Why a Non-Lethal Option Like Byrna Makes Financial Sense

A recent segment on The Ramsey Show sparked widespread conversation after a caller posed a question Dave Ramsey said he had never heard in more than 35 years of advising people on money and life decisions: should money be pulled from an emergency fund to buy a gun?

The caller explained that a late-night incident left the household shaken. Around 11:00p.m., an unknown individual began aggressively banging on their door, creating a genuine fear for personal safety. Police response time only added to the concern. While the situation did not escalate further, it raised an important question many families face today: how to balance personal safety, financial responsibility, and legal risk.

Dave Ramsey’s response was clear and direct. While known as a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, Ramsey emphasized a critical reality of firearms ownership—using a lethal weapon carries enormous legal, financial, and emotional consequences. Firearms, he noted, should only be used when a life is imminently at risk. Anything short of that can lead to prison time or millions of dollars spent defending against legal action.

This is where Ramsey introduced an alternative many listeners may not have considered: a non-lethal self-defense option. He specifically pointed to Byrna, a non-lethal launcher designed to stop a threat without causing permanent harm. Unlike traditional firearms, Byrna devices fire either kinetic projectiles or pepper spray rounds that can incapacitate an aggressor, allowing homeowners to protect themselves without escalating a situation to deadly force.

From a financial standpoint, Ramsey highlighted that Byrna fits comfortably into a household budget at roughly $500—significantly less than the long-term costs associated with firearm misuse, legal defense, or civil lawsuits. From a safety perspective, it offers peace of mind for households that want protection without the risks that come with lethal weapons, especially in high-stress, fast-moving situations.

The broader takeaway from the discussion is that self-defense is not a one-size-fits-all decision. For many families, especially those concerned about accidental escalation or legal exposure, non-lethal self-defense tools provide a practical middle ground. They offer a way to respond decisively to a threat while dramatically reducing the risk of fatal outcomes.

As personal safety concerns continue to rise, conversations like this one underscore the importance of choosing tools that align with both values and real-world consequences. In this case, Dave Ramsey’s perspective reframed self-defense not just as a safety issue, but as a financial and life decision—one where non-lethal options like Byrna can play a meaningful role.