Sine_Fine_BelliThe queer people who are buying guns to prepare for Trump’s America
At some point it just becomes “try to only point your security blanket at yourself, I guess” levels of helplessness.
But to anyone considering buying a gun:
Owing a firearm makes you (as of 2020) 8-35x more likely to kill yourself with it med.stanford.edu/…/handgun-ownership-associated-w…. And considering this is a purchase during a… let’s just say “immensely stressful” period… yeah.
But also… what purpose does it serve? A single ice nazi comes knocking on your door, you spot them through the peephole, and have time to grab your gun, load it, and fire through the door? Then… you flee Everything in the hopes that the cops don’t decide to label you a “cop killer” on top of that?
This is why gun nuts make their entire lives built around “systems” to always carry a gun and be able to quick draw. Because the reality is… whoever shoots somewhat accurately first probably “wins”. Which leads to “Well… maybe that phone in their pocket they weren’t even reaching for is a gun. I am legally justified”
But that also basically works for only the first few people to try it. Everyone else gets a squad of ice nazis either kicking down the door and flashbanging them (and themselves) or just unloading on the house from the curb.
I realize the world is scary. I am scared shitless more often than not. But think through what buying a gun can even accomplish versus all the risks.
And maybe consider reaching out to your local community organizers to figure out what CAN be accomplished.
A firearm is not a good solution to anything. It’s a tool of last resort. If i believe I, or some one I love is going to die. At that point, i don’t care if i can beat the military, or if im labeled a cop killer because the alternative is Im dead. This isn’t about being a hero, this isn’t about saving my neighborhood or my country, this isn’t about beating the military. Owning and carrying a firearm is about giving yourself one last option when all else fails. When you know you will die without it, may as well have the chance to do something.
Firearms also work as a deterrent. They are a show of force. Without it, the government has a monopoly on violence. Cops, ICE, the military, whoever. When they are they only ones with the ability to do that, we will always be under their thumb.
I’m not saying we should be resorting to violence unless there is absolutely no other choice. The very last thing i want is a shootout or fight with any government agency. I will not win that fight. But I would rather die standing and fighting then die on my knees.
I strongly believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to do their best to protect themselves and those they love. Go exercise. Go learn martial arts. go learn how to shoot. Not because you plan to use violence, but so when violence is used on you, you are not helpless.
I’m not going to point out the flaws in your statistics. Someone else already did that.