Stuff. Does. Happen. People tend to think that we live in this hyper-realized utopia because "it's 2015 and we're more progressive than ever!"

Humanity is unsound. Look at global conflict throughout history leading right up to present day. I am not a religious man, but I do know that evil people have always existed and will continue to exist. Personally, I have been robbed before, while my entire household slept. That really messes with a person, knowing that your privacy has been violated at a most basic level. A very close family friend and second father to me was attacked and actually severely beaten in his home one door away from his family relaxing in the living room. Both neighborhoods are upper-middle class run of the mill suburban towns that are otherwise exceptionally safe. The sad thing is that my stories pale in comparison to countless innocents who have had true horror inflicted upon them and their families at the hands of others.

Firearms are the great equalizer. A 110 pound woman can defend herself from an attacker twice the size. An elderly man from an attacker half his age. Perhaps most notably, one can defend against multiple assailants. A taser, pepper spray or any other available self-defense product will not provide nearly a high enough success rate to be worth trusting your life on. Trust me.

Sick people do exist. They always have and always will. I choose to employ the most effective tool available to defend my family because anything less would be a damn shame. That's all it comes down to. Of the nearly 300 million guns in America, those in the hands of criminals will hardly be dealt with. Do not take away my right as a human being to defend my family and self because a few spineless cowards lack a moral compass.