Violent crime has been plummeting for more than 20 years according to the most recent complete FBI statistics. This correlates with a trend toward firearm freedom across much of the United States as restrictions on carrying firearms openly and concealed have been lifted in many areas over the same timeframe. I am certainly not asserting a causal connection between these trends, but merely pointing out that it directly contradicts the presumption that more guns in public means more crime.
While this indicates that there is a low probability that you will be the victim of violent crime, it is absurd to suggest that the risk is entirely negligible. Freedom means taking personal responsibility for your life, liberty, property, and actions. You can't rely on police protection, since they have no obligation to protect anyone, and cannot respond in a timely fashion even if they can be contacted and do respond.
I do not presume to tell you whether you should carry, much less what you should carry, but I do encourage you to consider some basic safety rules. Even if you never plan to own a gun, learn these rules and make sure your family understands them too.
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1. Always treat every gun as loaded.
Many negligent discharges occur because people assume a gun is unloaded. Never assume. Even if it's your own pistol and you're sure you just unloaded it, check it again before cleaning. If someone hands you a gun and tells you it's unloaded, automatically assume they're mistaken. If you don't know how to check, ask. If the other person doesn't know, put it down and don't touch it.
2. Never point a gun at anything you don't want to shoot.
Always know where the muzzle is pointing. Some writers and trainers substitute "kill" or "destroy" for "shoot," because this rule is so important. "Muzzle sweeping" other people is bad etiquette, not to mention incredibly dangerous. People don't care if the action is open and the magazine is removed. Don't do it. Period.
3. Be sure of your target before firing.
Know what you are shooting at, what is beyond it, and what is around it. This rule reinforces Rule 2 above. Never shoot at sounds. Never shoot at movement. Don't plan to miss, but know the consequences of missing. Know that bullets can over-penetrate and endanger people and property beyond your target. Consider carrying a "tactical flashlight," whether you carry a gun or not.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you intend to fire.
This means wait until your sights are aligned with the target before putting your booger hook on the bang switch. This rule is violated all the time in TV and movies. Watch for it. Mock it. Remember not to do it yourself.
5. Keep your firearm on safe until you intend to fire.
Those who carry a single-action semiautomatic typically rely on carrying cocked and locked with a round in the chamber, hammer cocked, and safety on. Not all firearms have a manual safety switch, and some trainers dislike them because it adds an extra step if you need to defend yourself. Others prefer the extra layer of protection. Mechanical safeties can fail, so they should never be considered a license to violate the other rules on this list, but they are nonetheless an important consideration if your firearm has one. If your gun has a safety lever, you need to practice using it as a part of your training procedures. Of course, the safety between your ears is the most important one.
There are many different lists of firearm safety rules. Often the order and emphasis changes depending on who presents them. Sometimes they are combined into fewer rules or split into more, but the principles are the same. Spend the time watching educational videos like Gun Training with the Non Aggression principle. Practice situational awareness. Get training from a qualified professional, whether through a basic hunter safety course or a full combat handgun program. PRACTICE. Turn money into noise, and noise into proficiency, at your local range. Don't forget basics like eye and ear protection, either.
Never use your gun to initiate coercive force against peaceful people. Live free and take responsibility for your own security.
