re: #138 klys

Ok, but please don’t pretend it will make much difference in the sexual assault statistics, particularly in college towns.

Also, I really fucking hate the idea that the solution to stopping sexual assault is a gun. No. It’s not. (It does add a nice subtle touch of victim blaming, though, by promoting the concept that you won’t get raped if you do carry, and therefore it was your own choices (like not carrying!) that led to you being raped.) Solutions are things like raising people who are willing to respect other people’s autonomy and decisions when it comes to sex. It’s a culture where violating that is punished, not written off. It’s advocating enthusiastic consent. It is respecting the victims and their decisions.

I don’t pretend anything in terms of that topic.Statistics are just one part of a decision making process. Especially low resolution national numbers. Guns defend ordinary people tens of thousands of times per year. Sadly few reliable stats are available for lessor means of self defense like an old fashioned haymaker punch or kick to a soft spot. Or locked doors and windows.

Three things save lives against predators-Awareness, intelligence and training. None of those guarantee anything but a better fighting chance to avoid or prevail violet assault.