not of straight mind.

 

you could say that some are compelled to commit the crime (because of psychological reasons).

 

everyone owning a gun isn't going to stop the serial rapist/murderer/child molester from doing the things that he feels like he needs to do...

[JerryLove]

I disagree. I think a serual rapist/murder/child molester in a fully armed society will be shot be a prospecitve victim in relatively short oreder.

[SBN Doug]

Actually, I would like to review the original question at this time, so we don't get too far off to a political discussion.

Are we becoming such a paranoid society, that we, as trainers and practioners of the martial arts, feel that that training isn't sufficient to protect ourselves and our loved ones, that we have to carry a weapon with us at all times, just in case we need it?

 

The original point was not society in general. It was "we, as trainers and practioners of the martial arts". Let re-focus.

[JerryLove]

OK. The original question uses discriminitory language. A literal answer is.

 

No, I (and to my knowledge, most people who carry) do not carry a firearm because I am paranoid.

[Drunken Monkey]

sorry about this but...

 

yes he might get shot but it wouldn't prevent him/her from doing the act.

 

the problem is, this issue is way too complex.

 

if guns are banned, there will be problems.

 

if guns are mandatory, there will be problems.

 

problems all round which is probably why it might be better letting the people choose whether or not they want a gun.

[delta1]

I see so many people on these forums recommending and suggesting to people to carry knives and guns for protection. I've also heard this quote so many times, that I find it a very disturbing attitude..."It's better to be judged by twelve, than carried by 6".

 

SS, your problem here is that you've only considered one possible reason for carrying a weapon- that you are paranoid. Further, that term is thrown around these days to label anyone who is concerned and takes action to prepare a defense as some kind of sociopath. That is not the case, nor is it the proper definition of paranoid. The term actually refers to someone who is unreasonably fearful to the point of being debilitated. A person who rationally assesses a situation and decides to carry a weapon 'just in case' is not paranoid.

 

That is not to say that there aren't some weapon totin' paranoids out there. But it is nowhere near the problem it is made out to be. Also, there are those who think carrying a weapon makes them a big man. One reason for the bad advise you refer to might also be false bravado, another might be to get attention with an outrageos statement. I think most of us just ignore this kind of advise, as well as the paranoid people we might meet on the street.

How many of you can personally, and honestly say, that they have been attacked by a weapon toting person, and literally was afraid for their life?

 

Well, me, for one. And fortunately I was armed. They showed their chains, clubs and knives. I showed my firearm. They decided they didn't dislike people like me as much as they thought, and we all went home healthy. I had opted to carry a concealed weapon simply because there had been prolems in the area where I was going into alone. So, you tell me, was I paranoid for carrying a weapon in an area that was known to have problems like this? And I did have to be there, so avoidance is not an issue.

 

For the record, if anyone does try to rob or assault me, they take their chances. I might or might not stand and fight, with whatever means I have at hand. But it is my choice, and they take their chances. And I do not habitually carry any type of weapon.

[Drunken Monkey]

ok, new reply from a totally different perspective...

 

martial arts are supposed to offer/provide you with an advantage against an opponent, right?

 

if both parties are equally trained then it is even.

 

if one party is untrained then he is at a disadvantage, in which case, whether or not he is a threat, he shouldn't be dealt with so severly, right?

 

if the untrained guy is armed then the situation has changed.

 

like it or not, the trained guy is now at a disadvantage if only because he now has to be more aware of the weapon (as opposed to a previously controllable opponant).

 

if you look at things this way, even if you have trained in martial arts, it doesn't mean that weapons are not needed in order to protect.

 

in fact, if you took martial arts to protect

 

(i.e to gain an advantage)

 

then to retain your advantage in an armed society, it makes sense to arm yourself.

 

after all, even in the magical, mystical times of ancient china, no trained unarmed man chose to take on an armed attacker, even an untrained one.

 

(old chinese saying: swords and knives have no eyes)

 

which is exactly why they had weapons training; in order to gain an advantage against other users or that same weapon.

[Warp Spider]

sorry about this but...

 

yes he might get shot but it wouldn't prevent him/her from doing the act.

 

I fail to see how being ventilated would not prevent you from committing some criminal act.

 

I think it's good for everyone to have a gun - it level's the playing field. A thug pulling a knife on you only puts him at an advantage if you don't also have a knife. If you also had a knife, then you'd pretty much be on a level playing field, and the thug would likely not be quite so confident.

 

Because the reasonable maximum armament for pedestrians is generally a compact submachinegun, if everyone had one, it would be very difficult for a would-be criminal to gain a tactical advantage simply by arming themselves. I suppose they could use an assault rifle or automatic shotgun and wear body armor, but that would be pretty conspicuous.

 

That's why I think everyone should have guns. It levels the playing field, and makes it much more difficult to gain an advantage over a would-be victim.

 

I don't think that makes it paranoid, I mean, by that logic you could extend it indefinately. The example earlier with seatbelts and airbags is a very good one. Your chance of being in a car accident is almost nil, but you buckle up anyways just in case, yet that's not considered paranoid.

 

I also don't think it's fair to say that people would draw their weapon at any opportunity. I mean, I love whipping out a gun and spraying bullets everywhere, while cackling madly, but even I don't waltz into a public place and start blowing away everyone who looks at me funny.

[Drunken Monkey]

i mean, the fact that he MIGHT get shot wouldn't prevent him from doing the things s/he is compelled to do.

 

admittedly, shotting the guy would probably prevent him from repeating the act....

 

and if the first shot doesn't do it, try again i guess.