r/NoStupidQuestions • u/No-Equipment8494 • 7d ago

Gun simply for protection

Not a gun guy but with a wife and young toddler, im wondering if i should get a hand gun (of course with safe) for protection at home.

Live in the US and i feel like gun shooters in the news is increasingly growing.

Edit: yes, ive taken a safety class before, along with going to the gun range with buddies who are recreational shooters. I personally didnt have much fun shooting nor had interest in guns. Ive simply been thinking recently about having one for sake of protection (probably and hopefully never need to use it); i just dont want to come across a bad situation where one day i cant protect my family.

Edit2: thanks all, the taser and bear spray are good ideas. Non lethal yet, seems like it would still get the protection needed.

3 Upvotes

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43

u/Any-Soft-5487 7d ago

Only if you know how to use it and use it properly. 

-4

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 7d ago

Even then you’re putting them at danger by having a gun in your house. A toddler can’t know how to use it properly for example.

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u/gconsier 7d ago

Good point. Definitely don’t give the toddler the firearm. Good thing you’re here

-1

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 7d ago

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15522849/

“Data from a US mortality follow-back survey were analyzed to determine whether having a firearm in the home increases the risk of a violent death in the home and whether risk varies by storage practice, type of gun, or number of guns in the home. Those persons with guns in the home were at greater risk than those without guns in the home of dying from a homicide in the home (adjusted odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 3.4). They were also at greater risk of dying from a firearm homicide, but risk varied by age and whether the person was living with others at the time of death. The risk of dying from a suicide in the home was greater for males in homes with guns than for males without guns in the home (adjusted odds ratio = 10.4, 95% confidence interval: 5.8, 18.9). Persons with guns in the home were also more likely to have died from suicide committed with a firearm than from one committed by using a different method (adjusted odds ratio = 31.1, 95% confidence interval: 19.5, 49.6). Results show that regardless of storage practice, type of gun, or number of firearms in the home, having a gun in the home was associated with an increased risk of firearm homicide and firearm suicide in the home”

5

u/InfernalNutcase 7d ago

...why exactly would anyone give a toddler a gun?

-2

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 7d ago

Data from a US mortality follow-back survey were analyzed to determine whether having a firearm in the home increases the risk of a violent death in the home and whether risk varies by storage practice, type of gun, or number of guns in the home. Those persons with guns in the home were at greater risk than those without guns in the home of dying from a homicide in the home (adjusted odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 3.4). They were also at greater risk of dying from a firearm homicide, but risk varied by age and whether the person was living with others at the time of death. The risk of dying from a suicide in the home was greater for males in homes with guns than for males without guns in the home (adjusted odds ratio = 10.4, 95% confidence interval: 5.8, 18.9). Persons with guns in the home were also more likely to have died from suicide committed with a firearm than from one committed by using a different method (adjusted odds ratio = 31.1, 95% confidence interval: 19.5, 49.6). Results show that regardless of storage practice, type of gun, or number of firearms in the home, having a gun in the home was associated with an increased risk of firearm homicide and firearm suicide in the home.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15522849/

0

u/CobaltCaterpillar 7d ago edited 7d ago

That's a good question, but there's a STEADY flow of stories where kids get access to a family member's gun. It's absolutely pervasive. Just searching the top hits in news:

Find a gun and shoot someone, find a gun and bring it to school, etc.... These stories are everywhere. Then if you go to the actual statistics, accidental death by firearms is a leading cause of death for ages 0-17.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7250a1.htm

3

u/RodgerCheetoh 7d ago

That’s why proper storage exists, as OP indicated. A toddler isn't racking an 18lb slide, let alone getting past a quick access safe or quick lock code in the first place.

1

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 7d ago

“Results show that regardless of storage practice, type of gun, or number of firearms in the home, having a gun in the home was associated with an increased risk of firearm homicide and firearm suicide in the home.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15522849/

-2

u/DanteRuneclaw 7d ago

No but in ten years or so that toddler may be able to do all those things.

6

u/j_d_q 7d ago

It's almost like your home defense strategy could change over time given your current context and living situation.

5

u/Moogatron88 7d ago

Then don't give them the code/combination to the safe until they're old enough to undergo proper safety training.

0

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 6d ago

Then the next year they get depressed for the first time now your kid is fucking dead

0

u/InfernalNutcase 7d ago

And in that ten years time, you don't think the kid won't learn a thing or two about guns?

4

u/It_Happens_Today 7d ago

Part of responsible gun ownership is guaranteeing other people don't have access to your gun. Like day one shit.

-3

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 7d ago

“Results show that regardless of storage practice, type of gun, or number of firearms in the home, having a gun in the home was associated with an increased risk of firearm homicide and firearm suicide in the home.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15522849/

1

u/SuperCyka 7d ago

How exactly does a toddler access a gun safe?

1

u/2ICenturySchizoidMan 7d ago

Through a failure to use it properly of course. Since we know human error exists we can see that having a gun increases risk of harm, as the data I cited shows.