Would you ever own a gun? - Page 3

[feelinghealthy]

Of course NO

i prefer someone to shoot me that to kill somebody.
hopefully in greece where I live we don't have very high criminality

[Smalls181]

Absolutely. Like others have said, be smart about it. Take lessons. Take the kids to gun safety classes (if they are old enough) and so on.

Guns are not scary in the least, IMO.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by skai

Never ever. Don't even want to touch one. If I lived in an area dangerous enough to make me consider guns, I would move.

Originally Posted by FiddleMama

No. I would never purchase a gun. I would never allow a gun in my home.

: DH brought it up once, I told him I would leave him before I would live in a house with a gun. I do not visit anyone who I KNOW has a gun (and I realize that I can't know about everyone, but once I know I can make a choice) I am far more worried about my child getting into a gun and getting hurt (I have two friends who have lost cousins this way) than I am about dying in a home invasion. (Which is incredibly rare in my area. I think there have been 5 in the whole province in the past year - deaths not home invasions.)

But I live in Canada and on every thread I've ever seen about guns, we have different opinions.

[PassionateWriter]

we own guns. however, we are very safety conscience, which i believe is a requirement for gun ownership. to each his own.

[sapphire_chan]

I'm pretty sure that the laws on home invasion in some states require you to run away if possible. So before deciding about getting a gun for protection, make sure you look up exactly what would happen if you fired it.

On another topic, I learned it as "never point a gun at anyone you aren't prepared to kill."

[pumpkin]

There is one scenario where I would at least consider some kind of gun. My parents moved to the woods for retirement. Their property is absolutely packed with all sorts of animals. For the most part this is just a great show. Its like living in an enchanted forest. However, they do have bears and wolves. Having at least one shotgun is considered a requirement.

My Mom once got trapped out in the lake where she was floating when a bear decided to stop by the shore for a snack. A neighbor spotted what was going on. He just hung out with his gun while my Mom stayed in the water until the bear went on its way.

For this reason, I'm ok visiting their home even though they have a weapon. However, when kids are around I expect it to be put away instead of sitting by the back door.

[Joyster]

I think the only way I'd consider it is if I lived in bear/cougar country and had livestock to protect. I might even consider it just to protect the children. That said, I don't think I'd ever live rurally, so it's a city life for me. And no, I'd never consider a gun, even in the most crime ridden areas of the city. I grew up in a high crime area, but no way, no how.

I do have to add my voice to the dog camp. There are plenty of dogs/breeds that are great for chickens. You don't even need a protecting breed, a great big Newfoundland (yes, I love these dogs) should be good with the birds, a huge visual deterrent, will bark for you and a great family pet.

[Amila]

My dad is a hunter and always had guns around when I was growing up. It was never a secret- he taught us about gun safety, never kept a loaded gun in the house EVER, and we just knew not to touch them. I hunted with him, and definitely have a respect for them...

However.

I don't feel that I would ever keep a gun in my house with children. If its not loaded, then the purpose to shoot a home invader is pretty much null and void. PLus, I remember from Criminalistics 101 in college that you are a ton more likely to have your gun taken and used on YOU. I really think a nice heavy baseball bat is the better option. And an alarm system.

MAYBE if my husband hunted and had a few rifles or something I would be ok with keeping them out of sight and under lock and key UNLOADED. Maybe.

[MommaShark]

I posted earlier that we own guns - but didn't mention that while we have mountain lions visit regularly and bear, coyote, bobcat, etc.... I don't take them out on the property when walking with my LO and the goats....I just hope they go for the goats If we had a home invasion - I would never be able to get the safe open in time.......before the LO came along - it was by the bed side.....we've had a mountain lion come up on our back deck......
My kid is also the only one not allowed to pretend shoot people in this town.....it's a hunting/gun toting Sarah Palin kind of place.

For home robbery protection - you'd have to keep the gun practically under your pillow.....and that's how accidents probably occur......I'd stick with dogs (although mine have slept through people coming in the house at midnight (after a long car trip) so who knows....... a fancy alarm system?
We keep our goats and will keep our chicken behind an electric fence for their safety......that might work for you too?

[kriket]

.

[the_lissa]

Never.

[KaliShanti]

Yes. We own several.

[Jezzy]

No way! I HATE guns. My cousin shot himself in the head on thanksgiving 24 years ago. I *know* that the gun didn't shoot him on its own. I know that he killed himself and if he didn't have a gun he would have done something else.... but I just hate guns.

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

Originally Posted by feelinghealthy

i prefer someone to shoot me that to kill somebody.
hopefully in greece where I live we don't have very high criminality

I mean this seriously, not snarkily-- would you prefer they shoot your kids? I know there are some religious belief systems (like Quakers) who do in fact feel this way; but I definitely do not.

I SO agree with libertymom. I also believe that the ultimate (and by ultimate, I mean last) defense against a bad government is an armed citizenry. Our family is one mandatory vaccination/mandatory public schooling/mandatory "government guardianship"-type law away from moving to the Ozarks. I mean that very seriously. When and if we get there, I think we'll want more than a home alarm system.

ETA, more children under 5 die by drowning in swimming pools than in gun accidents.

[the_lissa]

Yeah and do you think that citizens with guns can do anything re: the government? This isn't the 1700s any more.

[transformed]

yep, we have a few. dh keeps his handgun in his car hidden, and a rifle in his trunk because it was a gift for ds and he is too young for it but kept bringing it out in the living room to show ppl.

and we have one other in our closet up high.

ALL the ammo is locked in a safe ds doesnt know we have.

[transformed]

Originally Posted by Smalls181

Guns are not scary in the least, IMO.

they are if no one knows the safety rules! and if they are a forbidden fruit.

[Authentic_Mother]

We do own a gun and probably will get another one. I also thought I would NEVER have a gun in our home as it scares me to death the amount of stories you see people gettnig shot with their own weapons. However - my husband is gone 2 weeks a month and with the way things are in this world you can never be to safe.
I know how to shoot and our gun has the right kind of ammo that I only have to aim in the right direction to kill. When it comes to protecting my family I will do so.
Do I like it - not really. But it does make me feel a little safer.
My husband also uses his gun to hunt with and NEVER leaves ammo with the gun. Nothing like truly organic meat for almost free!

[rmzbm]

Never. And if DH wanted one (he doesn't) I'd move out with the kids.

I support the right to own a gun and grew up in a home with loaded guns on the wall. It was all alright. : But at this time, with my children in the home, I cannot wrap my head around having one...not gunn'a happen.

[Alyantavid]

Yes we have lots. My dh hunts, as did I in the past. My dad collects guns so the boys already have several. They are all locked, with trigger locks (except the boys guns which are in a closet in boxes), the ammo is in a box in our storage room.

We don't have them for protection, we have them for hunting. I highly doubt someone would break into my house with my extremely massive and protective dog anyways.

I teach my children what I know, that guns kill people and animals.

No, they don't. People kill people and animals. The guns don't do it themselves.

My boys know guns are dangerous and they aren't toys. We will not make guns a huge mysterious taboo thing, I believe that only makes kids more interested.