Totally respect that. But I think of preparedness as having some standard of probability. I'm ready for things that there's any real chance of happening, like a storm or a blackout or some kind of economic disruption. For me - just speaking for myself here - having to defend my home from other humans is pretty remote. I live in a country where there were 554 murders nationally last year, the vast majority involving people who knew each other. There were four times as many traffic deaths. It's just not something I worry about. If I lived elsewhere, I'm sure I'd reconsider, and I certainly acknowledge everyone's freedom to set their own risk tolerances.
Insurance is good. We hope and pray we don't get sick, catch the house on fire, have a car wreck, or get sued but it can and does happen so most reasonable people have insurance. There are documented cases of people being hit by meteorites. I saw on the news decades ago where a lady was injured when she was sitting watching TV when a meteorite crashed down through her house and hit her on the head.
Statistics tell us that the odds of a residential structure receiving significant tornadic damage is on the order of once in four thousand years in tornado alley. (NOAA severe weather center at Norman, Oklahoma) I live in the heart of tornado alley and my bed room is a safe room. Is that overkill? Most folks think not.
There are multiple components of risk management. How likely is the event in question. What are the consequences if it happens? What is the cost of amelioration?
Home invasion is not highly likely but if it occurs what are the likely worst case consequences. What does it cost to have insurance (a gun equal to your needs that you are properly trained on.) A few hundred bucks and a few hours of probably mostly pleasant time. I would be a sad person if something happened that was so very simple to avert by being good enough with a readily available gun to protect my life and the lives of any persons at my home.
I am an avid reader of "The Armed Citizen" a monthly reprint of news stories where people have defended their lives, the lives of others and or property by the use of firearms. There are always several stories per month.
Times they are a changing with more amoral people, lowered standards of what passes for civilization, all of which will increase the need for protection.
I don't wear a hard hat to watch TV. I do have self protection guns for use at home, on my person, and in my vehicle when travelling. My wife is also trained and lisc for CCW. We aren't gun fanatics nor "survivalist extremists but when you live 30 min from getting a LEO on site (if you are lucky) you need to be able to take care of yourself. What happens in the first minute of a PROBLEM will likely determine the outcome. Late arriving LEO will file a report or call the meat wagon to haul off any bodies. Whose bodies do you prefer it to be, yours and your loved ones or the bad guys?
Repeating a mantra of it will never happen to me it will never happen to me etc etc offers little realistic protection.
Like with all insurance, I hope to never need it whether for fire, flood, hail, tornado, car wreck or pull my CCW in earnest but having it is a good idea.
Pat
