# When to Use a Gun, Decision Tree Each morning, the most powerful man in the Roman Empire reminded himself: ![[Marcus I will deal with.png]] I really don’t care what your "rational" is for carrying a weapon, but I’ve met a lot of characters over the decades who believe, in the word’s of Raymond Chandler’s *Phillip Marlowe*, in *The Big Sleep* > [!quote] The Big Sleep "who thinks a gat in the hand means the world by the tail." In other words, having a gun only compounds most problems. It is seldom the solution. > [!question] The question for you is: What are you going to do if a person doesn’t "respect" your gun? It happens to cops all the time. > [!example] What you’re likely to hear just before your ass is handed to you: > *"What are you gonna do, big man, shoot me? Go ahead. I dare you.* " --- I’ve know soldiers & cops to freeze because they lacked a clear decision tree about when they were going to use a gun and when they will not. When it comes to guns, acting too hastily is just as dangerous as failing to act. > [!tldr] What you’ve got to lose, even if you are right > Whatever you do with your gun—use it or not use it—remember that you’re about to change your life forever: > - risking your freedom, > - your reputation, > - your finances, & > - your family’s fiscal security, not to mention > - your life. > - If you’re lucky, you’ll just get a beating. --- # FWIW, here Are My Personal Rules for Using a Gun 1. I’ll never shoot except in case of imminent threat of death or grave bodily injury to myself or another 2. I’ll never fire a gun at another human being over "stuff" 3. I’ll never fire at a fleeing or withdrawing person 4. I’ll never display or intimate to anyone that I am carrying a weapon merely to: - intimidate - impress or - reassure another person 5. I will never involve myself in somebody else’s drama, except to protect life. 6. If I draw, I will fire when I come even, without hesitation. #guns --- comments & discussions at **[https://groups.io/g/rhkennerly](https://groups.io/g/rhkennerly)** ---