People own guns for many different reasons, but probably the most common is for protection—and often, gun owners find they need to protect themselves from attackers wielding knives. In a world where reports of close-quarter attacks happen everyday, lawmakers are discovering that in many ways, knives can be more dangerous than a gun which is properly stored in a safe. Here are three ways knives can be more dangerous than guns.
No Ammo
In a close-quarters knife attack, one could realistically be stabbed three to five times in a single second. While the mere sight of a gun is typically enough to scare away most would-be attackers (even if it’s been gathering dust in a gun safe for months), if one needs to actually fire their weapon, there could be trouble. The FBI reports that only one and four bullets hit their mark, so if you fail to find your target, a knife-wielding criminal is free to hack and slash all he or she wants before you can reload.
Skill Level
Even if you haven’t been training to become a ninja assassin since childhood, holding, operating and cutting with a knife has been instilled in us to the point where it’s almost natural. Nobody has to be taught how to stab properly—yet many seem to have no difficulty in doing it. However, it takes training and skill when it comes to using a gun correctly. With the crudest of movements anyone can resemble a master swordsman, but with a gun there is a learning curve that prevents the problem.
No Warning
Once a gun goes off, you know you are in a gun fight in an instant. Even putting a gun in a gun safe is a loud process, so the level of stealth associated with guns is pretty minimal compared to knives. Many victims don’t even know they have been stabbed until it is to late, and by time they notice the criminal has made their getaway or attacked again.
Vincent Otiede is a home protection writer and Fort Knox provided the information for this piece. Vincent writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency in Utah.
No Ammo
In a close-quarters knife attack, one could realistically be stabbed three to five times in a single second. While the mere sight of a gun is typically enough to scare away most would-be attackers (even if it’s been gathering dust in a gun safe for months), if one needs to actually fire their weapon, there could be trouble. The FBI reports that only one and four bullets hit their mark, so if you fail to find your target, a knife-wielding criminal is free to hack and slash all he or she wants before you can reload.
Skill Level
Even if you haven’t been training to become a ninja assassin since childhood, holding, operating and cutting with a knife has been instilled in us to the point where it’s almost natural. Nobody has to be taught how to stab properly—yet many seem to have no difficulty in doing it. However, it takes training and skill when it comes to using a gun correctly. With the crudest of movements anyone can resemble a master swordsman, but with a gun there is a learning curve that prevents the problem.
No Warning
Once a gun goes off, you know you are in a gun fight in an instant. Even putting a gun in a gun safe is a loud process, so the level of stealth associated with guns is pretty minimal compared to knives. Many victims don’t even know they have been stabbed until it is to late, and by time they notice the criminal has made their getaway or attacked again.
Vincent Otiede is a home protection writer and Fort Knox provided the information for this piece. Vincent writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency in Utah.