you carry an M4 every day as did I before I carried a sidearm every day.
Well I guess "carry" and "every day" would be exaggerating. I generally prefer the M4 to shotgun when in the field. It's not that I think it's tactically superior...but with so many of my fellow agents preferring a shotgun as their longarm I like to have options.
Plus, I like to think I've gotten pretty good at laying down suppressing fire with it while advancing towards cover or flanking.
Neither one of us shoots someone every time we use our weapons.
Actually, I get investigated every single time I shoot...whether I hit someone or not...so I'm really always looking for ways to avoid that situation if at all possible.
I am certain that you are well trained and use your gun appropriately.
I've never had a "bad shoot".
I used my gun many times as I am certain you do but in no way does that mean that I killed something every day.
You're drawing your gun every day? What kind of work are you in?
I even pointed my gun at people that I did not want to kill and they are still alive as far as I know. So I have no idea why you said " If guns are used correctly....at least someone or something dies."
That's because I don't consider pointing my gun at someone "using it". This really only happens when I intend to shoot them or I've got a really good reason to believe they'll shoot me or someone else. I'm not waving it around directing traffic with it....
This is not the case with you nor is it the case with me and there are also thousands of people who never use their gun to kill anything.
I'm starting to think that you've got a much looser definition of "using a gun" than I do. Allow me to clarify...when I say using, I mean shooting. I don't think it should be pointed at people with the intent to intimidate, or threaten, or anything like that. Since it's a weapon that can kill people on accident (I mean, how many news stories have we seen of little kids playing with it and killing themselves or others?) it really should be reserved for those specific situations where danger to one's life is imminent.
I don't think you are missing anything I just think you might have made a bit of an overstatement. Guns are safe, people with guns are not always safe, just like people with cars are not always safe, cars kill a lot more people than guns at least in the civilian world.
A gun without any bullets is safe...but if we're talking about a loaded gun, it's not "safe". There was a news story not long ago where a guy got shot by his dog in the backseat of what I imagine was a very old, rusty, worn down truck. I'm pretty sure he lived...but it highlights the point that guns are not safe. In fact, there's a rather specific set of rules that one has to follow every single time they hold a gun to avoid hurting anyone unintentionally. That's not a "safe" tool. I can sit in my car and play with all kinds of buttons and dials and no one will die.
The worst part is that it sounds like you have or had a job that gave you some training. I have a job that requires a lot of training. We both probably know those rules I just mentioned by heart....because they've been drilled into us for our safety and the safety of others. If you're in law enforcement, I'd like to think that you have had a rather extensive amount of training that explains the subtle but important factors that are legal requirements for you to be able to shoot someone....and also when you cannot shoot someone.
Does the average person have to get any of that training, know those rules, or understand the law before they can legally purchase a killing machine? No. We don't require any of that stuff. For some reason, we all seem to agree that these things are absolutely necessary for a gun owner to know....and it's their responsibility to know these things....yet we aren't willing to take any steps to ensure that they do in fact know these things.
On a side note...I also think it's practically insane what we let people buy. Does anyone have a practical need for a .50 caliber sniper rifle? I'll wait...see if you can think of one. A gun shop/range I used to frequent had a Barrett on this mounted display right above the center gun case for some silly amount of money...but you could literally buy it with no experience whatsoever lol. That's insane. Why? Is there a truck somewhere that needs killing?
End rant. Thanks for reading.