How good are the masks working for you

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Hahaha, I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me.

If a lot of people say that to you you may want to consider that they may have a good point.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by splatbass

If a lot of people say that to you you may want to consider that they may have a good point.

But they don't. They were wearing blinders, and then something ripped them off for them.

Most of those people say that to me during a defensive handgun class. Something like "I live in a nice quiet neighborhood, I never even thought about carrying a gun until the other day/last month/whatever when this terrible thing happened right down the street/at my local grocery store/Wal-Mart/in the parking structure at work/etc."

And I almost have to laugh because I used to say the same things. Currently I live in the safest town in the Phoenix area (probably), but I've lived in some ghetto places in STL, KS, Chicago, etc. And nearly everything in between.

And I've seen what high unemployment/social unrest will do to crime rates firsthand. I was living in a pretty safe area in north Glendale AZ back in 2009 and watched my area become more and more dangerous as unemployment rates worsened. But it wasn't until a woman was stabbed in broad day light at the grocery store in the parking lot I had just left not an hour earlier, that I realized that the idea "I'm immune to crime because I live in a good area" was an illusion.

Of course, now things are much different than they were in 2009. Violent crime has spiked over 44% since the advent of the virus nationwide. Classes are booked until after the New Year. Just a year ago I was practically begging people to try a class just to fill enough slots to make it worth renting the range, now they're upset because they're on a waiting list until Mar. 2021.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

But they don't. They were wearing blinders, and then something ripped them off for them.

Most of those people say that to me during a defensive handgun class. Something like "I live in a nice quiet neighborhood, I never even thought about carrying a gun until the other day/last month/whatever when this terrible thing happened right down the street/at my local grocery store/Wal-Mart/in the parking structure at work/etc."

And I almost have to laugh because I used to say the same things. Currently I live in the safest town in the Phoenix area (probably), but I've lived in some ghetto places in STL, KS, Chicago, etc. And nearly everything in between.
And I've seen what high unemployment/social unrest will do to crime rates firsthand. I was living in a pretty safe area in north Glendale AZ back in 2009 and watched my area become more and more dangerous as unemployment rates worsened. But it wasn't until a woman was stabbed in broad day light at the grocery store I had just left not an hour earlier, that I realized that the idea "I'm immune to crime because I live in a good area" was an illusion.

Of course, now things are much different than they were in 2009. Violent crime has spiked over 44% since the advent of the virus nationwide. Classes are booked until after the New Year. Just a year ago I was practically begging people to try a class just to fill enough slots to make it worth renting the range, now they're upset because they're on a waiting list until Mar. 2021.

I can't spend my life worrying over every unlikely event. Life is too short for that. I find it odd that you are more worried about gun violence than COVID, since you are far more likely to get COVID - especially since you take no precautions.

For me it is just the opposite. I'm high risk so you bet your ass I wear a mask when in public. But I've made it 58 years without being a victim of gun violence, so I'm not going to worry about it too much.

Oh, one more thing, concealed firearms are against the law here, except in very rare cases.

[Megatron96]

[QUOTE=splatbass;15073701]I can't spend my life worrying over every unlikely event. Life is too short for that. I find it odd that you are more worried about gun violence than COVID, since you are far more likely to get COVID - especially since you take no precautions.

For me it is just the opposite. I'm high risk so you bet your ass I wear a mask when in public. But I've made it 58 years without being a victim of gun violence, so I'm not going to worry about it too much.

Oh, one more thing, concealed firearms are against the law here, except in very rare cases.

I understand the math. Violent crime, while rare, is spiking almost 50% higher than before the virus. And a BG with a gun/knife is far more deadly than the virus. Also the virus has a consistent infection/death rate, both of which are pretty low for someone of my age and health. Add in the fact that I live a pretty low-risk type of lifestyle (don't have much interaction with people in general and certainly not for any extended period of time) makes it highly unlikely that wearing a mask for the few seconds I actually interact with humans would be meaningful.

But I've made it 58 years without being a victim of gun violence, so I'm not going to worry about it too much.

The second or third most common excuse I hear at class. Usually followed by "and then this happened . . . which is why I decided to sign up for this class."

Oh, one more thing, concealed firearms are against the law here, except in very rare cases.

That's too bad. Maybe you should look into what you can do about that. But I'd rather be alive and judged by 12, than dead and carried out in a box by 6.

[splatbass]

[QUOTE=Megatron96;15073725]

Originally Posted by splatbass

But I'd rather be alive and judged by 12, than dead and carried out in a box by 6.

Nice saying, but ridiculous. I follow the law. If you don't, then you are also a criminal and your opinion means no more to me than any other criminal.

Just don't come to my state and break our laws.

[eDave]

[QUOTE=splatbass;15073774]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Nice saying, but ridiculous. I follow the law. If you don't, then you are also a criminal and your opinion means no more to me than any other criminal.

Just don't come to my state and break our laws.

Can't even freaking go to your state. Sucks cause I'd like to get away. Far away.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by splatbass

Oh, one more thing, concealed firearms are against the law here, except in very rare cases.

Anyone thats not a felon or mentally ill can get one here. Feel threatened, pull out your gun. Happens all the damn time.

In the last 35 years I've never been in a situation where someone pulled a gun on me, threatened me or the family or tried to rob me. Seems to me its like the old Seinfeld joke....if you are constantly having to get blood out of your clothes, laundry is probably not your biggest problem.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by splatbass

I can't spend my life worrying over every unlikely event. Life is too short for that. I find it odd that you are more worried about gun violence than COVID, since you are far more likely to get COVID - especially since you take no precautions.

Why does being prepared and knowledgeable equal being worried to a point that you can't enjoy life?
To me wearing a mask to protect yourself from what is a very low risk of exposure is not much different than carrying a gun to protect yourself from what is also low risk of gunfire.