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> I normally see the irrational fear (crypto-racism) argument from people who want to limit refugees I question your probability argument that concerns around

> I normally see the irrational fear (crypto-racism) argument from people who want to limit refugees I question your probability argument that concerns around guns are irrational. Just because heart disease is the most common cause of death doesn't mean concern about anything else is irrational. I think being afraid of something that can kill you is absolutely rational. > All of which are vastly more likely to happen than being shot, which itself is an order of magnitude more likely than an innocent person being shot. If fear of guns is irrational then why do licence-holders need them?

EdHominem 10y ago
> If fear of guns is irrational then why do licence-holders need them? Often for non-gun related threats. And also because they're probably in riskier demographics. Or maybe because they just enjoy shooting. > Just because heart disease is the most common cause of death doesn't mean concern about anything else is irrational. Worry is zero-sum. The time you spend worrying about being shot is time you aren't spending worrying about your trans-fat intake, or simply enjoying life. > I think being afraid of something that can kill you is absolutely rational. Afraid of, or worried about in general? If a bad guy is swinging a gun around, yes you're right to be afraid. There's a direct action that will make you safer - leaving - and you should take that if possible. But in general to worry about a bad guy with a gun is stealing attention from real problems with actual solutions.
- richmarr 10y ago
  > Often for non-gun related threats. People carry guns because they're afraid of all the dangerous people out there not carrying guns? Uh huh
  - EdHominem 10y ago
    Considering police, security workers, private investigators, etc, are a majority of gun carriers, yes, many of them are rightly afraid of people with knives or improvised weapons.

EdHominem 10y ago

> If fear of guns is irrational then why do licence-holders need them? Often for non-gun related threats. And also because they're probably in riskier demographics. Or maybe because they just enjoy shooting. > Just because heart disease is the most common cause of death doesn't mean concern about anything else is irrational. Worry is zero-sum. The time you spend worrying about being shot is time you aren't spending worrying about your trans-fat intake, or simply enjoying life. > I think being afraid of something that can kill you is absolutely rational. Afraid of, or worried about in general? If a bad guy is swinging a gun around, yes you're right to be afraid. There's a direct action that will make you safer - leaving - and you should take that if possible. But in general to worry about a bad guy with a gun is stealing attention from real problems with actual solutions.

richmarr 10y ago
> Often for non-gun related threats. People carry guns because they're afraid of all the dangerous people out there not carrying guns? Uh huh
- EdHominem 10y ago
  Considering police, security workers, private investigators, etc, are a majority of gun carriers, yes, many of them are rightly afraid of people with knives or improvised weapons.