Poll: Do you own a gun? If so, why?

[Ladie Au Pair]

I would like to first quote an article from the BBC

"Old stereotypes die hard and the vision of Britain as a peaceable kingdom, America as "the wild west culture on the other side of the Atlantic" is out of date. It is true that in contrast to Britain's tight gun restrictions, half of American households have firearms, and 33 states now permit law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.

But despite, or because, of this, violent crime in America has been plummeting for 10 consecutive years, even as British violence has been rising. By 1995 English rates of violent crime were already far higher than America's for every major violent crime except murder and rape.

You are now six times more likely to be mugged in London than New York. Why? Because as common law appreciated, not only does an armed individual have the ability to protect himself or herself but criminals are less likely to attack them. They help keep the peace. A study found American burglars fear armed home-owners more than the police. As a result burglaries are much rarer and only 13% occur when people are at home, in contrast to 53% in England. "

I just wanted to let people think that over... The full article can be viewed here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2656875.stm


Although I have fired several, I don't have a gun, but I don't really need one. I don't hunt and I don't feel like I am in an area where I am likely to be robbed. If I were in a position where having one would make sense, I would probably get one, but only if I needed it and would be sure to take classes and instructional courses for my safety and the safety of those near me. I do think that some restriction is good though... there really is no need for anyone to have a semi-automatic assault rifle if you're a civilian.

 

[Ladie Au Pair]

On a side note, I think that cultural differences between countries are astounding. Although guns are illegal in some countries, at my high school (in America) we had a trap team. Curious, isn't it?

 

[chaser[phoenix]]

If you have it in a lockbox with the ammo in another room and someone breaks into your house you can't be talking to the hoodlum like "Hey, wait just a second," while you're going into the other room to grab bullets, "I just need to unlock this so I can defend myself".

While you're at it, why don't you also complain about all the home appliances which didn't work because you didn't plug them into a wall outlet?

Common sense solution: keep your go-to gun loaded.

Or you're a manly man and you have it out in the open where everyone can see it.
And then some relationship goes sour and you get shot.

Instead of getting stabbed to death in your sleep? Firearms or no firearms, the problem is that you are stupid enough to go on living under the same roof with a person you consider dangerous.

Not that it's a good idea to keep a loaded, unlocked gun out in the open where anyone can immediately access it. You can tuck it out of sight, or have it in a safe. Whatever works.

I suppose we can simply agree to disagree.
I wasn't speaking of any intimate relationship where one feels endangered but lives with that person anyway (perhaps because he's an idiot) but more children than anything.
We all know some kids have short tempers and do things they'll later regret, like this [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7826663.stm], for example.

I've only ever heard about guns bringing danger rather than salvation, and all I'm trying to say is the weapon can be an endangerment to yourself more so than a protector of you and your family.

 

[Bubbahotepp]

I have guns for: protection, employment, and enjoyment.

I would never live someplace that valued freedom so little as to do nothing to protect it.

 

[mike1921]

Wow, all I can say is wow. How can you value that little?

I don't. I just value others more.

..........................WTF. You value a guy who's breaking into your house and is about to kill you more than yourself. Either you think way too highly of criminals or you need self-esteem.

Do you have any people in your life you love? Would you kill a criminal to save their lives?

The gun a man has shows how tuff and manly he is.

Please tell me that was sarcasm

This is The Escapist. We don't do sarcasm missy.

...although I am hoping that WAS sarcasm, because I may follow this thread's advice and "cap that mofo in the face, dawg."

you wouldn't kill to save your life, but you would to kill a guy for thinking guns are a sign of manliness.

Well that was a joke wasn't it. Even the way I used gangsta talk should point that out.

And to the first point, to save a loved one I'd probally just rugby tackle them if I was from a safe distance for teh lulz. In all seriousness though, probally not. I'd try to reason with them first if anything.

................If you can't rugby tackle them and they can't be reasoned with?

You' re assuming you're dealing with a guy who's just unlucky and isn't a complete pile of shit.

 

[AntiAntagonist]

Put down "No".

Would like to put down "Considering getting one/Not yet".

I'm not too interested in firepower or self-protection. I just enjoy shooting.

I'm thinking of getting a Walter PPK or a .22 pistol. Both would be form factors/calibers that are comfortable for futzing about at the range.

I also own a 20guage shotgun and a .22 rifle. Both of which are in my parents' possession for lack of apartment space.

 

[Xrysthos]

I own a shotgun (12/76) and a rifle (.30-06) for hunting purposes (deer, moose and small game like grouse and rabbit). Using firearms for protection is not really an issue where I live, so hunting/recreational use only.

 

[IamQ]

I've got a toy cowboy gun...

 

[mike1921]

Because I have no reason to and believe in a civilized country there's no reason to have one. I can understand for hunting but why do you need assault rifles and automatic weapons? (Waits for the flames to begin.)

Define civilized country.

If it means anything but "every civilian is civilized and the government is absolutely immune to absolute corruption" there's a need.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

I have two, and they're both broken. Not like I'd use 'em, anyway. They just collect dust.

 

[Dmatix]

While I am assigned a M-16 from time to time as part of soldier duties (guarding etc), I don't usually need it.

 

[Sparrow]

Wow, all I can say is wow. How can you value that little?

I don't. I just value others more.

..........................WTF. You value a guy who's breaking into your house and is about to kill you more than yourself. Either you think way too highly of criminals or you need self-esteem.

Do you have any people in your life you love? Would you kill a criminal to save their lives?

The gun a man has shows how tuff and manly he is.

Please tell me that was sarcasm

This is The Escapist. We don't do sarcasm missy.

...although I am hoping that WAS sarcasm, because I may follow this thread's advice and "cap that mofo in the face, dawg."

you wouldn't kill to save your life, but you would to kill a guy for thinking guns are a sign of manliness.

Well that was a joke wasn't it. Even the way I used gangsta talk should point that out.

And to the first point, to save a loved one I'd probally just rugby tackle them if I was from a safe distance for teh lulz. In all seriousness though, probally not. I'd try to reason with them first if anything.

................If you can't rugby tackle them and they can't be reasoned with?

You' re assuming you're dealing with a guy who's just unlucky and isn't a complete pile of shit.

Well in that case, I'd probally knock him out. Wouldn't shoot him though.

Baseball bat to the lower kneecaps show sort that out, knockout gas, drug them...

PLUS I HAS NINJA STARS IN MY HOUSEZORZ

I went through a Naruto stage when I was younger, so bought a few 20 or so of them.

 

[Dr.Sean]

When I buy my gun in oh say 10 years from now I shall make sure it looks nice. I shall devote months of my life to preserving its asthetic appeal so the deers will all be blinded by its shininess while aim for the head.

 

[4RT1LL3RY]

I don't own a gun, but I do use them when hunting. I believe owning a gun is resonable and is allowable, in the US it has been said that
"The Second Amendment secures a personal right of individuals, not a collective right that may be invoked only by a State or a quasi-collective right restricted to those persons who serve in organized militia units."
So I have the right to own a firearm, and I do plan to once I am of age to legally purchase one. I enjoy firing weapons at the range and hunting.

 

[GaM Pancho]

A bit of recreation partly, as crude as it sounds I like shooting cans etc in the garden, also for protection, though I say 'protection' I would most likely bluff if some bad guy entered my house, if I did have to shoot the fella I would only use rubber-rounds or something equally non-lethal.

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

I have a glue gun and a nail gun, both used in general DIY stuff.
Though likely not what you were asking about, they're still deadly.

Especially when you get hot glue on your hand and glue a book to your hand.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

]Even then, "right to bear arms" is outdated and, in my opinion, stupid now *is a silly American*.

Why is it outdated?

 

[JRslinger]

Because I have no reason to and believe in a civilized country there's no reason to have one. I can understand for hunting but why do you need assault rifles and automatic weapons? (Waits for the flames to begin.)

Even in a civilized country people still have the right and need for an effective tool of self defense. As for semiauto rifles etc, A well armed population has a deterrent effect on government tyranny. In effect government wannabe tyrants are afraid of getting shot so they are unwilling to persecute people on a large scale.

Or, you know, the government is concerned about six-year-olds blowing their heads off with their father's guns, nut-jobs shooting up their schools, and people snapping and blowing their family away or walking into the nearest intersection/mall/park and starting to open fire.

Just because some government people want to stop shooting sprees doesn't negate what I said. Human nature is the same throughout the world and positions of power are often held by power hungry people. Ethnic cleansing of unarmed civilians happenend in "civilized" europe in the early 1990's. An unarmed population is at greater risk of being persecuted/massacred.

Also keep in mind we've had loose gun laws for a long time but these frequent shooting sprees are a recent phenomenon.