Let me just say right off the bat that I never want to hurt anyone. And I really don’t want to ever kill anyone. I have self-defense training, and I have a license to carry a concealed firearm. But that’s only because a gun’s a lot easier to carry than a policeman.
One of the first things they teach you in self-defense training is that if you can, always avoid getting yourself in a situation where self-defense is needed. Sage advice. But if getting away from the problem is not an option, or if the situation is putting other people in danger and my intervention could help, I wanted to have the training that would make it more likely that I would be able to help, and not just become another victim.
So when I heard about nonlethal forms of defense, I immediately wanted to know more. Tasers have been around for a while, and those are cool, but not very practical for the average citizen. So when they came out with nonlethal guns that fire rubber bullets, pellets filled with pepper spray and other projectiles that can incapacitate a person, I was intrigued. They’re about the same size and shape of a small to medium handgun, so they could be a good alternative to a more permanent defense solution. But then I realized I would not be a good candidate.
I was raised around firearms. I know what they are capable of. I know you can’t take back a bullet. I have a deep respect for guns and what they can do. And as I said, I really never want to kill another human being.
But if I know the weapon I’m using isn’t going to maim or kill a person, I am much more likely to use it. And I do get annoyed easily. I’m pretty sure if I bought one of those pepper-pellet guns at, say, Walmart, I’d use it. Often. In fact, I’d very likely use it before I even left the store.
So no, I better not get one of those. I think I’d just get myself into trouble.
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