Owning a firearm, or several, is not small decision.

At least you have to consider your state and local laws as they apply to purchase, ownership and use.

Here are some other things to consider, pro and con.

Guns are not for everyone!

There are far too many people who put their lives at risk, and their family’s lives at risk, by not taking gun safety and training seriously. Before you ever buy your first gun, you need to learn:

• The Importance of Gun Safety and Proper Procedures.
• How and Why a Gun Works.
• The Basics of Ammunition.

Having a gun DOES NOT Guarantee your safety.

Again, this really comes down to proper training. Far too many gun owners have the mentality that because they have or carry a firearm they are somehow protected from bad guys and violence.
While having a firearm definitely levels the playing field, having one without taking the proper training courses is going to get you killed.

The Pros of gun ownership.

Quite simply, Firearms Save Lives.

Firearms in the hands of a law-abiding citizen can save lives, and the numbers show it
Every year, law-abiding citizens draw their guns over 2.5 million times in personal defense, saving a countless number of lives and serving as a serious deterrent to criminals. Often times, the mere presence of a firearm is enough to stop a criminal dead in his tracks, without ever having to fire a single round.

But come on, aren’t those NRA numbers?

Even the notoriously Anti-Gun Clinton administration had to admit that while he was President, guns were used at least 1.5 million times a year for self-defense. The numbers came directly from the Clinton Justice Department, who hired anti-gun criminologists Philip Cook and Jens Ludwig to conduct the study.

Because Gun Control Laws will NEVER Stop a Criminal from committing Gun Crimes.

While the government and the media would like you to believe that banning guns will somehow solve the world’s problems, the truth is, criminals by their very nature don’t follow the law. Anti-gun laws do very little good when you’re staring down the barrel of some psychopath’s gun.

But what about all those mass shootings, couldn’t they have been prevented by passing more gun control bills?

Since 1950, all but two of this country’s mass shootings have taken place in a designated gun-free zone.

Yes, the criminals had guns; the good guy’s didn’t! The only thing that could have made a difference in these cases would have been a law-abiding citizen allowed to lawfully carry his gun in these areas.

Protecting yourself and your family from Home Invasions.

According to FBI crime numbers, over 1.5 million homes are burglarized each and every year. The criminals who commit these crimes are often armed; and when people are home, these home invasions can quickly turn violent.

When it comes to preparedness related threats, a home invasion is one of the most likely threats you will face.

You cannot count on law enforcement to respond in time to protect you from the chaos.

According to the Department of Justice, police response times range from 4 minutes for the best in the country, to the worst clocking in at over an hour. The nationwide average response time to a high-priority call is 11 minutes

Now here is the part that should concern you. The average interaction time between a criminal and a victim is 90 seconds.

Because I have Insurance and a Fire Extinguisher.

Like most things, I look at firearms from a preparedness point of view. And from that lens, owning a firearm is no different than buying fire insurance or a fire extinguisher. While I hope I never need to use either one of them, when the time comes not having those items could be catastrophic.

Gun ownership is a very serious decision. You must check your local and state laws and equally critical is that you take training in how to use your firearm.

To ignore the former is asking for trouble. To ignore the latter could get yourself or those you love killed.

For more information on gun ownership, visit Off Grid Survival.