Have or would you consider owning a firearm for self-defense?

Poll of the Day

Poll of the Day » Have or would you consider owning a firearm for self-defense?
I thought about owning a shotgun in the event of burglaries or break-ins, but I don't how to use them and I'm afraid of the damn things. Plus, I'm not in the most perfect state of mind to own a firearm.
PSN: killersalmon / Epic: aliensalmon1986
Nintendo Network Name: JohnJohn
No. Given that I live in a country where civilians dont have guns, it seems like overkill.

Theres several other factors, such as the fact that my building has 24 hour security guards, that theres several doors with a combination of electronic and physical locks that an intruder would have to bypass. Or the fact that I have a dog. Or the fact that the average man here is 54 and Im 63, 210 pounds and can handle myself pretty well.
Glob posted...
No. Given that I live in a country where civilians dont have guns, it seems like overkill.

Theres several other factors, such as the fact that my building has 24 hour security guards, that theres several doors with a combination of electronic and physical locks that an intruder would have to bypass. Or the fact that I have a dog. Or the fact that the average man here is 54 and Im 63, 210 pounds and can handle myself pretty well.

Heh, you're pretty much set!
PSN: killersalmon / Epic: aliensalmon1986
Nintendo Network Name: JohnJohn
No I never have considered it. I was just given guns then inherited the rest.

First one was kinda funny/fucked up in hindsight. Grandmother died and her step son's where known to be vultures when it came to a death in the family. I expressed this concern to my grandfather her first husband. And he gave me a revolver and said they try to take anything they ain't got a right to shoot em. (Not that I ever would but hey free gun)

Turns out the gun belonged to their dad. So hadbi been the kinda person to shoot them I woulda shot them for trying to take stuff they believed was their dads with a gun that was.
I put my heart and soul into my work and I fear I have lost my mind in the process
For some stupid reason it's not legal to shoot burglars here. Your supposed to sit and watch them invade your home, abuse you, beat you, etc. if they don't pull a gun, your not allowed to. It's ridiculous.
He who stumbles around in darkness with a stick is blind. But he who... sticks out in darkness... is... fluorescent! - Brother Silence
Lose 50 experience
I've heard that having a gun in your household makes you less safe statistically, though I've never looked into that claim. Sounds plausible though, given how many people get hurt in accidental shootings. I'm also unconvinced that I, with almost no firearm experience would be able to successfully fend off an attack in the event of a murderous home invasion.
And with that... pow! I'm gone!
I grew up with guns, learning to shoot rifle and shotgun from my grandfather and later in life I picked up pistols with my dad. At no point did I ever consider keeping a firearm for self-defense purposes, either at home or with a carry permit. (I did have a carry permit for a couple of years, but that was mostly because it made it easier to go to the range without running into issues with the local cops.) Knowing how to shoot on a range is entirely different from shooting in a life and death situation.

If, for some reason, I felt it necessary to have a firearm for home defense I'd go with a shotgun with the shortest legal barrel I could manage loaded with fairly fine shot size. Plenty of pellets to hit at close range but not likely to go through a wall and hit someone else in the house. (Or one of my neighbors, since there is like 8 feet between me and one of my neighbors.)
No.

I drink alcohol and id be afraid if i got drunk and started messing around with guns.
Nah
One who knows nothing can understand nothing.
http://psnprofiles.com/wwinterj
In theory, yes, but in practice? it's not an option for me. I have a health condition that I think would make it very difficult for me to use a firearm safely, unless there is a gun out there for people with crippled hands.
Hi
I have considered it, and, decided against it.
No, but I'd own one for fun (I can't own one)
So I was standing still at a stationary store...
No.
"You don't need a reason to help people." -Zidane Tribal of Final Fantasy IX
rjsilverthorn posted...
If, for some reason, I felt it necessary to have a firearm for home defense I'd go with a shotgun with the shortest legal barrel I could manage
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f2d35717.jpg
Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum,
Minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
While they are not mine. There are about 10 hunting guns(some shotguns, some rifles, not sure how many of each as they are all individually bagged.) And an 80-90 year old handgun in my storage room.

My grandpa was a big hunter. Personally, I never liked it. But my dad would go with him to spend time with him. I don't think he has gone hunting since my grandpa died about 20 years ago. Based on the arguments after the passing on how the guns were to be divided up, I'm led to understand they are valuable ones that my dad took for sentimental reasons. He doesn't use them and doesn't want them anywhere the grandkids might get into them, so they are not on display.

My brother loved hunting with them and had a gun or two of his own. But he has a disease that slowly causes blindness. I think the last test he had he just barely avoided the legally blind threshold and since then he has developed cataracts. Plus he has 3 small kids who get into everything. So guns around the house are no good.

And the handgun I'm a little fuzzy on its exact history. I know it was a war prize from ww2. I think my great uncle brought it home and from there it went to my mayernal grandpa after he died. When my grandpa died both my uncles from that side of the family were legally unable to own a gun and so it went to my dad. Iirc you can't even buy bullets in the size it was made for but there is a standard size that will shoot from it with a slight loss in accuracy.

There was another rifle or two from my grandpa as well, but I think one of my uncles was allowed rifles but not handguns or he got an exemption or something. Or maybe he just had them sold. Either way they didn't end up in the gun collection.

I had thought about getting myself a gun before. I do enjoy the shooting range. I wouldn't mind something I could just shoot some targets with. But dropping several hundred dollars on a .22 handgun just to shoot largest a couple times a year seemed wasteful. And having a .357 or a 9mm seemed more dangerous considering my history with depression, even if I wouldn't mind having one around as a just in case thing I could also use to hit targets a few times a year.
I am awesome and so are you.
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PikachuMaxwell posted...
I thought about owning a shotgun in the event of burglaries or break-ins, but I don't how to use them and I'm afraid of the damn things. Plus, I'm not in the most perfect state of mind to own a firearm.

The state I'm in, if you were to use a gun for self defense even if they broke into your house and had a weapon you would lose the ability to carry for the rest of your life. So you better damn well be sure that's the right time to shoot and whatever you're protecting is worth losing your license.
[05:45:34] I bought an American L and it was like a tent
No

Only for recreation
In the long run we are all dead
slacker03150 posted...
I do enjoy the shooting range. I wouldn't mind something I could just shoot some targets with. But dropping several hundred dollars on a .22 handgun just to shoot largest a couple times a year seemed wasteful.

Heritage has some .22 single-action revolvers that are incredibly fun to shoot and won't break the bank. Guns.com has several models for under $120 (not counting transfer fees and taxes and stuff). They have interchangeable cylinders so you can shoot .22LR (which is dirt cheap for ammo) and .22WMR (which is powerful enough to do light hunting--racoon, coyote, groundhog, etc). And they have all kinds of parts available for customizing.

I bought this one for about $125 (plus another $75-ish for engraved grip, cylinders, and chrome parts). Heritage Barkeep Boot with 1" barrel.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/75d49b9b.jpg

And I think this one was $180 at Cabela's. It feels NICE in my hand, really well balanced. Heritage Rough Rider with 6-1/2" barrel.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f4ce0b25.jpg

.22LR ammo can be had for under $5 per box of 50. .22WMR is a good deal more expensive, around $12-15 per 50, but that's still a bargain compared to something like .45 Colt which usually runs about $1 per shot.
Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum,
Minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
The very idea of a gun for self-defence feels like an oxymoron to me.
Official Teetotaller of PotD
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No I'm good
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funkyfritter posted...
I've heard that having a gun in your household makes you less safe statistically, though I've never looked into that claim. Sounds plausible though, given how many people get hurt in accidental shootings. I'm also unconvinced that I, with almost no firearm experience would be able to successfully fend off an attack in the event of a murderous home invasion.

Considering that firearms are also worth stealing, the item people use to protect themselves paradoxically makes them a more desired target
Blah, blah, blah, and blah.
I've always hated guns.. but with the state the country is in, I'm getting there.
Official King of PotD
You only need one T-Rex to make the point, though. ~ Samus Sedai
I've never owned one, nor do I plan to.
Donald J. Trump--proof against government intelligence.
Can't, won't, unworried.
A gentleman will walk, but never run
Yeah. Its one of the most sacred of rights.
Poll of the Day » Have or would you consider owning a firearm for self-defense?