Precautions Save Lives
January 14th, 2009
Dr. Piazza,
I was recently asked why I carry weapons (straight-edged blade and a Glock 19) on my person by a friend. He said:
“You’re big enough and trained to defend yourself from an attacker, so why do you find it necessary to be armed at all times?”
I tried to explain, but he retaliated with extreme naivety and misunderstanding. He told me the situations explained in the report were unreasonable and unrealistic. What were the chances of that happening to me, and was being armed to deal with the threat worth making people uncomfortable around me?
So I asked him:
“How many car accidents have you been in?”
“One,” he replied “When I was around 12 my father and I were in a small fender-bender.”
“Were you injured?” I asked.
“Besides being a little startled, no.”
“So you’ve been in one car accident by no fault of your own. One accident in 34 years when a potentially unsafe driver was at the wheel is hardly enough to say that car accidents are statistically probably, right?”
“I suppose.”
“So even though you’ve never been harmed in a car accident, and have only been in one in 34 years, you still wear your seatbelt every time you get in a car. This despite the statistical unlikeliness of a serious accident happening.”
“… I see your point.”
Me carrying a weapon is just as much a measure of self-preservation as wearing a seatbelt. I myself have been in 3 motor vehicle accidents and have never been injured, but have drawn my weapon in defence 5 times. Thankfully I have never had to fire a shot in self defence, but I am definitely prepared to.
Nick M.
Entry Filed under: From the Mail Bag,Front Sight.
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