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[jaxword]

You missed the crucial bit:

Pulling a gun on a criminal makes them more likely to shoot you. Which, honestly, isn't surprising in the least. Everyone seems to think that criminals are cowards who will flee at the sight of a gun, as opposed to thinking the exact same way as the victim. Both parties are then thinking "oh shit, this guy is armed, my hesitation to shoot him has just gone down"

What I'm more interested in is this desire to have them "concealed."

FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, let us agree that showing you have a gun serves as a deterrent. I can see the logic of that stance, humans are posturing animals that back down in the face of bigger threats.

But I'm not sure ANY species on the planet evolved to deliberately hid its defenses.

No, let me rephrase that. There are several species that evolved to hide its OFFENSIVE capabilities, i.e. predatory plants and animals luring prey in by seeming defenseless. That is a logical reason to hide your weapons, to lure in prey with a false sense of security.

But there's no logical reasons for humans to act that way...or is there?

 

[The Technomancer]

Oh yeah, there's that too. Why not carry your gun openly and obviously so that maybe they think twice about mugging you.

 

[Evil Benius]

What I'm more interested in is this desire to have them "concealed."

FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, let us agree that showing you have a gun serves as a deterrent. I can see the logic of that stance, humans are posturing animals that back down in the face of bigger threats.

But I'm not sure ANY species on the planet evolved to deliberately hid its defenses.

No, let me rephrase that. There are several species that evolved to hide its OFFENSIVE capabilities, i.e. predatory plants and animals luring prey in by seeming defenseless. That is a logical reason to hide your weapons, to lure in prey with a false sense of security.

But there's no logical reasons for humans to act that way...or is there?

The desire to have them concealed is more for the benefit of others than those carrying. For instance Pennsylvania allows for open carry, but unless you are way out in the sticks you will get more hassle than it is worth open carrying.

As an example: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_17628424

 

[Gustav]

Probably the most notorious case of defense by gun in US history.

 

[Byakuya769]

because 95% of gaffers are left leaning people who don't make thread that contradict their political views, especially on a subject where it rarely happens enough that anyone would notice when it actually does happen?

can you start making those threads?

 

[scar tissue]

How about kitchen knifes and razor blades and jumping out a building.

Infinitely more survivable than a shotgun mouthwash or even a close-distance shot to the head with a handgun.
But yeah, while gun suicides are tragic, it's ultimately the gun-owner's problem and should not be used as an excuse to ban guns.
There's plenty of actual reasons why guns should at least be restricted to your own property (no carrying, concealed or otherwise, in public).

 

[Steelrain]

Probably the most notorious case of defense by gun in US history.

Good read. Thanks.

 

[Jim E. Rossler]

http://www.learnaboutguns.com/
Lots of self defense reports there
The thing studies dont usually account for is that you dont have to SHOOT a CCW to effectively use it. It's like judging the police ONLY from Criminals SHOT instead of all occasions their firearms prove useful.
If you pull your CCW, and it deters the attacker, it's not reported in the news, or statistics, or anything really unless you go out of your way and tell the police and news stations.

http://gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/6.0/Gun-Facts-v6.0-screen.pdf

 

[(._.)]

because there are a ton of liberals in OT and their opinions are just as skewed as the conservatives on the other side.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

I don't understand the need for a gun, it's the opposite of an irrational fear.

Hmm, no that sounds irrational.


An irrational fear would be someone who carries a gun under the 0.1% chance they will be confronted by a dangerous criminal with a gun, even though there's a higher chance the gun owner will end up blowing a family member's head off.[/QUOTE]

Do you have a source for that statistic or are you just making it up?

 

[VALIS]

GAF gun threads are always a carousel of shit.

So's the demand of people who aren't law enforcement officials to be able to carry a handgun around with them where ever they go. It's one of the most obnoxious and over-zealous positions someone could take in a well-functioning, first world society. The only reason such a preposterous idea even has traction is some areas of the USA are so remote that I'm not sure 20th century civilization has reached them yet, never mind 21st.

So here we are.

 

[Timedog]

Hmm, no that sounds irrational.


An irrational fear would be someone who carries a gun under the 0.1% chance they will be confronted by a dangerous criminal with a gun, even though there's a higher chance the gun owner will end up blowing a family member's head off.

Do you have a source for that statistic or are you just making it up?[/QUOTE]

the 1/1000 chance part, or the higher percentage chance that it'll be used against a family member part?

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

So's the demand of people who aren't law enforcement officials to be able to carry a handgun around with them where ever they go. It's one of the most obnoxious and over-zealous positions someone could take in a well-functioning, first world society. The only reason such a preposterous idea even has traction is some areas of the USA are so remote that I'm not sure 20th century civilization has reached them yet, never mind 21st.

So here we are.

No, it isn't. It seems more like your fear and stereotypes have consumed you.

the 1/1000 chance part

That.