There are numerous reasons people decide to own guns, but the most popular one is self-defense. Most gun owners state they use their guns for protection, hunting, and competition, and many people collect or inherit guns. Guns empower people who might fall victim to criminals, and thus firearms are ideal as self-defense weapons. Here are some of the reasons guns are suitable for self-defense, offered by the firearms education professionals from LTC Austin, a top provider of Austin LTC online classes.
Save Your Life
A 1993 study conducted by Kleck indicated guns in the U.S. are commonly used for self-defense more often than for committing crimes. Furthermore, the Department of Justice’s firearm violence report covering the years 1993 to 2011 shows nearly 1 percent of victims of violent crimes that weren’t fatal used guns for self-defense by threatening or attacking offenders. Therefore, having a firearm while being faced with imminent danger might protect your life.
Protect Your Family & Others
Apart from protecting yourself, guns can assist you in protecting your loved ones and other people. Carrying a firearm means bearing some degree of responsibility for the safety of strangers, colleagues, family, and friends. Furthermore, carrying a concealed weapon improves your awareness of your surroundings, which aids you in avoiding danger. Protecting yourself and those around you with a gun is a paramount concern, since the number of arrests in the U.S. is high, and anyone could be a wanted criminal. Moreover, the average response time for police is 11 minutes or more, which makes it a significant advantage to have a gun for protection in life-or-death situations.
Use as a Deterrent
A study by Peter Rossi and James Wright on felons in prison indicated most criminals fear meeting armed victims. Criminals confessed they feared armed victims more than police officers. Felons stated they fear being shot at, captured, or wounded, and thus civilians carrying firearms act as deterrents of crime. Carrying guns discourages criminals from committing crimes due to the fear of facing armed and prepared victims.
Prevent Armed Robbery
The risk of an armed robbery occurring in the U.S. is lower than in the Netherlands or the United Kingdom because those countries have strict firearm ownership laws. The United States has looser gun ownership laws that make it easier for civilians to own guns and arm themselves. As a result, there are fewer home invasions or burglaries involving gun violence. Additionally, crime prevention research indicates states with a high number of gun owners and permits register lower homicide and violent crime rates.
Whether you own and carry a gun for self-defense, hunting, competition, or another purpose, make sure you have the proper training to do it safely. You can count on the firearm education pros at LTC Austin for the highest-quality training available. Whether you’re looking for LTC proficiency testing or you want to take an Austin LTC online course, call us today at 512-766-3039.