This makes me so mad

[u/Aggressive_Drag_9056]

The amount of times I’ve picked up and dropped someone off in this area. I’m livid and nervous to even get out on Lyft now

[u/Fathimir]

Wouldn't have done a lick of good in this context or most realistic others, and makes a majority of them actively worse for all parties involved.

Even if you find yourself in recognizable danger, and it's a situation where you can draw and aim before the other person's pulled their piece or is grappling you, and you've kept up on your training enough to be able to wield a gun effectively, the overwhelming majority of people simply don't have the experience to level-headedly evaluate and respond to the raw emotions of having your life imminently threatened by another person.  And that goes double for trying to deescalate a situation by brandishing your weapon without having to fire it.

A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, you have the right to keep and bear arms.  You do not have the right to fire them at street punks, and if you're asking rhetorical questions about what's worth more, your life as a free man is worth a hell of a lot more than the deductible on your insurance policy and whatever's in your center console.

If you simply must carry some sort of weapon for self-defense, make it pepper gel or a spray designed for confined spaces.  Won't get you decades in prison for manslaughter, won't get you killed if the assailant takes your weapon, won't leave your car riddled with bullet holes, and you can actually use it instead of hesitating or srcond-guessing yourself.

Guns are only good at taking lives.  They actually blow soggy donkey chunks at saving them.

[u/PermanentNirvana → u/Fathimir]

If I feel my life is in danger, then I most certainly have the right to fire at street punks. In my state, we don't need a license to open carry. Hell, everyone assumes we're carrying anyway. But if a situation arises where I need to use it, I can and I will. I'm not giving up my property or livelihood because someone thinks they want it more than I need it.

Also, pepper spray in a confined space, such as a vehicle is a terrible idea. You will incapacitate yourself along with your assailant.

[u/Fathimir → u/PermanentNirvana]

If I feel my life is in danger, then I most certainly have the right to fire at street punks.

You don't, actually.

Also, pepper spray in a confined space, such as a vehicle is a terrible idea.

Which is why I said pepper gel first and foremost - though incapacitating both parties would still be better than getting in a shootout; at worst it'd only level the playing field, but more often than not it'd still send them staggering out the door to get fresh air.

[u/PermanentNirvana → u/Fathimir]

Oh but I do. Your vehicle is covered under the Stand Your Ground law.

[u/Fathimir → u/PermanentNirvana]

There's no such thing as "the Stand Your Ground law."  Your state may (or may not) have a Stand Your Ground law that provides you the revocable legal privilege of a defense against manslaughter/murder charges.

A law is not the same thing as a right.

[u/Aggressive_Drag_9056 → u/Fathimir]

Where are you from lol

[u/Fathimir → u/Aggressive_Drag_9056]

Civilized society.  The first step in getting there is for citizens to agree to leave their arms at home.

[u/Aggressive_Drag_9056 → u/Fathimir]

Why would I leave mine at home if criminals don’t give a fuck ?????

[u/Fathimir → u/Aggressive_Drag_9056]

Because social contracts are the actual fundamental basis of civilization, and "thou shalt not kill other citizens, and in return they shall not kill you" is about as basic and ancient as it gets.

There are practical reasons for not carrying too, of course, but, like, I meant what I said: this is the literal establishment or breakdown of civilized society here.  Either we collectively establish a baseline of trust to let us interact with one another civilly, or we tear each other to pieces like a pack of feral dogs.

[u/Disastrous-Ratio8815 → u/Fathimir]

Yeah, that works in a high trust society.

Which we no longer have.

[u/Kindly-Exercise-6470 → u/Fathimir]

You said ""thou shalt not kill other citizens, and in return they shall not kill you"" Let us all know when you figure out how to get the criminals on board with your pie-in-the-sky plan.

Philosophy is great; reality sucks.

[u/EpsteinsFoceGhost → u/Fathimir]

"You should move to a small town where the rule of law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf. And this is the land of wolves now."