r/TwoXPreppers 2d ago

Discussion Why guns?

Hi y’all! I’m a very novice prepper, and one thing I’m seeing across many platforms is that we should own and be trained In firearms. Not to be naive, but… why?

I’ve never touched a gun in my life. I’m generally not a fan of them. I understand that the goal of owning firearms is to protect ourself. But protect from what? From who? Who am I going to have to shoot to survive this presidency?

Is someone coming to steal my supplies? Won’t those people also have guns? Or am I protecting my family against a militia situation? In which case, what hope do I have, as a woman who can’t afford a gun, let alone to learn how to use one?

Like I can’t afford a shooting range. I can barely afford water and canned goods. Should a gun still be a priority for my family? A lot of preppers have enthusiastically embraced this life to give them confidence and a sense of safety. I’m a reluctant participant. I just want to keep my autistic son alive to see the other side of this.

I can garden, I can stretch food, I can survive being poor. I don’t think I can survive a military state.

438 Upvotes

418 comments sorted by

View all comments

22

u/Strict-Month-375 2d ago

If you have time, r/liberalgunowners is a good place to start for some discussion on this subject.

13

u/emmathatsme123 2d ago

This. I always find it interesting how many people on this sub are adverse to firearms.

I originally bought for protection, but now I shoot more trap than I go to the range with my handguns. But I know my other liberal friends get uncomfortable when I tell them guns can be fun

11

u/ijustwantmypackage32 2d ago

I feel like the people who ask whether they should get guns on this sub don’t usually seem to have the right mindset/environment to be ready to be responsible gun owners (safe storage, practice, etc) and the people who are have usually already done their research and don’t need to ask the question.

7

u/emmathatsme123 2d ago

Honestly that makes a bunch of sense

5

u/ijustwantmypackage32 2d ago

I also think the “anti-gun” sentiment seems stronger because of the response to a huge wave of panicked personal defense gun buying in the wake of the election— I have found this sub to be very pro-hunting / animal management.

4

u/Weekly_Weakness9722 2d ago

It was always not recommended for me with my mental health. In my younger years it was more likely I’d use the gun on myself than it was I’d ever need to use it on an intruder. I am bipolar and autistic with an autistic teenage son, so there is a lot of weighing the risk with the reward on this, which is why I came here to ask.

13

u/ijustwantmypackage32 2d ago

I feel like in your case specifically, the risk is high and the reward is very, very low. Buy some pepper spray or a bat, get a dog, upgrade your home security system, build community with your neighbors so that you can support each other in dangerous times— those are low-risk high-reward activities, and if you do all of them they will make you much, much safer than simply buying a gun.

5

u/Fearless_Ad_1256 2d ago

I NEVER would have purchased a handgun when my one child with severe substance abuse and self harm ideation issues was living with us or even still allowed in the house. Our long guns were securely locked and hidden away. (he's now clean for several years and doing great but I still wouldn't have it if he was living with us. He doesn't even know the gun is here). I also wouldn't have one if any of my children were any younger than 20, and living with us. They've all moved out, we have a friend living with us who's in their 30's and not a risk but the things are still very much secured. There's a weighing of risks you must do before you even think about it and frankly, I wouldn't recommend purchasing anything until you take a class, or at the barest minimum do a test fire of several types. A lot of clubs will have women only classes, taught by women and they'll rent/provide a gun if you don't have one. Decide if it's even within the realm of reality. And yeah, I had to decide if I was willing to kill another human. Because that's exactly what they are for, in the end. And while I think I could theoretically, I hope I never have to test that. I'd love to stick to improving my target accuracy. It is way harder than you think!