Like a lot of people here, I feel like I need a gun "just in case". For me, it's worth it if for no other reason than simple peace of mind, like knowing I have an ace up my sleeve. I am reasonable enough to surmise that I will probably never have to use my guns in self defense, and honestly that is exactly what I hope for.
On one hand, it is statistically unlikely that a person will ever need a firearm to defend themselves...and yet,
last year there were 1,250,000 violent crimes in the US. When you consider that the US has a population of about 311,000,000, that means in a given year, you're more likely being a victim of a violent crime than being dealt a
Straight or Flush in Poker. That's a .4% chance, which may not sound like much, but remember that this is the chance of it happening
per year. Too look at it another way, there is a 26% chance that a violent crime will happen to you by the age of 65. This risk will vary from state-to-state and city-to-city...I highly suggest that people Google crime rates in their town so they can get a better idea of how likely the "unlikely" could strike. Remember, even a 49% chance is considered "statistically unlikely" -- statistics' idea of unlikely and
my idea of unlikely are very different.
To recap, I own guns as a safety net should I find myself in an unlikely event where my or my family's lives could be at stake. It's the only type of life insurance that can actually save the life/lives of your loved ones, as opposed to acting retroactively (when its already too late to save them). I might even go as far as to say that it's borderline irresponsible to NOT have some way to defend your life, and the lives of those dependent on you, should you find yourself in such a situation. Police are great, but they have to be notified before they can come, and even then, they have to travel to your location before they can help. How many life-threatening situations occur that simply do not allow the time and/or opportunity for law enforcement to arrive BEFORE shit goes down? Is that a risk you are willing to take? Is that a risk you are willing to let your family take?
Not me. I'd rather have guns and not use them for anything more than funsies, than desperately need a gun but not have one.