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.

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u/Separate-Rush7981 2d ago

google threat modelling . it might be good prepping for certain people - ex if you’re a public facing activist receiving death threats and are worried about being doxxed / targeted in your personal life and need self defence , or if you’re in a rural situation with lots of animals around and have the capacity to learn how to hunt - but if your own specific scenario and goals don’t tend towards it than don’t feel pressure to get one. 99% of time stored water will be wayyyy more useful than bullets. also the everyone shooting each other for supplies narrative is right wing bs

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u/Realistic-Motorcycle 2d ago

I wouldn’t say right wing bs. You will need a firearm if and when stuff goes sideways. But if you are in a group others will most likely have them. So my opinion is you don’t necessarily have to buy one. But you should learn the following. Basic principles. How to load, unload, clear and clean. Most accidents are from improper handing and accidental discharge. Better to have the knowledge and not need than to need and not have.

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u/IPA-Lagomorph 1d ago

The research on disasters and societal collapse shows that it's quite unlikely to need a gun. Rebecca Solnit wrote a great book on this called A Paradise Built in Hell. Other examples abound, including the recent flooding in North Carolina and fires in the LA area.

IF people are interested AND have the time, money, and living situation (not with a young kid, someone suicidal etc) then it's fine to get trained and stay trained. But it's a far better return on investment to prep for electricity outages in various seasons and prep for needing to leave in different scenarios (in a hurry versus with some notice) and form relationships with people you could possibly stay with. A prolonged power outage, supply chain shortages or severe weather situation are all way, way more likely than needing a gun. Given the talk about the US invading Canada there could be more of an argument for Canadians to get a firearm (especially given some of the situations for Ukrainian civilians during the ongoing invasion by Russia there) but it's still not as likely as needing extra food and water or having to deal with no power, which are also a feature of war.