by SeerSavant » Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:55 pm
The argument of intended purpose is a seemingly strong one... After all, if you buy a weapon, get training, carry it every day, for the sole purpose of self defense, then whether or not you actually use it becomes beside the point...
It's intended purpose actually is to do harm, perhaps fatally so, to someone...
But the argument goes both ways... If my gun says that I at least recognize the potential of having to shoot someone some day in self defense... And since we both recognize the fact that the world is in fact dangerous...
Then a refusal to arm ones self (setting aside self defense lessons, etc... After all, with a bad back, and age, and a host of other lessons, someone is always gonna be bigger than you, and this is all with just one attacker... Suppose there are two or more???) Then refusing to carry a gun means that he/she has already decided to be a victim an forfeit their money, they're safety, and possibly their life...
I know a guy at work who is like that... Hates guns with a passion, they are the root of all evil, etc. etc... So we've had this argument, and while I totally understand the rational of intended purpose... My defense weapon, is to protect me, and since they decide to go the passive route, I simply end the conversation with, "Oh.. I understand now... Your a victim..."
"no, I'm not."
I explain the reasoning for it, I'f I intend to one day cause harm to another person in defense of my life, so be it... But if he refuses, to defend himself or his loved ones to the fullest ability, then he is a victim."
He refuses the logic, so I mugged him....
Okay, no I didn't... But I don't understand the idea that principal is a loftier goal than survival... I would do anything to survive, and to keep my family safe, hell, a lot more than anything to keep my family safe... But to willingly accept becoming a victim instead of doing everything I could to prevent that from happening?
I just don't get it...
The two of us are friendly at all times, but we just don't agree on this...
I guess ethics, or perhaps morality at the core of his beliefs is his to manage as he sees fit... But I told him that if he did anything to try and restrict me from my choice, that I would in fact mug him... (I keed, I keed).... He's a live and let live type, like I am...
People are free to believe what they wish... It's when people decide to mandate that kind of victimhood that I get pissed off.