Last edited Thu Apr 26, 2012, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)
Of course you can concoct hypothetical scenarios where the difference between a gun and pepper spray saves the day, and every now and then one of those will actually occur in reality. But pepper spray covers the vast majority of the cases, with just a tiny fraction of the risks, both to the person CCW-ing and to other people around.
not concocted, simply stated examples. Weird thing about having cops as family, that is actually dinner conversation, or at least in my house it was. The odds of either actually happening is very slim. Someone in the laundry room in her apt building is not likely to have either one.
And, of course, there hypothetical scenarios where pepper spray is better. For example, shooting someone who is stealing property from you when there is no risk to your person will get you sent to prison for a long time. Pepper spraying them, while still probably illegal, is not as severe.
You mean someone ripping off something in your yard while you are in your house? I'll just call the cops. Then again with some yard stuff, they might be doing me a favor. I understand shooting someone in your yard is legal in Texas, but I don't live there. In Florida and Wyoming (where I do live) yes, I would be going to prison.
Which goes to the point that a lot of CCW-ing has little to do with safety and everything to do with the gun culture and the way it feels to walk around with a loaded gun.
Or they listen to different self defense experts than you. Most CCW folks I personally know, I would not define as "gun culture". My FIL was an example. He had a CCW and a .32 ACP when he had a cash business. When he retired from it, he sold the gun and let the permit expire. As far as I know, it was the only gun he owned. Most people I know who are "gun culture" live in the woods or Mayberry, so never actually thought about it. Some of the folks here say they carry both. I have never been a fan of pop psychology, speculating what "I think most people who..." is mostly projecting.
edit to add one thing, it seems that Zimmerman was originally looking at pepper spray instead of a pistol, but Seminole Animal Control told him a pistol would be better against a pit bull. Since dogs have exposed mucus membranes (compared with a human), I would think it would be more effective against a dog than a human.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/25/us-usa-florida-shooting-zimmerman-idUSBRE83O18H20120425
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