Guns - to Carry One or Not?

[Gary68]

newer ruger 10-22,never been a fan of pistols,i like to hit what i am aiming at
also have a sks but with the confusing and long term prison sentence laws i think it is best to leave it behind

 

[DannyB1954]

there are a lot of broken people walking around America, a lot of vets have mental health issues, a lot of dysfunctional adolescences, a lot of scared people, guns are a minor problem if fact almost not worth a mention.  100 people die everyday from firearms, 60 of them are suicide and 36 are gang related so that leaves 4 most of those are known to the victim so random killings are very rare.  If you are worried about dying, you should ask yourself the question should I carry or consume meat or dairy products, those kill over 20,000 people every day, a much larger problem, totally avoidable simply by changing your diet. I bet most people don't think about that every time they chow down a burger while feeling for their sidearm when someone suspicious walks into the fast food joint. People are ignorant to the real dangers around them. I think people are just looking for something to be afraid of. Carry on

The argument that I will probably die of heart disease anyway so why should I be concerned if something else kills me first makes no sense to me. 
Statistics are interesting, but you really shouldn't bet your life on them. If only one in a hundred deaths are at the hand of a stranger, what is it that exempts you from being that one? 
My vehicle will probably be scrapped before it catches fire, so why carry a fire extinguisher. 

Thinking ohh it will never happen to me is a form of denial . The reality is it MAY not happen to you.

 

[slynne]

I would never have a gun with me. I don't think I could shoot someone so what is the point? Actually, I take that back. I would never have a gun for self protection. I could possibly be persuaded to go deer hunting and have been thinking about learning how to use a hunting rifle or shotgun for that purpose but that is a different thing.

I would have no trouble messing someone up with a baseball bat though. So I have one of those. and a dog.

 

[Phantom Blooper]

Well if those people in IHOP had a firearm they still maybe alive..... to die at their discretion from eating off of that cholesterol ridden menu.....

 

[Raven+Squid]

For any of the international readers, this is a nonrepresentative sample of gun ownership in the US

This thread shows only 90% gun owneship when actually 100% of the U.S. population is armed.

That is everyone. This includes of pets and children.  

Where is Hunter Thompson??

 

[WalkaboutTed]

The type of animal that is most likely to threaten my family and/or me is the human animal.  And I'm not comfortable being inside my home/tent/vehicle, unable to protect myself.  I don't hunt, I don't fish, but I certainly believe that if I am in my bed and someone is breaking into my home and  I have no way out, I will shoot that mothersucker with absolutely no compunction.

As the mother of four sons, while they were young, I did not have firearms in the house.  To me, the risk of accident was great enough to outweigh to potential benefit of personal protection.  Besides, when I am surrounded with big men,  I don't feel too vulnerable.  

But, when someone was trying to break down my door at 0530 one day, I was in the gun shop that afternoon..

But, if you're not willing to get education and practice at the range, don't put all the rest of us at risk.

 

[Gary68]

For any of the international readers, this is a nonrepresentative sample of gun ownership in the US

This thread shows only 90% gun owneship when actually 100% of the U.S. population is armed.

That is everyone. This includes of pets and children.  

Where is Hunter Thompson??

the only nation on earth where the people are stronger than the government

 

[DannyB1954]

People who have no guns don't seem to be in a hurry to let thieves, robbers and home invaders know it. Post a sign in your window. This is a gun free zone. Isn't it odd most mass shooters pick gun free zones?

So in a way people who have no guns still rely on them for protection. They are hoping the bad guys think that they might have one.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

the only nation on earth where the people are stronger than the government

I think most democratic nations on earth believe that people are stronger then their governments, some even believe that governments are the people, for the people not a adversary or foreign power. Some elect trustworthy, intelligent, caring, dedicated individuals that do their best to protect the people they have the privilege of governing. Having a zillion guns inside your house does not mean you have a strong house it means you have a cluttered house, making it harder to get to the fridge.

 

[DannyB1954]

Old saying: Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The founding fathers of this country knew this. Governments that have absolute power over the people are not great places to live. North Korea being just one example.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

the only nation on earth where the people are stronger than the government

This is actually not exactly true.

The situation in Switzerland is still that every Swiss Male has a government issued assault rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition in his home.  It's required by law, as is annual qualification at the range.  Care to guess how low the homicide rate is in Switzerland, btw?

 

[cortttt]

If you have that reaction to the idea of carrying a gun you probably shouldn't
i carry on a regular basis, to the point I don't really even think about it
I'd rather have it and never need it, that need it and not have it, like airbags and a seat belt, or my on the road tool kit
You're likely better off with the dogs, they don't have the moral compunctions we humans talk ourselves into, and won't hesitate, where a human who isn't committed to the idea of no compromise self defense likely would, and become a statistic
First question I ask folks who ask me about a gun for home defense is: "Are you 100% positive you could take a life?"
If the answer is "no" or contains any qualifiers whatsoever, I tell them "A dog" even "well if my life was in danger..." No
"Yes" with no qualifiers, or get a dog

Well, I definitely have a dog!

 

[cortttt]

You know.......... I've been traveling and camping for WELL over 1/2 a century throughout this magnificent country. North, South, East, West..........
NEVER have I felt the need for protection with a firearm.

Protection from tornadoes? Yes!
Protection from mosquitoes?  Yes!

Protection from Wild life or crazy humans?
Not once.

Dave

Thanks. In 3 years have run into a couple of  characters but no one I've felt threatened by yet.

 

[cortttt]

Thanks.

I can see a couple of situations; being threatened by someone, a dog pack, a bear and I'm not sure what else. I'm not too worried about coyotes because I have two fairly large sized dogs.  It may be that there's a pack out there that will attack both of them but I'll probably never run into it.  A mountain lion is a such a statistical improbability. If I was living in Florida gator would be an entirely different issue. 

On the other hand I would have get a permit, buy a guy, learn how to shoot it and then keep it somewhere - which sounds like some work..For now I'm staying put. 

If I was living in a rural area and deer were abundant I would probably get a rifle and try to get one. 

The biggest reason for a gun for me right now would be camping in grizzly bear country.  I read, though, that bear spray works better because people don't want to kill a bear.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I carry one because it's like everything else I carry I hope to never need......fire extinguisher, first aid kit, heck I hope to never need my spare tire again.

I've grown up with them though, so i'm very comfortable carrying and shooting them. I shot competitively from 12 to 18 years old and then again for a few years in my mid 20's.

I'm 36 years old and i've never been in a situation that needed it. Doesn't mean I never will, odds are on my side that I won't, BUT if I do i'll be glad it's there.

If anyone is thinking of carrying one and have never shot a firearm before, I highly highly recommend you take a safety course and spend a dozen + hours at the range getting comfortable with it.

 

[DesertDweller]

Is this also true for non residents of the State?  I know that they honor Nevada CCW permits, so if everyone regardless of their State of residency can carry, there would be no need to honor a NV permit.

You don't have to be a "resident" of Arizona for this law. It's a state gun law for whoever is in the state. I have open carried a lot, but currently, I mostly conceal. I only open carry in tourist areas, so they can be reminded that they are not in Kansas any more. Yes, I do get looks and glares from out of towners on occasion.  

 

[TrainChaser]

Stop worrying about coyotes! Yes, they may go after your cat. Yes, they may go after your dog. But they just don't go after humans very much. The Humane Society says "Coyote attacks on people are very rare. More people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes."

Coyotes are smart and adaptable. Ranchers have been killing them for years, but there is no shortage of coyotes. Unless you've been disemboweled and bleeding, they don't bother you. They're mostly nocturnal, although you might see them occasionally during the day. Of all the years I've spent camping, I've only see coyotes once: a pair of them were trotting through a partly-vacant campground in AZ outside Tucson at dawn. Yes, you'll hear them, but you aren't likely to see them.

Don't let your dogs go after coyotes. Just because you see one doesn't mean there aren't more. They often hunt and deal with dogs in a pack. One runs, your dog chases it, and the rest of them come up behind and hamstring him. Then he's coyote dinner.

 

[slynne]

You don't have to be a "resident" of Arizona for this law. It's a state gun law for whoever is in the state. I have open carried a lot, but currently, I mostly conceal. I only open carry in tourist areas, so they can be reminded that they are not in Kansas any more. Yes, I do get looks and glares from out of towners on occasion.  

I have never really understood the desire to open carry in order to intimidate others. It seems so mean.

 

[LeeRevell]

Sometimes, it is useful to show the opposition that we know our rights, and will exercise those rights. Sadly, we in Florida cannot open carry, else I would do it sometimes. Other times, it is best to carry concealed. Keeps the goblins wondering...... ;-)
Remember, the less we USE our rights, the more easily we LOSE them.

 

[mayble]

I wish I could hunt down the source now, but a few years back I read that statistically speaking, you are far FAR FAR more likely to either 1)have your gun stolen, or 2)accidentally shoot a family member/loved one/yourself than to ever use a gun in defense of person or property.  Anecdotal evidence, at least in my world, bears that out.  In five decades on the planet I've never know anyone who used a gun on a "bad guy", but I do know folks who have had guns stolen or accidentally discharged (fortunately no fatalities).
I don't have any strong feelings about guns one way or the other; I had rifles growing up as a kid, and I've handled/used handguns a couple times and thought about getting one, but personally, I don't see the need to spend $$$ on a gun I'm more likely to lose than use.   I just don't have that much disposable income. 
As was said, to each their own.