Inara has a very good point.

You already have other skills. You likely have other resources. What is your job in all of this? What are you capable of doing? /…/ You know what is needed in crisis? Lots of people doing the work that they’re able to do.

It is very likely that most people can accomplish a lot more peacefully. :)

However, I would like to offer opposition on another point:

Could it potentially become more dangerous to have it than to not have it?

In the time of remote operated weapons stations, not really if used with caution.

People tend to buy guns and then do nothing. Buying the gun makes them feel safe and like they have done something. “When they come for me I’ll be prepared.”

When they come for you, it’s already too late. Earlier, far less dangerous, far less provocative, far less illegal (but still illegal) acts of resistance are far superior in what they achieve. Become active to protect the people they go to before they come for you, or else there will be no one left to protect you when they come for you.

Build community, waste their time, waste their resources, make their operations impossible not through armed resistance but through simpler, less flashy means.

They will try to sue you, jail you, hurt you, maybe even kill you… but that’s part of the plan anyway, better to resist while the actions you can do still have an impact.

This is not a plea against guns, but for action (even simple and small actions).

Can you not copy the clickbait crap, just say what you mean.

My point is about the idea that our first tool for self-defense absolutely must be human connection.

A whole lotta tripe to get to the single sentence point.

I learned how to shoot a gun in summer camp. I’ve never owned a gun, though, and until recently never thought I would. This has given me something to think about.