Are there guns in your home?

[sparks19]

I just want to add that having guns for home defense does not mean you are living in fear or that you are scared. I'm not afraid in my day to day life living here. it's more about being prepared.

let's face facts... cops don't have teleporters to transport them to where ever a crime is taking place. they have to drive there and that takes time. so if I call them to report someone has broken into my house... what do I do between then and the time the cops arrive (which can be a long time depending where you live)? I can't hide, I have a defenseless child who is depending on me to keep her safe. what do I do in the meantime? I mean I'm not gonna jump around the corners and start BANG BANG BANG like cops and robbers or anything LOL.

Essentially cops do more "solving" the crimes than actually preventing them from happening.

 

[SizzleDog]

Absolutely we do. And not only that, but I'm getting a permit to carry in the coming months.... along with a new gun for the sole purpose of concealed carry during times when I feel I need the extra protection.

I respect guns, I know how to use guns, and I'm responsible with guns. Unless you're trying to hurt me, you have no reason to fear me.

 

[AllieMackie]

None in our home at the moment (save for paintball markers), but that may change in the future. The boy has an active interest in hunting, just no one to go with. Once he starts, I bet our house will have some rifles and shotguns.

I'm a range shooter, and would eventually like to own my own semi-auto. Both the boy and I have our PAL licenses, so it's more a matter of finding out what we specifically want and getting them for ourselves.

 

[Georgygirl]

I don't have any in my home, but I grew up in a house with them so I have no problem with it. For me, I know I would have a difficult time using a gun if the situation arose, so ultimately it's probably safer for me not to have one.

 

[Fran101]

My brothers have paintball guns somewhere.
They used to use me as target practice lol talk about child abuse

My dad has a few guns in his home. Locked away somewhere

 

[Snark]

I did learn how to handle a gun at an early age. I learned what a gun was, I learned how to hold it, I learned how to clean it, and when I was old enough I learned how to load and shoot it. And with THAT said, we learned respect for guns. Guns are for killing. Period. They aren't for shooting animals in random places just for giggles. They aren't for shooting someone's kneecaps out (which is why I despise people who blame shooters for not just "shooting to injure them"). When you pick up that gun and you load it and you take aim, you're goal is to then kill your target. Period. And if you don't kill it on the first shot, you quickly reload if need be (depends on what you're shooting), and you prepare and shoot again. Quickly but with precision.

Sure, we set up targets and had target practice. But even though that was for fun, it still served a purpose.

I still have a healthy respect for what such a weapon can do. It's why I would say I'm a responsible gun owner. Because I was taught the proper way to do things.

I didn't grow up thinking guns were things to intimidate with. I didn't equate a gun with my own reputation. Some people are against teaching children about guns, but when you teach them what they are, what they are for, and the rules you must abide by, then you teach them respect and you actually give them a foundation for responsible gun ownership if they so choose in the future.

Street thugs don't have respect. And they sure as hell don't follow any laws.

^This^ Except my dad was in law enforcement (federal). We never had a gun safe - all of us kids knew guns were not toys and were taught how to handle them properly. When we had our house built (in a rural area), Dad gave Sis and I a shotgun for protection.

 

[Laurelin]

I would guess we have somewhere around 20? I haven't counted in a while. I have three, Emily has two, Josie has one, Josh has 2?, and my dad has at least 11 last I know.

They're all in a safe. All rifles and shotguns (except for one handgun). Mostly used for range/skeet shooting and hunting various birds and deer.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Yup, two.

 

[MPP]

Not any more. I turned my handgun in to the police when I realized that I hadn't gone target shooting in almost 20 years and could no longer count on my "responsible gun owner" reflexes.

 

[Southpaw]

None here, but I wouldn't be uncomfortable with the idea. I don't think I'd ever be comfortable enough to handle one myself, though.

But I think we're okay without.

 

[Dani]

No gun for me. Ninjas don't need guns.

 

[Pops2]

Eeeeeeeeee!I don't know nearly everything coming up in this thread makes me feel uncomfortable.I know as a "spectator" to America's gun culture that it is very different.
Before I continue I'm talking specifically about keeping guns around for protection and not hunting.

people tend to be uncomfortable w/ things they do not understand or have experience with. which leads to this question, has anyone ever taught you how to safely & properly operate any type of firearm?

It's one of those things that really set your country apart towhat I feel is my culture.I understand the need for responsible ownership and the points about teaching children properly about guns,and respect for guns is very true.I just find it a sad thought that the world has the NEED to teach children about being responsible with guns,that people need a gun in their homes to feel safe.I also think it's awful that people feel they need this because they can not count on the police to protect them.I don't know alot about America,everything I see and read about it come's from the media as it is.I defiantly see alot of glossy photo-story's by people fascinated by the Us gun culture.

teaching children to respect firearms & handle them safely is no different than teaching them to respect & handle automobiles safely. not doing so is a parenting fail that could get the child or someone else killed. the reason people keep or carry guns for safety is simply a matter of accepting that you the individual are the only one who can truly be responsible for & maintain your safety. remember when your life is in danger and seconds count, the police are just minutes away.

I kind of believe the whole "Live by the sword, die by the sword",I don't understand why a government would believe MORE people owning guns would make society SAFER?Too me that goes against logic!I can't really talk any American problems,so maybe this is something that is discussed.Alot of what I'm saying is based on what I see and learn from the media,correct me if I'm wrong!I don't want to offend anyone.

actually statistically for western cultures the higher the rate of firearms ownership/possesion the lower the violent crime rate & the overall crime rate. for example switzerland w/o fail has had the lowest crime rate of any industrialized nation in europe. not coincidentally, nearly every law abiding adult male citizen in switzerland is required to keep a fully automatic weapon ("machinegun") in his home along w/ a full combat load of ammo (about 200 rounds). further they are required to qualify 2X a year to show they can use it effectively. after their mandatory 20 years in the homeguard they may continue to keep their machinegun provided they continue to qualify with it.
likewise when Kennesaw Georgia passed a local law requiring EVERY lawabiding household to own a firearm, their crime rate for a city their size dropped to the lowest in the USA. and they continue to stay near the bottom. every city & state that has streamlined or eased the process to own & carry firearms has experienced a drop in all crime & especially in violent crime.
OTH jurisdictions that continue to restrict or hamper firearms ownership crime rates have gone up. for example Canada, Britain & Australia experienced dramatic increases in crime (especially violent crime) EVERY time they enacted stricter national laws against firearms ownership.

 

[Pops2]

I could be wrong, but I think your country hasn't really needed guns domestically. It was well-established before guns were even invented, LOL. Maybe that's why, in your country, the gun has come to be associated with either criminals or the military.

a little historical note, prior to WWII british gun laws were in fact very onerous only a bit less than they are now. when the threat of Nazi invasion became very real and the citizenry found themselves essentially defenseless, the National Rifle Association (of the USA) spearheaded a drive that donated nearly 1/4 million rifles, shotguns & handguns to arm british volunteers to help defend their homes. after or during the war the laws were relaxed. when the Brits went back down the registration & confiscation road most of the donated weapons were destroyed.

 

[GipsyQueen]

I don't understand being uncomfortable with someone who has a gun unless theyre not responsible about handling it. I carry, and we all have guns. I pity the person who tries to rob our house. Because if the dog doesn't get them, we all have a shotgun and handguns.

I didn't grow up with guns. No one in my family has ever owned a gun, nor does anyone in my family want to own a gun. I was taught that guns are for killing. By having a gun, I feel the need to take someones/somethings/an animals life away because or sportsmanship or aparently protection. So while you grew up with guns and carry one yourself, I did not, and I do not. I walk around the city at night by myself all the time. Now I have pepperspray with me, but I also don't expect to randomly be shot at and need to use a gun. I expect I might be robbed or something in which case pepper spray can help. That is not something I would use a gun for.

I would not feel comfortable carry a gun, and I would not feel comfortable walking around with someone carrying a gun. It's not part of my culture and hopefully NEVER will be.

*if* a war were going to break out suddenly (which I doubt) here in Germany this would be different. Whole different situation. But seeing as I REALLY doubt this would happen any time soon, I don't think we're unprepaired.

actually statistically for western cultures the higher the rate of firearms ownership/possesion the lower the violent crime rate & the overall crime rate. for example switzerland w/o fail has had the lowest crime rate of any industrialized nation in europe. not coincidentally, nearly every law abiding adult male citizen in switzerland is required to keep a fully automatic weapon ("machinegun") in his home along w/ a full combat load of ammo (about 200 rounds). further they are required to qualify 2X a year to show they can use it effectively. after their mandatory 20 years in the homeguard they may continue to keep their machinegun provided they continue to qualify with it.

Erm, what? I've met SO many Swiss people, and none have owned guns? Actually (we had a discussion) and most would never want a gun in their household?
If law required me to own a gun, I think Id move to a different country. Thats obsurd.

Edit: How is it the same, teaching a child to use an automobil and a gun??? Guns are for killing... cars are for transportation. I hardly see it as being the same thing. Cars = good. (in my head, I LOVE driving) guns=bad. I hardly see it as being the same.


Here: The US is on spot 8 for murders with firearms per capita, while Switzerland, Canada, Germany follow in on spots 19, 20 & 21. The UK ranks last in spot 32.
Murders with firearms (per capita) statistics - countries compared - Crime data on NationMaster

 

[Psyfalcon]

1. Cars kill way more people than guns (excluding war at least).
2. Guns are not just for killing. They are an Olympic sport.

Not knowing how something works does not make one safer. Even if you never want to own or fire a gun, knowing how they work wont make you less safe.

Incidentally, I would ban cars way before I banned guns. Air pollution in Southern California has probably killed more people than guns (notorious for gang crime) in the last 50 years.

 

[GipsyQueen]

1. Cars kill way more people than guns (excluding war at least).
2. Guns are not just for killing. They are an Olympic sport.

Not knowing how something works does not make one safer. Even if you never want to own or fire a gun, knowing how they work wont make you less safe.

Incidentally, I would ban cars way before I banned guns. Air pollution in Southern California has probably killed more people than guns (notorious for gang crime) in the last 50 years.

Cars aren't MADE for killing though. Guns were not made to be an Olympic sport. They were made for war, hence, killing.

I don't want to know how a gun works though. I feel uncomfortable carrying one (I think I'd be more on edge if I had one on me, than not), so why would I need to know how to use a gun. I wouldn't want a child to be taught how to work a gun either. I wasn't taught in school either. I was taught to respect guns, and that they are not for playing around with. That IMO is fine. I feel safer in my home without a gun.

 

[Psyfalcon]

Judge things on results. Yes, guns were created 500 years ago to kill Knights, through their armor. Cars were invented 100 years ago and within 20 years were converted to war purposes.

I am just as dead if you run me over as I am if you shoot me.

For that matter, you're more likely to survive a single handgun shot than a 40mph impact (as a pedestrian). I don't have hard stats, but its suggested that 75- 80% of people survive a handgun shot. If you get hit by a car going 30 mph, about 60% survive.
Effects of Speed on Pedestrian Fatality Rates

 

[cloudcandy]

See to me teaching your child to drive and teaching your child too shoot are VERY different.I would hope that I would never have to teach my child to use or gun.I don't like what guns EATH(wether its a person or animals).To me a gun represents POWER and CONTROL over life....I dont believe the average human should have access to this.I also deeply oppose the death penalty and too much fiddling with embryo's etc.I have never seen a gun in real life and I would hope that like me my children could go through life just the same.
It seems america's main defence is violence,attack people or be prepared before they attack you.Why not focus on solving societys problems!Look first at the criminals and to why they are commiting these crime and sort out that problem!!!Protect your citezens instead of arming then!It just sounds so barmy to me I'm sorry.
Saying this I have led a.relatively crime free life,I live in one of Londons safest areas and I travel home late at night sometimes I put my keys inbetween my fingers so I can deliver a spikey punch LOL but I've never needed too.I doubt we would ever get broken into,and if we did the criminals defintly wouldnt have guns,more likely they'd be some desperate crackheads looking to take all my stuff to a pawn shop.Guns just wouldnt fit into my life here.Most people I know feel the same,generally in keeping that america is just so different we can't understand the need for guns.Maybe if I was in ya'll situations I'd feel the need for a gun to!

 

[Katkoota]

nope...no gun culture here. so my answer to the question in the vote is "Nope"

In addition, it feels very safe where I live

Kat

 

[Katkoota]

Cars aren't MADE for killing though. Guns were not made to be an Olympic sport. They were made for war, hence, killing.

I don't want to know how a gun works though. I feel uncomfortable carrying one (I think I'd be more on edge if I had one on me, than not), so why would I need to know how to use a gun. I wouldn't want a child to be taught how to work a gun either. I wasn't taught in school either. I was taught to respect guns, and that they are not for playing around with. That IMO is fine. I feel safer in my home without a gun.

this, my thoughts too.