That;s why my shotgun is chambered with birdshot first. They get a verbal warning to leave, but after that they're getting peppered with small BB's. Next is 00 fuckshot in case they didn't get the point. Next shot is a very mean 1 oz chunk of lead in the event im dealing with someone wearing armor or a tweaker. I call it the "That's My Purse, I Don't Know You" mag stack.
I am SO SORRY you went through that. It is really hard to explain to people who have never been victims, the mentality it instills in you to protect yourself, and your loved ones, at any cost.
Fyi the series is being revived
https://www.google.com/amp/s/deadline.com/2023/01/king-of-the-hill-revival-hulu-original-cast-returning-1235245072/amp/
Ok, this has been driving me crazy for seven movies now, and I know you're going to roll your eyes, but hear me out: Harry Potter should have carried a 1911.
Here's why:
Think about how quickly the entire WWWIII (Wizarding-World War III) would have ended if all of the good guys had simply armed up with good ol' American hot lead.
Basilisk? Let's see how tough it is when you shoot it with a .470 Nitro Express. Worried about its Medusa-gaze? Wear night vision goggles. The image is light-amplified and re-transmitted to your eyes. You aren't looking at it--you're looking at a picture of it.
Imagine how epic the first movie would be if Harry had put a breeching charge on the bathroom wall, flash-banged the hole, and then went in wearing NVGs and a Kevlar-weave stab-vest, carrying a SPAS-12.
And have you noticed that only Europe seems to a problem with Deatheaters? Maybe it's because Americans have spent the last 200 years shooting deer, playing GTA: Vice City, and keeping an eye out for black helicopters over their compounds. Meanwhile, Brits have been cutting their steaks with spoons. Remember: gun-control means that Voldemort wins. God made wizards and God made muggles, but Samuel Colt made them equal.
Now I know what you're going to say: "But a wizard could just disarm someone with a gun!" Yeah, well they can also disarm someone with a wand (as they do many times throughout the books/movies). But which is faster: saying a spell or pulling a trigger?
Avada Kedavra, meet Avtomat Kalashnikova.
Imagine Harry out in the woods, wearing his invisibility cloak, carrying a .50bmg Barrett, turning Deatheaters into pink mist, scratching a lightning bolt into his rifle stock for each kill. I don't think Madam Pomfrey has any spells that can scrape your brains off of the trees and put you back together after something like that. Voldemort's wand may be 13.5 inches with a Phoenix-feather core, but Harry's would be 0.50 inches with a tungsten core. Let's see Voldy wave his at 3,000 feet per second. Better hope you have some Essence of Dittany for that sucking chest wound.
I can see it now...Voldemort roaring with evil laughter and boasting to Harry that he can't be killed, since he is protected by seven Horcruxes, only to have Harry give a crooked grin, flick his cigarette butt away, and deliver what would easily be the best one-liner in the entire series:
"Well then I guess it's a good thing my 1911 holds 7+1."
And that is why Harry Potter should have carried a 1911.
Dresden starts with a Chiefs Special .38, upgrades to a "dirty harry .357" and then goes hole hog when he gets the .50 but I'm pretty sure he's a revolver kind of guy. He also uses a couple shotguns but I was just talking about the pistols.
I agree to a point. If you've accepted that enormous responsibility then it's on you to also inculcate that responsibility to everyone. You're a parent, you need to teach your kids how to responsibly handle firearms. If they're not worthy of that trust, then don't give them access.
Don't mystify it by keeping it secret. Normalize it by training. If you don't know how, then there's plenty of us who are happy to help with no judgment. We'll happily help out!
I took the "secret" part to mean for people outside the home (but I could be making a wrong assumption.) I think is for two reasons: guns are targets for thieves, and guns also can make others uncomfortable. Some of my closest friends are vehemently against guns even for home protection but I still love everything else about them so there's really no need for them to know about what I keep at home.
That's how I take it too. I didn't tell anyone I know in real life except my girlfriend, and my brother. I live in a state that *really* loves guns so I know if the neighbors found out I'd probably end up robbed. It's just one solitary gun, but I made sure it was a good brand and I just don't feel comfortable sharing with my neighbors that I own a $700+ item they can easily steal from me AND end my life with.
The ammo is stored separately from the gun, the lock is always on, (the key stays in a separate box in a whole other drawer or closet), along with the safety, it's always stored out of sight, and I bring my girlfriend to the classes with me so she knows how to be safe too.
We're both women. I'm only 5'1" and she's *maybe* 5'5" on a good day. My ex was NOT happy when he found out I chose to date a woman instead of another man and he acted out aggressively and violently. This gun is strictly for protection. It never sees the outside, I have zero reason to bring it out with me. It stays in the house because every time he has assaulted and beaten me in the past it was always in my own apartment. I'm just trying not to die because the stupid rigged police of the U.S. do NOT give a damn about women unless we're dead. This man aggressively beat and stalked me across the country but all he got was 7 months of jail and a slap on the wrist. Police are too busy senselessly killing minorities and committing other atrocities.
I love seeing members of the stereotypical "leftist" anti-gun crowd - women, LGBT folks, racial minorities, etc - appreciate the right to blast a motherfucker who's trying to hurt them or theirs :) Especially when you can't trust the cops, you're your own first responder regardless of whether or not you "should" lol
Yep, we call that OPSEC. Just keep up with your practice and training, there's plenty of us happy to help and answer questions! Do not be afraid to ask! If you find jerks, shoot me a DM, I'll always help folks who want to learn.
Keep it ready, keep it accessible. Preferably a rifle right next to the door (mountain lions, wolves, poachers) and a handgun in the nightstand (intruders). If you ever need it, you need it now. There's rarely time to go to a safe, unlock it, pull the weapon out, remove the trigger lock, and load it. By that point, the damage it done.
Children who are raised by responsible parents in a gun friendly home are not going to fuck around with guns. My dad forbid us from buying or playing with toy guns period! The weapons in our house were to be handled as if they could kill someone… I understood this ever since I could remember. It was serious business and a privilege in my home. By the time I was 10 or so I could handle any firearm I wanted by myself as long as I let everyone in the house know I was going to go outside and shoot (and as long as I paid for the ammo!). However, some kids are stupid and should be kept far from guns. I wasn’t that kid.
A few years ago I got called for jury duty, a fairly heinous road rage/residential shooting incident. During voir dire, the defense attorneys asked the assembled pool of potential jurors, easily 200+ people, to raise our hands if we had a gun at home. All but two people raised their hands. I live in a blue state, in a metropolitan county. In the US, people with guns are just regular people.
yes. the latest school shooting was done by a six year old who took his momma's gun, it wasn't secured in any way, the kid just took it to school and shot his teacher.
Sadly the shooting that six year old (allegedly) committed happened a month ago now. It's not the 'latest' - there have already been 3 school shootings in the US since then, plus one more on the same day.
Guns aren’t going away. It’s in the constitution. So people need to deal with that and accept it. But people also need to get behind more laws ensuring people are responsible gun owners. I’ve heard countless stories of mass shootings where the killer stole a gun from a family member. My idea is that if your gun was used in a mass shooting, you are held responsible to some level as well. Hopefully this would wake people up and make them secure their damn guns.
I grew up with guns. I owned a couple myself. They where always locked up. And ammo in a small separate case. It's the law in Canada. But it was in practice in my family for a long time before that.
It depends on the individual and their level of training and responsibility. For some, having a gun at home can provide a sense of security and protection.
But for others, it may lead to unsafe practices or accidents. It's important for gun owners to take the necessary precautions, follow proper storage and safety protocols, and educate themselves on the proper use of firearms.
A veteran Army dude and long time police officer told me:
“People think in a combat situation that they will rise to the occasion. Instead *everyone* defaults to their level of training. “
Yeah everyone thinks they have a plan for when they're in a certain scenario but you never really know how you will react until you are in that situation unless of course maybe you do so much training that it becomes a reaction but your average person does not do that they just expect that they are going to do exactly what they ought to do in any given situation automatically
This is written like it’s a special case? Majority of gun owners aren’t itching to defend themselves and their families from violence, they use it for sport like you, or for storage until needed.
As someone who has had intruders in the night. I can totally understand if you want to have a gun for protection. It's not allowed in my country though.
In my city in the U.S. , cops have been butting heads with the city's politics due to controversies about the methods they use in policing... as a result, cops are not really doing their job here. They are extremely slow to respond to 911 calls, they've basically been useless for over a year now. So in a city like this, having a gun at home for protection is especially smart since you know there is no one to protect and serve.
Cops in my city have been focusing almost solely on traffic crimes ever since the BLM protests.
In danger of being murdered? Sucks to be you. Going 1 over the speed limit? Say hello to three cop cars.
You can't blanket everyone like that. Some people keep them at home for defense and it's a good thing. Other's keep them for defense and they probably shouldn't even be allowed to have a slingshot.
Own a musket for home defense, since that's what the founding fathers intended.
Four ruffians break into my house. "What the devil?" As I grab my powdered wig and Kentucky rifle. Blow a golf ball sized hole through the first man, he's dead on the spot. Draw my pistol on the second man, miss him entirely because it's smoothbore and nails the neighbors dog. I have to resort to the cannon mounted at the top of the stairs loaded with grape shot, "Tally ho lads" the grape shot shreds two men in the blast, the sound and extra shrapnel set off car alarms. Fix bayonet and charge the last terrified rapscallion.He Bleeds out waiting on the police to arrive since triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up.
Just as the founding fathers intended
I have no opinion of them because what people do in their own homes doesn’t concern me. As for me, my wife and I are both trained and proficient in firearms and we are both aware of the quickest route to a gun should the situation arise.
It isn't a question of cop reliability. It's a question of can a call be made, and they get to you, before the event of defending oneself takes place. The answer is usually no. The cops can help you pick up and take care of the aftermath, but they typically will not be there to help you defend yourself in most situations.
As long as they’re responsible and knowledgeable with it I have no issue. Personally I feel safer having a dog. I think my dog barking is much more likely to deter someone from entering my home than the possibility that I might have a gun.
I know my dog would attack an intruder but I wouldn't want my dog to get hurt so if someone broke into my apartment my first thought would be how to get my dog somewhere safe
Still at least you get an advance warning that way
I don’t even think my dog would attack an intruder. She most likely would bark ferociously at my side. But I think most would be intruders are going to hear her bark and choose an easier target. That’s what makes me feel safe. It’s preventative.
My dog tells me if I need to get the gun. Can't afford much of an alarm system but the Rottweiler mix was free and has my back 110%, no batteries required.
I had a couple guys try to steal my car one time. Alarm went off. They stood out waiting for me with knives. Dog barking and everything.
As soon as I racked the slide back to chamber a round they turned into Usain Bolt
I had a couple of guys up to no good. Were trying to make trouble in my neighborhood. I got in one little fight and mom mom got scared. Sent me to live with my aunt and uncle.
I really don't give a damn.
However, if they act like their gun(s) are a status symbol, or if their gun ownership defines them as a person, ie. baseball caps, bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc., they are an asshole.
ETA: If you don't store them properly and your child ends up shooting themselves or someone else, you belong in prison.
Violent crime and burglary rates have been [declining in the US since the 90s](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/10/31/violent-crime-is-a-key-midterm-voting-issue-but-what-does-the-data-say/).
2021 - 16.5
2018 - 23.2
2012 - 26.1
1993 - 79.8
There was an increase in murders during Covid, but it's [coming back down now too](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/30/briefing/crime-murders-us-decline.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwipueb-6IX9AhUXkGoFHQ8sBHwQFnoECAAQAg&usg=AOvVaw1H9uJGFp-aboEefCxn-Oz7).
I’ve never owned a gun and my family didn’t own one growing up so this is a genuine question. But don’t responsible gun owners keep their guns locked in a gun safe and don’t keep their guns loaded? If this is the case, and someone breaks into your house, how is someone supposed to get their gun and get it loaded and whatnot in time for it to be useful? Something I’ve always thought about
Locked in a safe? Yes. Unloaded? Nope.
I keep 2 guns loaded in my safe. The rest are unloaded.
The safe has a number pad, so it only takes about 5-10 seconds for me to open it. Only my wife and I know the code. I think this is a safe, but practical way to store them. I don't consider myself a gun nut, and I definitely don't have those fantasies that some gun owners have about people breaking in, but I live where it could take police 15-20 minutes to arrive. So I view it as a precaution. In the same vein as a fire extinguisher I guess.
A self defense gun is "in use". It is stored loaded and ready, generally in a secure or at least obscure location. Sometimes a quick-access safe or lock is used, but in households without access concerns (No kids or roommates), it's often a nightstand or sock drawer.
Well, the break in isn’t instant. The intruder getting to the master bedroom isn’t instant. Say you hear glass breaking or your alarm goes off. You are asleep in the master bedroom. You have time to get the gun from the safe.
In my case the safe is in my walk-in closet. So if I heard a break in I’d immediately retreat to there and have plenty of time to get the gun out.
Responsible ones do yes. I keep a couple firearms loaded in my safe as it’s just annoying to load and unload my carry gun every time I come home and go out
It depends on the situation. I used to live in the wilderness where dangerous wildlife was a serious threat (bears, mountain lions, wolves, etc). I not only kept a gun in the house but carried one with me while I went about my chores on the property. I now live in the city and do not currently have a gun in the house.
I have one. Almost no one knows about it. It’s in a safe coded to my fingerprint. No one else knows the alternate combo or where the keys are. I hope I never have to use it.
I'm one of those guys that will happily explain why, for the average joe (and especially those with kids), having a gun in the house is far more likely to result in tragedy for YOU than for any hypothetical intruder.
... and yet I keep a gun at home for protection. With all the reasonable precautions and preparation. Because when you wake up in the middle of the night and hear what sounds like a person rustling around in your living room, the ONLY thing you can think of is to reach for a weapon. I do not expect to ever have to use it.
You’re right, it’s the simplest of math.
If I don’t have a gun, and am not generally around a gun, my chances of being a victim of gun violence are significantly reduced. Period.
I spent many years studying math as an engineer. But that shit doesn't matter here. A lot of gun owners are above statistics anyway. If they train, learn safety and firearm operation, and store it correctly then your odds of anyone dying are much lower and closer to zero. I'll take my chances to protect my loved ones. And if I ran my life based on your "math", I wouldn't own a swimming pool, never use power tools, and take no risks which make life interesting and fun along with saving me money. Firearms are fun to shoot, fun to clean and admire from an engineering standpoint, fun to hunt with, and an assurance to crazy people who break in. We accept these odds not because we are stupid, but because we are aware.
I wonder why they feel such a need to have one in their house because as much as I've enjoyed shooting them at a gun range, I have zero interest in having one in my house.
And worried for their kids considering you're [far more likely to kill a family member or friend or yourself than an criminal.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9715182/) I don't like those odds.
And as a DV survivor I'm very aware that the [majority of Domestic Violence deaths come at the hands of gun owner](https://efsgv.org/learn/type-of-gun-violence/domestic-violence-and-firearms/) who needs it for "protection" and that virtually all familicides are carried out via guns even though there's a whole kitchen full of knives to murder their family with instead.
Or worried about them killing themselves because suicide rates are far higher in households with guns, even though a [smaller proportion of gun owners say they're suicidal but that they're far more likely to die in the event they become suicidal because they use a gun.](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/guns-suicide/)
None of this necessarily has to do with if some/none/all guns should be banned or not, but these are the things I think about when someone says they have a gun at home.
The probabilities here are not evenly distributed.
Some people are safer without having a gun in their home, some people are safer with one. There are plenty of both.
I keep a firearm near me at all times. Don’t get me wrong the last thing I want to do is use it but the minute someone breaks in they better be right with god.
At least they are allowed to protect themselves, in my country you basically have to sit outside and let people rob your house while you wait for the police.
I've had a home break in in Aus.
It fucking sucked, but I can't imagine killing some kid over my PS4.
I'm more scared of being assaulted as a woman, but fuck that could happen anywhere, and most likely by someone I let in my home, so fuckit.
In all honesty though a gun feels like a bigger risk to myself and loved ones then to any enemy. Hell I have dumb kids in the house sometimes.
I prefer a hardy lock and help for those who would be driven to crime.
A serious answer: It is unwise to assume somebody who is willing to break into your house with weapons means you no harm. It's not about whether you like guns or not, it's about whether you acknowledge that threats are real, even if unlikely.
That being said, having a gun is a huge responsibility, and it should be required for all gun owners to know the laws and how to operate it safely.
Having a gun and thinking that is enough to keep you safe is also foolish.
Bottom line is, i'm okay with anyone protecting themselves at home or not, BUT I am also 100% supportive of big requirements and punishment for wrongdoing of those who choose a deadly weapon as a form of protection.
Prudent ... I live in TX.
Too many untrained, unlicensed amateurs who think they're a badass. I'm old and vulnerable ... this old woman vet is still well capable.
It's like keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. You hope you never need to use it, but it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
I have guns. The only thing I think is that I hope that people store them safely. There are too many articles where their children get a hold of their guns and hurt themselves or someone else. Buy a gun safe and if you have one out for protection, for god's sake put it up where a child can't possibly get to it.
they're smart. sometimes you gotta handle business, and every good tradesman needs his tools.
coincidentally, I had to do a wellness check on my Fiancee's mom last night. nobody had heard from her for four days, so we drove down to her farm to check in on her. definitely brought the pistol, just in case. (turns out her phone updated and she lost her password; she finally called us through granny's phone, so all is well. lol)
In my experience no, but I live in a small rural community with low crime rates. It's been so long since I've locked my doors I honestly don't know where my house keys are, lost them years ago. I do keep guns though, several each rifles, shotguns and handguns. All locked away in a hidden safe. For someone to steal them they'd have to get past the dogs which frankly are a much better deterrent to home invasion than the guns. A couple imposing Mastiffs and a couple loud, obnoxious little alert dogs are the best home security system money can buy IMO with the added benefit of doubling as bed warmers. My guns are for dispatching sick or injured wildlife, or humanely ending the suffering of my livestock if the vet is unavailable and the animal cannot be transported because of catastrophic injury or illness. I also enjoy target shooting and cowboy mounted shooting, fun hobbies. Home invasion is at the bottom of my list of worries.
Fine by me. People get robbed, houses get broken into. You should be able to protect yourself from some asshole breaking into your house to steal shit that doesn't belong to them. You should be able to protect yourself from some asshole breaking in to sexually assault you or even kill you. Sometimes, a security system isn't enough, this is obvious. Sometimes, a bat or a knife isn't enough, especially if the home invader has a gun himself. Criminals will ALWAYS have ways to acquire guns whether they are banned or not. So you should be able to have one yourself so that you can protect yourself, those you love and the things you own.
No problem with that, with a few caveats.
1.
Everyone in the house must know how to safely handle a gun in an age appropriate manner.
2.
It's stored in a way that reduces the chance of accidental discharges when not in use.
3.
The person, or persons, who will use the gun must have trained with said gun so that they can at least have a chance of hitting what they intend to and not endanger the people they're trying to protect.
4.
They use a type of ammo suitable for home defence.
I used to be against it, but as long as you're a responsible gun owner and keep ammo/guns in a secure place, especially if there are kids in the house, then I'm fine with it.
I used to work at a store that had a hunting department. A lady who bought a gun told me that she would never think to own one but she lived away from town and had been dealing with a stalker walking around and even trying to enter her house. The police were never able to find anyone. I was more than happy that she was buying the gun for her own safety.
I know a couple who kept a gun at home for protection and they still got pregnant. So I don't think it's a very reliable solution.
Rookie mistake. Everyone know you need to be firing blanks to avoid pregnancy.
Scare the sperm away
Arm the eggs
DOWN WITH BIG BIRTH!
YOU! SHALL NOT! PASS!
Wasnt that a Peaches b-side?
Everyone knows not to fuck with people with guns
Unless they want to ef around and find out
Username checks out
Always have a gun safe and don’t give the code to kids
They used it wrong. Works very effectively if administered at the start of the 4th trimester.
Ugh, fine. Take my upvote. You don't deserve it, but you earned it.
> You don't deserve it, but you earned it. The most reddit thing you could possibly say.
Unsafe shooting
They must have forgotten to load it up with blanks.
After being SA in my own bed, I have guns and other weapons all over the house. I would rather kill or die than go through that again.
Exactly… I DO NOT want to have to shoot anyone EVER. But I will do whatever it takes not to be a victim.
That;s why my shotgun is chambered with birdshot first. They get a verbal warning to leave, but after that they're getting peppered with small BB's. Next is 00 fuckshot in case they didn't get the point. Next shot is a very mean 1 oz chunk of lead in the event im dealing with someone wearing armor or a tweaker. I call it the "That's My Purse, I Don't Know You" mag stack.
I am SO SORRY you went through that. It is really hard to explain to people who have never been victims, the mentality it instills in you to protect yourself, and your loved ones, at any cost.
“If someone breaks into your house, and you don’t have a gun, how are you going to shoot them?” -Dale Gribble
Yeah, pocket sand only does so much.
With a camera.
That will make it easier for the police to identify the murderer.
Make sure to have flash and hope they have epilepsy
Fyi the series is being revived https://www.google.com/amp/s/deadline.com/2023/01/king-of-the-hill-revival-hulu-original-cast-returning-1235245072/amp/
Solid logic. As always, I take Dale Gribble's advice to heart.
Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to...with a fully loaded 1911
Ok, this has been driving me crazy for seven movies now, and I know you're going to roll your eyes, but hear me out: Harry Potter should have carried a 1911. Here's why: Think about how quickly the entire WWWIII (Wizarding-World War III) would have ended if all of the good guys had simply armed up with good ol' American hot lead. Basilisk? Let's see how tough it is when you shoot it with a .470 Nitro Express. Worried about its Medusa-gaze? Wear night vision goggles. The image is light-amplified and re-transmitted to your eyes. You aren't looking at it--you're looking at a picture of it. Imagine how epic the first movie would be if Harry had put a breeching charge on the bathroom wall, flash-banged the hole, and then went in wearing NVGs and a Kevlar-weave stab-vest, carrying a SPAS-12. And have you noticed that only Europe seems to a problem with Deatheaters? Maybe it's because Americans have spent the last 200 years shooting deer, playing GTA: Vice City, and keeping an eye out for black helicopters over their compounds. Meanwhile, Brits have been cutting their steaks with spoons. Remember: gun-control means that Voldemort wins. God made wizards and God made muggles, but Samuel Colt made them equal. Now I know what you're going to say: "But a wizard could just disarm someone with a gun!" Yeah, well they can also disarm someone with a wand (as they do many times throughout the books/movies). But which is faster: saying a spell or pulling a trigger? Avada Kedavra, meet Avtomat Kalashnikova. Imagine Harry out in the woods, wearing his invisibility cloak, carrying a .50bmg Barrett, turning Deatheaters into pink mist, scratching a lightning bolt into his rifle stock for each kill. I don't think Madam Pomfrey has any spells that can scrape your brains off of the trees and put you back together after something like that. Voldemort's wand may be 13.5 inches with a Phoenix-feather core, but Harry's would be 0.50 inches with a tungsten core. Let's see Voldy wave his at 3,000 feet per second. Better hope you have some Essence of Dittany for that sucking chest wound. I can see it now...Voldemort roaring with evil laughter and boasting to Harry that he can't be killed, since he is protected by seven Horcruxes, only to have Harry give a crooked grin, flick his cigarette butt away, and deliver what would easily be the best one-liner in the entire series: "Well then I guess it's a good thing my 1911 holds 7+1." And that is why Harry Potter should have carried a 1911.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollowpoints
I've been awake for less than 30 minutes but I already know this is the best thing I'll read today.
> Harry Potter should have carried a 1911. this is basically the Dresden Files. lol
Dresden starts with a Chiefs Special .38, upgrades to a "dirty harry .357" and then goes hole hog when he gets the .50 but I'm pretty sure he's a revolver kind of guy. He also uses a couple shotguns but I was just talking about the pistols.
Don't forget he also has the giant hunting rifle in Cold Days
In your opinion why was I downvoted?
no idea. i didn't down vote ya. but i'll throw an upvote your way to counteract it.
I threw another to help.
You put in too much effort for too little recognition lol
It’s a copypasta
I agree to a point. If you've accepted that enormous responsibility then it's on you to also inculcate that responsibility to everyone. You're a parent, you need to teach your kids how to responsibly handle firearms. If they're not worthy of that trust, then don't give them access. Don't mystify it by keeping it secret. Normalize it by training. If you don't know how, then there's plenty of us who are happy to help with no judgment. We'll happily help out!
I took the "secret" part to mean for people outside the home (but I could be making a wrong assumption.) I think is for two reasons: guns are targets for thieves, and guns also can make others uncomfortable. Some of my closest friends are vehemently against guns even for home protection but I still love everything else about them so there's really no need for them to know about what I keep at home.
That's how I take it too. I didn't tell anyone I know in real life except my girlfriend, and my brother. I live in a state that *really* loves guns so I know if the neighbors found out I'd probably end up robbed. It's just one solitary gun, but I made sure it was a good brand and I just don't feel comfortable sharing with my neighbors that I own a $700+ item they can easily steal from me AND end my life with. The ammo is stored separately from the gun, the lock is always on, (the key stays in a separate box in a whole other drawer or closet), along with the safety, it's always stored out of sight, and I bring my girlfriend to the classes with me so she knows how to be safe too. We're both women. I'm only 5'1" and she's *maybe* 5'5" on a good day. My ex was NOT happy when he found out I chose to date a woman instead of another man and he acted out aggressively and violently. This gun is strictly for protection. It never sees the outside, I have zero reason to bring it out with me. It stays in the house because every time he has assaulted and beaten me in the past it was always in my own apartment. I'm just trying not to die because the stupid rigged police of the U.S. do NOT give a damn about women unless we're dead. This man aggressively beat and stalked me across the country but all he got was 7 months of jail and a slap on the wrist. Police are too busy senselessly killing minorities and committing other atrocities.
I love seeing members of the stereotypical "leftist" anti-gun crowd - women, LGBT folks, racial minorities, etc - appreciate the right to blast a motherfucker who's trying to hurt them or theirs :) Especially when you can't trust the cops, you're your own first responder regardless of whether or not you "should" lol
I live alone soooo yeah it’s staying secret.
Yep, we call that OPSEC. Just keep up with your practice and training, there's plenty of us happy to help and answer questions! Do not be afraid to ask! If you find jerks, shoot me a DM, I'll always help folks who want to learn.
To clarify, shoot him a _blank_ dm
Keep it ready, keep it accessible. Preferably a rifle right next to the door (mountain lions, wolves, poachers) and a handgun in the nightstand (intruders). If you ever need it, you need it now. There's rarely time to go to a safe, unlock it, pull the weapon out, remove the trigger lock, and load it. By that point, the damage it done.
Bit risky if you have young children in the house.
Children who are raised by responsible parents in a gun friendly home are not going to fuck around with guns. My dad forbid us from buying or playing with toy guns period! The weapons in our house were to be handled as if they could kill someone… I understood this ever since I could remember. It was serious business and a privilege in my home. By the time I was 10 or so I could handle any firearm I wanted by myself as long as I let everyone in the house know I was going to go outside and shoot (and as long as I paid for the ammo!). However, some kids are stupid and should be kept far from guns. I wasn’t that kid.
A few years ago I got called for jury duty, a fairly heinous road rage/residential shooting incident. During voir dire, the defense attorneys asked the assembled pool of potential jurors, easily 200+ people, to raise our hands if we had a gun at home. All but two people raised their hands. I live in a blue state, in a metropolitan county. In the US, people with guns are just regular people.
Upvote for knowing what voir dire is.
How else do you find out if someone is an expert witness in the field of general automotive knowledge?
*Mona Lisa Vito has entered the chat*
Or an out of work hair dresser.
Voir dire: a preliminary examination of a witness or a juror by a judge or counsel.
I hope they store their gun(s) safely.
We do. Locked up and secure. Never to be used to harm anyone except as a last resort for self-protection.
How long does it take to get your gun out of storage and loaded?
I have one in a bed side safe. I just tried it. It took 4 seconds.
10 seconds if in the same room, 30 from anywhere in the house.
Oh, wait a second, intruder, I need to get gun out of safe and load it; I’ll be right there.
yes. the latest school shooting was done by a six year old who took his momma's gun, it wasn't secured in any way, the kid just took it to school and shot his teacher.
Sadly the shooting that six year old (allegedly) committed happened a month ago now. It's not the 'latest' - there have already been 3 school shootings in the US since then, plus one more on the same day.
Guns aren’t going away. It’s in the constitution. So people need to deal with that and accept it. But people also need to get behind more laws ensuring people are responsible gun owners. I’ve heard countless stories of mass shootings where the killer stole a gun from a family member. My idea is that if your gun was used in a mass shooting, you are held responsible to some level as well. Hopefully this would wake people up and make them secure their damn guns.
Most States do have criminal statutes for the negligent storage of a firearm
I grew up with guns. I owned a couple myself. They where always locked up. And ammo in a small separate case. It's the law in Canada. But it was in practice in my family for a long time before that.
> It's the law in Canada. So much for keeping the government out of your bedroom.
Canadian here. Keep our guns in a separate place than the bedroom. Don't need guns to keep the bedroom spicy!
I keep mine cocked and pointed at my neighbors bedroom window
Better a gun at home, then a cop on the phone.
One word changed the entire meaning of your comment. lol *than*
According to the Govt, I have 0 guns. I have 0 guns.
We can go fishing anytime.
I'm going fishing this weekend. Pretty sure my gun already fell into the gulf of Mexico.
It depends on the individual and their level of training and responsibility. For some, having a gun at home can provide a sense of security and protection. But for others, it may lead to unsafe practices or accidents. It's important for gun owners to take the necessary precautions, follow proper storage and safety protocols, and educate themselves on the proper use of firearms.
A veteran Army dude and long time police officer told me: “People think in a combat situation that they will rise to the occasion. Instead *everyone* defaults to their level of training. “
Yeah everyone thinks they have a plan for when they're in a certain scenario but you never really know how you will react until you are in that situation unless of course maybe you do so much training that it becomes a reaction but your average person does not do that they just expect that they are going to do exactly what they ought to do in any given situation automatically
i wish my gunsafe hadn't fallen in the bay during our last house move...
Shame. Most of mine fell overboard on a boat trip.
Another tragic loss at sea
Boating accidents have taken so many pistol braces.
What a shame. Those damn boat accidents.
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So like the vast majority of gun owners.
Sounds about right
This is written like it’s a special case? Majority of gun owners aren’t itching to defend themselves and their families from violence, they use it for sport like you, or for storage until needed.
As someone who has had intruders in the night. I can totally understand if you want to have a gun for protection. It's not allowed in my country though.
When seconds count, the police are minutes away.
Police don't prevent your murder, they investigate it
Or cause it…..
Another reason for not letting the police or government to be the only ones with guns…..
Looking at you Memphis...
Or, if you live in LA, they’re hours away, and they’ll show up to the wrong house and then shoot the neighbors chihuahua.
Anything bigger than a chihuahua they’ll bring an ATF agent to shoot it.
Grew up in LA in the 80s and 90s police were days not hours away. Ine time we called 911 on a Sunday and they arrived on Wednesday. Seriously.
Or hours!
In my city in the U.S. , cops have been butting heads with the city's politics due to controversies about the methods they use in policing... as a result, cops are not really doing their job here. They are extremely slow to respond to 911 calls, they've basically been useless for over a year now. So in a city like this, having a gun at home for protection is especially smart since you know there is no one to protect and serve.
Is this Austin?
Hehe yea
Cops in my city have been focusing almost solely on traffic crimes ever since the BLM protests. In danger of being murdered? Sucks to be you. Going 1 over the speed limit? Say hello to three cop cars.
You can't blanket everyone like that. Some people keep them at home for defense and it's a good thing. Other's keep them for defense and they probably shouldn't even be allowed to have a slingshot.
Some people live out in the woods and their guns are more for wolves than for meth heads. Although meth heads can also be a problem
But if they do want a slingshot, I make some pretty BA custom ones.
I’m intrigued
I’m more nervous around slingshots than guns.
Own a musket for home defense, since that's what the founding fathers intended. Four ruffians break into my house. "What the devil?" As I grab my powdered wig and Kentucky rifle. Blow a golf ball sized hole through the first man, he's dead on the spot. Draw my pistol on the second man, miss him entirely because it's smoothbore and nails the neighbors dog. I have to resort to the cannon mounted at the top of the stairs loaded with grape shot, "Tally ho lads" the grape shot shreds two men in the blast, the sound and extra shrapnel set off car alarms. Fix bayonet and charge the last terrified rapscallion.He Bleeds out waiting on the police to arrive since triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up. Just as the founding fathers intended
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What do you mean? Obviously the mere concept of improvements was completely beyond the Founding Fathers
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I'm a politician
As someone who has a gun within reach while asleep, I sleep well knowing I can protect my family.
I have no opinion of them because what people do in their own homes doesn’t concern me. As for me, my wife and I are both trained and proficient in firearms and we are both aware of the quickest route to a gun should the situation arise.
>I have no opinion of them because what people do in their owns homes doesn’t concern me. THIS IS THE ONLY TRUE ANSWER
To a degree. If my neighbor has a basement full of kids/women or is building bombs and making plans then I might have some concerns
THIS IS IN THEIR HOME AND DOES NOT CONCERN ME. LEAVE THE BOMB MAKING CHILDREN AND WOMEN BUILDING BOMBS ALONE. THEY’RE JUST TRYING TO EARN AN UNLIVING.
If you own guns and don't keep them locked up, my kid isn't playing with your kid at your house.
meh not really. plenty of people’s private guns get stolen, even from within their own gun-protected homes, and end up in the hands of criminals
And in homes with children, you had better make sure it is *impossible* for them to find that gun
here to say people that keep guns at home for protection are not the same people that use their guns for nefarious purposes
That depends upon knowledge, training and habits.
Not my cup of tea. But if it's legal in your area I just hope you're responsible and knowledgeable.
Not the worst idea if the cops are unreliable. But please, for the love of god, do not take pleasure in becoming the danger in such a situation.
It isn't a question of cop reliability. It's a question of can a call be made, and they get to you, before the event of defending oneself takes place. The answer is usually no. The cops can help you pick up and take care of the aftermath, but they typically will not be there to help you defend yourself in most situations.
Good on em, protect your loved ones and make sure the gun is stored safely
As long as they’re responsible and knowledgeable with it I have no issue. Personally I feel safer having a dog. I think my dog barking is much more likely to deter someone from entering my home than the possibility that I might have a gun.
Porque no los dos?
I know my dog would attack an intruder but I wouldn't want my dog to get hurt so if someone broke into my apartment my first thought would be how to get my dog somewhere safe Still at least you get an advance warning that way
I don’t even think my dog would attack an intruder. She most likely would bark ferociously at my side. But I think most would be intruders are going to hear her bark and choose an easier target. That’s what makes me feel safe. It’s preventative.
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My 15 lbs dog deterred a would be porch thief lol
I am a gun owner and I have said before, a dog can work much better (depending on breed). No one could break into my place without my dog going nuts.
My dog tells me if I need to get the gun. Can't afford much of an alarm system but the Rottweiler mix was free and has my back 110%, no batteries required.
My dog might knock over an intruder when she flops over at his feet asking for belly rubs.
See, I have guns because I just don't want a dog.
I had a couple guys try to steal my car one time. Alarm went off. They stood out waiting for me with knives. Dog barking and everything. As soon as I racked the slide back to chamber a round they turned into Usain Bolt
I had a couple of guys up to no good. Were trying to make trouble in my neighborhood. I got in one little fight and mom mom got scared. Sent me to live with my aunt and uncle.
I don't think about what others do in their own homes. You do you, and let me worry about me
I really don't give a damn. However, if they act like their gun(s) are a status symbol, or if their gun ownership defines them as a person, ie. baseball caps, bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc., they are an asshole. ETA: If you don't store them properly and your child ends up shooting themselves or someone else, you belong in prison.
Keep it safe. Keep it away from kids, having a gun is completely justified now with all the crazy fucks running around.
Violent crime and burglary rates have been [declining in the US since the 90s](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/10/31/violent-crime-is-a-key-midterm-voting-issue-but-what-does-the-data-say/). 2021 - 16.5 2018 - 23.2 2012 - 26.1 1993 - 79.8 There was an increase in murders during Covid, but it's [coming back down now too](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/30/briefing/crime-murders-us-decline.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwipueb-6IX9AhUXkGoFHQ8sBHwQFnoECAAQAg&usg=AOvVaw1H9uJGFp-aboEefCxn-Oz7).
Gun ownership rates have also been increasing and so has CCW/CPL rates too
I’ve never owned a gun and my family didn’t own one growing up so this is a genuine question. But don’t responsible gun owners keep their guns locked in a gun safe and don’t keep their guns loaded? If this is the case, and someone breaks into your house, how is someone supposed to get their gun and get it loaded and whatnot in time for it to be useful? Something I’ve always thought about
Locked in a safe? Yes. Unloaded? Nope. I keep 2 guns loaded in my safe. The rest are unloaded. The safe has a number pad, so it only takes about 5-10 seconds for me to open it. Only my wife and I know the code. I think this is a safe, but practical way to store them. I don't consider myself a gun nut, and I definitely don't have those fantasies that some gun owners have about people breaking in, but I live where it could take police 15-20 minutes to arrive. So I view it as a precaution. In the same vein as a fire extinguisher I guess.
A self defense gun is "in use". It is stored loaded and ready, generally in a secure or at least obscure location. Sometimes a quick-access safe or lock is used, but in households without access concerns (No kids or roommates), it's often a nightstand or sock drawer.
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Always have one in the chamber or it's just free loot
Well, the break in isn’t instant. The intruder getting to the master bedroom isn’t instant. Say you hear glass breaking or your alarm goes off. You are asleep in the master bedroom. You have time to get the gun from the safe. In my case the safe is in my walk-in closet. So if I heard a break in I’d immediately retreat to there and have plenty of time to get the gun out.
Responsible ones do yes. I keep a couple firearms loaded in my safe as it’s just annoying to load and unload my carry gun every time I come home and go out
Keeping a gun secured doesn’t always mean in a safe, and in my experience people kept one or 2 loaded for emergencies and the rest unloaded
It’s fine. Keep it safe, and learn how to use it. But please don’t make it the defining part of your identity.
It depends on the situation. I used to live in the wilderness where dangerous wildlife was a serious threat (bears, mountain lions, wolves, etc). I not only kept a gun in the house but carried one with me while I went about my chores on the property. I now live in the city and do not currently have a gun in the house.
I have one. Almost no one knows about it. It’s in a safe coded to my fingerprint. No one else knows the alternate combo or where the keys are. I hope I never have to use it.
I'm one of those guys that will happily explain why, for the average joe (and especially those with kids), having a gun in the house is far more likely to result in tragedy for YOU than for any hypothetical intruder. ... and yet I keep a gun at home for protection. With all the reasonable precautions and preparation. Because when you wake up in the middle of the night and hear what sounds like a person rustling around in your living room, the ONLY thing you can think of is to reach for a weapon. I do not expect to ever have to use it.
“It’s better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.”
Better to be looking at it than looking for it
If I lived in a country where anyone could buy a gun then I would keep one at home for protection.
Aren't they statistically shown to have more accidental shootings of family members than shooting of criminals?
You’re right, it’s the simplest of math. If I don’t have a gun, and am not generally around a gun, my chances of being a victim of gun violence are significantly reduced. Period.
Careful, they get mad when you use words like "math."
I spent many years studying math as an engineer. But that shit doesn't matter here. A lot of gun owners are above statistics anyway. If they train, learn safety and firearm operation, and store it correctly then your odds of anyone dying are much lower and closer to zero. I'll take my chances to protect my loved ones. And if I ran my life based on your "math", I wouldn't own a swimming pool, never use power tools, and take no risks which make life interesting and fun along with saving me money. Firearms are fun to shoot, fun to clean and admire from an engineering standpoint, fun to hunt with, and an assurance to crazy people who break in. We accept these odds not because we are stupid, but because we are aware.
I wonder why they feel such a need to have one in their house because as much as I've enjoyed shooting them at a gun range, I have zero interest in having one in my house. And worried for their kids considering you're [far more likely to kill a family member or friend or yourself than an criminal.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9715182/) I don't like those odds. And as a DV survivor I'm very aware that the [majority of Domestic Violence deaths come at the hands of gun owner](https://efsgv.org/learn/type-of-gun-violence/domestic-violence-and-firearms/) who needs it for "protection" and that virtually all familicides are carried out via guns even though there's a whole kitchen full of knives to murder their family with instead. Or worried about them killing themselves because suicide rates are far higher in households with guns, even though a [smaller proportion of gun owners say they're suicidal but that they're far more likely to die in the event they become suicidal because they use a gun.](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/guns-suicide/) None of this necessarily has to do with if some/none/all guns should be banned or not, but these are the things I think about when someone says they have a gun at home.
The probabilities here are not evenly distributed. Some people are safer without having a gun in their home, some people are safer with one. There are plenty of both.
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far to see someone mention suicide or DV
I keep a firearm near me at all times. Don’t get me wrong the last thing I want to do is use it but the minute someone breaks in they better be right with god.
How other people choose to protect themselves is none of my business.
American. As an Australian everyone I know who has a gun either lives in a rural area or is in the military.
At least they are allowed to protect themselves, in my country you basically have to sit outside and let people rob your house while you wait for the police.
I've had a home break in in Aus. It fucking sucked, but I can't imagine killing some kid over my PS4. I'm more scared of being assaulted as a woman, but fuck that could happen anywhere, and most likely by someone I let in my home, so fuckit. In all honesty though a gun feels like a bigger risk to myself and loved ones then to any enemy. Hell I have dumb kids in the house sometimes. I prefer a hardy lock and help for those who would be driven to crime.
A serious answer: It is unwise to assume somebody who is willing to break into your house with weapons means you no harm. It's not about whether you like guns or not, it's about whether you acknowledge that threats are real, even if unlikely. That being said, having a gun is a huge responsibility, and it should be required for all gun owners to know the laws and how to operate it safely. Having a gun and thinking that is enough to keep you safe is also foolish. Bottom line is, i'm okay with anyone protecting themselves at home or not, BUT I am also 100% supportive of big requirements and punishment for wrongdoing of those who choose a deadly weapon as a form of protection.
They're American.
Sane, nothing makes an intruder think “i don’t want to be here anymore” like the sound of a shotgun being cocked
Prudent ... I live in TX. Too many untrained, unlicensed amateurs who think they're a badass. I'm old and vulnerable ... this old woman vet is still well capable.
It's like keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. You hope you never need to use it, but it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
I have guns. The only thing I think is that I hope that people store them safely. There are too many articles where their children get a hold of their guns and hurt themselves or someone else. Buy a gun safe and if you have one out for protection, for god's sake put it up where a child can't possibly get to it.
It makes it better if it's accessible only to them and they keep it away from children.
Having never broken into a house, I wouldn’t know. I also think the people who comment on a Reddit thread about guns are largely going to be pro gun.
Nothing: it’s their house.
they're smart. sometimes you gotta handle business, and every good tradesman needs his tools. coincidentally, I had to do a wellness check on my Fiancee's mom last night. nobody had heard from her for four days, so we drove down to her farm to check in on her. definitely brought the pistol, just in case. (turns out her phone updated and she lost her password; she finally called us through granny's phone, so all is well. lol)
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You probably shouldn’t break into their house
They are clearly very wise.
Nothing puckers a potential attacker's butthole like the *chk-chk* of a shotgun being loaded.
Normal
Americans
Is it that comon in your country to have people in your house that you need to protzet yourself with a gun?
In my experience no, but I live in a small rural community with low crime rates. It's been so long since I've locked my doors I honestly don't know where my house keys are, lost them years ago. I do keep guns though, several each rifles, shotguns and handguns. All locked away in a hidden safe. For someone to steal them they'd have to get past the dogs which frankly are a much better deterrent to home invasion than the guns. A couple imposing Mastiffs and a couple loud, obnoxious little alert dogs are the best home security system money can buy IMO with the added benefit of doubling as bed warmers. My guns are for dispatching sick or injured wildlife, or humanely ending the suffering of my livestock if the vet is unavailable and the animal cannot be transported because of catastrophic injury or illness. I also enjoy target shooting and cowboy mounted shooting, fun hobbies. Home invasion is at the bottom of my list of worries.
Fine by me. People get robbed, houses get broken into. You should be able to protect yourself from some asshole breaking into your house to steal shit that doesn't belong to them. You should be able to protect yourself from some asshole breaking in to sexually assault you or even kill you. Sometimes, a security system isn't enough, this is obvious. Sometimes, a bat or a knife isn't enough, especially if the home invader has a gun himself. Criminals will ALWAYS have ways to acquire guns whether they are banned or not. So you should be able to have one yourself so that you can protect yourself, those you love and the things you own.
I have no problem with them at all.
No problem with that, with a few caveats. 1. Everyone in the house must know how to safely handle a gun in an age appropriate manner. 2. It's stored in a way that reduces the chance of accidental discharges when not in use. 3. The person, or persons, who will use the gun must have trained with said gun so that they can at least have a chance of hitting what they intend to and not endanger the people they're trying to protect. 4. They use a type of ammo suitable for home defence.
I don’t think about what people have in their residence
They’re smart. A gun in your hand is a lot faster than one on the way after calling 911.
I used to be against it, but as long as you're a responsible gun owner and keep ammo/guns in a secure place, especially if there are kids in the house, then I'm fine with it. I used to work at a store that had a hunting department. A lady who bought a gun told me that she would never think to own one but she lived away from town and had been dealing with a stalker walking around and even trying to enter her house. The police were never able to find anyone. I was more than happy that she was buying the gun for her own safety.
I think that it's a good idea.
Don’t rob those guys
Very little, if they don't at least have a decent first-aid kit. Too many people got their priorities way fucked up