Poll: is a gun a good tool to have in a household?

[sneakypenguin]

Last I checked the odds of someone accidentally shooting one of their housemates compared to the chance of them shooting an invading criminal was somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 1.

So because others are fools with guns you would take away my right to defend myself? I'm sorry but if some crazy drug addict is robbing me for money I want a means with which to defend myself or loved ones. Even if odds are i'll never have to use it I still wan't that option. It would also be really nice to be able to carry on campus. The way I feel is the government is responsible for many deaths in virginia for not permitting legal carry permit holder to have one on site.
Like people always say when seconds count the police are only minutes away. That's why I am proactive and take control of my safety rather than just hope nothing bad happens.

 

[mrnelsby]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/10/police_identify_6.html

Guns + kids = not good.

 

[Limos]

I think personally I'll stick with deadbolts, safety doors and a Rottweiler. Keeps the people out of my house so I don't have to get their innards all over my nice clean carpets.

 

[Pseudonym2]

Last I checked the odds of someone accidentally shooting one of their housemates compared to the chance of them shooting an invading criminal was somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 1.

seem like pritty good odds to me aha

Where did you check?

In a book about four years ago. Unfortunately I can't remember the book or author (it was pretty unremarkable except for that part.) I remember the author having a liberal slant.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

No.

The less guns a society owns and the harder they are to get, the better. Of course you might say you need them for self-defence, but actually you wouldn't if the bad guy also had no gun. Same effect with less killing tools.

You ever been beaten and robbed in the street? I have, and I sure wish I had been carrying. They had no guns, but that didn't stop them doing a little tap dance on my face. If I had a gun, I could have defended myself.

I believe that the benefit of self-defense, the benefit of a populace able to arm itself, and the simple good sport that guns provide can make them worth the inherent risk. Gun ownership isn't right for all people in all places, but it sure works for me. I think being educated in the use of firearms is an important part of being a responsible citizen.

The number one rule about gun ownership is education. Number two is safety, but that simply follows. Guns should be kept from very young children, but even the youngest should be taught to fear and respect them. It's paradoxical- the first thing I would tell an aspiring shooter is the inherent danger of firearms, yet I still think they are more than worth the risk.

I won't get into the second Amendment, because I understand the topic to be more about personal choice than legality. By the way, that spelling is atrocious. I'm pretty sure you can be put on probation for spelling and syntax that bad.

 

[axia777]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/10/police_identify_6.html

Guns + kids = not good.

Grieving father should be chemically castrated and never be allowed to have any more kids, EVER. What a damned MORON. Like I said, IQ test + Gun Licenses = Win. This is sad, but I do not really have much sympathy. Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[JMeganSnow]

I think personally I'll stick with deadbolts, safety doors and a Rottweiler. Keeps the people out of my house so I don't have to get their innards all over my nice clean carpets.

A big scary dog is a very effective crime deterrent device. Plus dogs are just awesome.

 

[almo]

The scene in reservoir dogs where someone shoots a civilian because they whip out a gun shows a really good reason you shouldn't think having a gun will protect you.

 

[ffxfriek]

yes times are hard and who knows wholl tru something?

 

[fix-the-spade]

WRUNG!
When the guns are outlawed, only the outlaws, Police and Army have guns. I gaurantee that the Police and the Army will have more and bigger than the outlaws...

So you expect the cops to protect you? When they show up ten minutes after shots are fired? When the situation is already over? The best you can expect out of the police is to catch the guy after the fact.

An armed society is a fearful society, fear of your fellow man is no better than fear of your government.

Come live in England for a bit mate. Hand guns are illegal whilst rifles and Shotguns are subject to VERY strict controls as well as strict controls on the sale and storage of ammunition.
Most of the countries guns are in the hands of either professionals or criminals. Also, over here there is this unwritten rule (or seems to be) that if a person is out on the street with a gun, the Police will simply kill them without question. A person getting shot is still rare enough to make national headlines in the UK, so do the math yourself.
Strangely enough the number of gun deaths in the UK is massively lower than the US, even by per 1000 population.


Also, yes, yes I do expect the cops to protect me. It's what they're there for.

 

[JMeganSnow]

Last I checked the odds of someone accidentally shooting one of their housemates compared to the chance of them shooting an invading criminal was somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 1.

seem like pritty good odds to me aha

Where did you check?

In a book about four years ago. Unfortunately I can't remember the book or author (it was pretty unremarkable except for that part.) I remember the author having a liberal slant.

There's also a statistic floating around that you're something like 1000 times more likely to be accidentally killed by doctor error than by a gun. And much, much, much more likely to be killed in a car accident.

I know, let's outlaw guns, doctors, AND cars!!

The truth is that the statistics don't tell the entire story. I give you at least one example of a gun being used for deterrence without shots ever being fired, and certainly no one was killed: my uncle once heard an intruder downstairs in his farmhouse, so he grabbed his shotgun and cocked it. The sound is very distinctive. The intruder got out of there in a hurry.

 

[Pseudonym2]

Last I checked the odds of someone accidentally shooting one of their housemates compared to the chance of them shooting an invading criminal was somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 1.

seem like pritty good odds to me aha

Where did you check?

In a book about four years ago. Unfortunately I can't remember the book or author (it was pretty unremarkable except for that part.) I remember the author having a liberal slant.

There's also a statistic floating around that you're something like 1000 times more likely to be accidentally killed by doctor error than by a gun. And much, much, much more likely to be killed in a car accident.

I know, let's outlaw guns, doctors, AND cars!!

The truth is that the statistics don't tell the entire story. I give you at least one example of a gun being used for deterrence without shots ever being fired, and certainly no one was killed: my uncle once heard an intruder downstairs in his farmhouse, so he grabbed his shotgun and cocked it. The sound is very distinctive. The intruder got out of there in a hurry.

First of all cars have a purpose other than killing people unlike guns. Second doctors also save more lives than guns and only kill people when are not doing their job properly. Third if the sound of shotgun scares people, I would recommend investing in a tape recorder and a taser.

 

[axia777]

Also, yes, yes I do expect the cops to protect me. It's what they're there for.

The point was that cops are not preventative, they are reactive. They deal with crimes after the fact, not during, most of the time. You will be beaten, raped, dead, or shot long before a cop will ever get to you.

 

[Pipotchi]

WRUNG!
When the guns are outlawed, only the outlaws, Police and Army have guns. I gaurantee that the Police and the Army will have more and bigger than the outlaws...

So you expect the cops to protect you? When they show up ten minutes after shots are fired? When the situation is already over? The best you can expect out of the police is to catch the guy after the fact.

An armed society is a fearful society, fear of your fellow man is no better than fear of your government.

Come live in England for a bit mate. Hand guns are illegal whilst rifles and Shotguns are subject to VERY strict controls as well as strict controls on the sale and storage of ammunition.
Most of the countries guns are in the hands of either professionals or criminals. Also, over here there is this unwritten rule (or seems to be) that if a person is out on the street with a gun, the Police will simply kill them without question. A person getting shot is still rare enough to make national headlines in the UK, so do the math yourself.
Strangely enough the number of gun deaths in the UK is massively lower than the US, even by per 1000 population.


Also, yes, yes I do expect the cops to protect me. It's what they're there for.

This, put simply America has lots of Guns and lots of people die from gunshot wounds other than criminals, wives, neighbours kids etc

England impossible to get a gun unless you are a criminal or a police officer, gun crime is very rare

 

[ReepNeep]

The scene in reservoir dogs where someone shoots a civilian because they whip out a gun shows a really good reason you shouldn't think having a gun will protect you.

Because Hollywood movies are such a great portrayal of reality.

If you want to trust the most precious thing you have, your very life, to the whim of your assailant that's your own choice. I refuse to let your ilk force me to do the same.

 

[JMeganSnow]

First of all cars have a purpose other than killing people unlike guns. Second doctors also save more lives than guns and only kill people when are not doing their job properly. Third if the sound of shotgun scares people, I would recommend investing in a tape recorder and a taser.

Dude, that was sarcasm, catch a clue.

Personally, I don't have much interest in guns and don't want one around, however I think people should have the *right* to have guns just like they have the *right* to do other potentially stupid stuff.

Choose the method that suits your personal situation the best.

 

[sneakypenguin]

The scene in reservoir dogs where someone shoots a civilian because they whip out a gun shows a really good reason you shouldn't think having a gun will protect you.

Because movies are such a mirror of real life A gun alone won't protect you but skill/common sense/education combined with a gun can protect you better than no gun with those things. I think i'm much safer with a gun in a parking garageor wherever if someone tries to rob me I can go along with them I can run or I can pull my Taurus Millennium pro .40S&W from my holster and get off 3 shots in 1.2 - 2.1 sec. a gun just gives you that much more option to protect yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cUGADzEAV0

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Where

 

[ReepNeep]

WRUNG!
When the guns are outlawed, only the outlaws, Police and Army have guns. I gaurantee that the Police and the Army will have more and bigger than the outlaws...

So you expect the cops to protect you? When they show up ten minutes after shots are fired? When the situation is already over? The best you can expect out of the police is to catch the guy after the fact.

An armed society is a fearful society, fear of your fellow man is no better than fear of your government.

Come live in England for a bit mate. Hand guns are illegal whilst rifles and Shotguns are subject to VERY strict controls as well as strict controls on the sale and storage of ammunition.
Most of the countries guns are in the hands of either professionals or criminals. Also, over here there is this unwritten rule (or seems to be) that if a person is out on the street with a gun, the Police will simply kill them without question. A person getting shot is still rare enough to make national headlines in the UK, so do the math yourself.
Strangely enough the number of gun deaths in the UK is massively lower than the US, even by per 1000 population.


Also, yes, yes I do expect the cops to protect me. It's what they're there for.

This, put simply America has lots of Guns and lots of people die from gunshot wounds other than criminals, wives, neighbours kids etc

England impossible to get a gun unless you are a criminal or a police officer, gun crime is very rare

This argument is so patently ridiculous. Note that you say gun crime. Isn't your government in the process of taking away your knives too because of an epidemic of *snicker* knife crime? Criminals use whatever weapon they can get ahold of and with a populace they know for a fact will be unarmed... you do the math. You are more likely to be a victim of violent crime in the the UK than you are in the US.

Just read this article. It puts it better than I could.
http://www.wmsa.net/pubs/reason/reason_nov02_crime_in_uk.htm
Pull your head out of the sand.