General Discussion

GreenStormCloud

(12,072 posts)

155. So it is a matter of probabilities then.

Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:53 AM

Dec 2012

When you deal with firearms injury statistics it is helpful to divide out the legal from the illegal gun owners. You will find the behaviors of the two groups are greatly different, which vastly changes the risk factor. For illegal gun owners, having a gun in the house is a serious risk. For legal gun owners, having a gun in the house is a very low risk.

Anti-gun groups, in their attempt to get rid of legal gun ownership, combine the legal and illegal statistics to try to scare honest people away from having guns.

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Some home defense alternatives [View all] Speck Tater Dec 2012 OP

ghost pepper... grow it yourself hotter than military grade pepper spray oldhippydude Dec 2012 #1

No kidding! zappaman Dec 2012 #6

acually i'm betting those were not ghost pepper oldhippydude Dec 2012 #15

And don't go to the bathroom without washing your hands throughly. Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #29

.!! Recommend!! lastlib Dec 2012 #59

i have already made that mistake with green chilis i would not want make it with something that hot. oldhippydude Dec 2012 #62

I once made that mistake with Mentholatum heating rub. Speck Tater Dec 2012 #76

What about Trinidad scorpion peppers? derby378 Dec 2012 #57

Door locks? NoOneMan Dec 2012 #2

What a concept. nt LWolf Dec 2012 #24

If someone wants to get into a house a normal door lock will not slow them. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #48

true. we have a much better method than a normal lock tho, for our garage. Whisp Dec 2012 #163

Wasp spray . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #3

I have a can on each floor landing in my house, and in my bedroom. n/t Mira Dec 2012 #80

Everyone is forgetting the one that is most effective - even more effective Fawke Em Dec 2012 #4

Except for those of us allergic to dogs. fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #9

Then get a "Bo." Fawke Em Dec 2012 #19

Yep, I'm allergic to dogs laundry_queen Dec 2012 #92

I appreciate the suggestion, but . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #100

Absolutely! StarryNite Dec 2012 #20

Yep! My dog won't let anyone near my house NashvilleLefty Dec 2012 #43

Problem is that I am so attached to my border collies exboyfil Dec 2012 #54

I have a Rottie mix, and he don't bark for nothing GobBluth Dec 2012 #63

my Akitas rarely ever bark either TorchTheWitch Dec 2012 #141

I WISH he barked more GobBluth Dec 2012 #146

These are a little more effective meow2u3 Dec 2012 #103

my local police just got its first K-9 TorchTheWitch Dec 2012 #140

Not more effective than a gun. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #105

A lot of people can't have a dog for financial or logistic reasons. nt rrneck Dec 2012 #115

Dagger. Big 6" knife SWTORFanatic Dec 2012 #142

Jesus Is Watching You hobbit709 Dec 2012 #149

Pies! zappaman Dec 2012 #5

Lulz Champion Jack Dec 2012 #152

Pepper spray is usually very effective. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #7

The laser pointer would be good for cat burglars. n/t rucky Dec 2012 #8

Thank you zappaman Dec 2012 #10

Yep. Get em running around in circles till police arrive. Hoyt Dec 2012 #14

lmao RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #51

Big dogs. n/t Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 #11

Doesn't have to be big! My little Jack Russell would eat them alive or make them wish they weren't. Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #33

From what I hear, dogs are very effective. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #69

If you are specifically targeted for some reason you have ...... Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 #81

Is this a joke? All those are laughably pathetic alternatives to assualt weapons n/t Taitertots Dec 2012 #12

Depends what your objective is. undeterred Dec 2012 #22

My objective is to protect myself and my loved ones Taitertots Dec 2012 #27

Stay back! I've got a dart! Coyote_Tan Dec 2012 #55

You better not, I'll shine you in the eyes with a laser pointer n/t Taitertots Dec 2012 #67

More like "Lay there on the floor with a dart between your wide open eyes... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #77

Hmm... Coyote_Tan Dec 2012 #98

my reason for keeping a home defense TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #44

Well don't you think having a weapon makes it more likely you'll be the first one shot dead? undeterred Dec 2012 #66

didn't happen the first time my door was TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #72

No. I know how to use my gun. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #106

Not true... cbrer Dec 2012 #39

With all the talk Jim Warren Dec 2012 #13

I have guardian Dec 2012 #86

Not to argue Jim Warren Dec 2012 #88

in subsequent years guardian Dec 2012 #90

Hockey stick blueamy66 Dec 2012 #16

Baseball bat for me... a la izquierda Dec 2012 #65

Sounds good to me blueamy66 Dec 2012 #99

A few more alternatives guardian Dec 2012 #17

You forgot Yoko Ono music. undeterred Dec 2012 #23

That would be very effective guardian Dec 2012 #85

Or, I could read your post to them! LongTomH Dec 2012 #70

a dane cook dvd arely staircase Dec 2012 #134

I think "Mandy" is banned from civilian use by a UN treaty. nt hack89 Dec 2012 #164

mean face? crazyjoe Dec 2012 #18

Quietly walk out back door and wait for them to leave. rgbecker Dec 2012 #21

Why is there an assumption LWolf Dec 2012 #25

Probably the last thought of many violent crime victims ..... oldhippie Dec 2012 #45

The only violent crime LWolf Dec 2012 #97

You are a lucky person FrodosPet Dec 2012 #109

Theft isn't necessarily violent. LWolf Dec 2012 #121

Sadie Mae and Nakita. 99Forever Dec 2012 #26

That works, as long as no one ever has bologna or dog treats Taitertots Dec 2012 #28

Come try any of those, anytime you feel like it. 99Forever Dec 2012 #35

What makes you think I would ever want to? Taitertots Dec 2012 #56

You keep tellin' youself that. 99Forever Dec 2012 #73

Keep telling yourself that you are safe because you have two animals protecting you Taitertots Dec 2012 #83

What a ridiculous argument. n/t 99Forever Dec 2012 #95

Not ridiculous at all. Just poorly stated. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #110

Only... 99Forever Dec 2012 #116

Can your dog run faster than 1485 feet per second? GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #124

Sure you did. 99Forever Dec 2012 #135

That it took me less than one second to draw a pistol is unbelievable to you? GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #137

Ri-dic-u-lous. 99Forever Dec 2012 #148

Not true, as proven by Mythbusters. NashvilleLefty Dec 2012 #47

90 pound hybrid wolf wyldwolf Dec 2012 #30

Had one of those years ago. 99Forever Dec 2012 #36

I've owned 3 in my life... wyldwolf Dec 2012 #37

The one that owned me... 99Forever Dec 2012 #42

Is the dog's name Prius? Remmah2 Dec 2012 #150

Timber (and Tasha and Jenna) wyldwolf Dec 2012 #153

My neighbor babysits a hybrid wolf-shepherd. Remmah2 Dec 2012 #154

Aunt? Is that you... abelenkpe Dec 2012 #129

A prayer StayFunky Dec 2012 #31

A trap door under which Drale Dec 2012 #32

I like that one! nt oldhippie Dec 2012 #46

How about a really scary mask? flvegan Dec 2012 #34

Justin Bieber full volume on the stereo? wyldwolf Dec 2012 #38

LEGOs !! If the criminal is barefoot trocar Dec 2012 #40

LOL! abelenkpe Dec 2012 #127

home defence winetourdriver Dec 2012 #41

Only federally licensed veterinarians Nevernose Dec 2012 #49

the tranqs usually contain nicotine LiberalEsto Dec 2012 #58

Home defense is usually implied to mean a home invasion former-republican Dec 2012 #50

How about a semi-auto clip fed slingshot? flvegan Dec 2012 #52

If you don't want to have gun in your home. former-republican Dec 2012 #60

This would be even better if... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #78

A loud alarm system that also alerts the police station to a breach of security. JaneyVee Dec 2012 #53

Bear Attack Deterrent womanofthehills Dec 2012 #61

Bars on all the windows, steel-lattice reinforced glass, triple-locked steel doors. Spider Jerusalem Dec 2012 #64

The son of one of our neighbors was shot in a drive-by shooting back in the late '80s or early '90s. JDPriestly Dec 2012 #75

Bars may keep intruders out, but they also keep you in, in case of fire. People have died that way. RC Dec 2012 #131

A double-barreled shotgun with buckshot n/t Pryderi Dec 2012 #68

I'll stick to my 45,40,9mm, 223 or 12ga. ileus Dec 2012 #71

Get along really well with your neighbors, well enough that you can call them in an emergency. JDPriestly Dec 2012 #74

N-O-T-H-I-N-G cali Dec 2012 #79

I'm with you. In 67 years I've NEVER been in ANY situation where I needed a gun. Speck Tater Dec 2012 #87

Can you give an absolute guarantee that anyone else will have your good luck? N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #125

Helen Keller put it best... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #144

So it is a matter of probabilities then. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #155

Bottom line... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #156

Your choice. In a Texas small town you can pretty much assume that every home has a gun. N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #157

And Texas is a place I stay far away from. nt :) Speck Tater Dec 2012 #159

"What the fuck is all this insane concern?" ecstatic Dec 2012 #91

uh, no. I grew up in a town near Newtown cali Dec 2012 #93

Right? This thread sounds like the fear-filled republicans adigal Dec 2012 #151

I'm not interested in any alternatives. I'll stick with my 9 mm. badtoworse Dec 2012 #82

Moat. TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #84

The only decent option on that list is to hide and call 911 (if living alone) ecstatic Dec 2012 #89

I'll just use my 5.56 carbine... jal777 Dec 2012 #94

Can't we just like... get a werewolf from Buffy? Fla_Democrat Dec 2012 #96

Fake TV . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #101

A large camera flash formercia Dec 2012 #102

Remember the scene in Rear Window? kentauros Dec 2012 #108

That wouldn't work. HappyMe Dec 2012 #111

Care to elaborate? kentauros Dec 2012 #113

Sure they won't see anything. HappyMe Dec 2012 #114

No, I don't think that they won't fight back. kentauros Dec 2012 #117

I'm 5', 110lbs. HappyMe Dec 2012 #118

I guess you've never been tangled in a net before kentauros Dec 2012 #119

You have obviously never had an encounter with a violent criminal before. N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #126

No I haven't. kentauros Dec 2012 #133

Your choice. I respect your right to that choice, although not the choice itself. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #138

I think you're implying that you've been through that, kentauros Dec 2012 #139

Real world violent crime is very different from your theory. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #143

Slingshot? Are you serious? Bake Dec 2012 #104

House Alarm shintao Dec 2012 #107

Alarms are of little use against home invaders. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #112

Time and Distance to React - haele Dec 2012 #120

You could try a sternly worded letter, that always works well. n/t hughee99 Dec 2012 #122

Dwight Schrute, is that you? arely staircase Dec 2012 #123

Cameras and lights outside are said to be the best abelenkpe Dec 2012 #128

Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. leveymg Dec 2012 #130

Hmmm. A guard ROBOT sounds like a good idea to me. Speck Tater Dec 2012 #145

It's doable. rrneck Dec 2012 #147

Bad limericks. That will stop any intruder in his tracks. BlueStreak Dec 2012 #132

Dogs. mzmolly Dec 2012 #136

You never go to a gun fight armed with a knife - lynne Dec 2012 #158

Probably the best first line of defense Speck Tater Dec 2012 #160

I like these guardian Dec 2012 #161

A Dog and an alarm system and I sleep soundly every nite. Both will cause the intruder to leave. jillan Dec 2012 #162