Do you have a gun?

[Methos]

When my stepfather died we found an old Walther P38 from wwii.

After a few days I handed it over to the police. It was the first time i had a close look (and feel) on a real gun. It was surprisingley heavy. (except for airguns)

I'm curious if you looked into the history of the handgun any. Was it an old family heirloom, or just something he owned? I hope you didn't toss it just because it was a gun.

When my grandfather was put in a nursing home (about a month ago), my family took the opportunity to remove the various guns from inside his house, and give them to the police. Luckily, there's an amnesty at the moment, so it was no questions asked. He had never liked the idea of disarming the population.

I never understood this. Unless their illegal where you're from (forgot to check your local), then why turn them in? If you prefer not to possess them then why not sell them to someone you approve of having them, or to a pawn shop/gun dealer for the extra cash.

Yes, I own guns. I have a couple rifles and a shotgun for hunting that I keep at my parents farm, since that is where they are used. I also have a handgun that I carry for self defense (I recently got my CCW permit).

 

[Camikaze]

I never understood this. Unless their illegal where you're from (forgot to check your local), then why turn them in? If you prefer not to possess them then why not sell them to someone you approve of having them, or to a pawn shop/gun dealer for the extra cash.

Yeah, they are illegal here in Australia. Or at least, in the capacity in which my grandfather had them (i.e. unlicensed).



<--- Disregard that.

 

[Agent327]

What? And you have to wear a seat belt when driving but that doesn't mean cars can't be awesome.

To look at, yes - to drive in, no. (Most cars are like sensory deprivation tanks... on wheels. Interesting comparison though: like with guns, people with cars are prone to less than civilized behaviour.)

 

[Irish Caesar]

Interesting comparison though: like with guns, people with cars are prone to less than civilized behaviour.)

Equally true for people who aren't packing or driving.

The scope and scale of the mess you can make with those things are greater... but it's not like responsible people are suddenly going to become deranged with a trigger or wheel in their hands.

 

[Bugfatty300]

To look at, yes - to drive in, no. (Most cars are like sensory deprivation tanks... on wheels. Interesting comparison though: like with guns, people with cars are prone to less than civilized behaviour.)

Hey JELEN, remember when you told me about having to wear ear protection when shooting and how uncool it was? I used to think shooting guns was fun and cool. But now that you have enlightened me I have to say that shooting guns is totally unfun and very uncool. It's absolutely the least fun thing I can think of. I swear to God and Jesus Christ (my personal savior) that I will NEVER shoot or own a gun for the rest of my life.

I will donate all my guns to an African children's charity ASAP. Which charity do you suggest? I want to make sure all my guns go to the children and not to corrupt African governments.

Besides ear protection you have also opened my eyes on other things. Bicycles! Did you know you have to wear a helmet when riding one or you might have your skull crushed in by rock if you wreck? Roller coasters have those stupid safety belts and shoulder restraints. When sky diving you have do all this crap when you pack your chute and then you have to wear a back up. Totally uncool. My computer is so lame because I have to get virus protection for it (how gay is that?). Thinks to your wisdom I now know that bicycles, roller coasters, sky diving and computers are the work of SATAN and should be wiped out.

Thank you JELEN for being my shining path and opening my eyes to what is cool and what isn't.

You have truly made a difference.

God bless you x1000 and may a million glorious leather clad angels sing thee to thy rest every night, now and forever.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Equally true for people who aren't packing or driving.

Sorry but you're incorrect. JELEN and I both know that people are perfectly civilized until they posses certain inanimate objects.

These certain inanimate objects change behavior presumably through the power of some paranormal force. Possibly SATAN. Or perhaps Sauron or even the dark side of the Force. (Well I think that's what JELEN was trying to tell me.)

 

[IglooDame]

I have several guns, mostly pistols suitable for organized competitive shooting and/or self-defense (some do both equally well, others more focused for one task or the other).

The question to ask is Why? I imagine most people have a gun due to some sort of emotional or mental instability. Or maybe they have one for criminal purposes. Or maybe they have one because they feel powerless and insignificant without it?

By emotional or mental instability, I was neccesarily referring to people who may have a diagnosed medical or physcological disorder, but rather that when the gun was purchased, the person may not have been thinking in a rational and balanced way.

Are those my only three permitted responses to "why?" Either irrational and unbalanced thinking when I bought each of them, planned criminal acts, or feelings of powerlessness/insignificance?


@Bugfatty: your gun-distributing charity would probably do a lot more good if you gave it to someone there who could pay it forward and off Mugabe.

 

[Agent327]

I will donate all my guns to an African children's charity ASAP. Which charity do you suggest? I want to make sure all my guns go to the children and not to corrupt African governments.

Your donation might add to the gun problem in Africa, though; they have quite enough child soldiers already...

Sorry but you're incorrect. JELEN and I both know that people are perfectly civilized until they posses certain inanimate objects.

Oh, I think - and explicitly stated - people are more prone to less than civilized behaviour given certain circumstances, like carrying a loaded weapon, or driving a vehicle. (People just having received their driver's license are the in age group prone to most traffic accidents.) Just a simple everyday observation anyone can make.

 

[Ulyaoth]

Your donation might add to the gun problem in Africa, though; they have quite enough child soldiers already...



Oh, I think - and explicitly stated - people are more prone to less than civilized behaviour given certain circumstances, like carrying a loaded weapon, or driving a vehicle. (People just having received their driver's license are the in age group prone to most traffic accidents.) Just a simple everyday observation anyone can make.

everyday observations are racist.

Moderator Action: Flaming
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Methos]

people are more prone to less than civilized behaviour given certain circumstances,

I would disagree. Ever since I received my CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons) permit I'm more prone to staying away from areas/situations that could cause a problem. Other individuals I've talked to who also have their CCW state the same. In fact, they do their best to remove themselves from a situation if it appears it could get out of hand. IMO someone who has gone to the trouble of getting a CCW has made the conscience decision of what it means to carry and are more prone to think responsibly when carrying.

Your new driver point is correct, though an extremely different situation. A drivers license is given to anyone who passes a simple test, unlike firearms.

 

[BrendanM]

.38 snubbed loaded with hollow points

something like this, but gray

http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/357_38special_swmodel66.jpg

 

[.Shane.]

Yep, accidentally or mistakenly shooting your son/dog/guest/etc.... damned comfortable.

These folks had a gun!

Let me guess... THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED?

Toby Keith Agrees!

 

[Bugfatty300]

I don't know what your point is shane. That leaving loaded guns in easy access of small children is common among gun owners? That it's "normal" for gun owners to toss loaded gun in a closet and then forget about it for years even with young kid running around? In my state that is a crime.

BTW I live alone so your "scenarios" don't effect me very much.

 

[.Shane.]

I don't know what your point is shane. That leaving loaded guns in access of small children is common among gun owners? That it's "normal" for gun owners to toss loaded gun in a closet and then forget about it for years even with young kid around? In my state that is a crime.

No, my original reply, that I quoted here, was in reply to some internet chest-thumping about how invincible someone was because of the presence of a gun in the home.

 

[Bugfatty300]

No, my original reply, that I quoted here, was in reply to some internet chest-thumping about how invincible someone was because of the presence of a gun in the home.

I tend to agree with LordRahl in one aspect. I myself certainly feel safer with one. I may dare say that I feel comfortable with one in my hand. It doesn't make me invincible but at least I can defend myself much more effectively especially against an attacker with a gun or a serious home invasion.

 

[.Shane.]

I tend to agree with LordRahl in one aspect. I myself certainly feel safer with one. I may dare say that I feel comfortable with one in my hand. It doesn't make me invincible but at least I can defend myself much more effectively especially against an attacker with a gun or a serious home invasion.

I think what offends me is the cavalier attitude about something so dangerous. The only person whom I knew personally, online, that died was a guy who was pro-2A/guns and argued as vehemently and consistently as you (and others here do) about guns and was also as forceful in his rhetoric about gun safety and instruction, etc... Plus, he was in his late 30s and had a child.

How did he die? He posted about getting a new gun (I forget what it was) and apparently when out shooting w/ it he had some kind of accident with the weapon that killed him. Out of respect for his widow, etc... we never pressed for precise details. We also verifed via obits, etc... that this story was true.

Absolutely, horrifingly, tragic. And this was a mature, reasonable, responsible person. As you know (I think?) I'm not anti-gun (any more than an advocate of safety belts is anti-car), but at the same time, I'm not kidding myself about how dangerous they are. Given those dangers, I personally, have absolutely zero interest in owning one. I don't hunt and I live in a place that is very safe... and, even when I lived in "less safe" places, I also felt the same. There are just too many damned opportunity for that thing to be used against you, or accidentally or in anger at a family member, etc... its just not worth it to me.

I hope that gives you some insight into my PoV.

 

[Agent327]

I would disagree. Ever since I received my CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons) permit I'm more prone to staying away from areas/situations that could cause a problem. Other individuals I've talked to who also have their CCW state the same. In fact, they do their best to remove themselves from a situation if it appears it could get out of hand. IMO someone who has gone to the trouble of getting a CCW has made the conscience decision of what it means to carry and are more prone to think responsibly when carrying.

Your new driver point is correct, though an extremely different situation. A drivers license is given to anyone who passes a simple test, unlike firearms.

You're citing limited personal observations to establish a general theory? I was speaking of statistical quantities, so you better back that up with sufficient data. (The remark entre parenthèses was an illustration, not quoted as proof of my statement.)

Also, the mere fact that you and your acquaintances "do their best to remove themselves from a situation if it appears it could get out of hand" is a fair indication of what might happen if they didn't: an escalation of a situation that would be impossible without carrying a loaded weapon (concealed or not).

And finally, doing one's best to remove oneself from a situation if it appears it could get out of hand is generally the wisest policy anyway - regardless of being armed or not.

 

[Methos]

You're citing limited personal observations to establish a general theory?

Talk about jumping to conclusions. I merely stated my own personal opinion. No where did I state it was a general theory. Please don't put words in my mouth.

I was speaking of statistical quantities, so you better back that up with sufficient data.

You need to learn the definition of opinion.

I'm curious, are you completely anti-gun, partly, a pacifist, against everything/nothing, or what? I'm curious as to your basis of your argument. Plus, if you're an extremists then there's no reason to debate with you.

 

[Bugfatty300]

I think what offends me is the cavalier attitude about something so dangerous. The only person whom I knew personally, online, that died was a guy who was pro-2A/guns and argued as vehemently and consistently as you (and others here do) about guns and was also as forceful in his rhetoric about gun safety and instruction, etc... Plus, he was in his late 30s and had a child.

How did he die? He posted about getting a new gun (I forget what it was) and apparently when out shooting w/ it he had some kind of accident with the weapon that killed him. Out of respect for his widow, etc... we never pressed for precise details. We also verifed via obits, etc... that this story was true.

Sorry to hear about that. Like anything else there will always be unfortunate accidents despite the best safety precautions. Statistically speaking shooting firearms is a pretty safe activity. Tens of millions of people visit shooting ranges every year and fire billions of rounds of ammunition. I think the most common estimate is 80,000,000 people own guns in the US. Yet there are around 700-800 fatal negligent/accidents a year involving guns.

Absolutely, horrifingly, tragic. And this was a mature, reasonable, responsible person. As you know (I think?) I'm not anti-gun (any more than an advocate of safety belts is anti-car), but at the same time, I'm not kidding myself about how dangerous they are. Given those dangers, I personally, have absolutely zero interest in owning one. I don't hunt and I live in a place that is very safe... and, even when I lived in "less safe" places, I also felt the same. There are just too many damned opportunity for that thing to be used against you, or accidentally or in anger at a family member, etc... its just not worth it to me.

I hope that gives you some insight into my PoV.

That's your own view points on guns and I respect it. I personally don't care what one's opinion is of guns as long as they don't use that opinion to advocate the punishment and disarming of gun owners.

Consider our point of view for a moment: There are more than a few people in power who want to make us criminals for just owning certain types of firearms and advocate confiscation and registration, massive taxes and restrictions just to discourage us from owning guns. Can you see why we are so defensive towards gun control advocates?

 

[Civfan333]

I don't own a gun, never have, never will.......black belt and knives are good enough for me..