Gas masks can be useful in a situation where there is an imminent danger of a chemical or a biological attack from the terrorists.

Further gas masks can also be used in surviving in a totally hazardous polluted place.It can be an essential part of the kit depending upon the threat we face.

My brother-in-law who just returned from Iraq earlier this year has gas masks for his entire immediate family. He knows the chances of eventually needing them at some point are real and he is not going to be caught unprepared. We have talked about it but have not yet decided when and if we will be getting them.

I don't want to live in fear and a gas mask would somehow indicate that you do life in fear. I would not purchase any.