Deciding on when and where to be armed.
So I have been considering purchasing a firearm for some time. I've done a lot of research, I've gone to a firing range and shot various types of handguns and in different calibers. I still need to try some rifles and shotguns. Once I buy my own house I will probably purchase a firearm (right now I have roommates and I would not feel comfortable having guns around people who are not trained to handle them).
However one ongoing question I ask myself is to what degree would I be armed. By this I mean, I often see people who buy a gun for strictly home defense. However, I see this as somewhat of a mistake because often times violent crimes are happening out in public, such as shootings in malls, public transportation, banks, convenience stores etc.
In my mind, only having access to a weapon at home is equivalent to only having protection for half the day (if for example the average person gets home from work at 6:30 pm and leaves for work at 6:30 am). Therefore it seems logical to me that if someone does make the decision to own a firearm, that he or she carries a weapon on them as much as legally possible in a concealed or open carry configuration.
Another topic that I consider is the degree to which I would arm myself in my own home. Obviously it would be a good idea to have access to gun close to the bed since a large portion of time is spend in that area every night. However, would I place a weapon on each level of the house, or perhaps each individual room?
I know that these are decisions I would have to make for myself. And that each decision impacts which types of firearms I would purchase (possibly a subcompact pistol for concealed carry, shotgun for home defense etc).
I would appreciate any input you may have.
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"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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