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| Thread: Should I buy a gun? |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 · NEXT» |
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Corribus
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posted September 17, 2010 04:19 PM |
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Should I buy a gun?
This Connecticut home invasion story kind of has me freaked out. I just bought a new house, and I have a family. If someone broke into my home, I'd be pretty much screwed. I've been mulling over buying a gun for self defense. But I know nothing about guns, and I fear the cons might outweigh the pros. I wouldn't even know what kind to buy, where to store it, etc. I've mentioned it to my wife in passing but I think she thinks I'm not really serious. Anybody have any opinions on gun ownership?
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JoonasTo
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What if Elvin was female?
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posted September 17, 2010 04:27 PM |
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Edited by JoonasTo at 16:29, 17 Sep 2010.
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I have.
I would be against getting a gun for defense. For hunting or shooting as a hobby I find it reasonable but for defense?
You're better off with a baseball bat.
So you've got kids then? That's another reason not to get one. You'd have to teach them how to handle a gun, how to shoot and most importantly, how not to use it.
Usually people keep guns behind locks so that's not so much of a problem but for defense it would pretty much have to be in your bedroom without any locks, maybe even with a loaded clip next to it and I find that risky if not outright absurd.
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xerox
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posted September 17, 2010 04:33 PM |
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It's legal to own guns in Finland? O.o
Well, then do not be surpised that those horrible school shootings will happen from time to time.
I think you should get a gun if it's legal and the crime rate is high where you live but you should never ever kill someone. Maybe wound them slightly.
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Darkshadow
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posted September 17, 2010 04:36 PM |
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Quote:
Well, then do not be surpised that those horrible school shootings will happen from time to time.
Im gonna go sidetrack a little but considering how easy it is to obtain illegal firearms in here, I don't really think it matters is the gun legal.
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baklava
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posted September 17, 2010 04:39 PM |
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Edited by baklava at 16:43, 17 Sep 2010.
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I hate guns.
In theory.
As long as there's no one raping and killing my family.
I tend to go Christian and pacifist when I'm in trouble, but that can't apply to one's wife and kids.
It's a tough choice. Bear in mind that if a group of armed men pours into your house, you probably won't be able to take them all out, and you might be afraid of provoking them because if you shoot one, they'll definitely murder you and your family. Look at it rationally, you're a scientist, not an action hero.
You'll need to be absolutely certain that you can get them all before even thinking of pulling the trigger, and even then it'll be tough as hell if you never shot anyone before. Cause just waving your gun at them and threatening them is way too risky. All of this is of course just how I see it, it probably doesn't apply to everyone's way of thinking.
Still, you might be better off with a gun. You're a rational man, you're not going to use it unless you're utterly forced to. It can hardly be too much of a negative thing to have it in your house, as long as you're certain you or your wife won't go nuts and misuse it. But, there's the issue of children, and all the other risks that go with it, like Joonas said, which can turn into a living hell unless you're a great parent.
Anyway I still won't advise you to get it.
Like I said, I hate guns.
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JoonasTo
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What if Elvin was female?
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posted September 17, 2010 04:40 PM |
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Not really, there are a huge amount of illegal guns. And they're more like, "hey, wanna buy my old one off?" or "I've got this old gun from my grandpa" Than some highly secretive black market stuff.
I wanna see Xerox shooting someone with a handgun to slightly wound him. You better know something about shooting before spouting crap like that.
Oh, btw, is this about the 2007 thing? If this is, I could point out that if he had a gun or not it wouldn't have mattered. If he would have been able to reach it somehow he would have just gotten shot himself.
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DagothGares
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posted September 17, 2010 04:46 PM |
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Quote:
I think you should get a gun if it's legal and the crime rate is high where you live but you should never ever kill someone. Maybe wound them slightly.
Xerox, you have to consider that you have to shoot to hit. Non-lethal shots are done below the knee caps, in the ass or the arms, which are rather hard to hit (unless the robber falls for the "hey, look over there"-trick) and if someone's in your house and you're threatening him with a gun, you're not going to be dirty harry, you're going to be Honey Bunny from pulp fiction, I.E. freaked the hell out.
So anyway, I'd call your opinion ignorant, xerox, but then again, that is always the case.
Anyway, what joonas said, you don't want your kids to accidentally find it and play with it and accidentally hurt themselves severely.
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Keksimaton
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posted September 17, 2010 04:55 PM |
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If only there was this sort of an obstacle that only you and your family members can get through, but unwanted visitors get blocked!
A man can dream though.
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Darkshadow
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posted September 17, 2010 04:59 PM |
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Quote:
If only there was this sort of an obstacle that only you and your family members can get through, but unwanted visitors get blocked!
A man can dream though.
He is a scientist, surely he can invent a forcefield?
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baklava
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posted September 17, 2010 05:09 PM |
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Or barred windows and a strong door.
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Salamandre
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posted September 17, 2010 05:10 PM |
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Buy one and then if you don't post for a month we know what happened. Either you're in jail for killing the pizza man, either you are dead because you missed and he was better armed.
All precious objects should be stored at bank. And let the robber finish his work, for which he is trained. A few bucks lost do not worth the danger you expose your family by thinking a gun will serve you.
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Elodin
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posted September 17, 2010 05:21 PM |
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Quote:
This Connecticut home invasion story kind of has me freaked out. I just bought a new house, and I have a family. If someone broke into my home, I'd be pretty much screwed. I've been mulling over buying a gun for self defense. But I know nothing about guns, and I fear the cons might outweigh the pros. I wouldn't even know what kind to buy, where to store it, etc. I've mentioned it to my wife in passing but I think she thinks I'm not really serious. Anybody have any opinions on gun ownership?
Yes, you should. Otherwise you and your family are at the mercy of criminals.
Of course you should have an alarm system too. Even cheap alarm systems you get from Walmart can be effective but you may consider a professionally installed system if you can afford it. In particular make sure you have windows and doors that are not very veiwable from main streets alarmed.
Also, security lights are great. Criminals hate lights. Make sure all door and window areas are well lit.
A dog, even a small dog like a fox terrior can help too. Criminals hate noise because it gives them away and someone is likely to call the police even if you can't, assuming you have neighbors. The dog will bark at strangers and maybe attack them, at least slowing them down if they enter your property. A house-dog or a yard-dog are both good.
I don't know if you have a fence or not. A short fence or a cyclone fence is best because it gives a criminal less cover. The fence would be mostly for a yard dog.
The more noise that happens and the more things that impede his rapid progress the more likely a criminal is to abort his invasion and flee.
I recommend that you consider getting a shotgun. A 12 gague shotgun loaded with "double ought" buckshot is ideal. A shotgun does not have to be aimed carefully and if an invader is in your house you will be nervous. Point the shotgun towards the invader and pull the trigger. If it does not kill him it will almost certainly knock him down.
Just make sure what you shooting at, point, and pull the trigger. You don't aim don't a sight, just point and shoot.
You and your wife should practice shooting whatever gun you get at a gun range. You can take a gun class if you are not familiar with guns. My father taught me how to shoot at a young age. Shooting the gun will get you used to operating the gun as well as get you used to the "kick." If you choose not to take a class, don't try to fire a shotgun from your hip like you see in westerns.
Of course you want to keep a home defence gun out of the reach of children but in a place wher you can get it rapidly.
Here is a low recoil shotgun that would be ideal for you. Most shotguns have a lot of kick, but this one does not.
Low Recoil shotgun
You can find some training vidoes on you tube.
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blizzardboy
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posted September 17, 2010 05:25 PM |
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Guns are overrated.
I don't thinking having one for self-defense is necessarily a bad idea, depending on your area, but there's enough high tech nonlethal devices that I think would be a less risky purchase. Buy a taser launcher or something. It will incapacitate a fully grown man and you don't have to worry (as much) about the wrong person getting their hands on it. Some people criticize them because they have short range before they become extremely inaccurate, but you'd be shooting it within close quarters anyway. It's not like you're going to be snipping a burglar or something from across the street.
If you do get a gun, make sure to keep it in a safe place where your children won't stumble upon, yadda yadda, I'm sure you've already considered all of that.
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JoonasTo
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What if Elvin was female?
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posted September 17, 2010 05:32 PM |
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You must understand that no matter what you do the kids are going to get the gun on their hands sooner or later. You can't put it "out of reach" for sure.
PS. Ignore pretty much everything elodin said, there are some real points but most of it is just trolling.
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mvassilev
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posted September 17, 2010 08:06 PM |
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He's climbing in your windows, he's snatching your people up...
It's probably not necessary, unless you live in the ghetto. No one will break into your home. Just don't be stupid and leave your door unlocked.
As for what gun to buy, a shotgun isn't necessary. A Glock will do just as well. But keeping your gun safe from your kids isn't that hard. Just keep it under lock and key in your room.
Oh, and an alarm is completely unnecessary.
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Keksimaton
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posted September 17, 2010 08:59 PM |
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Somehow I've gotten this stereotype in my head that for the most part, doors aren't all that durable in America.
Do you think you'd be able to barge through your door without a battering ram?
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mvassilev
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posted September 17, 2010 09:03 PM |
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baklava
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posted September 17, 2010 09:26 PM |
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Quote:
A dog, even a small dog like a fox terrior can help too.
Actually this is a good idea.
It's better if it's a large ****ing dog, though. I love large dogs, kids love large dogs, you'd love a large dog and criminals hate them.
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"Let me tell you what the blues
is. When you ain't got no
money,
you got the blues."
Howlin Wolf
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alcibiades
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posted September 17, 2010 09:49 PM |
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I'm against guns. I think Americans have a sick relationship with firearms. I say no.
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Binabik
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posted September 17, 2010 10:00 PM |
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1) It's a personal decision which nobody can make for you.
2) "....has me freaked out"
Is getting a gun a knee-jerk reaction or have you actually thought it out?
3) If you do not feel comfortable with a gun, then IMO you should not get one.
4) I don't know about the home invasion story you mentioned, but what are the realistic odds of it happening to you? Are the odds any worse than getting in a car wreck? Even in areas with the highest violent crime rates the odds of it happening to you are very slim if you are not in certain demographics (aren't in a gang, don't get drunk at biker bars, don't have a drunk abusive spouse, don't deal drugs, etc.)
5) If you get a gun you need to research guns, learn the safety (mostly common sense), and practice with it. Ideally your wife should do the same. And if you own guns, your daughter should also learn when she gets older. Knowledge + training = higher safety.
You wouldn't handle carcinogens in the lab without proper training would you? Something can be dangerous to the unwary, but with proper equipment, training, and precautions the risk can be minimized. Yea I know that's common sense, but a lot of people have an irrational fear of guns which are far safer than driving a car IMO.
6) The purpose of a gun is NOT to shoot someone. The purpose is to stop a crime. The mere display of a gun and maybe a verbal warning should accomplish that. Will you be able to do that in a calm manner?
The above is one of the main reasons for practicing with a gun. You should be as comfortable as possible with the gun before you use it in a situation that will probably be tense and you might be nervous.
Were you a boy scout? The boy scout motto is "be prepared". That's the purpose of a gun. It's "just in case". It's HIGHLY unlikely that you would ever need to use it. And it's even more unlikely that you would have to actually fire it.
By the time you properly research guns, learn safety, handling, proper care, maintenance, and practice with it, will the immediate perceived threat still exist? I think it's important that if you get a gun it should be for the right reasons and not a knee-jerk reaction to the current situation.
"A Glock will do just as well"
I disagree. This would be for home defense. For safety reasons I'd prefer a large caliber, but lower velocity bullet. It has effective stopping power, but less penetration. That means less chance of going through the person or walls and hitting something else. You have to consider that you might miss and ask where that bullet will go if you do.
A shotgun is excellent for home defense. It has unmatched stopping power. It is more visually threatening to a criminal (which is very important). It is difficult to miss when it's fired. The negatives are: it is big and difficult to store. It might not be as readily available at short notice. It might be more difficult to handle, especially for a small person. Ammunition is expensive (but you don't need as much practice).
Speaking of costs. Good guns are expensive. Don't buy a cheap one, get a good one. Also consider the cost of ammunition which can get expensive if you practice a lot (which you should). A good quality gun should last a lifetime and should have a high resale value if you decide to sell it. (guns can easily go up in value and resale could be higher than what you paid)
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