[BitWielder1]

With a gun you have an option, without one you have none.

The issue is not risking your life for STUFF, it's defending yourself and your family against those who would take the STUFF that you stored to keep your family alive.
Like food, water, clothes, fuel, medicine that may be irreplaceable when SHTF.
That kind of stuff. Necessary items, not the big screen TV.
You still have the option of surrendering if the odds are against you.
Then you have to consider whether the thugs are going to let you live or if it would have been better to take as many of them with you as you could.
For every thug you kill, some other prepper and family may live.

[Axenolith]

That last point is a cogent one. A moral, freedom loving person has the general obligation outside of providing for their immediate loved ones of helping some semblance of society return to normal. That would include aiding in the cleanup of nee’r do wells.

That said, one thing I think a lot of people don’t quite “get” with respect to societal breakdown and it’s resultant anarchy and potential for armed battle is, YOU DON’T GET A “DO-OVER” ON GETTING SHOT.

There are a LOT of places where people are seen making battle with military style weapons (full auto no less) in other parts of the world where you as an American would probably stand a far greater chance of survival than here. Why? Because most of those other places the majority of people are crappy shots, AND they’re all using full metal jacket mil-spec ammo.

The U.S. is saturated with rifles that are shooting heavier loads and they are in probably the majority of instances firing ammunition designed for taking game animals. These rounds are soft nosed and/or hollow point and a strike that may, with a full jacket round be survivable, will most definitely not be with a hunting round.

Granted, it’s all of ours hope that the majority of the folks wielding weapons firing game rounds will be like minded individuals with the Republic’s best interest in mind, but when the times get “Selco’y”, you’re going to have to be VERY judicious in your assesment of others and your exposure to whatever they’re packing...

[P.O.E.]

For every thug you kill, some other prepper and family may live.

In the immortal words of Bugs Bunny; "Their victory will be costly"

Prepping should include a group of like-minded people who are willing to work together.