10 Gun Myths Debunked

This is a guest post by Lauren Ventosa

1. Shotguns don’t need to be aimed

Shotguns should be aimed similarly to rifles.  It’s not a good idea to simply point, pray and shoot.

In an average home defense situation, your attacker might enter a room and be between 10 and 20 feet away.  Being 20 feet away, the shot pattern from your round might not be much larger than your hand.  It’s vital to learn how to aim and shoot your shotgun if you plan to use it in a home defense scenario.

2. Gun ownership is decreasing

There are conflicting reports out in regards to gun ownership.  Some reports show a decline in ownership, while others show a steady line. According to gunfacts.info, there is a key differentiator between the polls.

The studies that show a decline in ownership surveyed people regardless if they were a citizen or registered voter. The studies that showed steady rates of gun ownership were done on registered voters who have citizenship in the states.

3. Revolvers don’t jam

Revolvers are known for their reliability. They’re often recommended for new gun owners who want a home defense weapon because of their simplicity.

But revolvers aren’t fool-proof.  Certain ammunition that doesn’t play nicely with your revolver can cause jamming and stop the cylinder from rotating.

4. Many attackers are stopped by the pain of being shot

Many people who have gotten shot and survived normally report slight (if any) pain when being shot and wounded.  In fact, many survivors don’t realize they’ve been shot until they visibly see their injuries.  Therefore, bullet wounds may not be as excruciatingly painful on impact as many are lead to believe.

5. Revolver should be a women’s first gun

A few years ago, I wanted to buy a gun. I decided to try a few before purchasing my first firearm.  Many people suggested a revolver would work well for my first gun.  After a friend took me to the range and let me try a revolver and 8 other handguns, I was surprised.

The small revolver had a lot of kickback.  So much that I was constantly bracing myself before each shot. I found a .22lr to be much more comfortable and manageable.  The revolver has several fewer rounds than a pistol and it seems like a big disadvantage to someone who is new and isn’t a precise shooter yet.  Even though there’s a learning curve to a semi-auto pistol, it shouldn’t deter a woman who wants to learn about and own guns.

6. Clips and magazines are the same

Until I bought my first gun, I believed these terms to be interchangeable.  But in reality, they mean two very separate things with different purposes.

When hearing the term ‘clip’ we think of an object whose purpose is to hold things together, in place. This is exactly what a clip of cartridges does.  It simply holds cartridges together. It does not have a spring and cannot feed ammo into a chamber of a gun.

A magazine, on the other hand, is an object that holds rounds under pressure from a spring.  These feed into your gun’s chamber. It’s often detachable from your weapon and you can purchase different sizes if your state allows.

7. Your gun will be used against you

If you are a competent gun owner and find yourself in a dangerous situation, it’s important to evaluate your surroundings.  Unless you show your gun to an attacker, they won’t assume you have one or be using it against you.

And if you do decide to show them your gun, make sure you’ve thought of the next several steps and have a plan of action to ensure you will be the only one holding your gun.

8. Guns can ‘go off’ on their own

This is a commonly accepted misconception.  I had an old high school friend tell me

“Aren’t you scared it will just go off?” after learning that I got my conceal carry permit this year.

In order for a modern gun to ‘go off’, the trigger must be pulled. In some cases, a person may accidentally pull the trigger, or put enough pressure on it in a stressful situation that it discharges.

In the end, no gun will ‘just go off’ on its own. It takes human movement to accomplish this.

9. Only conceal carry when needed

Getting your concealed carry permit is like someone handing you the ultimate defense tool for life.  But only using that protection when you think you need it doesn’t make much sense.

If you think you need protection, what does that mean? Do you foresee a dangerous situation occurring? If so, it might make sense to simply avoid that situation.

With a conceal carry permit, you should carry as often as possible.  You’re ensuring the best protection in any situation. You’re doing yourself and those around you a great service.  Even if not everyone around you knows, you have the potential to save several lives. Carry, and carry proudly!

10. Conceal carry increases homicides

Many people believe that if more guns are on our streets, then killings will increase. What’s quite fascinating is that the data shows us otherwise.  Conceal carry laws became more common after the 1980s.  Before then, only 10 states had ‘right to carry’ laws.

For example, before Florida had a ‘right to carry’ law, the state had a homicide rate around 36% above the national average.  This was before 1988.  After passing the law, Florida saw a dramatic decrease in homicides and the rate dropped to 4% below the national average.

 

This article was written by Lauren Ventosa. She is the owner and blogger at CaveArmor.com, a blog about home and gun safety. She’s passionate about helping people create a secure home that promotes peace of mind and loves using the internet as an effective medium for enhancing lives through blogging.

 

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