Buying a gun for protection is usually for the mathmatically challenged

[Quixote1818]

I remember when I was in college and my statistics professor said he didn't gamble because gambling was for people who were mathematically challenged. I never forgot that line and have perhaps gambled once or twice $5 or $10 bucks in my entire life. I loved that saying so much I started using it when discussing guns with people because statistics show you are generally less safe with a gun in the house. In fact it was that lesson by my professor that helped me decide not to buy a gun.

I am not big on taking away peoples rights and if people want to have a gun and increase the probability of either themselves or a family member killed that unfortunately is there choice but I inform them that the math and probabilities are stacked against them. I personally have always been a fan of science, mathematics, statistical probability and make decisions that improve my probability of being safe or just doing what is probably most beneficial to my wellbeing. That being said, there are instances where having a gun is probably a good decision and helps your probabilities for safety but you need to weigh them carefully. For example some neighborhoods are very dangerous and for some people who travel long distances and risk having car trouble out in the middle of nowhere it might be warranted to have a gun in the car and improve your probability of being safe, but in the vast majority of cases you are probably increasing the probability of someone you love getting hurt or killed by owning a gun. Decisions are usually best when you weigh the statistics first and I personally think the campaign against guns would probably be more effective if people were told that owning a gun is for the mathematically challenged as the probabilities for remaining safe go down with a gun. It might make them think a bit more about buying the gun if it were put in these terms. Or maybe not since so many people suck at math. But as I said, owning a gun for safety is usually for the mathematically challenged.

http://skeptikai.com/2012/07/30/does-owning-a-gun-increase-or-decrease-safety-science-answers/