Me: we should strictly control the sale, quantity, handling of guns, because of all the mass shootings.
Him: your odds of being in a mass shooting are, like, one in a million.
Me: then why do you carry?
Him: in case of... well, for my safety.
The odds of my house being hit by lightning are absurdly high as well, as are a host of other things in this life that we still take precautions for (I have a zap cap installed) because the precaution is relatively easy to implement. Risk is evaluated thus:
1. High Impact and High/Medium Probability - This is the type of risk you'll want to mitigate at just about any cost.
2. High Impact but Low Probability - This is the type of risk you'll want to mitigate
depending on the cost. Home Owner's insurance is a play in this arena. If the house burns down, its catastrophic. But the probability that this will happen is low. Still, we buy home owners insurance. Its also where gun ownership falls. Its relatively easy to protect oneself, and the only reason to not do it is because you don't like or believe in guns. Your choice, but you don't get to tell me what to do to mitigate my personal risk, even if you want to.
3. Low Impact, but high probability - This is risk each individual determines whether it makes sense to insure or protect against based on their own personal pain tolerance for loss. Pet insurance maybe, or extending one's dishwasher warranty.
4. Low impact, low probability - most of the time this risk is not mitigated, because cost outweighs benefit.
But, you already knew all of this because you're a smart guy. You're just pushing a narrative.