Quite often in the news you hear about crimes of violence committed with firearms as the weapon of choice. I have noticed that when reported upon by the media, or commented upon by politicians, these crimes fall into one of two categories.
The first category is called "gang violence." This is the language used by reporters and politicians to indicate that one or more non-white people got shot up.
The second category is "gun violence." This means that one or more white people got shot up.
Can anyone guess what the difference is between the two crimes, other than race being used as a tool to minimize or maximize political and financial ends?
If you guessed nothing, you guessed right. Why don't we ever hear that someone who got murdered was the victim of mental illness? Or the victim of knife violence? How about drug violence? Or any of a number of other contributing factors?
Because gun violence sells news, and gets politicians --whether they are for or against them--votes. Pure and simple.
Our law enforcement agencies are unable to stop guns from falling into the hands of criminals. This isn't media hype or political dogma--it's an unfortunate fact. Violence in the world we live in (yes, even in out a county as 'civilized' as the United States) isn't a matter of "if," it is a mater of "when." The criminals have guns, so why shouldn't we? The only way to defend yourself from someone with a gun is by having a gun of your own--and using it. When threatened by those who do not wish to live in accordance with the social contract that most of us adhere to you have two choices: you can become a victim, or not.
The unfortunate thing about this piece of knowledge is that most people think the decision is made at the point when someone sticks a gun in your face, or pulls a knife on you, or punches you. This is not true. If it has gotten that far, you have already made a choice--to become a victim--by not making a decision beforehand.
The decision of whether or not you want to be a victim isn't made during an attack. It is made well before. Hopefully years before, so that you will have had the time (and actually spent it) to acquire the necessary training, skills, attitude, and equipment that will be necessary for you to carry out this decision. This means a lot more than buying a gun or taking a few self-defense classes. It means going to the range and learning how to safely use it, as well as keeping it clean and well-maintained. It means going to the dojo and honing your mind, skills, and reflexes--in addition to practicing your techniques--so that you will have the mental, spiritual, and physical fortitude to deal with violence when it confronts you.
This does not mean that you have to kill or even injure someone else in order to defend yourself. It is perfectly acceptable to choose to be a pacifist. However, if you choose this path and do not train, you still have decided to become a victim by not making a decision. If attacked, you aren't someone choosing not to do violence or suffer it by fending off your attacker without harming them. You are just another victim laying on the ground, getting the hell beaten out of you or bleeding to death, because you didn't know how--didn't choose to learn how--to defend yourself.
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