Play the odds

Published August 8, 2013 by
Filed under Equipment, Mindset, Self Defense

fire-gun-800x510

Look around the room you’re in right now: Chances are, if you’re in a building that’s been built in the last 30 years, there’s either a smoke detector, fire alarm or a fire extinguisher within a few feet of where you are. This is a good thing, because losing everything in a fire just sucks. Our society recognizes this, and mandates the installation of such things to protect our health and safety. (As an aside, if you have a gun in your home, you probably should have a fire extinguisher as well, because the fire department takes just as long (or longer) to get to your home as the police department does). 

But what are the odds of a fire happening in your home compared to the odds of you being a victim of a violent crime in your home?

The answers may surprise you. 

According to the CDC, in 2009, someone died in a fire every 175 minutes, and someone was injured in a fire every 31 minutes. A scary thought indeed, which is why all those smoke detectors make sense. But if those odds makes you nervous, the chances of you being a victim of a violent crime should freak you right out. 

  • A burglary is committed once every 10 seconds
  • Violent crimes happen once every 20 seconds
  • One of out five homes will experience a break-in 

So why is protecting one’s family and property with a smoke detector something that the government encourages (and even mandates) yet protecting one’s family and property by means of a firearm something that the government discourages (and even bans)? 

You’re not paranoid for wanting to own and carry a gun. You’re just better at math than most people. 

Comments

4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 ExurbanKevin // Aug 8, 2013 at 11:02 AM

    RT @TeamGunBlogger: Play the odds:
    Look around the room you’re in right now: Chances are, if you’re in a building that’s been built… htt…

  • 2 GreatSatanInc // Aug 8, 2013 at 9:58 PM

    RT @TeamGunBlogger: Play the odds:
    Look around the room you’re in right now: Chances are, if you’re in a building that’s been built… htt…

  • 3 Play the odds - The Old Gunhand - Gun news, reviews and resources for senior citizens | The Old Gunhand // Aug 9, 2013 at 11:03 PM

    […] Play the odds […]

  • 4 Home Is Where The Lockdown Is - Misfires And Light Strikes // Apr 4, 2014 at 7:03 AM

    […] And out of the entire troop, we were the only ones to do do. Our scout troop is smack dab in the middle of a very conservative and gun-friendly area of a conservative and gun-friendly state (which has had more than it’s share of home invasions), and we were the only ones to face the reality that violence was/is a greater possibility than a house fire. […]