I didn’t do it because I’m afraid of crime.
I did it because I’m deeply worried about Trumpist political violence after the election, because too many law enforcement officers may side with the Trumpists, and because Republican gun owners already outnumber Democratic gun owners by about 2:1.
The fact that gun owners have been hoarding weapons and ammo this year did nothing to ease my fears either; it feels like someone is preparing for a shooting war. The cost of a bullet is about four times higher than it was a year ago, if you can find them at all; rolling shortages of ammunition are still the rule, and I’ve had to scour the country to get what I think I need.
Here are some interesting things I’ve learned in this process.
The logic of the gun is relentless. Once you imagine that you might use a firearm to save your life, there is literally no amount of weaponry that can be too much.
Re-loading a magazine is the most time consuming part of readying a gun to fire, and you don’t want to have just one magazine ready if you are fighting for your life. So you buy a second magazine, and then a third, and a fourth so you will have enough shots that you feel confident you can get yourself out of danger. My weapons instructor told me that he carries five loaded magazines with him at all times (85 bullets), and keeps another 10 loaded magazines at home (170 bullets). Its an absolutely ridiculous number, but far better to have it and not use it than to need it and not have it.
How many boxes of ammunition should you buy? You need inexpensive full metal jacket ammo to practice with, and you need hollow point bullets for their stopping power. You don’t want to be short on either when stocks run out again. My instructor recommended stockpiling 500 rounds of each when I could find them in stock.
How about adding in a laser sight for added accuracy? Or buying an extended 33-round magazine so you don’t have to swap out after 17 shots? How about a flash suppressor so that you can fire back at your assailant from a hidden position? If you think you are fighting for your life, every single advantage you can acquire makes sense.
I would probably ban all firearms if I could—on the whole they seem like one of the greatest sources of human misery we have ever invented. And yet, I can suddenly understand the mindset of someone who feels like one gun isn’t enough, that an entire armory is necessary, just in case.
I’ve also learned that I don’t understand the conservative mindset.
I recently spent a day in a classroom with about 20 other people getting my concealed carry permit. Now, I didn’t interview any of my classmates or my instructors about their political beliefs, but between their demographics, the questions they asked, and the remarks I heard them make between sessions, I’m pretty comfortable guessing they were mostly law-and-order types. They are generally supportive of the police, and inclined to trust official accounts of police-involved shootings.
So what was being taught in the class? Almost half the time, four hours, was about what to do after you are involved in a shooting. “Never, ever, ever talk to the police after you’ve shot someone. No one’s life was ever made better by talking to the police.” That’s what my instructor said to knowing nods among the students. We went through scenario after scenario about how to avoid giving any information to law enforcement. When you call 911 after you’ve discharged your weapon, request two ambulances—one for the injured party and one for yourself (even if you aren’t injured) because the police can’t question you if you are on your way to the hospital. Once you’ve given the 911 operator your address and told them that a shooting has occurred, hang up. Do not stay on the line even if the operator asks you to do so; anything you say to the operator might be used against you. Have an attorney on retainer at all times if possible, and know specifically how to invoke your rights in the event of an interrogation.
It all left me scratching my head. Here I was in a room of thin blue line types, and the mistrust of law enforcement was palpable. Law enforcement was the enemy. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for now. I have one gun and more ammo than I could ever possibly need in ten lifetimes. It makes me queasy even to know they are in the house, but better to have it and not use it than to need it and not have it, right?
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the likelihood of political violence and how you imagine you’ll deal with it if it comes to pass.
UPDATE: Because so many comments are reflecting the same concern, I’m posting this info up here in the article. I keep my gun in a safe, in a separate location from the ammunition. I’m training with a certified instructor, and I’m going to the range weekly to practice. (Well, actually I’ve discontinued range practice between now and election day so that I can spend more time doing voter assistance—an overwhelming Biden win seems like the best form of protection—but I’ll pick it up again right after Nov. 3.)