Great article G-Dog. Sorry that the fellow felt the need to make it that personal. I think it's a bit immature to be honest - my opinion. Here in South Africa the for vs anti gun debate goes on constantly and unfortunately the situation here has recently got to the point where government is trying their absolute utmost to completely ban personal fire arms.
For me, I never went through the paperwork required to obtain the license when I should have and I'm kicking myself now, however when I was working in conservation and had been appointed as a Peace Officer, the opportunity was available to carry a work-issued firearm both off and on duty. I went through the necessary training to qualify for this, but after much thought and introspection, I decided to not get one for one simple reason:
I am small of stature, 1.54m. I used to work solo in the field a lot of the time doing vegetation, law enforcement, fence and general assessments. I chose to do this solo as having few distractions allowed me to catalogue items needing attention with a higher level of efficiency and attention to detail.
Working on the Cape Flats is generally ill advised and there is always a chance that you will run into someone that has nefarious intentions. I came across them often and through many of the situations I felt that had I been armed with a hand gun, I probably would have been targeted for it. The statistics here in South Africa of how many guns (mostly hand guns) are stolen from police and various forms of law enforcement are staggeringly high. These are then often trafficked on the black market and used in criminal acts. After completing the Tueller drill training I realized that having a hand gun up against the average Cape Flats teenage gangster would probably not do me too well and I passed over the opportunity. It may seem a bit backwards, but being painted as a target for your firearm here is a harsh reality.
At the time I don't think I was called an idiot for my decision, but there were some people that thought I had come to that decision poorly and I do remember them shaking their heads at me, however it was a personal decision that I took based on a lot of thought and analyzing my previous experiences with the nefarious types I previously mentioned. In retrospect, I am actually amazed that I worked in field for a decade and I wasn't killed. Others were not so fortunate.
The gun debate is probably going to be one that sticks around for as long as humans are here and unfortunately it is going to be fueled on both sides by human nature - the fact that some people will use these tools for good (self defense, hunting, etc) and some people will use these tools for ill (violence). I think that everyone should be able to choose whether they would personally have a gun as long as they are mentally fit to do so and have the necessary training to use, store, clean etc said fire-arms, or not to have a firearm - however I don't think that it's right to expect anyone else to change their own behaviour based on another person's views and that ultimately is one of the largest issues that we (as a "civilized society") are facing right now. Until we can mend the growing divide and start acting in the interest of community over personal arrogance and agenda, this kind of division will continue. That's my opinion anyway and anyone is entitled to disagree with my opinion, but I'm not going to change it simply to placate them.
Sorry about this long story.
Have a good one.
Cheers
Ranger Andy
A South African expat I know was taking about how her husband carried a firearm in his car when they still lived there. The one time he might have used it, had it been in reach, was when he was held up by some armed assailants. It was in the glove box, though and they concluded that if it had been seen on him or he had reached for it, the likelihood is he would have been shot before he could use it.
Hi @minismallholding
Firstly I am very relieved for your friend and her husband that the worst case scenario didn't happen in that instance but unfortunately this kind of thing is very common here and it's a very difficult decision to have to weigh up the pros and cons. I'm happy with the decision I chose back then in those circumstances, but to be honest I really would prefer having a fire arm at home now for self defense in case of a home invasion.
Thanks for the comment, have a lovely day.
Andy
I think when you're in a situation where both have a gun, the one with theirs out and willing to use it is going to be the victor. Having a gun for home invasion, on the other hand, should give the home owner the advantage because you usually have been alerted to them coming. That's assuming you can have the gun to hand.
In Australia and the UK your guns have to be locked up in a safe, separate to your ammunition, so they aren't really accessible. It's illegal to have a gun for the purposes of self defense anyway. In Australia you aren't even allowed pepper spray as self defense. Only the police can use it.
That is similar here, we also have to have them in a safe. Pepperspray is allowed here as are many things that are banned in other countries. I know that in places like Canada you aren't allowed knives or knuckle dusters even if they are just as collector or show pieces, they are considered weapons.
If that was implemented here, it would simply mean that all the guns, knives and other miscellaneous weapons would belong to the criminals because they certainly aren't going to surrender their weapons and then crime would literally take over in a very short space of time. It's the wild west out here in South Africa.
This isn't going to end well for many.
Don't be sorry about the long story, in fact I'd like to see you write it in my gun community if you have the time, about your choice not to carry.
I understand it of course; being dispossessed of one's weapon by an aggressor will normally not go so well. I also assume that drawing and using it is likely to go poorly for a person and so...Well, maybe best not to have it.
I think it takes great courage to deny such means of personal protection as moving about armed gives a certain feeling of security. In your line of work, small of stature and solitary...Courage and confidence.
The Celtic meaning of Andrastia is invincible which sort of seems fitting.
Nice comment Ranger Andy, now...Please consider a post around it in The Pew community if you have the time and volition.
Thanks for the reply Galen.
I would gladly put a post together on it for The Pew. Looking back now, I still feel that I made the right choice and I'm grateful that I made it out of those years of work alive on the other side. Perhaps I inherited some of my mothers traits that helped me in this regard, I like to think so anyway.
In terms of now, I would very happily have a fire arm at home for self defense as I feel that is a different ball game, I suppose one answer doesn't fit all scenarios.
Have a good evening
Cheers
Your mum must have been a warrior.
I'll look out for your post.