Poll: Poll: Have you ever shot a gun? (Also note which country you live in)

[Jack and Calumon]

Air Rifle a few times. Don't own it though, not place on your poll for not owning a gun.

Calumon: We live in Japan by the... Oh right... England... I miss Tokyo. : (

 

[Reep]

Once, at a firing range while on holiday, from what i can remember, there was a .22 rifle, .22 revolver, a Glock and the .44 magnum. This is in Australia btw.

 

[Nerdfury]

I've actually applied for my H1 license, which grants me the ability to fire weapons unsupervised, and will likely apply for my owner's license, if a year or so of firing range pistols proved to be of enough interest to me, and buy my own to store at home.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm in Australia - the US's slightly older and much cooler brother. You know, the one that everyone prefers to hang out with and go to the pub with.

Holy cow, that's a lot of stuff to go through just to get a gun. Here, as long as you're mentally fit you can own a gun. Handguns have higher restrictions, but needing a license to even fire unsupervised? That's tough.

I'm miffed over the procedure required to buy a pistol here in Michigan in the US; I have to go to the law enforcement center to get a permit to purchase, then I have to go buy, then I have to take the gun to the LEC again to finish the registration. Oh and they're only open when I'm at work so I'd have to take time off.

I don't think it's that harsh. High death tolls and injuries by guns are because they're too easy to get. If I know that my fellow countrymen have to apply for a license, undergo training sessions on proper care, use and maintenance, apply for a license to own and keep a gun, and undergo regular inspections to make sure it's stored in line with state legislation - well, I just sleep better at night.

I can understand that. But I wonder where the line is between responsible gun ownership being enforced by laws, and the law being used to suppress responsible gun ownership. I don't know if Australia's crossed it, but I do know at least here there's a stigma associated with it, to the point that unless you're talking guns with gun people, you'll get a bit of a reputation as a crazy gun nut, even if you're not. And non-gun people are a bit nervous of your interests.

Our laws don't prevent gun ownership, it just weeds out the irresponsible ones and makes sure that people are educated on proper care and maintenance, as well as kept an eye on.

And we have that stigma here, too. You can see it when you go to a range - there's me, and there's a bunch of people with beards and baseball caps, angrily muttering about fuckin' Asians taking mah jobs or fuckin' immigrants takin' mah wimmunz.

 

[Jirlond]

I fired some guns in the cadets when I was a teenager, I live in scotland. Havent fired a gun since I was 17.

 

[jdun]

I shot over 700 rounds last Friday at the range.

Here are some of my AR15 complete lowers (price range between $250 - $350+ each). I took these pictures because someone requested a few years back on a firearm forum. With the exception of the A2 all of them I built myself. I do have more but I didn't take pictures of them.

Vltor Rifle
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37350&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

ACE
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37348&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

CTR
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37346&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

CAA
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37344&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

M4
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37342&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

A2
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37340&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2






Few of my rifles

AR M4 stock
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=34507&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

AR CTR Stock
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=34509&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

AK-47
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=34511&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

AR with CAA Stock 20" inch barrel
http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37283&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

With scope

http://www.rpginn.com/xgalleryx/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37281&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=b0ac728e88b8d6009373c746129466f2

 

[Ossum]

I've actually applied for my H1 license, which grants me the ability to fire weapons unsupervised, and will likely apply for my owner's license, if a year or so of firing range pistols proved to be of enough interest to me, and buy my own to store at home.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm in Australia - the US's slightly older and much cooler brother. You know, the one that everyone prefers to hang out with and go to the pub with.

Holy cow, that's a lot of stuff to go through just to get a gun. Here, as long as you're mentally fit you can own a gun. Handguns have higher restrictions, but needing a license to even fire unsupervised? That's tough.

I'm miffed over the procedure required to buy a pistol here in Michigan in the US; I have to go to the law enforcement center to get a permit to purchase, then I have to go buy, then I have to take the gun to the LEC again to finish the registration. Oh and they're only open when I'm at work so I'd have to take time off.

I don't think it's that harsh. High death tolls and injuries by guns are because they're too easy to get. If I know that my fellow countrymen have to apply for a license, undergo training sessions on proper care, use and maintenance, apply for a license to own and keep a gun, and undergo regular inspections to make sure it's stored in line with state legislation - well, I just sleep better at night.

I can understand that. But I wonder where the line is between responsible gun ownership being enforced by laws, and the law being used to suppress responsible gun ownership. I don't know if Australia's crossed it, but I do know at least here there's a stigma associated with it, to the point that unless you're talking guns with gun people, you'll get a bit of a reputation as a crazy gun nut, even if you're not. And non-gun people are a bit nervous of your interests.

Our laws don't prevent gun ownership, it just weeds out the irresponsible ones and makes sure that people are educated on proper care and maintenance, as well as kept an eye on.

And we have that stigma here, too. You can see it when you go to a range - there's me, and there's a bunch of people with beards and baseball caps, angrily muttering about fuckin' Asians taking mah jobs or fuckin' immigrants takin' mah wimmunz.

Ha! Nice. Our foreign threat of choice is Mexicans, but the language is pretty much the same. If crazy racist rednecks at the range aren't griping about losing their jobs to "illegals" (illegal immigrants) they're whining about how some local belle fell in love with a no good Hispanic boy who doesn't talk right.

But this is all tangential. I'd love some mandatory training courses prior to gun ownership, but if the alternative is an even higher social stigma or government watchdogging, I'd be leery of it. They'd also have to not be completely pointless. An owner should have skill, not just a piece of paper saying so.

 

[ace_of_something]

Yes, I've used one in an actual combat scenario (in the army or otherwise)
I am a police officer: The united states.
I have had the unfortunate need to take a life at one point.

 

[Silva]

It generally saddens me that guns are so well-loved by the members of this forum. It now makes sense why The Escapist can have a National Rifle Association member writing articles with a clear pro-gun tone without getting castigated, or even really criticised, for it.

 

[hcig]

i pretty much shot everything

and by everything, i mean caliber, ive still got to shoot a suppressed weapon though, but i cant be bothered with the ridiculous price and monitoring for a class 3 suppressor stamp, so ill have to wait till someone i know gets one, or we get a better gun range

lever and bolt action are by far my favorite types of guns too, something about the old reliable weapons of the past (lever, break, bolt action and revolver) is just magical

oh, and i havent shot a musket or a pepper box, i would kill to fire some

edit:
american, btw (united states)

 

[Wakefield]

There's no option to you having shot one but don't own one? My friend let me shoot his once.

 

[CrikeyO]

Steyr AUG assault rifle and Browning Hi-Power pistol, courtesy of the Irish Defence Forces.

 

[hcig]

It generally saddens me that guns are so well-loved by the members of this forum. It now makes sense why The Escapist can have a National Rifle Association member writing articles with a clear pro-gun tone without getting castigated, or even really criticised, for it.

why? why would it sadden you, knowing that there are people out there ready to stop bad people from killing you? so theres this guy, he got a gun, not from a dealer, mind you, he got a few guns from mexican cartel salesmen, they are all suppressed, and full auto

now in a world where you cant legally own a gun (remember, he owns guns obtained illegally, because he doesnt care about the law) he now has free range for a killing spree, the cops must actually be deployed to such a position, and have to prep themselves, and advance slowly to prevent possible harm coming to them, meanwhile, this guy is tearing up the place your in, killing every thing around you, and the cops are still 5 minutes from him (5 minutes with a gun is like 5 hours with a sword)

of course, in a world where i am allowed to carry a fire arm, i at least stand a chance, if only a chance, to take this guy out, the second he starts shooting, now, ive become the x-factor in this scenario, i - and others like me- are now going to attempt to save your sorry ass, and do it by putting our selves in further danger (actually becoming a threat to him)

i prefer a world where i never have to use my gun, but since that world is impossible, i like to think that its better to go your whole life without drawing you weapon, than to not have it when its needed.

 

[hcig]

Steyr AUG assault rifle and Browning Hi-Power pistol, courtesy of the Irish Defence Forces.

whats that steyr feel like? it looks incredibly awkward, honestly

 

[Communist partisan]

I shoot whith saloon rifles every week in sweden but I've also fired a AK-47 in Serbia.

 

[RogueNinja299]

Australia and I've fired a .22 rifle.

 

[CrikeyO]

Steyr AUG assault rifle and Browning Hi-Power pistol, courtesy of the Irish Defence Forces.

whats that steyr feel like? it looks incredibly awkward, honestly

The bullpup layout takes a bit of getting used to, it's a bit awkward at first, but the recoil is controllable in fully automatic so you can get used to it pretty quickly.
My main complaint is the built in scope, it has a doughnut shaped reticle instead of a crosshair, I'd prefer a cross, but that's just me.

 

[Shadowfaze]

I bought a small 9mm in london once, in an alleyway. it was in a brown paper bag and cost me about a tenner. Other than that, i once held a tommy gun at a rich gun ethusiasts house. it was ver very heavy.

 

[MrNickster]

The only gun I've ever fired is a paintball gun. I live in Australia-second only to South Korea on gun control

 

[FalloutJack]

Have I ever shot a gun? Why no! Hitting another man's gun with a bullet requires some very careful aiming and I've never been able to pull that off. Takes a really good eye for that one.

*Rimshot*

 

[imaloony]

Why is there no "Yes, but not often" option?

I've shot off probably a hundred rounds while in the Boy Scouts. I don't own a gun though, and I've only shot it at a shooting range.