[freeandfreezing]

Apart from the factual error in what NPR says, the logic behind their argument is nonsensical.

The overwhelming majority of drivers and passengers will never be in a crash that requires seatbelts. Most people will go through their entire life without being in a serious car crash. So by the Giffords/NPR way of thinking, having seatbelts in your car and wearing them is a waste of time and money. And by the Giffords/NPR logic, so is putting your kids in a car seat.

Similarly, there is no point in having fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, or fire escapes in houses, hotels, schools or apartment buildings. Statistically speaking your chance of being killed in a fire is quite low. Not many people actually ever use a fire extinguisher, or an emergency fire escape. Nor does their smoke detector ever go off, except perhaps in the kitchen when it is a false alarm.

And that is why many people believe liberalism is a mental illness. Anybody who thinks about, and prepares for risks realizes that owning a firearm for self defense is like wearing seat belts, or having a smoke detector, a fire extinguisher, and emergency fire escapes in your house.

You probably won't even need any of them, but if you do you don't have time to go get one.

[freeandfreezing]

I should have noted that about 2000 people per year die in fires, so you are more likely to be killed during a crime than to die in a fire. So owning a firearm you can use for self defense is more important than having smoke detectors, a fire escape, and fire extinguishers.

Of course anyone with a common sense has preventive measures in place for risks of fire or criminal activity, and keeps themselves and their family prepared for either.