Why a gun?

I guess I am going to tackle one of the basic questions prospective students may have, which is, why would someone would want to own a firearm, or carry one for defense.  The majority of classes we teach are NRA Basic Pistol and Ohio CHL courses, which are great for someone who is either new to shooting and guns, wants to get their Concealed Handgun License in Ohio, or both.  So what makes a firearm so great that someone would carry one for self defense?

I think the thing that a firearm can do for an individual that no other self defense tool can do is that it is one of the ultimate equalizers in a self defense situation.  There is not another self defense tool that can give the advantage to anyone, regardless of size, age, or gender.  A 9 millimeter bullet has the same amount of force on impact whether it is fired by a 6'4" 325 pound 25 year old man, or a 5'1", 95 pound, 78 year old woman.  The same can not be said for a knife, club, punch or any other handheld melee weapon.  There is no other self defense tool that is as effective at stopping a threat that gives the user such an advantage.

Now, there are some less lethal options that also exist, and some people may think that carrying them for self defense makes more sense than a gun.  While I do think that less lethal are valuable tools for police officers, they make less sense for civilians, and are not as effective as firearms.  Probably the most popular less lethal option is Mace, pepper, or OC spray, which can bee a great tool.  But it does have its drawbacks, which I don't think everyone considers.  First of all, it does not effect everyone equally, and can be overcome.  Some people are affected more than other, this also depends on the ingredients and strength of the spray.  But, a routine part of training for those who carry pepper spray as part of their job is to get sprayed, and then conduct a  task before seeking treatment for the spray, which proves it is not always effective at immediately stopping a threat.  The second major drawback is that although there are different types of sprays, even the more concentrated stream form is subject to forces of nature during deployment.  Rain can disrupt deployment, and wind is a major factor.  Just like any other aerosol, most defense sprays perform poorly when deployed into the wind.  And because of this, if you are going to carry a defensive spray, you should be prepared for some of the spray to blow-back on you when it is deployed.  So you need to be able to overcome its effects in order to escape the danger if the threat does not immediately stop.  So, while a defensive spray can be a good less lethal option, it also has problems.

Another less lethal option is a Taser, which also has issues that must be taken into consideration when weighing the options of carrying one or a firearm.  The first is cost, because Tasers are not inexpensive, but then again, neither is a quality made firearm.  The difference is that with a quality made firearm you get a multiple shot device that is capable of ending a threat immediately, and can be used for other activities, like recreational shooting.  A Taser is a single shot weapon unless you carry extra cartridges, so if you miss you have to have a back-up plan, and is rather limited in the scope of activities you can use it for.  It is also expensive to buy extra cartridges to practice and train with for a Taser, which is a drawback.  Tasers do work well when they deploy correctly, but even then there are problems.  Your defensive range is limited to the length of the wires connected to the probe.  And both probes have to properly connect with the target in order to make a complete circuit and deliver their charge.  Thick clothing, or a probe that misses can prevent this from happening.  Also, it only disables the threat far a temporary amount of time, and then the threat can become active again.  During that time you need to be able to escape from the area, but what if that area is your house, in the middle of the night, and you have to grab multiple other family members, like your children, in that 5-30 second window?

So a firearm really is the only defense tool that can level the playing field and immediately stop a threat.  It isn't something that should be used except in the gravest circumstances when a person is in fear for their life, but if you are facing a lethal threat, you need the capability to end it as soon as possible.   Also, it is true that shooting skills require training and practice, and that is why I recommend large amounts of both with high quality sources.  Also, in the vast majority of states, there is now the ability to legally carry one for your defense, and if you are going to carry any sort of self defense tool, please obey and understand all applicable laws for the area in which you are going to be.

But in my personal opinion, someone who wants to take some proactive measures for their defense, and the defense of their loved ones, should consider the legal ownership and carrying of firearms.  It is a grave responsibility and something which anyone considering doing should reflect on, but could mean the difference between life and death.

Aside from how valuable a firearm is for a self-defense tool, I didn't even touch on the other reasons why someone might want to legally own a firearm, like collecting, target shooting, plinking, shotgunning, organized competitions or any other sort of recreational shooting.  But I think I will leave that for another post.