If you’re considering taking the steps necessary to legally own a gun in Texas or you’ve recently become a gun owner, you may have some questions. One of these may be whether or not owning a gun has a tendency to change your behavior. There’s no definitive answer to this question. That said, owning a gun could affect your behavior in certain ways. The firearms education experts from Online LTC, the pros to call on when you want to take a Texas CHL class, explain some of these potential effects.
Understanding the “Weapons Effect”
Dating to the late 1960s, this is a theory described in Psychology Today that suggests firearms make people take more aggressive actions. There’s also research suggesting guns stimulate the areas of the brain associated with danger and aggression. This doesn’t mean all gun owners are naturally more aggressive or that owning a gun makes someone who’s normally calm, rational, and reasonable act aggressively.
Gaining a Confidence Boost
In general, it’s not unusual for responsible gun owners to report feeling more confident and secure when they have a gun within easy reach. Having more confidence, whether at home or in social settings, has the potential to contribute to:
• A natural reduction in fear
• Less reluctance to fully enjoy social situations
• A better overall state of mind
• An ability to keep fears or safety concerns in check
• Less stress and anxiety
Paying More Attention to Personal Safety
According to a report on violence and gender, some women gun owners report not worrying as much about their personal safety as women who don’t own guns do. They also have a tendency to be more attentive about taking the necessary precautions to maintain a sense of safety and comfort. The same report noted women were also more confident about their ability to stop a threatening individual if they owned a gun.
Increasing Alertness
In 2016, an NPR reporter went to the Texas Firearms Festival and interviewed attendees. The majority of the attendees questioned said owning a gun made them more aware of their surroundings. Being more alert can also be considered a positive behavior change in that it’s a way to avoid unintentionally winding up in potentially dangerous situations.
Having an Increased Willingness to Take Action when Necessary
There’s anecdotal evidence suggesting gun ownership could change behavior in a way that may save lives or, at the very least, mitigate dangerous situations and keep things from escalating. One example is what happened in a Texas church in late 2019. In this instance, an armed churchgoer stopped a gunman who opened fire in the church.
Maintaining a Balance with How You Behave as a Gun Owner
Whether or not a gun changes your behavior will ultimately depend on factors such as why you decided to obtain a gun in the first place and your way of thinking about firearms. Yes, some gun owners may have times when they get too aggressive or take actions that aren’t responsible. However, this isn’t what’s typical among responsible gun owners. Aim to maintain a balance as a gun owner by focusing on the positive ways being a responsible firearms owner can affect your behavior and general sense of personal safety and security.
The most important aspect of being a gun owner is making sure you learn how to handle and operate your firearm safely. Online Texas LTC is committed to providing the best firearms training available. Whether you want to take a Texas LTC class online or you simply want to learn how to shoot and handle a gun safely, Online Texas LTC has exactly what you need. Give us a call today at 512-675-2124.
