Should you buy a gun or not?

Gofirstclass

Gofirstclass

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Apr 20, 2010
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Tri Cities, WA
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I spend a fair amount of time reading the news--local, national and world news. One thing that has jumped out at me is the rise in violent crime. I doubt there are many large cities where violent crime isn't skyrocketing. Everything from homicides to auto thefts to road rage assaults etc.

I saw a video this morning about a segment on The View where one of the women on there said she'd recently (a) gone with her girlfriends to a gun store; (b) bought a 9mm handgun; (c) learned at a gun range how to shoot it; (d) shoots bi-weekly with said girlfriends; (e) took a classroom course on what's legal and what's not; and (f) took a gun safety test and passed it. Oh, BTW, she is a single, black, parent of a young boy who wanted to be able to protect her son.

When she first said all that the audience laughed, thinking she was joking. After she explained her thought processes the audience was silent. Apparently they could not understand why a single, female parent would want to buy a gun. Period.

So my question to you is this: Since we can't seem to come up with solutions on how to stop these criminals from victimizing us, how do you feel about owning/buying a firearm to protect yourself and those around you?
 
Last time I handled a gun I was a young lad. As a kid by Grandfather would take us shooting in summers out in Western Mass. Also did a bit in the Cub/Boy scouts. But as a suburban young adult, never really thought much about and it was never a thing (although all my relatives up North in Wis are hunters, except my dad). Until now. I picked one up a few months ago. And just for the reason you say -- the police have zero chance of protecting us. With the protests and anarchy over the summer, which even hit many close by suburban locations, it was time. It's there if I need it. It's there if they try to take firearms away. Gonna hit up the range and some classes this winter.

Now what is really interesting, while I was in the store going thru the paper work, that lady you described walked in, picked up her gun and a few boxes of ammo. :)
 
Never bought one, have thought about it a lot. Just haven’t pulled the trigger so to speak. Will at some point. But I will have to take a class, shoot at least once a week, all of that. It’s a great responsibility, and if I get one, I will have to learn a lot…
 
I have a few strategically placed around the house, they are unloaded with ammo close by. Dont think about them much tho.

I do pull out the Red Ryder BB gun sometimes, just for fun ;)
 
we have guns and always have. Pistols placed around in handy places along with a safe with long guns and a few more pistol's. Ammo is located in 2 different places. with the BS that goes on today I couldn't sleep with out them. oops the hand guns are loaded. they come in this house unwelcomed they are doomed.
 
I have had shotguns since I was 14. A unloaded shotgun is kept in my closet with shells close by.

My cousin works for Smith & Wesson. I have been thinking about calling him and getting a few hand guns. Just haven’t “pulled the trigger yet.”

I have another close friend that works at a Gun and Ammo store.

About 8 years ago I went into the Carmel Indiana Police station to ask about something. I heard someone talking about getting a Carry Permit. At that time they said that they had to personally talk with the Chief of Police.

I do not know if this is what one has to do now.
 
Need to add , I have never had a concealed carry permit, however I have always packed when I felt it was needed. Anytime I was pulled over and asked I always said yes when I had one. Never had a problem. Actually it’s a constitutional right to pack so I have never felt obligated to obey the bullshit. It seems now a lot of states have changed over to no CCP. Never needed it anyway if u could afford to fight it.
I need to add everyone here in East Ky and southern WV packs anyway. Regardless of the law. That includes the x-felons.
 
A gun? As in just one? Cpl holder….. I have everything from a .32 seecamp to a .500 6.5” s&w mag. Several AR’s and my home defense shotty. Shotguns with LE buck still the best home defense weapon out there. Just point it down the hall and shoot….

EDC is a glock 30sf
 
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Actually I cannot believe where some of you live without a gun.
 
For those of you considering a first gun, do yourself a big favor and take a new shooters course that involves hands on shooting.

The NRA offers a Basic Pistol class that provides instruction for first time gun owners. The NRA courses are taught by NRA certified instructors to a specific course plan. Classes near you can be found on the NRA website. Training is also available through national training facilities such as Gunsite in Arizona and Sig Sauer Academy in NH. While places like Gunsite and Sig are known for their training of law enforcement and military personnel, they have training regimes for recreational and defensive shooters as well.
 
Quite a few states have gone "constitutional carry", here in Indiana you need a license to carry a handgun. Get fingerprinted, complete your app and send it in. I've had my lifetime for years...

Learn the laws in your state and also states you may travel thru. Many states honor other states permit but in the state just to the west, they honor just about no one's. However, your good to go if you stay in your vehicle (or in your hotel room while carrying).

www.handgunlaw.us is a great resource and reciprocal carry is a great thing! Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six...

As most here know, the police have no duty to protect. But they will surely come after the fact and take a report and photograph the scene.

Learn the law, follow the law and get training.

My last class (pre-covid) was 500+ rounds over two days. I try to hit the monthly night shoot at our local range, as it's much more realistic. After the range is closed, they setup targets and you go one at a time, thru the course in front of the firing line, in the dark. Definitely a fun hobby and it never hurts to be prepared.
 
Gofirstclass said:
I spend a fair amount of time reading the news--local, national and world news. One thing that has jumped out at me is the rise in violent crime. I doubt there are many large cities where violent crime isn't skyrocketing. Everything from homicides to auto thefts to road rage assaults etc.

I saw a video this morning about a segment on The View where one of the women on there said she'd recently (a) gone with her girlfriends to a gun store; (b) bought a 9mm handgun; (c) learned at a gun range how to shoot it; (d) shoots bi-weekly with said girlfriends; (e) took a classroom course on what's legal and what's not; and (f) took a gun safety test and passed it. Oh, BTW, she is a single, black, parent of a young boy who wanted to be able to protect her son.

When she first said all that the audience laughed, thinking she was joking. After she explained her thought processes the audience was silent. Apparently they could not understand why a single, female parent would want to buy a gun. Period.

So my question to you is this: Since we can't seem to come up with solutions on how to stop these criminals from victimizing us, how do you feel about owning/buying a firearm to protect yourself and those around you?
Click to expand...
My question to you is, what are you doing watching the view?don’t buy a gun , buy a few guns with lots of ammunition.
You can’t have it both ways. Don’t prosecute the criminals then complain the crime is out of control.
 
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Mark.60 said:
My question to you is, what are you doing watching the view?don’t buy a gun , buy a few guns with lots of ammunition.
You can’t have it both ways. Don’t prosecute the criminals then complain the crime is out of control.
Click to expand...
I had to relocate some of my ammo for fear it was going to go through my second floor floor. o_O
 
Guns are bad. They jump up and kill people all the time. Especially those big black evil looking ones.
Needless to say I'm being more than a little facetious. A firearm is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether to own one or not is a personal choice and one that shouldn't be made lightly. I don't encourage nor dissuade anyone from owning one. I'm happy to teach what I know and let someone make their own choices.
When I was Scoutmaster, before I resigned after it became political and twisted, I would lay an AR on a table and ask the scouts how many people this firearm could kill. Needless to say, with the one exception being my oldest son, they all gave answers of of one to thousands. They were all surprised when I explained that the firearm sitting on the table couldn't kill anyone. It was simply a tool.
A tangential comment to the question: What I own for firearms and how many rounds of ammunition I have and where I keep it is nobody's business, but my own.
 
The gun is the great equalizer. Our founding fathers were genius in understanding this. Because of our constitution we are able to protect ourselves, not only from criminals, but also out of control, over reaching government.

A prime example of how our constitution has protected us would be the arming of freedmen after the civil war. This was the foundation of the National Rifle Association.

Should everyone own a firearm? No.

Owning a firearm is a tremendous responsibility. If you do not take time to understand how to properly handle and use a firearm then you have no business owning a gun.
 
firecadet613 said:
Quite a few states have gone "constitutional carry", here in Indiana you need a license to carry a handgun. Get fingerprinted, complete your app and send it in. I've had my lifetime for years...

Learn the laws in your state and also states you may travel thru. Many states honor other states permit but in the state just to the west, they honor just about no one's. However, your good to go if you stay in your vehicle (or in your hotel room while carrying).

www.handgunlaw.us is a great resource and reciprocal carry is a great thing! Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six...

As most here know, the police have no duty to protect. But they will surely come after the fact and take a report and photograph the scene.

Learn the law, follow the law and get training.

i hear U @firecadet, however you was born with that right. u and me on the same side sir

My last class (pre-covid) was 500+ rounds over two days. I try to hit the monthly night shoot at our local range, as it's much more realistic. After the range is closed, they setup targets and you go one at a time, thru the course in front of the firing line, in the dark. Definitely a fun hobby and it never hurts to be prepared.
Click to expand...
 
HawkX66 said:
Guns are bad. They jump up and kill people all the time. Especially those big black evil looking ones.
Needless to say I'm being more than a little facetious. A firearm is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether to own one or not is a personal choice and one that shouldn't be made lightly. I don't encourage nor dissuade anyone from owning one. I'm happy to teach what I know and let someone make their own choices.
When I was Scoutmaster, before I resigned after it became political and twisted, I would lay an AR on a table and ask the scouts how many people this firearm could kill. Needless to say, with the one exception being my oldest son, they all gave answers of of one to thousands. They were all surprised when I explained that the firearm sitting on the table couldn't kill anyone. It was simply a tool.
A tangential comment to the question: What I own for firearms and how many rounds of ammunition I have and where I keep it is nobody's business, but my own.
Click to expand...
no doubt its like a hammer when u need it, I totally agree .
 
I got a concealed carry permit in the spring after inheriting my father's police service weapon. It was amazingly easy but apparently that's not the norm everywhere.

It was way too big to carry so I bought a pocket sized .380 that's never more than a foot away.

I have to admit that carrying was strange for a week or so but now it's on the coffee table, in my front pocket or wedged between the console and passenger seat.

Where I live anyone without a felony in their past owns/carries. Makes you think about who you mess with and nobody worries about break ins or robberies.

I'd always had rifles and shotguns though.
 
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